I don’t remodel well. I mean the “process” of remodeling … where all one’s stuff is moved around all day. I don’t do that part well.
Today is carpet installation day at the Feldman house. And all I wanted was for them to come in the morning, and leave me in the evening with new carpet. But according to the small print of the contract I signed, they only move FURNITURE. Which means I have to move every book, every toy, every magazine, every knick-knack, every televison, radio, stereo, computer, and all the clothes from the closets. When I paid .11 a square foot for furniture moving, I didn’t realize that this didn’t include even a single throw pillow!
I’m exhausted, and so far just one room is done. But I think it looks real nice. I picked out a color that is already the color of dirt … hoping that as we add new dirt to it, it won’t show so much.
By the way, old carpet cut in appropriate strips makes wonderful mulch/pathways in your garden.
For your carpet contractors, you might want to use this story the next time:
Two brawny men came to my house to install some new floor covering in the kitchen. Once they had moved the stove and refrigerator out of the way, it was not long before the job was done.
As they were getting ready to leave, I asked them to put the heavy appliances back in place. The two men demanded $45 for this service, stating it was not in their contract.
I really had no choice but to pay them. As soon as they left, however, the doorbell rang. It was the two men. They asked me to move my car, which was blocking their van.
I told them my fee: $45.
It was a smart move to choose your carpet color the way you did. Many years ago, I had a Siamese cat that shed white and a black German Shepard that shed black. These colors were always going to show up on my carpet, and it would never look clean. What to do? I chose a multi-colored, multi-layered brown carpet, and it has worked out wonderfully. For the diningroom, where food was going to fall, once again, I chose a multi-colored, multi-layered gravel colored Berber carpet. I have not been sorry ever for my choices. Good luck with yours.
In order to keep your carpets clean, you might want to try what the Japanese do and have everyone take their shoes off at the door! There is a place called the “genkan” that has a shelf or box to put “outside shoes” in and slippers to wear inside the house. It’s amazing the difference it makes when it comes to clean up time and wear and tear on the carpet.