two weeks and counting (modern southern bungalow week 33)

We are officially scheduled to move out of our apartment and back into our house on June 20. For those counting, that is just 15 days away. I have a LOT of work to do in that 15 days. So do our contractors. Anyone have a sofa we can sleep on for a couple of weeks?

Quick PSA for those of you considering a major remodel or a new build who have a full-time job involving scheduled hours when you have to physically be somewhere: your remodel/build project will be a second job. Plan accordingly. I have mentioned this before, but the sheer number of decisions can lead to decision paralysis even if you have a great designer and a great builder. At some level, you already know that building projects take longer than you think they will. I think everyone who has done this before will agree that the last couple of months drag on F.O.R.E.V.E.R.

In our last installment of the Modern Southern Bungalow project, we talked about things learned most recently on this project, including the importance of *complete* lighting plans, hardware budgets, and taking your time. Update on that: my hardware for the kitchen came in and it is shiny brass. Like 1980s shiny brass. I mean, it would probably be fine for a disco, but not for my kitchen. 

Trust me, it looks better in photos than in real life.

I rush ordered some alternative samples (I normally don't say this, but thank goodness for Amazon Prime – you truly can find anything on there) on Sunday and they are already here. The “vintage brass” sample looks more like the soft gold I was after than the original hardware that I ordered, which was labeled “French gold” (not to be confused with the “champagne” finish, which my contractor said he had just installed somewhere and was actually brown). The black is good, but maybe too heavy. On the other hand, our faucets will be matte black, and I think the black will make the green feel more green and less blue. My husband and I are at a bit of an impasse on this point. I’ll let you know where the chips fall as soon as they do. In the meantime, time for your weekly broken record: do not trust your screen for colors. Do not trust other people’s description of colors. Order samples. Always. Sorry, but that sentiment warrants bold typeface.

This week, the painters are in the house spraying, and fingers crossed, the cabinetry and tile will finally be finished. We will also be getting a new countertop for the powder room as the original marble we selected was dropped and the replacement was the wrong color. I tell you these things because this is why remodel projects take so much time. Things happen. People make mistakes. It’s all good as long as you don’t get caught up in it (I totally wanted to say “as long as you don’t get your panties in a wad” there. Do people still say that?). I’m working so hard on not getting caught up in it right now that you can probably feel my brain exploding from wherever you are reading this. I should definitely revisit practicing yoga.