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Claudine M Jalajas
Writer, Web Developer, Decorative Painter
I'm a tired, worn-out mother of three young children. I never really fully appreciated what being sleep deprived was like before my children--and I now believe it is a valid form of torture. I live on Long Island with my husband (who I rant about frequently) and three little angels. ;)...
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My Addiction

Wednesday, October, 22, 2008

I have an addiction. That’s the first step, right? Admitting you have a problem? I wonder if it’s actually a problem per se. I mean, my addiction is fun and it’s not like I’m hurting myself or anyone else. I’m making everyone’s life better—mostly. It’s just that—I need about 80 thousand dollars. It will probably be closer to 70k, but lets just say 80k so that we have it in the budget and there are no surprises.

Now, I know 80k sounds like a lot of money and in some ways it is—but this is an investment. Money in the bank baby. Trust me. And once you see what I do—you’re gonna wanna do it too.

I was watching Spice Up My Kitchen. I never even heard of the show until my friend Christine (a closet case—she needs to come to terms as well… I‘m working on her) told me to check it out. All I wanted to do was pick a new paint color for my kitchen. Now I’ve got another HGTV show on the TIVO list. After the third episode I watched on my TIVO I went from rolling my eyes at kitchen budgets to telling my husband (beads of sweat building on his forehead), “You know, that’s not bad at all.”

I’ve decided we need to knock down a few walls. Not a lot—just a couple. I could use a wine refrigerator too—over by the new bar/entertainment area. We never have more than one bottle in the house, and it never lasts longer than the time it takes to get it from the car to the kitchen table. But I’ll bet that’s because we don’t have a proper cooling area. I’m sure we’d buy more wine and have better parties. Or, parties even.

Now, one thing I’ve always hated is filling up the pasta pots with water from the kitchen sink and lugging the whole three feet to the stove. Enter the pot filler. I NEED one of those (in oil rubbed bronze would be fab). While we’re talking about sinks… a prep sink is integral to my design.

And of course, Granite. And something equally expensive and glam on the backsplash and vent hood. I don’t know what style I want—it changes each week as I watch the next episode. Do I want transitional, traditional, cottage, country? Actually, I know I don’t want country. Other than that.. I don’t care as long as Candice Olsen is the one doing the design. That woman will stick a crystal chandelier anywhere—and I love it.

I’ll stick with my wood floors too—I find it so much easier on the feet than tile. But lets rip up all this nice wood and replace it with wide planks—maybe even some reclaimed wood? Tres chic!

Sadness looms in. There’s another episode of Divine Design on tonight. She’s doing a kitchen—it’s going to be awesome, they always are. I can already hear her saying, “Quartz tile for the backsplash” now. I shouldn’t watch but I cannot help myself so I cue up the TIVO. Deciding to get a drink I walk by the area that would hold our wine fridge and my heart aches.

I stop and imagine the new task lighting, gorgeous granite covered island, with plenty of storage, making my meal preps so much easier. Imagine my children sitting on the bar stools in their matching PJs on the other side of the island enjoying their freshly made waffles, “Oh mommy, these are delicious! You’re the best mom and the best cook ever!”

I know I thought that the extension on the house would fix this hunger I have inside. But, this would do it. This would make the house perfect. So all I need is 80k… give or take. What do you think?

 

 


alison skirtboston
alison skirtboston
Posted Thu, 10/23/2008 - 15:33
Take this advice: move, don't renovate! those shows make it look easy, just like the others that solve serial killings in 1/2 hour... Give: it's never "just 80k" ... one upgrade leads to another We did our kitchen last year. It's got 75 square feet of gorgeous green granite, a second sink (OK, truthfully, it's my favorite part because the big sink is always full of dirty dishes), the french door fridge, the wide plank wood floors (quickly ruined during my daughter's graduation party when a cooler leaked on it), a 6-burner gas stove (nuclear-powered burners that have turned all of the stainless pans to blackened shells and the oven that takes forever to get up to temp).. and for the price and aggravation we really should have filled 3 dumpsters with the crap we don't need and downsized to a smaller house -- or better yet, hired me a cook and housekeeper!
ClaudineMJ
ClaudineMJ
Posted Thu, 10/23/2008 - 17:04
We actually JUST finished a major home reno. It was a freakin' nightmare. And yet, when I watch the shows I suddenly feel like, "hmmm... that hall bathroom is looking dingy..." But the fancy shmancy kitchen... oohhh la la.. that would be nice.

Claudine M. Jalajas
http://cjalajas.blogspot.com/

Charlene Ross
Charlene Ross
Posted Thu, 10/23/2008 - 19:14
Oh if only I had the $ to remodel. Although it would start with the kitchen and spread across the entire house. Like you Claudia, I can dream. I never watch those shows because I too would be addicted. Although I do have 30+ bottles of wine that would fit nicely into wine fridge...
ClaudineMJ
ClaudineMJ
Posted Thu, 10/23/2008 - 21:19
Why don't you come over and we'll talk about it... and bring the wine... ;)

Claudine M. Jalajas
http://cjalajas.blogspot.com/