Remember last summer when I asked for all your advice on remodeling my kitchen? Well, it has begun!
I finished the book on Friday…they wanted to start last week, but I told my husband that unless one of the contractors had a secret desire to be murdered by his own power saw, I thought it best that we wait until after I’d turned the book in. Thankfully, they all listened. (Never screw with a writer on deadline…words to live by.)
What has amazed me is how much they have achieved in two short days. On Monday, they totally demolished my kitchen. Totally. Demolished. By nine thirty, all my appliances were out. By ten thirty, all the cabinets were out. By the afternoon, the flooring was entirely pulled up, my pocket door removed and visqueen (or however you spell it) was set up to block dust (ha!) from invading the rest of the house. The plumbing was all redone and my drop ceiling completely removed.
They’d also knocked out my Internet service, cut power to my daughter’s bathroom and turned off our hot water, forgetting to turn it back on before they left…but honestly, this is chump change.
By Tuesday, all the wiring was completely redone. The walls were refitted with drywall and the lighting is all set to go once I get around to actually buying the fixtures I want. I went to the granite place and verified what kind of edge I wanted (geez, louise…it’s just an edge!), picked out my light fixtures and returned the fixtures I bought a few weeks ago, but decided I didn’t like anymore.
Today, they are finishing up the drywall and texturing and the flooring guy is coming, too. The cabinets come tomorrow. Then we’ll have a lull until next Tuesday, when the granite arrives. By Friday next, if all goes well, I’ll at least be able to cook again. Not sure if this is a good thing or not.
There’s so much that still needs to be done! I don’t have a light fixture for over the table…which really isn’t so bad because I don’t have a table. I’ll need counter-level bar stools. And paint! And tile! (Yes, I picked out backsplash tile months ago…but I don’t like it anymore. Back to the drawing board.)
Roll your mouse over the pictures for explanations of what you are seeing.
I try to end every blog with a question…hmmm…what do you think the chances are that the majority of the job will be done by next week? No, wait…don’t answer that. 
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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Whoo-hoo, Julie! This is so exciting and I can’t wait to see what it all looks like in the end! Here’s hoping the remodeling goes smoothly and quickly!
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Wow, a lot was accomplished in 2 days. How exciting! I can’t wait to see what the finished product looks like. I love the updated pictures too. It’s cool to see the progress that’s been made from day to day.
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Julie, so exciting!!! I know how long you’ve been waiting! What’s the ETA on finishing the whole project?
Cher and so many others, you always ask how I’m doing and I forget to answer!!! BETTER. Not perfect. Pain is much much improved. I’m doing physical therapy. I’m almost entirely off medication … and waiting on MRI results.
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Julie, you will be so glad when this is over! Trust me!!! Went through it a few years ago and since we were doing it ourshelves, it took us a month, but it was so worth it. When we sold our house, it was the main selling point, which made us feel pretty good.
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Julie, I can totally relate. We redid our whole kitchen 4 years ago, same as you are doing, everything goes and all new stuff comes in. You are so right about the visqueen not keeping the dust out. I had to scrub ceilings and walls in my other rooms downstairs after they were done. It’s a nice thought to hang that, but it DOESN’T work.
As far as the guinea pig being the world’s largest, I’m not so sure. My son had one and it was 7 years old when it died. Let me just say, it was HUGE. I’m not sure whether you ever gave yours romaine lettuce or not, but ours loved that stuff, baby carrots and apples as well. It ate, well, like a pig.
OK, enough for now, good luck with the kitchen.
Take care all and have a good day!!!!!!!!!!
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funny, i just got a email from my dad with pictures from their kitchen’s demolition!
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Julie- I am sooo jealous. Although, I have to admit, your old kitchen is worse than the one I have. I have been making small changes bit by bit. A new garden window, new tile floor and I am going to replace the pantry cabinet as soon as I can find one I like. I would love to rip it all apart and redo it. sigh.
I used to raise guinea pigs with my next door neighbor. They are fun to have around. Mine was a Himalayan albino. Hermie was a blast to play with.
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Julie,you are a very brave woman.
My guess for complete completion is going to be week after next.
Always ,always think it will take longer then you can be surprised when the workers finish the job early.
I can’t wait to see the finished pictures. It sounds like it is going to be gorgeous. :flower4you:
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What an amazing transformation in two days. Good luck on getting it all done quickly. My brother just remodeled his kithen my sil didn’t have to cook for 4 weeks because the granite was ready. That had plywood for counters and only a microwave for the entire time. LOL Hope your company is better than theirs.
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I’m so excited for you Julie! Can’t wait to see the final pictures too. Love the huge guinea pig. My youngest niece is a huge fan of the Wonderpets(Nick Jr.), so she now loves guinea pigs and turtles along with the ducks she has always loved.
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Good Morning Plotmonkeys and everyone,
Wow, Julie, those guys have been doing some major work! You’ve got a great contractor there. I think it’s going to be beautiful and at the rate they’re going it could be done by the end of next week.
Carly, I’m so glad to hear you’re feeling better. I hope you get good news from your MRI.
Take care all you Jungle Bunnies,
Cher
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Julie, You are so brave! I can’t imagine taking all these buying trips, & living with this disruption for however long it takes. I hate when I must have house repairs, & my life is disrupted. &, I definitely hate when they don’t come when they said they would (which is almost always the case). I’d give your remodeling an extra 2 weeks to finish, but, hope I’m wrong.
I’m certain it will look great when finished. I remember you saying how you loved to cook, so, guess, it will be worth it. Good luck on the results.
Patricia A.
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We have to add on a room for my husband to have an office. Not looking forward to a)getting bids b)the destruction c)the whole thing….as he and I have discussed the plan, it seems to be getting more and more expensive (he wants this and that and this piece of furniture and that piece of equipment). That is what I was afraid of.
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Yay!!! I know you’ve got to be excited, you’ve wanted this for so long. I’d say they’ll be finished…just keep thinking positive and plan on it. Good luck picking out the light fixtures and tile.
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That is an amazing amount of progress in a short period of time. The people I know that have done a kitchen remodel took months but the end result was so worth it. One of my friends that did a major kitchen, dining room remodel ended up with a picture in a local business magazine. It was an amazing transformation. Please share more pictures with us as it goes along. Have fun picking out light fixtures, tile & anything else you need. I would love doing that!
Congratulations on finishing the book. :flower4you:
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WOW! What a project – I know you will be glad when it is done and you can “move”
back into your kitchen! Someday, I’ would like to the same to my 1969-style
kitchen. The more I think about it, I’ would like to just redo the whole house!
Pat Cochran
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Yay, Julie!!! Great for getting your deadline done, and WOOHOO on your kitchen! They’re moving fast! How terribly exciting!
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Hi Julie! They’re off to a great start so I’m thinking good things for you by the end of next week! Good luck with all that’s left to find – it’s hard making all those decisions, isn’t it? Take care! And happy eating out.
I’m glad you’re feeling better, Carly!
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Been there, done that! Good Luck!
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Julie,
Just an FYI!!!
I was watching Ellen and Cameron Matheson (All My Children) was on the show and talked about when he modeled for a romance cover and it was one of YOUR Temptation novels. I didn’t catch the title but Ellen read a passage and the audience absolutely went crazy. (It was a steamy passage)
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Carol, I just heard! Unfortunately, it was already on here so I couldn’t record it. How hilarious is that! I actually met Cameron years ago (in 1999) when the book came out. I gave him a signed copy (clearly, he didn’t remember!) and he signed a cover flat for me. Very nice man.
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Julie: What was the book called (with the studmuffin)?
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It was Private Lessons. It was released in 1999, but reprinted last year with, unfortunately, a new cover.
I haven’t seen the show, but Kayla Perrin taped it for me and is going to send me a DVD.
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Wow, Julie, they’ve done quite a lot in a few days. Will they be done next week…maybe.
I’m so excited for you though. I know you have wanted this done for a long time.
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Hey Jules, seems like they are trying to make up for lost time…considering the threat of violence if the interrupt you while working on the book…just kidding…just wanted to pop in and say hello…I have been uber busy and things are just going crazy…needed my daily fix, which now seems to be a nightly one since I can’t really get on during the early morning or daytime anymore…
I hope that all is well with everyone…talk to you all later…hopefully tomorrow at a decent time…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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I watch sometimes with my hubby, those shows where they remodel in a week so I think its a go! (Thats all the experience I have)