Construction Zone Ahead

I am a nervous wreck. Stressed, frazzled and exhausted some days. I would love to put myself in a nice quiet time out for a few days, but instead I find myself making a scheduled to-do list so I can hopefully get everything done without creating a disaster of epic proportions. What has me in so much distress? The new kitchen I have been dreaming about will soon be a reality. A budget busting, major construction, dirty messy dealing with contractors nightmare of a dream.

This past summer I saw the cabinets of my dream online. I ooh'd and ahh'd and came up with a new kitchen design that would involve knocking down walls ,relocating doors, new wiring, new plumbing and a budget that I was hopeful I could stay within. As the new year started I decided it was time to start planning. I met with the kitchen designer and got my design on paper (really on a computer with neat 3d software). I spent hours looking online at appliances and soon realized I would have to make a few concessions to keep from blowing the budget. The price came back on the cabinets - just the cabinets, no installation, no countertops, just the cabinets and they were over 50% of my budget. The designer was already prepared and had a more affordable option to show me. They were nice and still very high quality. Just not that really sleek smooth modern surface I wanted. It took me a few days but I knew I would be very happy with these and I could live with the price. We slowly inched back down towards our budget.

Purchasing the cabinets, countertops etc. is only part of the equation. I had thought going in I would use the suppliers contractors for everything, but the designer warned me that would cost more than hiring my own. They also had a policy that an adult had to be on site at all times. I don't think Alan or my employers would be happy with that. So I luckily knew of some good reliable contractors and I am slowly getting quotes together and getting booked in with them to do the work required. Looking at my overall budget I had what I thought would be a sufficient amount to cover the contractors fees. Well I have my quote from the carpenter and plumber and we have already blown that budget. Fingers crossed the electrician won't shock me (pun intended) with yet another bid totally over my expectations.

So as I inch closer to a start date - 31 days (OMG) the time for second guessing, comparison shopping and cold feet about spending so much money has to move aside because I have to get my butt in gear and get to work clearing out the garage and making room to relocate everything that is in my kitchen and try to set up some type of temporary one. I have floor tile to rip up and hardwood floors to refinish. I still need to decide on a new back door and get it ordered along with a replacement window. Oh and since we are relocating the back door I have to move the doggie door to the laundry room and since there isn't a porch where the new dog door or new back door are being installed (a 30 in. drop to the ground) I have to build a deck. I should say we have to build a deck - I've already told Alan that he will be helping me with this. Am I crazy - most definitely, it is the middle of soccer season, games every Tuesday and Friday evenings. Track season begins in two weeks will also run throughout the duration of this project. Oh and to add to the chaos we delivered an eviction notice to the tenants in our rent house and we will be trying to sell it once they have vacated the property. If insanity didn't run in the family in previous generations I will be the one responsible for it in all future ones.
Let the construction begin!