Knowing that neither of us had the skills nor the desire to do the work ourselves,
we knew we had to hire a contractor.
We had delayed taking this step too long, paralyzed by horror stories
about shady contractors and shoddy workmanship.
Our number one concern was finding an experienced,
knowledgeable, and honest contractor.
Worries, the Stuff of Nightmares!
Now, a year later we have a beautiful new space, after renovating
our kitchen, our living room, the dining room, two bathrooms,
two bedrooms, a hallway, a stairwell, and a deck.
And we survived the process without killing each other!
We're thrilled with the results!
#1 Before ~ Sorry About the Mess! 😂
Cleaning, Sorting and Packing
#2 Before ~ Sorry About the Mess! 😂
Cleaning, sorting, Packing
#3 Before ~ Our Breakfast Nook
Always a Bit of a Disaster
After #1
After #2
After #3
After #4 That Breakfast Nook Repurposed as an Exercise Space and Open Area
Since we survived, I'm sharing some tips for getting through a major renovation.
#1: Understand what you are getting into.
There are many factors to consider before undertaking a major renovation, among them:
- whether or not you will hire professionals
- the cost
- how long it will take
- whether you stay in your home or move out during the renovation
- what to pack and where to store the things you pack
- the design and materials
- the disruption to your lives, especially if you have children and/or pets
- how to handle disagreements over decisions you must make.
- the impact a renovation may have on your relationship with your partner
So, before you commit and start demolishing your home's interior, understand what you are getting into.
Demolition Underway ~ No Turning Back Now!
April 14, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
A renovation is one of the most stressful things you can undertake, often resulting in conflicts over control, money, taste, and managing the inevitable anxiety that surfaces during the process.
There are countless decisions that have to be made, and no decision is worth harming or risking your relationship. Never forget that you love each other and that must take priority over everything. I love Terry. He loves me. Bottom line.
Terry and I
Byodo-in Temple Grounds, Oahu, Hawaii
March 15, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
#3. Communicate.
The stress of upheaval, constant dust and disarray, and the coming and going of workers at all hours can ignite your emotions. You always need to remember that comments made under duress may not reflect how you or your partner really feel. 😂 Wait for a calmer moment and talk and listen to each other.
#4. Compromise.
There is no hill worth dying on, if you put your relationship first. Really, is your kitchen hardware, the tile in your shower, or the pattern of tile resurfacing your fireplace the be-all and end-all? Be open with each other and work together to solve problems that arise. Each of you should be willing to make concessions.
Before
After
#5. Complement each other.
Complement each other generously. Appreciation calms stressed-out emotions.
Great Job, Babe! You Make Delicious Air Fryer Chicken
Under Challenging Conditions!
April 17, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
#6. Be Kind, To Your Spouse or Partner and Yourself.
A major renovation is a marathon. Things will never go exactly as planned. Have empathy, compassion, and respect for each other and yourself. Many mornings when I woke up and crawled out of my futon on the floor, Terry handed me a fresh cup of hot coffee, a simple thing, but so appreciated. And I actively looked for ways I could be kind to Terry every day.
Yes, You Can Survive Living Like This for Four Months
if You Are Kind to Each Other.
#7. Be Flexible.
Nothing goes perfectly according to the timeline you have worked out with your contractor. In our case, somehow the carpet didn't get ordered. The world didn't end. The renovation took longer than we expected. It's no big deal, especially looking back. 😂. So go with the flow and don't get bent out of shape. If you can, take a break and go somewhere fun ~ which for us is Las Vegas!
Almost Nothing Beats Meeting a Special Friend, Jon, in Las Vegas
8 East, Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
July 1, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Our contractor told us that we would love them in the beginning and wish they were long gone near the end. We did love Tivoli Renovation, Inc. in the beginning, and we were glad when they were finished. But we always appreciated the skilled workers and their conscientious attitudes. During the challenging times Terry and I focused on our end goal to pull us through.
Looking back, I remember all the great people who made our renovation a success. Really, a great contractor who stands by his work is worth the cost!
How did we find them? Word of mouth through Terry's pickleball friends. And, very importantly, we went and looked at their work in a home that had recently been renovated by them.
Al Straarup, Our Contractor, Mapping Out Our Kitchen Island
April 16, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Al and Logan Finishing the Very Last Thing ~ Grab Bars in Our Master Bath Shower
September 7, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
#9. Stay Positive!
You can overcome any obstacles you encounter together. There are always unexpected glitches. Roll with them. You'll get there in the end, and when you're enjoying your new renovated spaces, it will be well worth it.
My Sister Donnie and Terry Enjoying Our New Kitchen
November 18, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
A good friend of mine, Julie, gave me invaluable advice. She said to photograph everything along the way. When all is done, you may not remember where things are behind the walls and under the floors. A photo can help you locate electrical wiring, plumbing, and other details in the future if you need to. And take some photos to remember all the great people who worked on your renovation.
Some of the Kitchen Wiring
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Mauro, An Artist with Tile
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Juan, a Skilled Painter with a Great Sense of Humor
June 6, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
and Lacey at Aurora Winnelson for their expertise and excellent design work.
Al Straaup certainly knew who to recommend to help us with design and materials.
We still have art to hang and a few old things to replace with new,
but we are enjoying every minute in our new living space.
If anyone has a tip to share, I'd love to hear it.
You never know, we might want to renovate more in the future.
Wishing all my blogging buddies a great weekend!
Enjoy the holiday season!
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com
Copyright ©2025 – All rights reserved.
My next post will be
Friday, December 19, 2025 🤞
On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Nope, no hill is worth dying on. (Okay, one is, but others aren't.) Bet it was unnerving to see all that open space and wires in your kitchen.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Louise!
Merry Christmas, Alex! Not to mention the bathrooms gutted too. It was unnerving, but it was also fascinating because it was all new for me. I asked a LOT of questions and learned so much. The guys were great! Everyone has a unique story. Seeing Golgotha would be a profound experience. Have a great weekend.
DeleteYou have my total sympathy and understanding! Our reconstruction work in the house is finished (unless I decide to redo all of the door/window framing, baseboards). But we still need fresh paint throughout. Your house has gone through quite the transformation. I love your kitchen and island - bet you guys love it as well!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dreaming! Thank goodness our door/window framings were done, the baseboards replaced, and every inch painted. One and done, and I'm grateful we could do it that way. I love the kitchen, and I write on the island every day. Terry and I can finally work together in the kitchen without constantly bumping into each other. 😂. Enjoy your weekend!
DeleteCongrats to you both for surviving the process! Enjoy your beautiful newly renovated home! It looks marvelous!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra! We are so enjoying it. Have a great day!
Delete...Louise, I'm glad that you made it!!!
ReplyDeleteMe too, Tom! 😂. All the best to you!
DeleteDear Louise, I absolutely love ❤️ the after pictures. Everything looks neat, relaxing and welcoming. And your smile always 😊 brightens my day, dear friend.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda! You always make my day! Have an awesome weekend!
DeleteThat is a really good idea on the pictures. As then you won't hit wires when you go to hang a picture or something too, if one uses nails.
ReplyDeleteSure turned out great indeed. I like what they said about the start and end.
With many things in life it isn't worth dying on that hill. Most aren't really anything that's super important anyway.
One can adapt to living any which way indeed, especially if it's a finite time. I lived in one cramped little room for 3 months with Cassie when my apartment building caught fire.
Wow, Pat! How scary to have your apartment building catch on fire! Cassie would be great companion to help you get through. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Cassie. I've been having fun reading "The Cove." 😂 Enjoy your weekend!
DeleteYour post underscores how preparation, communication, and partnership can turn a daunting renovation into a rewarding transformation.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Roentare! I appreciate your supportive comment. I hope you are in the middle of a relaxing weekend!
DeleteIt looks gorgeous Louise. That was a huge job, but it must be nice to have it finished and know now you survived it and can enjoy it. I hope you make some wonderful memories there. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteThanks, Erika! I'm going to try my best! Wishing you an awesome weekend! ❤️
Deleteohhhhh. Great post. I'm looking at the first photo of our kitchen thinking I would love to have that kitchen. Except for that drawer. LOL Then I saw the remodel and thought, "ohhh yeahh a dream kitchen." Your contractor did a fantastic job. Your home is gorgeous. All of your advice is spot on. Before moving here, Mr. M. and I owned a 1917 home in N. Idaho. We remolded it from basement to roof and we did all of the work ourselves. It was my dream home, except, it was on the ID. MT. border and got more snow than anyone should have to deal with. Like, the snow gods would have extra and throw it down on us. With our health we just couldn't do any longer and had to sell. Seriously, I miss my home everyday. I wrote all of that to say, I am so impressed with the work that was done in your home. It is absolutely stunning! P.S. Yes the atmospheric river hit with a vengeance. Some flooding in my area but further north got it worse. It seems to be a yearly thing now. Thank you for sharing your home with FFO and have the best weekend.
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Nicole! I'm glad to hear that your area hasn't been hit too hard. My heart goes out to everyone who is suffering from the floods. I'm sorry that you had to leave your dream home, especially one you remodeled yourself. I get the snow though!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words about our renovation. This is my dream home. I've never had handles on drawers and cupboards since I came to the US in 1973. 😂. And my kitchen that was demolished was the most beautiful kitchen I had ever had. I was sad when they tore it apart. And my new shower is a dream ~ both are! I'll have to show both our showers in another post. Mauro and his partner Jose truly are masters at tiling. What I wanted was space and storage and calm. My ADHD brain needs calm and order. 😂. Have fun with your art, and I'm thinking about what I can draw. Love and hugs to you!
This is just spectacular! And I'm so glad you made it through and are still together! All your tips are excellent and so well explained. I don't think mine will ever be renovated at this time of life (Well, I DID get a new toilet!) but you never know. And you are so right about remembering the love and keeping the communication lines open. It's a stressful time, to be sure. You weathered the storm and now on to making wonderful new memories.
ReplyDeleteThat certainly was a huge job and probably quite unnerving at times. Your tips are really good ones, Louise. When we bought our current home, there was some renovation that needed to be done (by far not as much as yours) and we moved in while it was still going on. That was stressful, but also exciting. We also did a lot ourselves like painting, and there were some choice words exchanged for sure. But it all worked out and we are still so happy here - one of the best decisions in our life. There is always something to do at the house - we just installed a heat pump and my husband did it himself. It takes longer, but it also is wayyy cheaper. However, a big renovation like you did is something we certainly wouldn't do ourselves. This was a great, informative post.
ReplyDelete