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Contemporary DESIGN
Est. 1979
Allied ASID
"Creating beautiful and functional interiors reflecting a client's taste and lifestyle."
Articles on Design
Murphy's Law on Renovations
by Susan Dearborn
I write this article as an interior designer and new home owner. I believe doctors should be patients, lawyers should be defendants, and all interior designers and architects should live through their own building or remodeling project, to be better able to commiserate about, and better handle, their clients’ projects.
I went to bed last night with a severe headache from paint fumes and bloodshot eyes from sanding dust. I am a professional designer and project manage design projects, sheltering my clients from the stresses and strains I am now experiencing. My closing was on August 23rd, my lease up on September 22nd, thirty days with carefully delineated construction, floor and paint schedules. Construction is, of course, complicated by subcontractors; including plumbers, electricians, and carpenters. Floor work is always precarious because subcontractors must be on terra firma not airborne, to complete their work, and painters need construction and floor work finished to begin. Now, while I am successfully orchestrating two clients' relocations, overseeing two large renovation projects, and a major residential installation, Murphy came to visit.
My materials were delivered two days late and construction ran a week over schedule. The electrician was then on his scheduled vacation and the plumber discovered my coveted pedestal sink could not be plumbed as specified. This left three days instead of six to sand and coat my floors. The first coat of stain left my floors looking like an abstract painting of zebra stripes, a second coat of stain and a day of 100% humidity and I eliminated the last two coats of finish to allow the painters to start. Three days to do the two rooms having carpet installed instead of six, and the movers arrive as my painters are attempting to finish the ceilings. I had cancelled my cleaners the day before since they are superstitious about ladders. Murphy is always present in varying degrees during renovation projects and moving. The key to survival is to understand that chain reactive delays are bound to happen and dinner reservations are essential.