Paiute, CO - 2005
Starting from Square One
This home renovation project began in 2004 as a mid-century reno in an amazing little hamlet near Boulder, CO called Niwot. What started as a bump out in front and back with a raised roof, turned into a complete teardown of everything above the basement, which we lived in for the duration of the project. Seventeen long months later we moved upstairs, into this amazing home that was completely ours in every way.
Taking Control
As it happens with many projects, the homeowner turns into the project manager, overseeing every detail in order to keep the budget from blowing out of proportion. As project manager I got to design everything myself. The learning curve was steep, but we had little choice in the matter. I did everything from working with the architect to formulate the style and configuration of the home to designing the electrical layout. I chose every detail and finish, inside and out — from hardware and paint colors, to kitchen plumbing and lighting fixtures, siding, tile, exterior stone, columns, and roofing materials.
Learning New Tricks
My favorite space in the end was the kitchen, which is where we spent most of our time. I was able to customize every detail, especially the space for the refrigerator and freezer. I used single-box Frigidaire fridge and matching freezer units — which are amazingly inexpensive, and built the entire bank of cabinets on that wall to their depth. Doing this saved me from investing in a high end unit while giving me more space in both the cabinets and the fridge and freezer. The final product looked like a Sub Zero type appliance. I would go on to use this same product and concept in my Wabeek Lake condo many years later.
“Mistakes are inevitable during projects like these — so when they happen, the owner has to be creative and willing to compromise to get through.”
Getting Creative
Mistakes are inevitable during projects like these, so when they happen, the owner has to be creative and willing to compromise to get through. For example, when the cabinets were delivered and installed, all the pieces did not fit together. The cabinets that housed the gas cooktop were not measured properly, resulting in a gap between the counter top slabs which left an 8 inch opening at the left of the cooktop. I got a scrap of the same marble from the fabricator and had them fashion a spoon rest out of it to the exact measurements of the gap. I could have put my foot down and tried to negotiate with the cabinet maker, but that would have slowed the project to a standstill. As it happened, he was happy to cover the cost of the custom spoon rest. I have always missed the wonderfully carved convenience of it, ever since we left that dream home!
Moving On
Sadly my husband was transferred out of Colorado a few months after we moved upstairs, and thus began our history of moving and all of our future renovation adventures. The experience was painful but rewarding, and gave me the skills to handle all of our future renovations with ease and confidence.