Newsletter

At our house winter is usually busy. Our remodeling project list is
long, and Don and I enjoy doing these projects so we tend to just jump right
in when the mood hits. However, like most do-it-yourselfers, we sometimes
forget how supposedly "small" jobs can take on a life of their own. And,
like many of you, we get caught up in the moment and forget to plan
everything carefully.

Sometimes an unplanned project springs from something as simple as a
question from my brother. "What payback project do you have planned for my
upcoming visit?", Roger asked in January. Without a blink I decided to
replace the two, tiny kitchen countertops, covered with 1940's linoleum, with
white ceramic tile. How hard is that?

But . . . Up popped the question of what happens in the future, when we
install a dishwasher? A cabinet, with one of those new countertops, would be
torn out, meaning I'd waste time, energy, and a bit of cash. I'd lived
without a dishwasher for two years, eight months (who's counting?), and my
rural background suggested that it isn't really a necessity. But the side of
my brain that can justify most anything hinted that I spend too much time
washing dishes.

Saving time. That phrase moved the dishwasher to the top of the wish
list. And, because my brother could help us carry it from our truck to the
kitchen, my back voted with my brain: Buy it now.

Then my organizing gene kicked in. By replacing the cabinet with a
dishwasher, I had to relocate the baking supplies stored in that cabinet.
When considering the best spot for these items, I remembered my need for a
low, baker's countertop. Since we're remodeling anyway, why not add one to
my island? The island consists of four upper cabinets that make a square
base for my grandmother's enamel table. Moving the island over to one side
would create space for a short cabinet at one end, and topped with a butcher
block it would be the right height for mixing and rolling out dough. Being
near the stove and the mixer would make it perfect for storing and using the
baking supplies.

I outlined my idea on the floor with masking tape. When viewing this
proposed addition, my electrician husband said, "While I'm at it . . . "
Having caught the creativity bug, he added electrical outlets and task
lighting to our "simple" project. The task list grew by leaps and bounds,
as it now included tearing out countertops, removing a cabinet, installing a
dishwasher, re-plumbing the sink, tiling countertops, adding a new island
cabinet and countertop, priming and painting, electrical work, and of course
reorganizing the kitchen.

When we moved to this house a few years ago we knew we would evidentially
remodel the kitchen, and I had plenty of ideas gathered from magazines to
refer to. But we should have planned the project a little better. Shopping
with a complete list on an evening after work would have been much better
than our spending a whole Saturday buying supplies, arranging tile on the
store's floor, and making spur of the moment decisions. And those quick
decisions meant forgotten supplies, creating additional shopping trips. The
budget was blown each time we said, "We may as well. . . " We decided to go
ahead and install new cabinets throughout the kitchen. At the store realized
we needed to add trim and beadboard panels to the stock cabinets, so they
would match my "picture." Like a row of dominos falling our remodeling job
was no longer a weekend project.

At the job site, we "should have" had all of the supplies and tools
gathered before starting. After Don made a dozen trips to the basement, I
began stepping over a million tools in the kitchen floor. Finally I put the
items in categories -- all drill bits, all electrical, all plumbing, etc. --
which helped me tremendously when I became the "hand me" person.
Our spur of the moment planning also meant that Don wasted time trying to
use dull drill bits and saw blades to cut out the electrical box holes in the
inch-thick, plaster walls. Replacing the bits and blades cost a
ninety-minute errand, putting us behind schedule. For a week my kitchen walls
had five gaping holes, each stuffed with a blue Walmart bag to keep the damp
basement air out. Not exactly a Martha Stewart look. By not anticipating
the "uh-ohs" we lived without a kitchen sink for a week, and trust me,
washing dishes in the bathtub is no fun. Don admits that he failed to
research a few plumbing questions that he had, which added yet another
unexpected ninety-minute errand late at night to get the "right parts."

When we realized our poor planning was costing us, we organized the
project and the stress lifted. We actually had fun. We learned new how-to
tips (usually as we finished the task), and we now know what not to do!

The dust has settled (mostly on the living room furniture), my new
baking center (with a beautiful granite top) is wonderfully convenient, and
the kitchen is rearranged. I've dropped off the bags of un-needed, un-used
and/or un-loved stuff to charity, and I sure do enjoy my new dishwasher.
Frankly, everything looks better than the magazine pictures that prompted the
remodel!

So what does remodeling have to do with organizing? Because projects,
from remodeling to crafts -- are just like clutter. Projects and clutter
usually require more time than scheduled, can be all-consuming, can waste
money if you're not careful, and they sure can get out of hand. Careful
planning and organizing can save time and money. Being realistic with time
expectations (and the budget) can save your sanity. And if all else fails,
just remember, even a very organized person like me can easily forget all
that when they're swept away by the magazine pictures!

Tips for DIY Projects:

• Keep a prioritized list of projects, with the estimated amount of time and
  money for each.
  
• Buy, borrow, or rent the right tools. They'll save time, and you'll be
  more pleased with the results. If you're going to do it, do it right.
  
• When renting tools and/or equipment, check the rental store's hours. If the
  store is closed on Sundays you may be able to rent an item on a Saturday
  afternoon, and not have to return it until opening time on Monday morning --
  gaining extra work time.
  
• Gather and organize your materials and tools before starting. Sounds like
  a no-brainer, but even I have times when, halfway through a project, I find
  I'm missing one little thing. Stopping to run an errand wastes a lot of time
  and sometimes money.

Painting Tips:

• I have two sets of painting clothes: Winter and summer, and no longer keep
  a lot of old clothes for "painting." I store the clothes with my other
  painting supplies like brushes, tape, etc. All of these supplies, except
  the paint, are stored in a plastic crate.
  
• In this crate of paint supplies I keep a zip-top bag with the small items I
  always need: like painter's tape, a can opener, a nail, a sponge, the comb to
  clean the brushes, etc.
  
• The nail is used to punch holes in a new paint can's inner lip, so the
  drips will go back into the can instead of dripping down the side of it.
  
• When finished painting mark the paint level on the outside of the can, so
  you'll know how much paint is leftover. Also label the paint can with the
  room where it was used.
  
• If desired, write the required amount of paint or wallpaper for each room
  on a piece of masking tape. Stick the tape to the inside of the room's light
  switch cover.
  
• Paint an index card with a dab of each room's colors, and carry the card in
  your wallet, purse, or car. You'll be surprised at how many times you refer
  to the card when shopping.
  
• When painting set the paint can on a paper plate to catch drips.

Kitchen Organizing Tips:

• Group and store like items in categories, near where they're used.
  
• Cover the back (inside) of the cabinet doors with cork tile. Keep your
  grocery list, freezer inventory, coupons, take-out menus and/or messages
  here. This frees the fridge of clutter.
  
• Put cup hooks on the back (inside) of cabinet doors (be careful not to
  screw thru the door to the front side!). The hooks are great for hanging
  smaller items like measuring spoons, cups, etc.
  
• Separate baking sheets, wire cooling racks and other flat pans to make it
  easier to grab just one. A plate rack (the type that stands the plates on
  end) works great.
  
• Don't stack mixing bowls too high. It's a lot of trouble to unstack them to
  grab the middle one, if that's the one you use the most often.
  
• When stacking casserole dishes turn the bottom one upside down, then stack
  the next size on top of it. It's easier to remove a dish than if you had to
  un-nest them.
  
• Put those coffee cups on a higher shelf if they're rarely used. It's easy
  to stack the cups to fit the space if you use thick cardboard as "shelves"
  between the cups.
  
• Wrap a kitchen towel around a section of newspaper and line your
  refrigerator veggie drawers. The paper will soak up any moisture, keeping
  veggies crisp.
  
  

E-mail me: patsmoore@verizon.net your favorite tip.

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