Caption Contest

Come up with a witty caption of this remodel picture and win an all expense paid tour of the job site.

Red shoes revisited....

Sometimes when you are looking into the deep well of destruction,demolition and deconstruction you see a bright light of possibility.
In my case, this epiphany came in the form of a pair of Dior shoes: RED, impossibly high heels and enough sass to last until judgement day.
Background story:
I was out gathering my fruits and veggies for the week at the Town & Country Farmer's Market, which in its own right brings joy to my heart, when I decided to stop in at Poor Little Rich Girl, a consignment resale shop on Indian School Rd. I walked in and spotted these beauties standing regally in a crowd of pedestrian offerings. My size?, no way. Dior? what?! Like new? 90.00, for real? No matter that these red hot mamas were a shoe-in for " Most impossible footwear to actually walk in".
I had to have them.

Sitting in my little studio space. Still looking perky and sassy amidst all the rubble that used to be my home. A talisman for all that is superfluous and fabulous.

Thoughts on remodeling

 

1. Living with the bare essentials, whether you are holed up in your bedroom washing dishes in your bathtub or living the dorm life in your back studio, makes you realize how little you really need which is cruelly ironic when you are expanding your space and upgrading to include unnecessary luxury items.

2. Construction workers are an interesting and lovable bunch. Living amidst a bunch of dudes on a daily basis you learn a lot like, the reason they walk so funny is because their tool belts are so damn heavy.

3. Sometimes the recession/housing crisis can have a silver lining. If you are forced to stay put because you’ll never live to see a profit in your real estate holdings and you refuse to just walk away, think outside of the box. Make your place exactly how you want-without a thought on resale potential which is crazy anyway. When did we become a nation of flippers? Just go for your own style even if it involves installing bright orange kitchen cabinets.

4. Never pay retail for anything. Just by asking around, checking periodically in at places like Construction Lots and the Marketplace Forum at the Modern Phoenix website you can find crazy good deals. Case in point: An Italian-swiss made kitchen (once part of a high-end model loft) sold to us for $1,000.00 cash by a marketing consultant who took the kitchen in trade when the company selling the lofts went under and had no money to pay her for her services.

5. It is wise to ignore good intentioned people who shake their heads and moan when you tell them you are planning to start a remodel. They will tell you to prepare for it to take 50% longer than you expect and cost 100% more than you budgeted for. Just give them a smug smile, nod your head in agreement and move forward in “ignorance is bliss” mode and once you are in it you just don’t care anymore and basically lose track of days, then weeks, then this thing called money becomes an abstract vehicle that allows you to move forward and end this living hell.

The master at work

Sometimes we need to be a bit flexible with the rules. Two steps up from ground level are now permitted.

The sky is falling

Beautiful Dreamer

Still life in Chaos # 1

Grounded for life

When you have fallen off the roof twice, technically off then through, you no longer have roof privileges.
Enough said?

the grand remodel

I really have no energy to actually discuss the particular joy that I am experiencing in our latest venture in remodeling land. Pictures will just have to do.