I’m at work and there are 3 men in my house ripping schidt apart. I’ve met Matt-The-Contractor a few times and he seems like a really good guy. Very comfortable with him. I don’t know any of his workers. What if one of him was that guy that asked me to prom that I said no to? What if he puts my ugliest underpants on his head and takes pictures and posts them all over the internet!?!? What if? What if? What if? What if I just shut the phuck up?
I’m at work. It’s like renovating – blindfolded.
I give them the instructions, take pictures, make crude drawings and OVER communicate and hope that my vision is what gets executed. I put Matt on hold for the window installation portion, his price on the installation seemed really high to me, maybe I’m just naive. Anyone want to make an guesstimate on installing 2 double hung windows (60×48.25 each) and putting in a new header across a 6 foot span?
While we’re talking windows, I decided to bite the bullet and have the ugly-ass crank out window that’s above the kitchen sink replaced too. I hate crank out windows. Hate. Hate. Hate. Ick. I have to call Matt and ask him to measure it for me and then call the window place back to get a price.
Matt has his digital camera and will hopefully be sending pictures later. Bless technology!
I still haven’t picked out a countertop.
I still haven’t picked out tiles for either of the fireplace hearths (kitchen and dining room). Kinda tempted to put slate or terra cotta there.
I still haven’t picked out a color to paint the kitchen floor but after seeing Matt’s floor…screw the paint. Maybe we can have pretty wood?
I still haven’t decided what color to paint the kitchen.
TGIF.
November 9th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
we just had the house painted and a patio installed without being present. everything worked out fine. have faith.
November 9th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
And what time do you leave to drive up there and check on it?
November 9th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
I would never have a contractor in my home alone without a decision maker present, especially for the first project. Especially interior work. YOu need to see the process and make sure they are doing the job properly, they will have more questions for you which require swift decisions depending upon what they find, make sure they are not doing shoddy work using shabby materials and then charging you for higher end materials. If something goes wrong, it’s nobody’s fault but your own. It’s worth taking 1 day off to supervise and it sets the tone for the following work. Just b/c Matt is nice doesn’t mean he’s not lazy, cheap, or has non-effective help. But hopefully he will be a good contractor. Unfortunately, most are average to not.
November 9th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
I used regular Home Depot 4×4 slate tiles around my marble fireplaces and it looks nice.
I’ve had my problems with contractors before and even had to fire a couple, but Matt seems like he’s on the ball (from what you say).
And Shelley…what the hell is wrong with you?! Can’t you see how neurotic this chick is? You’re gonna make it worse!
November 10th, 2007 at 4:21 am
LOL I’m fine. I have no problem taking a leap of faith. It’s usually more interesting where you land. You have to remember, I work more than 100 miles from my house and I travel (a lot). Taking a day off entails a lot of restructuring and I can’t always make it work. Since we’re towards the end of the year I’m also basically out of vacation days. Sometimes, you just gotta go with your gut.
November 10th, 2007 at 4:22 am
also…he lives local to me and it’s a REALLY small community…
November 11th, 2007 at 12:42 am
sorry upstate, didn’t mean to get “rh” in an uproar….or you nervous for that matter. you certainly do have fiercely protective fans — just wanted to put a reality warning up in the midst of all the glowy comments. i’m sure you can appreciate an honest opinion b/c if life was that perfect in the world of house renovations, we probably wouldn’t have any blogs. and i do appreciate your long working hrs. and distance issues you have, i DID forget about that, so my bad
you can certainly handle any issues that would come up, i have no doubt…especially in a small community. sometimes you have to go with your gut is right! blogging just became more dangerous for me!
November 11th, 2007 at 1:39 am
this would be where i say hire an architect. And yes its a small community – of people with incredibly low expectations when it comes to construction, can you say texture 111. What about the twelve tribes, are they available?
http://www.storagewithstyle.com/vertical.html
November 11th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Shelley – Now worries at all. RH was just yanking your chain, she has a really great sense of humor and the typical NYC sense of irony/sarcasm that I have come to love. You should check out her blog, it’s fiercely informative and funny as hell.
jp – I of course try to not pass judgement on other people’s lives, but given my understanding of their (12 Tribes) viewpoint on women, I’m not jumping to hire them. My understanding of them could easily be completely ignorant. I think I saw them at a rock concert in NYC once.
November 12th, 2007 at 1:03 am
After looking at their website, all I can say is “cult”.
Hope the house is going well – post pics when Matt sends them!
November 12th, 2007 at 1:40 am
sexism aside, they are plain strange, ill pass judgement no problem.
November 12th, 2007 at 2:52 am
I’m just bummed that they bought the opera house, the Fiance desperately wants that building…or to at least get a tour of it. I know at some point we’re going to end up living in an old theater, he’s too obsessed with them to NOT live in one at some point.
November 12th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
Oops, I forgot to check back after leaving that post. Yeah, I’m a sarcastic beeatch. But negative people piss me off. So be afraid, Shelley. Be very afraid.
Do I have to do this now?
November 13th, 2007 at 1:02 am
ya’ll such badasses!