Seven Ways to Survive a Remodel (And Save Your Marriage) Tips from Pisa Design, Inc

Remodels are tough on everyone. The house is out of order,

the refrigerator is out of pudding, and the family wiener dog

is out of sorts as he searches for his food dish. To help

ease the stress of a remodel, we suggest you follow the list

of tips below.

1. Invest in "his" and "hers" robes. During a remodel, your

house in no longer your own. Everyone from Pete the

plumber to Earl the electrician walks through your home at

all hours with little regard for privacy. If you'd rather they

concentrate on the work in front of them instead of you

walking by them, we suggest you invest in some

robes-preferable terry cloth for their comfort and thickness.

2. Stuff your speed dial with take-out. Even if the kitchen isn't

part of your remodeling project, it's a good idea to create a

robust file of take-out and delivery menus from local

restaurants. Place settings and candles on a cardboard

box where your dining room table used to be aren't

motivation for anyone to prepare five-course meals. And you

never know when you may find yourself without electricity,

natural gas or water. Plus, delivery guys need the tips.

3. Get to know that guy with his name stitched to his shirt.

Prior to starting your project, kindle a relationship with your

local gas station attendant. Buying bottled water, dairy

products and using the facilities will be a much more

pleasant experience when you know the person behind the

name. You may even get a smile every now and then.

4. Know when to drop everything and run. Just as you would

for a double date with the couple across the street, devise a

plan of escape. Even the best-run projects can try your

patience and linger on with no end in sight. Tack the phone

number and picture of a close friend or favorite hotel to your

refrigerator (if you still have one). Knowing that there's an

alternate site to the natural disaster that was once your

orderly home may be all the therapy you need until the

project is completed.

5. Hold off on conversations that start with "How was your

day, honey?" Conducting heart-to-heart conversations

around the dinner table during a remodeling process is like

carpeting your bathroom-not a good idea. Even if you delay

such discussions until later in the evening, you may find it

difficult to concentrate as you gaze at the rec room through a

hole in the floor.

6. Get-togethers are great-but not at your house. Family and

friends, they mean well. But under no circumstances should

you invite anyone over before the project is complete. Wait

for the paint to dry before you break out the fondue set. Even

if she wants to view the work in progress, you know full well

Aunt Mabel is bound to say something about the entry tile

that will send you into orbit and drop you back on Earth

feeling sick to your stomach.

7. Do not open until X-Mas. You may be tempted to plan a

party or host a family holiday shortly after the anticipated

project completion date. Don't. If you thought picking out a

faucet for the master bath made you sweat, try cutting up

jicama for your party and then noticing a blotch of ceiling

paint on the backsplash. Even under the perfect conditions,

remodeling always takes longer than anticipated. There's

plenty of touch-up work required up to a month after the

tradesmen call it a wrap. And it's not like the perfect

accessories are just waiting to be snapped up at your

neighbor's garage sale. Our best advice to you is that you

plan your first party six months after the estimated project

completion date.

We hope these survival tips come in handy as you plan for

your next remodeling project. If you're tired of survival tips

and are looking for someone who will offer you a wonderful

remodeling experience, hire top-notch professional interior

designers or architects who come highly recommended by

friends, family or associates.