The Remodel

Winters can be long, and with only one south-facing window in the house, I simply needed more light those six months of the year. 

Before...for 13 years

Before...for 13 years

Since we bought the home 13 years ago, a large fireplace wall in the living room silently begged for windows to flank it. Finding two beautiful, salvaged, lead glass windows in a consignment shop, I hung them for a time...hoping to give the illusion of real windows.  But they brought no light.

Finally, when a contractor friend assured me it could be easily done, we hired a carpenter to cut into the drywall.  When it was pulled away, we found more than insulation and the back side of the exterior brick wall.  No, it wasn't stuffed with cash from a frugal previous owner, it was electrical lines and pipes that we hadn't even considered existed.  

The Delay

During...for 8 days

During...for 8 days

Not only did the added expense of rewiring with an electrician and rerouting with a plumber throw me, but the ensuing delay for the carpenter, the dry-waller, the window guy, the brick mason, and the painters created a circus of frustration and shuffled schedules.

Not being able to do any of the work myself, and having a husband and two sons with construction experience unavailable, I felt stuck.  There were apologies, strings of texts, and a few tears.

The Rescue

I texted two neighbors at 9:00 p.m.:  Dave, the electrician who had just had double knee replacement surgery three weeks earlier, and Karl, the plumber, who was consistently slammed busy and kind of grumpy.  With the construction industry booming, I was holding out hope that they would know of someone who could come do this "little job" for me.  Could they come take a quick look?

Dave, white faced and hobbling, showed up the next morning.  He slowly cut holes, cut wires, and took notes.  I ran back and forth to his truck, moved a stool around behind him so he could sit when needed, and chattered my thanks the whole time. 

Karl assessed the scene and said he could move pipes. "But why haven't the windows been framed in yet? This is going to throw everything off if you want this done by Thanksgiving."  I nodded, explained that the carpenter had run out of wood and then my tears spilt over.

He quickly assured me there was no need to cry as he had framed his own house, and we could get it done.  I couldn't help myself and threw my arms around him.  He stood there stiffly in the mess of drywall, insulation, and a frantic homeowner.

He called a helper, postponing the job they were supposed to be to, and spent the morning doing the framing and moving the pipes to create space for the windows, just in time for the brick masons to do their job of punching through and allowing the light to flood in.

The Result

The painter's tape and protective sheeting was rolled up and tossed.  The drywall dust was wiped off everything...and I mean everything, everywhere.  The new furniture was moved into place.  The turkey was in the oven.  My husband was hanging the last painting on the wall as the dinner guests walked up the driveway carrying Thanksgiving side dishes.  I could see them coming through my new windows.

I felt a blush and a rush of gratitude.  Not just for the beautifully bright and new environment that had been created.  Or for the arrival of my favorite holiday of the year.  But for the pure goodness of people who i mistakenly thought of as too grumpy, or too busy, or too sick to help.

The remodel was most needed in my perceptions of others.  And the light came flooding in.

And finished!

And finished!