All the trials and tribulations will all be self inflicted. It is really foolish, actually, to undertake this project as I am not creative, I don't have an "eye" for style, and I don't ask good questions about things I don't understand. Just to clarify: I definitely don't understand house construction.
But, I am going to do it. Or, at least, I think I am going to do it.
Back in 2009, when the financial world crashed, and when unemployment rate was rising, Hubby and I were able to buy a beautiful house. (It is true, we are totally undeserving of this house, and we are totally spoiled.) We were about to make an offer on a different house on a Monday in September, but happened to find this listing on a Saturday night, and I decided to just go see it. It wasn't in the neighborhood I had really wanted, but we kept getting our low ball offers rejected in the neighborhood I had wanted. My darling sister happened to be flying in on Sunday, and she and I went to the open house first. As we walked through the house, all I could think was, "Crap! This house is beautiful, I want it."
Hubby and I went back to see it, and we couldn't believe what a gem we had found. The house was adjacent to a pocket park, it had a long drive way, the yards were beautiful, it had an outdoor eating area, and it was just more than all the other crappy houses we were trying to buy in a "nicer" neighborhood. If my memory serves me right, I think Hubby had said, "Sh$t! There is more to this house?"
We made an offer.
We got outbid.
Hubby took Zoe, who was just 2 1/2 years old and knocked on the door, begging the sellers to reconsider. I cried.
Then, a miracle happened. The escrow "fell out." As we were in the backup position, we bought the house, on Hubby's birthday.
When we moved in, I thought the house was just perfect.
Oh, the ugliness of a human heart is that it would never be content. (Partly because I actually believe my heart would never be content with what this world has to offer, you see, I believe that I am not made for this world. I am made for something better, an eternal life with God, that makes everything here seem shabby and ugly.) Anyway, about two years later, I started thinking, "Hmm, this kitchen is just not right. I don't like it anymore. I deserve more."
Three little ugly words: I deserve more. I am fully aware that just 24 months ago, I had thought, "I totally don't deserve this house." It had taken a miracle for the other buyers to terminate escrow. Nope, amnesia kicked in, and I decided this kitchen was not good enough for me anymore.
The sellers had actually refaced the cabinets, replaced the appliances, and changed out the counter top not too long before they sold the house to us. And I decided I deserved more: Stainless appliances, granite counter top, more storage.
Hubby and I talked about it. I started meeting with contractors in 2011, I read design magazines, I talked with friends who had renovated. I saw friends' new homes with amazing kitchens, I secretly judged those people with beautiful kitchens but ordered take out all the time, because I was discontent and jealous.
Hubby and I had talked about it, then decided to shelf the project. He and I were working so hard, kids were keeping us very busy, (whom am I kidding, they still keep us busy.) It really wasn't a good time.
I decided to shelf it permanently: We would just move.
But I loved the park, I loved our dear neighbors.
I will tell you about the on-and-off drama that continued for the last two years, as well as the details of all the "passionate discussions" we had as we go along here.
As of Friday, the project is on: I wrote a check for the deposit for our new cabinets. (Hopefully the check won't bounce.)
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