Cranberries, Anyone?

Here we are, trying to get to the beautiful hardwood floors. They are in fantastic shape. Unfortunately the carpet pad didn't get the message and decided to melt all over the floor. it made for a much longer process than we had hoped. We did an amazing job cleaning them off though. Once they are refinished, they are going to be great!

Our Cottage "not-so-modern"

Here are some pictures of our beautiful starting point. At least it was clean and livable. Now we live in a dust pit, walking around in hard soled slippers. Luckily the guys who are working on the house have done a great job cleaning up after their work and someday soon we'll have appliances again!! Work in progress pictures to follow soon.

As dated and unstylish as these photos are, they don't capture the charm and nostalgia that this home truly does have.  Its always nice to inject your own sense of style and personality into your living space, but knowing that this was a warm, welcoming family home that hosted countless get-togethers, and provided the warmth of family and fellowship for many years before we came along is a comforting, honorable thing.....sometimes hard to "take it all apart", but we hope to inject our "new" home with warmth, friends and fellowship for years to come.

Ready or not?

Probably not ready, but here we go. As a (not-so-seasoned) professional in the design industry, I'm taking my career a step further by throwing myself (and my wonderful husband) into the chaos of remodeling our first home together. All this in an attempt to gain insight, experience total disarray, and learn to manage my toughest client......myself.

As always when I start a project, I spend countless hours designing, planning, researching and obsessing over every detail. That said, there is still fear in taking that first step, especially when its my own reputation (and money!) on the line. So 2 weeks in to major demo, here are a few important lessons I've learned:

1. Hire someone you trust, and trust them. Even as a designer who can easily visualize the final "outcome", there are always unexpected twists and turns as the project unfolds. My husband and I selected a contractor/carpenter who has been honest and a good communicator from the beginning. A good working relationship can go a long way in helping you sleep better.

2. Once a decision is made, don't look back. Trust the homework you've done to reach your final decision (hopefully you've done your homework), and move forward with confidence. This will go a long way in creating a cohesive finished product. I have to remind myself of this daily, just so you know.

3. Always speak your mind. No matter how much money you're spending, or how detail- oriented the people you've hired are, nobody cares about your project as much as you do. If you don't understand something, ask, and if you're not comfortable with the way something is handled, speak up. Always.

4. There will be dust. Everywhere. In any major renovation (ie. kitchen) where walls are being removed, etc., the dust will be exceptional. Protect what's valuable, and then live with it. It won't be like this forever.

5. Create a "safe haven". If you're living in your home while things are torn up, its important to have somewhere to go that takes you away from the mess. Creating this type of space will go a long way in maintaining your sanity.