Making Space Work; Surviving the Reno

Making space work; I touched on this “surviving the reno” experience in a previous post but it’s definitely worth revisiting. As we navigated the renovation, we had to be flexible and down-right creative at times. You learn to get resourceful with making space work during a whole home renovation.

It was a struggle to feel “normal” during those days that seemed would never end. Days when the construction dust was thick and we were tripping over a variety of tools and materials strewn about. Even the tiniest amount of “normalcy” was the life preserver I was reaching for at the end of the day!

Turning Chaos into Order by Making Space Work

There’s a time when we were without a kitchen for a total of 8 months. And months when our bedroom was’t yet a bedroom. When our grandchildren came to visit from out-of-state, and we had no choice but to bring them into the chaos. Those times when we quickly learned all about making space work!

Those days when everything was out of sorts, dusty, unfinished, and sometimes downright dangerous. It was on those days that having even a slightly functional space, was greatly appreciated! Having just a bit of normal activity even in an unconventional space, made all of the difference.

It’s the Little Things

So what do you do? What did we do? We created an all-in-one room with a microwave, TV, and dining folding table to serve as our “living” space (never underestimate the ability for stacks of yet-to-be installed hardwood flooring to serve as counter tops!) We would schlep our bed from room to room as space opened up and until our own bedroom was ready. Store appliances in hallways? You bet! We established a playroom for our grandchildren by pulling a rug into an unfinished space to cover the plywood sub floor. Unpacking their toys provided distraction from the chaos that was grandpa and grandma’s new house. We became masters at making space work!

I remember those days when discouragement set in because there were a lot of them! Some days it felt as though we were never going to finish this house. Warren was ever-faithful and exhibited a level of patience that only Warren has with me. I was a mess on many days, not gonna lie. But then just to have a “place” for the microwave felt like a win! Okay, so it was sitting on top of a cardboard box, but it was a win! Not having to eat out was a win! Discovering something new in the grocer’s freezer that was microwavable, was a win! I had to seek those “wins” no matter how small!

Winning Through Perseverance

Getting creative about making space work was a challenge for sure, but it was also very rewarding. And it really comes down to perseverance; that’s the big picture stuff! Looking back at these images and reliving the renovation, I’m incredibly proud of what we were able to accomplish. We survived a renovation where we did most of the work and where we lived in the house the entire time and that’s a big win!

There is no doubt that all of the sacrifice and hard work was completely worth it. We love our home, it suits us perfectly! Making Annabelle’s Place a fully functioning home is an experience Warren and I will always cherish because we did it together. Would we do it again? For this house, yes! Do we ever want to do it again on another house? No way! How about a vintage travel trailer? Evidently, that’s a yes because it’s sitting in the yard now and almost completely gutted!

In the Absence of Faith

And where were we with God during this time? Looking back, I know that a deeper spiritual faith would have been the only saving grace we really would have needed at the end of each day. I sometimes wish we would have had the current depth of our faith back then. But in reality, I know we experienced exactly what we did for a reason; His reason.

Honestly, Warren and I were so knee-deep in the renovation that we hadn’t even thought about our faith. Without daily prayer and time spent with God, we floundered through the challenges of a massive renovation alone.

To be able to look back now and recognize how powerful God’s presence would have been in our lives during that trying time, only strengthens us as we look to the future. And that’s the biggest win of all! We now know that whatever chaos we find ourselves in, all we have to do is look to Jesus for making all things work, including space!

• 

• 

• 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

Blessings,
{Shelley}