| Remodels are tough on everyone. The house is | | | | day, honey?" Conducting heart-to-heart |
| out of order, | | | | conversations |
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| the refrigerator is out of pudding, and the | | | | around the dinner table during a remodeling |
| family wiener dog | | | | process is like |
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| is out of sorts as he searches for his food | | | | carpeting your bathroom-not a good idea. |
| dish. To help | | | | Even if you delay |
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| ease the stress of a remodel, we suggest you | | | | such discussions until later in the evening, |
| follow the list | | | | you may find it |
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| of tips below.1. Invest in "his" and "hers" | | | | difficult to concentrate as you gaze at the |
| robes. During a remodel, your | | | | rec room through a |
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| house in no longer your own. Everyone from | | | | hole in the floor.6. Get-togethers are |
| Pete the | | | | great-but not at your house. Family and |
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| plumber to Earl the electrician walks | | | | friends, they mean well. But under no |
| through your home at | | | | circumstances should |
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| all hours with little regard for privacy. If | | | | you invite anyone over before the project is |
| you'd rather they | | | | complete. Wait |
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| concentrate on the work in front of them | | | | for the paint to dry before you break out |
| instead of you | | | | the fondue set. Even |
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| walking by them, we suggest you invest in | | | | if she wants to view the work in progress, |
| some | | | | you know full well |
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| robes-preferable terry cloth for their | | | | Aunt Mabel is bound to say something about |
| comfort and thickness.2. Stuff your speed | | | | the entry tile |
| dial with take-out. Even if the kitchen isn't | | | | |
| | | | that will send you into orbit and drop you |
| | | | back on Earth |
| part of your remodeling project, it's a good | | | | |
| idea to create a | | | | feeling sick to your stomach.7. Do not open |
| | | | until X-Mas. You may be tempted to plan a |
| robust file of take-out and delivery menus | | | | |
| from local | | | | party or host a family holiday shortly after |
| | | | the anticipated |
| restaurants. Place settings and candles on a | | | | |
| cardboard | | | | project completion date. Don't. If you |
| | | | thought picking out a |
| box where your dining room table used to be | | | | |
| aren't | | | | faucet for the master bath made you sweat, |
| | | | try cutting up |
| motivation for anyone to prepare five-course | | | | |
| meals. And you | | | | jicama for your party and then noticing a |
| | | | blotch of ceiling |
| never know when you may find yourself | | | | |
| without electricity, | | | | paint on the backsplash. Even under the |
| | | | perfect conditions, |
| natural gas or water. Plus, delivery guys | | | | |
| need the tips.3. Get to know that guy with | | | | remodeling always takes longer than |
| his name stitched to his shirt. | | | | anticipated. There's |
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| Prior to starting your project, kindle a | | | | plenty of touch-up work required up to a |
| relationship with your | | | | month after the |
| | | | |
| local gas station attendant. Buying bottled | | | | tradesmen call it a wrap. And it's not like |
| water, dairy | | | | the perfect |
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| products and using the facilities will be a | | | | accessories are just waiting to be snapped |
| much more | | | | up at your |
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| pleasant experience when you know the person | | | | neighbor's garage sale. Our best advice to |
| behind the | | | | you is that you |
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| name. You may even get a smile every now and | | | | plan your first party six months after the |
| then.4. Know when to drop everything and run. | | | | estimated project |
| Just as you would | | | | |
| | | | completion date.We hope these survival tips |
| for a double date with the couple across the | | | | come in handy as you plan for |
| street, devise a | | | | |
| | | | your next remodeling project. If you're |
| plan of escape. Even the best-run projects | | | | tired of survival tips |
| can try your | | | | |
| | | | and are looking for someone who will offer |
| patience and linger on with no end in sight. | | | | you a wonderful |
| Tack the phone | | | | |
| | | | remodeling experience, hire top-notch |
| number and picture of a close friend or | | | | professional interior |
| favorite hotel to your | | | | |
| | | | designers or architects who come highly |
| refrigerator (if you still have one). | | | | recommended by |
| Knowing that there's an | | | | |
| | | | friends, family or associates.Lisa Peck and |
| alternate site to the natural disaster that | | | | Kristen Mengelkoch are partners and |
| was once your | | | | |
| | | | principal interior designers at Pisa Design, |
| orderly home may be all the therapy you need | | | | Inc. in |
| until the | | | | |
| | | | Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are experts in |
| project is completed.5. Hold off on | | | | both remodel |
| conversations that start with "How was your | | | | |
| | | | and new construction residential projects. |