Transitions

​Raise your hand if you’d like to know where, exactly, April went? Between end-of-year activities, the feeling that summer is just around the corner, and spring construction fever, I feel as though I have been spinning this whole month. Easter felt very late this spring and it’s as though everything really lit up after that weekend and hasn’t shown any signs of stopping since.
 
I have been fortunate to work on a number of projects over the last few weeks and while they couldn’t have been more different, their common theme was the kindness of the clients. In one case, I was hired to manage a flooring replacement that had come completely off the rails – a difficult and frustrating situation for the homeowners - yet they remained remarkably patient and gracious throughout what was a trying time. Sheetrock repairs, new paint, new staircase flooring, a (tricky) water penetration issue, master bath remodel, and outdoor kitchen with patio expansion round out what I’ve been working on lately and I’m so thrilled to have some “after” photos to share.
 
Providing project management services on the flooring job I mentioned provided both challenges and positive learning outcomes. I wasn’t involved in the selection of the crew, materials, or design and in some ways it felt as though I was thrown in the middle of a home improvement reality TV show, complete with a varied cast of characters. We spent a lot of time discussing transitions (as in the changes between two types of flooring) which led me to think about the transitions we face in life and how sometimes, staying the course can be both the easiest and most difficult option. Maintaining consistency is challenging at the best of times, but especially so in the face of change – whether it be something we are choosing to change or something that is being changed for us. These days, the siren song of “new” calls at all hours and it’s tempting to abandon the routine for something fresh or out of the ordinary. On the other hand, doing nothing is sometimes the easier route – situations have a way of working themselves out one way or another, and I have been relieved on occasion that I waited to reply to a message or take action on something that resolved itself in a better way than I could have managed. The philosophers among us may also have us believe that not choosing is a choice…
 
In the end, the flooring project turned out better than expected and incorporated a design I have never seen before but will definitely recommend in the future. It’s all the magic of the client, the fabulous FM, and the flooring crew that worked incredibly hard to pull everything together. The treads, landings, catwalk and hallway are a durable yet pretty laminate product and the risers – well, they speak for themselves. Glass, stone, and metal tiles you would expect to see in a backsplash application were used for the otherwise unglamorous “back” of the stairs to great effect. The homeowners are in love with their new showpiece and the name of the tile – champagne toast – defines their life to a tee. 

​If you’d like to discuss a flooring replacement, any of the projects mentioned above, or something completely different please contact us for a no-pressure consultation. We’d love to add a little sparkle to your home!