The Never Ending Renovations
“When will the renovations be done?”
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me that question… Well, you know how it goes.
It seems that I am either a saint, or a nutcase for putting up with renovating for so long. They (you know… the magical all knowing ‘they’) told me, back before we started, to add at least 3 months to any finish date, then I wouldn’t be disappointed. I think it was around the time that The Father Figure, also the builder, also my husband, was rushed to hospital with major heart problems, that I realised there wouldn’t be a finish date. And I’m pretty sure that puts me in the insane category…
It’s coming up to 18 months since we began to dig the foundations (the first time… not the re-digging after they were flooded, twice) and while some days I just wish it was all over and done with and finished, mostly it’s not been so bad.
So our tiny house got even tinier when we lopped the back off it.
So my kitchen still has no wall and no ceiling.
So water ran down our internal walls 4 days before my baby’s first birthday party.
So the back yard is junk yard.
So the bathroom has a hole in the ceiling and a toilet that only flushes sometimes.
So we still share the master bedroom with a toddler and a four year old.
All of things are a bit of a pain in the bum, but none of them are the end of the world.
And slowly, slowly, the new part of our house is beginning to take shape.
Recently we started putting in the ceiling and some wall plaster, which is a huge mile stone!
We have a roof over the deck!
The new bathroom is well on the way to being finished, even if it doesn’t look like it.
I have so many big dreams of how wonderful it will be when it is finished, but I try not to be impatient while I dream those dreams.
There is still loads to be done and it might not even be finished by Christmas, and I am working on being ok with that.
So if you ask me “when will the renovations be done?” forgive me if I wave my hand in the air vaguely, stare off into space and say “oooh some day….”
Kate, you have come far with your renovations considering all that has taken place along the way! You will love and treasure each part of it as it is finished all the more for your wait! My handy-man Mr Fresh does all out renovations himself (except electrical and plumbing) and it takes alot of time. We are 3/4 finished this house and it will stay that way until we sell I am sure. Our last house wasn’t finished until we decided to sell and so I never got to enjoy it. When I moved in Mr Fresh had no steps to the front door (it was almost a climb up!) and it had been that way for 5 years…. I loved walking up and down those steps when they were finally built and along the accompanying path, instead of slipping and sliding in the wet mud with groceries in arms and a baby on hip :> Ohh the joy – it is worth it though and you can be proud that you did it yourselves.
Ah you have been right where we are!
We’ve done this once before… when I was pregnant with the girls. Bed rest with no floor in a house is kind of interesting, but it was all worth it in the end.. and this will be too!
As someone who has built their home it was the question my husband and I dreaded the most…when will it be finished? It was all we could do not to run in the opposite direction screaming. But day by day and it somehow did get finished. I wish you all the best in your journey.
Oh goodness…what a lesson in patience for you!!!What a positive outlook you have though….i guess you have to or it can be easy to get dragged down with the ‘when’s’ and ‘why’s’! That bathroom is looking close to being finished!
Looks like I’m due to come up and start painting!!!
Meant to tell Simon not to put the shower screen on until i’d painted.
We are about to start renovating our next home, but fortunately we won’t be living it in whilst renovating and we have a time frame that we have to stick to (or we’ll be homeless!). I really think you are a special person to be able to stick through living and renovating at the same time. I think I would go crazy! Fingers crossed for some good luck and a finished date insight sooner rather than later x
I renovated our home with a 9 month old on my hip. It was extraordinarily tough and felt like it lasted a life time, but without wanting to sound cliche, we got there in the end. Two years on and there are still bits and bobs waiting to be completely finished. But hey, every masterpiece takes time doesn’t it?! That was how I got through all the waiting and headaches anyway… It’ll be great in the end!
my ‘baby’ was not quite 6 months old when we started…. now he is 20 months! But you are so right… it is our masterpiece and it takes time!
Yay! Lots of progress, and it’s looking great!