She wouldn't have been my daughter if we hadn't had major home renovation work going on late in the pregnancy, but there we were.
While I was pregnant with her and renovating our California home, I remember standing in our dilapidated kitchen, surrounded by the sounds of hammers, drills and no working appliances, when my water broke.
History repeats itself.
Paige, who is pregnant, called us daily to update us on the progress of the work: The cabinets were installed, but we still needed countertops and appliances. Tick, tock.
When Paige and her husband, Adam, bought their first home together in the Denver area two years ago, the kitchen and main bathroom were in need of renovation. The bathroom shower was camp-inappropriate, and the 15-year-old kitchen felt cramped and outdated. The backsplash was cluttered. The old appliances weren't energy efficient. The thermometer on the stove was worn out. The refrigerator stuck out too far. The cabinets were unremarkable, and the builder-grade fixtures were boring.
Because they both love to cook and entertain, Paige wanted an eat-in kitchen with an island and room for two counter stools. Adam wanted a gas stove (rather than electric). But the more they looked at the space, the more this didn't feel feasible, much less affordable. They stayed put and pondered their options, which included the not-so-appealing prospect of eventually moving.
Then Paige found out she was pregnant, and her Dodge Charger Hellcat-powered nesting instincts kicked in. Suddenly, resolving the question of whether or not she'd be able to get her dream kitchen became a top priority. “I needed to know if we were going to be able to make this happen or if we were going to have to think about moving,” she said.
They reached out to interior designer Kate Clapp, owner of Kate Saige Interiors, who offered not one but several suggestions on how to achieve the eat-in kitchen and spa-like bathroom of their dreams without knocking down walls or busting their budget—and, best of all, before the baby arrives.
Game Start.
Clapp spent the next few months sketching plans and working with the couple to select finishes and appliances. He installed gas line for a new stove. To free up floor and counter space in the kitchen, they removed the walk-in pantry, which took up a large diagonal corner space, and replaced the oversized refrigerator with one that had counter depth. They made up for the lack of pantry space with more cabinets and a smart storage system.
The demonstrations began in early April, eight weeks before Page was due to give birth. The pressure was building.
“I can't tell you how many times I've been on the phone with contractors asking, 'Can you get this done by this date?'” Clapp said.
Baby George was born four days early, and thanks to some careful planning, careful timing, and a hard-working crew, miraculously, George was able to come home to a home with a beautiful new kitchen.
Here's what Paige and Adam learned along the way:
· The best decision. We hired Tim Sole, owner of Sole Construction, a well-established general contractor who was neither the cheapest nor the most expensive. “The job was beyond the skill range of any competent handyman,” says Adam, “and we didn't want to go through the stress of finding tradesmen ourselves.” Sole appointed a project manager and brought in highly skilled tradesmen. When any issues arose, the general contractor stepped up to resolve them. The general contractor also made sure we had all the right permits, housing association approvals, and inspections.
Guidance and choices. “With every design decision, we felt guided, without pressure,” says Paige. “No one said we had to do this.” For example, when choosing whether to reupholster or replace the cabinets in their kitchen, the couple initially planned to reupholster to save money, but after looking at quotes, they realized that new cabinets would really improve the kitchen and would only cost an extra $2,000. “If you're going to knock down a wall and change the footprint, you're going to want all new cabinets,” says Clapp. “But if the footprint is the same, you can save money by reupholstering.” That said, she only recommends reupholstering if the cabinets are in good condition.
Compromise. Both the designer and contractor respected the fact that this was a first-home project: “We weren't expecting top-of-the-line finishes,” says Paige. Clapp recommended installing a faux expensive tile for the backsplash and using the same engineered quartz throughout the kitchen and main bathroom, because using the same material would save money. They also chose mid-priced appliances from KitchenAid.
· The hardest part. Perseverance. Though the project took just eight weeks from demolition to completion, it took the couple two years to think through what they wanted, save up, find a designer who could make it happen, get quotes, and find a contractor. Everyone involved agrees that the construction phase would have taken much longer without having every detail planned out and materials on site. Being pregnant helped.
A pleasant surprise. “We were preparing for disaster,” Page says, “but because we chose the best professionals and didn't cut any corners, we were able to complete the project on time and slightly under budget.”
· An element of pride. “Moving away would have been the easy way out,” Adam adds, “but working hard to turn what you have into what you want is so much more satisfying.”
Marni Jameson is the author of seven books, including the recently published “Right-size Today to Build Your Best Life Tomorrow: A Motivational Guide for Those Seeking the Home of Their Dreams Later in Life.”and writing on the topic of “What to do with all your possessions to leave the legacy you want.” Marni Jameson.
