| My husband and I just completed our first remodel. It | | | | 6. There are no problems - only opportunitiesfor |
| was a period renovation of a Victorian Gingerbread | | | | creativity, action and collaboration. |
| Craftsman. (I'm so thrilled I can talk about it in the | | | | 7. You're born alone, you die alone - you don'thave to |
| past tense). We haunted architectural salvage houses | | | | win alone. Everyone can win. Some win morethan |
| for just the right windows, bid on eBay for | | | | others but there's enough in the pot to spreadaround. |
| period-correct light fixtures, spent an entire afternoon | | | | If you squeeze a vendor to bid a job solow that |
| driving all over L.A. for a screw that they stopped | | | | they can't make money, harborresentment and cut |
| making in the thirties and generally worked to the | | | | corners - you both lose. |
| point of insanity. Tiptoed up to the line but never | | | | 8. Nobody owes you anything. If they help youit's |
| crossed it. | | | | because they're generous people. Acknowledgethem. |
| So here, ripped from the headlines so to speak, are | | | | 9. Everything comes to an end. And then it startsup |
| my | | | | again. |
| Top Ten Tips for Remodeling. Read 'em and weep. | | | | 10. Remodeling really is like Improv. You show |
| 1. There is a solution to every situation. But it'snot | | | | upwithout a script. You have no idea what's going |
| necessarily yours. You go where the solution is - | | | | tohappen next ( except you can be sure that |
| itdoesn't come to you. | | | | whateveryou think it'll be - you're wrong). You're |
| 2. There is no medicine for whatever ails you quite | | | | dependenton others for their performances. So help |
| like hard, exhausting, purposeful work. | | | | them shine. |
| 3. Chew your own food. Don't make yourproblems | | | | You make it work by paying attention to |
| other peoples. They've got their own. | | | | everythingand dealing with whatever Reality presents |
| 4. I'm not psychic. Maybe you are. | | | | to you. Dothe best you can with the resources you |
| Guesstimates of time and money are just that. | | | | have and don't forget to enjoy the ride. |
| Reality has a way of intruding. When in doubt - | | | | 11. Okay, I lied. There are more than Ten Tips to |
| gowith Reality. (I don't know when I'm going to | | | | Remodeling. There are actually thousands. This last |
| dieeither). | | | | one, though, is the most important. Don't forget to |
| 5. Pain fades with time. Remodeling is like givingbirth. | | | | put yourself on your own Punch List. No pressure of |
| When you're in the middle of delivery youswear you'll | | | | work or money is reason enough not to eat |
| never do it again. But then the kid turns out tobe a | | | | right,sleep enough, monitor your health and |
| looker, a few years go by.....Yadda yadda yadda - | | | | appreciate yourfamily. |
| you're in escrow. | | | | |