Renovations are not always fun and easy. They usually are pretty stressful and somewhat terrifying, in case you were wondering. From experience, I've come up with a list of five ways to actually enjoy renovations. Or at least ways to renovate and avoid divorce...
2. Communicate AND Compromise Not everyone sees eye to eye during renovations. Be prepared for this. She wants the white feminine kitchen, he wants a dark masculine kitchen. Design styles differ, for sure. This is where it is great to have outside advice. Between communicating what you want and compromising with what they want, this is super important to a happy renovation. If you are absolutely set on a design or finish, be prepared to explain why. And be prepared to listen to their side. And together, figure out a compromise. You want white, he wants dark. Why not compromise and have dark on the bottom and white on top. Or a dark island (with a light counter) and white cabinets (with a dark counter) Contrast is a great design trick, and contrast goes hand in hand with compromise. Below is a great example! 3. Don't Tackle it ALL Between budget stresses and the lack of amenities, I recommend against biting off more than you can chew, especially if you are living in the house. If all your bathrooms suck, maybe try renovating just one at a time. Everyone needs a working toilet and shower. When we renovated our kitchen, we didn't have a sink or a dishwasher, but at least we still had a working tub! Don't make your house uninhabitable while renovating. Just don't.
5. Know That It Will Be Worth It Remembering that it will all be worth it in the end is hopefully enough for you to endure the renovation. Patience is a virtue, after all. Getting stressed out and worked up only makes things worse, so just breathe, have a coffee break and have fun! If you aren't that excited about the renovations, ask questions and try to learn something to make it a more positive experience. Remember to laugh and be encouraging to everyone involved in the renovation. If you are encouraging, rather than negative, it makes the whole project more enjoyable- for everyone. Contractors or spouses will always react more positively towards someone who isn't freaking out and being unreasonable. So there you have it! Those are my 5 recommendations on how to actually enjoy a renovation. Enjoy your renovations, and enjoy your Valentines! Because that's what it's all about: LOVE. Happy homes make happy families. xo Jena Please note, however, that I actually am one of those people that really enjoys renovating anyways,
2 Comments
mom
2/13/2015 12:07:15 pm
wonderful article, your not only beautiful your talented
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