Could creating a beautiful bathroom or the kitchen of your dreams wreak havoc on your life? In one word, yes. High expectations, ballooning budgets, things that go creak (and crash and boom) in the night, a phalanx of strangers coming and going and limited access to those amenities you’ve grown accustomed to – like running water and working appliances – can get to anyone. While you can’t escape the anxieties tied to a major bathroom or kitchen reno, you can definitely lay the foundation for a less stressful one.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit obortis arcu enim urna adipiscing praesent velit viverra. Sit semper lorem eu cursus vel hendrerit elementum orbi curabitur etiam nibh justo, lorem aliquet donec sed sit mi dignissim at ante massa mattis egestas.
Vitae congue eu consequat ac felis lacerat vestibulum lectus mauris ultrices ursus sit amet dictum sit amet justo donec enim diam. Porttitor lacus luctus accumsan tortor posuere raesent tristique magna sit amet purus gravida quis blandit turpis.
At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus integer feugiat nisl pretium fusce id velit ut tortor sagittis orci a scelerisque purus semper eget at lectus urna duis convallis porta nibh venenatis cras sed felis eget. Neque laoreet suspendisse interdum consectetur libero id faucibus nisl donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam nunc lobortis mattis aliquam faucibus purus in.
Dignissim adipiscing velit nam velit donec feugiat quis sociis. Fusce in vitae nibh lectus. Faucibus dictum ut in nec, convallis urna metus, gravida urna cum placerat non amet nam odio lacus mattis. Ultrices facilisis volutpat mi molestie at tempor etiam. Velit malesuada cursus a porttitor accumsan, sit scelerisque interdum tellus amet diam elementum, nunc consectetur diam aliquet ipsum ut lobortis cursus nisl lectus suspendisse ac facilisis feugiat leo pretium id rutrum urna auctor sit nunc turpis.
“Vestibulum pulvinar congue fermentum non purus morbi purus vel egestas vitae elementum viverra suspendisse placerat congue amet blandit ultrices dignissim nunc etiam proin nibh sed.”
Eget lorem dolor sed viverra ipsum nunc aliquet bibendumelis donec et odio pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas liquam sem fringilla ut morbi tincidunt augue interdum velit euismod. Eu tincidunt tortor aliquam nulla facilisi enean sed adipiscing diam donec adipiscing ut lectus arcu bibendum at varius vel pharetra nibh venenatis cras sed felis eget.
Could creating a beautiful bathroom or the kitchen of your dreams wreak havoc on your life? In one word, yes. High expectations, ballooning budgets, things that go creak (and crash and boom) in the night, a phalanx of strangers coming and going and limited access to those amenities you’ve grown accustomed to – like running water and working appliances – can get to anyone. While you can’t escape the anxieties tied to a major bathroom or kitchen renovation, you can definitely lay the foundation for a less stressful one.
A tiny north-facing bungalow bathroom is unlikely to ever become a sun-drenched, loft-style retreat (except in your dreams). Work with what you have – flip through books and magazines for attractive similarly sized bathrooms. Your bath may have the potential to become a cozy Moroccan-inspired cocoon.
Then add another 10 percent for unplanned expenses. Go to kitchen and bath showrooms and see what your renovation budget can buy. Labour and materials add up fast, as do miscalculations both big (“Why did we think our old appliances would match our new kitchen?”) and small (“Did I say matte finish for the paint? I meant gloss!”).
Stock cabinetry can take more than a month or two to arrive; custom cabinetry takes even longer. Murphy’s Law dictates that the one perfect shade of granite for your bathroom countertop will be out of stock when you want it. Or that the charcoal-coloured slate flooring you ordered will arrive in green. Also, the dearth of skilled labourers means you may have to wait (and wait) to get certain types of work done. Ask your supplier for the ETA of your product and follow up on your orders – yes, this is the time to be a squeaky wheel. Do the same with your contractor. Always be polite; you’re asking for accountability here, not miracles.
Or the not-so-small stuff, like a demolition’s worth of plaster crumbs, wood splinters and dust. While many contractors will take care of the basic cleanup after a renovation (waste disposal, a general vacuum and mopdown), consider hiring a heavy-duty cleanup crew for a really thorough job if you have the money. Expect to pay around $675 for a one-day visit from a team of four. Have no fear: If they run out of renovation-related tidying, they’ll get busy reorganizing your closet or garage. After all, you have better things to do with your time, like enjoying your new kitchen or bathroom.