4/01/2006

Old House Blues

I've been so busy at work lately that when I come home, I don't even feel like working on the house. I just hole up in the ugly office, stare at the hideous wallpaper, and wish I had enough money to pay someone to strip the woodwork, refinish the floors, and remodel my bathroom. Especially the bathroom. I desperately miss taking a real bath. Getting into a plastic tub with a molded pebble bottom and sitting in 8" of water just doesn't cut it. The water barely even covers my legs, for heaven's sake. I'd be better off setting up a kiddie pool in the backyard.

Today, for the first time since we moved in, I hate the house. I hate the fact that it eats up all my spare time and most of my thoughts. I hate that work just doesn't go as fast as I want or need it to go. I wish we didn't have to spend our time re-doing the previous PO's half-assed remodeling. I'm sick of people looking at me like I'm insane when I tell them I'm not ripping out my plaster to put up drywall, I'm stripping and refinishing all the woodwork instead of buying new, and I'm tearing out our Pergo floor in favor of the yellow pine underneath. Why, for so many people, is "old" synonomous with "bad"? I know that what we're doing is worthwhile, that someday our house will be beautiful, but I wish it didn't look so ugly to me today.

2 comments:

Jocelyn said...

Hang in there. I'm not sure exactly where you are at on your home- sounds like you are in the earlier stages of renovating?

It gets better. I remember when we crossed the threshold of more done than not done as far as our living space goes- still plenty to do believe me! My attitude got alot better.

Just remember for every low there will a corresponding high point to experience. Hope this doesn't sound too preachy!

Anonymous said...

It sounds like we're at nearly the same point. In general I like my house (it's mine, I can do with it what I want.. ) in specific, I hate the individual parts. Or at least I did. My solution was to come up with one room I could fix enough to be able to say that I like it (not love it.. not enough money for love).

For me that was the northeast bedroom. We refinished the hardwood floor and painted the walls. I even went off and did a playing along at home version of "Get Color!" (http://bungalowdreams.fibergeek.com/2006/03/get_color_playing_along_at_hom_1.html) That went a long way towards making it more fun and likable. At this point I can say I like the room. I hope you can get to the same place.