Life Lessons from a Kitchen Renovation

by Lois Flowers

We’ve talked about remodeling our kitchen for years. Honestly, I’m not sure why we decided to tackle it last year, other than the fact that when we got the outside of our house painted, we asked the Sherwin-Williams consultant who helped us with our exterior color scheme to give us her opinion about colors for the kitchen.

We’d gone round and round about that for years. I thought we could choose colors perfectly well ourselves; Randy wasn’t so sure. All I knew was that the yellow hue we painted it originally, while successfully replacing the most awful green in the world, did not feel good anymore. (I’m not sure it ever really felt good, to tell you the truth. But it was better than the green.)

Then there was the tile. We have two daughters with beautiful black hair. Every strand showed up on the vintage-1987 tiles of a questionable tannish-mauvish color. Tiles that were clearly starting to show their age, along with all the hair.

Anyway, after the color consultant gave us her ideas, the paint chips sat on the counter for months. Then, round about October (or was it November?) Randy just decided to start ripping out the floor. (That’s how I remember it anyway, though my memory may be slightly fuzzy as a result of the Covid-19 quarantine.)

He bought an “Extreme Force USA” jackhammer off Amazon, violating his long-held (or did he just make it up?) policy of never buying a power tool with an adjective in its name. It was cheaper than the well-known brands, but it worked. (It also jiggled the canned lights out of the basement ceiling, in case you were wondering.)

We took December off and started the last phase in early January. Every weekend was devoted to some aspect of tiling. (Except for one weekend when the tile saw we borrowed didn’t work. That Saturday, we completely reorganized our basement storage system, paving the way for our next project—remodeling the “treadmill closet.” But that, my friends, is a blog post for another day.)

We finished everything up around the first of March. Or was it late February? I really can’t remember. I just know that the kitchen (along with the floor and trim in the entryway, mudroom and powder bath) was done before the quarantine started, and I cannot tell you how thankful I am for that.

We didn’t move walls, replace major appliances or reconfigure the cabinets. But the work still produced vast amounts of dust in many of our living spaces, which makes our kitchen renovation count as a major undertaking, as far as I’m concerned.

That said, I wouldn’t be a very good blogger if I couldn’t come up with at least a couple of posts about this project, right? HGTV fanatics know that this is really just an excuse to show you before-and-after pictures. But I think I can milk a few actual life lessons from the experience too. Such as:

• Handy husband, happy wife.

We hired an outside company install the countertops and another contractor to paint the cabinet doors. Everything else, Randy did. I helped some. I carted debris from the kitchen to the garage. And I played the theoretical harp when tiling was almost more than Randy could bear. (It happens; just ask anyone who has ever tiled 400-plus-square feet around dozens of corners and hallways and toilets, using 1-foot-by-2-foot tiles.)

• The mess is a means to the end.

I was sort of prepared for this, thanks to years of life experiences divinely designed to make me more flexible. But I was still very happy when the dust finally settled, and when, at long last, we moved our kitchen table and chairs out of our living room and back into the kitchen.

• Dust can trigger eczema around your eyes.

Need I to say more? I now have a tiny bit of empathy for my younger daughter, who dealt with eczema more seriously for several years but has fortunately outgrown it.

• Do-it-yourself remodeling projects make you grateful for grace.

If you don’t believe me, maybe a direct quote from the Remodeler will convince you: “Good thing God doesn’t accept us into heaven by how well we tile.” ~ my husband

• Taking all the doors off your kitchen cabinets exposes pretty much everything.

It definitely highlights your favorite “scarlet” FiestaWare dishes. It also presents a good opportunity to go through those cabinets and get rid of items you never use, don’t need or didn’t even know you had. (My minimalist husband wishes I had taken advantage of that opportunity a little more than I did, however.)

• Sometimes you need professional help.

When we decided to paint the outside of our house, I wanted dark navy and Randy wanted tan. We never would have agreed on a color scheme—for the outside or the kitchen—were it not for Cheryl, the Sherwin-Williams color consultant I mentioned earlier.

• First choice may not always be the best choice.

In the case of our kitchen, this was definitely the case. The white we ended up with on our walls makes the space feel much more warm and inviting than earlier paint samples, and while the countertops we finally chose don’t sparkle like the quartz I originally wanted, they do tie all our surfaces together in the best way possible.

• Sometimes you just have to live with the squeaks.

I don’t mind squeaky floors. I think they add character, actually. (That might have something to do with the fact that I grew up in a turn-of-the-20th-century farmhouse.) Randy, on the other hand, does mind squeaky floors. And he goes to what some would call extreme measures to get rid of them. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t.

Which brings me to my final lesson:

• Perfection is not the goal.

In home remodeling, and in life. We do our best. But good enough is good enough.

• • •

Are you wondering what the kitchen looks like now? Click here for some of my favorite “after” pictures, along with some final thoughts about the completed project.

Lois

Perfection is not the goal—in home remodeling, and in life. We do our best. But good enough is good enough. Click To Tweet

P.S. I’m linking up this week with Purposeful Faith, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.

Leave a Comment

20 comments

Bethany McIlrath August 9, 2020 - 5:33 pm

Praise God for handy husbands and life lessons that come with tangible reminders- like a renovated kitchen! I’m on the edge of my seat for the next set of photos!

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Lois Flowers August 10, 2020 - 7:56 pm

Amen to that, Bethany! 💓

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Annie August 8, 2020 - 12:40 pm

Love this! And love how your kitchen is coming together. I think the color scheme is beautiful. I love how you were able to look at this process and pick out the life lessons.

And I love your husband’s quote:“Good thing God doesn’t accept us into heaven by how well we tile.” I am going to share this with my husband. He is a general contractor and he has just had a bit of a challenge with some tilers who did a very questionable job on a tiling project. 🙂

Looking forward to seeing your new kitchen all done!

Love,
Annie

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Lois Flowers August 8, 2020 - 2:42 pm

Thanks, Annie! It was a fun post to write. 🙂 I’ve heard subcontractor horror stories from my husband too … sometimes they are so ridiculous they’re funny, but I know it’s frustrating for people who need the job to be done right. Hugs, friend!

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Trudy August 6, 2020 - 1:59 pm

Wow! What a huge project, Lois! You must be thrilled it is finally finished. I love your pics, especially of you and your handy hubby working and Molly looking up through that hole in the floor. 🙂 I’m looking forward to the “after” pics. I love the white cupboards and the countertop. How are you doing? When I answered your comment on my post, I was thinking you had already brought Lilly to college, but I guess July was her grad party. Maybe this month you bring her to college? It will be such an adjustment for you all. Love and blessings of strength and peace in this uncertain time!

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Lois Flowers August 7, 2020 - 6:00 pm

So good to hear from you, Trudy. I wish I could show you the kitchen in person! 🙂 I’m doing OK … trying to take one thing at a time and not think too far out in the future. We take Lilly to school next week … lots to think about and do between now and then! Hugs, friend.

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Susan Shipe August 5, 2020 - 10:20 am

I can’t wait to see the after shot!

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Lois Flowers August 7, 2020 - 5:49 pm

Stay tuned, Susan … 🙂

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Joanne Viola August 5, 2020 - 7:26 am

Renovation projects produce much dust, remind us of our weaknesses, and bring such an appreciation for the process of transformation. Oh, and in our kitchens as well 🙂

I so enjoyed this post, Lois, and look forward to seeing the outcome!

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Lois Flowers August 7, 2020 - 5:49 pm

So true, Joanne. This project tested my patience at times, but not as much as it would have five years ago! 🙂

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Jennifer Smith August 4, 2020 - 7:15 pm

I cannot believe you left us hanging like that!! Can’t wait to see those finished photos!!:) (and great lessons there!)

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Lois Flowers August 7, 2020 - 5:48 pm

Oops, sorry about that, Jennifer. 🙂 I’m trying to work on the next post in between helping my daughter get ready for college … it’s a good diversion! 🙂

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Linda Stoll August 4, 2020 - 1:38 pm

Oh this is so inspiring! This is a project we need to get going on but it seems so immense, Lois.

We’re waiting for an appliance to die before we start. NOT one of our better ideas.

Love the counters, the white cabinets.

Bliss!

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Lois Flowers August 7, 2020 - 5:45 pm

Linda, the immensity of the project intimidated us for a long time too … I’m guessing you’ll know when the time is right, dead appliance or not! (We actually replaced all of ours along the way … they were all in bad shape when we bought the house!) Hugs, friend!

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Lesley August 4, 2020 - 8:55 am

Wow, this definitely looks like a big project – well done to you and your husband! I hope you’re enjoying your new kitchen after all that hard work. And thanks for sharing the lessons learned along the way. I look forward to seeing the “after” pictures next time.

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Lois Flowers August 7, 2020 - 5:43 pm

Thanks, Lesley! I am definitely enjoying the new kitchen … it’s so bright and airy and just feels so much better. I’m working on those after pictures … getting our older daughter ready for college is sorta impeding my progress, but first things first, right? 🙂

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Yvonne Chase August 4, 2020 - 7:29 am

What a blessing to have a live-in handyman. I’m sure you all saved a lot of money DIY. I love your slotted plate rack. That stood out to me. Oh, I would have so much fun cooking in your kitchen. Because I cook so much, it’s often the first thing I look at when looking at living spaces. Enjoy your new kitchen. Your husband did a great job. And yes, good enough is good enough!

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Lois Flowers August 7, 2020 - 5:41 pm

Thanks so much, Yvonne. I do appreciate my husband’s DIY skills … there’s not much he’s not willing to tackle! I love the plate rack too … it encourages me use my favorite dishes every day because they are out in the open and not stuck in a cabinet. 🙂

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Michele Morin August 4, 2020 - 7:16 am

I am always struggling to be okay with a B+ in my mental grade book.
And after our own Kitchen Reno project, I just thoroughly enjoyed and agree with every word here!

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Lois Flowers August 7, 2020 - 5:38 pm

I’m glad you enjoyed it, Michele … that’s more common ground we share, of the decidedly dusty variety!

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