Anyone else a project escalator?

[kaylie]

When I start thinking about doing something to a room, it's all fun and innocent. Then I think hmmm...if I'm changing x it makes sense to change y at the same time. Then before you know it, I've mentally spent $10K I don't have. Case in point, our kitchen.

It started out as: Paint cabinets white, change counters to granite, redo backsplash, paint walls, replace light fixture. Budget: $2,500

Then it went to: Hmmm, for another $700 we could add an island it would still fall within the sq footage of the granite package so it's totally worth it. This means adding pendant lights and moving the light fixture over the table to make room for the island. Oooh, we should also add a wine rack over the fridge. And a pantry cabinet on the side of it. New budget: $4,200

Next it was: Well, if we're getting new counter tops it probably makes sense to get the new slide in range since they'll have to be cut to fit it. New budget: $6,300

Then last night it became: Ya know, if we took out those 30'' top cabinets, knocked out the soffit and replaced them with 42'' cabinets it would really take the kitchen to the next level.

I'm pretty sure that will quadruple the price of the original plan and I just realized that if we did all that there is no freakin' way that our almond colored dishwasher is sticking around to mar the awesomeness that would be that kitchen. And then the fridge will be the only white appliance in the room....you see where this is going right?

Sigh. This pretty much happens with every room I re-envision and in most cases I conclude that I should just leave things ugly until I can do them the way I want to. Clearly I need to start buying lottery tickets.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Yep, and R is worse than I am.

This is how "put washer and dryer in laundry room" evolved into "level and smooth floor, add flooring, add base molding, redo some electrical, insulate dryer vent hole .... and subsequently, how installing a washer and dryer has taken R and I three days. Derp.

[pitterwoo]

yes, it's hard not to when they flow together like that. Unfortunately I've had to come full circle back to the original many times because many of my plans seem to be based on me being a much wealthier person and the house much more cute and valuable. But since the house and I are both not worth a whole lot I usually scale back.

[new2this2]

I feel the same way about our kitchen. We have pink linoleum cabinets. I'm not even joking here. The counter top is also pink linoleum. The doors are all textured sliding plastic doors. Our appliances are old and there's no space for a built in dishwasher so we have a portable one in the corner blocking cabinets. I keep going around the same circle you do. Well, it would be better if we could just do ____. But if we're going to do that we might as well do ____ too until it's a full kitchen overhaul and we're spending way too much money. I still haven't done anything for that reason alone.

[SusanBAnthony]

Yes yes yes!

I am so glad I am not the only one.

There is a reason why 90% of my ideas never get started, or finished. I don't want to do it at all unless it is done right.  But I never have the budget for "done right" so I am constantly at "not at all".

[mrs.jacinthe]

Mar 4, 2013 20:09:14 GMT -5 new2this2 said:

I feel the same way about our kitchen. We have pink linoleum cabinets. I'm not even joking here. The counter top is also pink linoleum. The doors are all textured sliding plastic doors. Our appliances are old and there's no space for a built in dishwasher so we have a portable one in the corner blocking cabinets. I keep going around the same circle you do. Well, it would be better if we could just do ____. But if we're going to do that we might as well do ____ too until it's a full kitchen overhaul and we're spending way too much money. I still haven't done anything for that reason alone.

I really need to see this kitchen.  Can you PIP?

[new2this2]

Mar 4, 2013 21:35:25 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

Mar 4, 2013 20:09:14 GMT -5 new2this2 said:

I feel the same way about our kitchen. We have pink linoleum cabinets. I'm not even joking here. The counter top is also pink linoleum. The doors are all textured sliding plastic doors. Our appliances are old and there's no space for a built in dishwasher so we have a portable one in the corner blocking cabinets. I keep going around the same circle you do. Well, it would be better if we could just do ____. But if we're going to do that we might as well do ____ too until it's a full kitchen overhaul and we're spending way too much money. I still haven't done anything for that reason alone.

I really need to see this kitchen.  Can you PIP?

I can PIP tomorrow after I put away the massive amount of groceries left from todays trip. It's really quite impressive in it's hideousness

[mrspez07]

That's why landscape architects yards always look like crap. I can design all day with someone else's money on a project that is going to be installed all at once by professionals, but can't do anything major in my yard because A leads to B and B requires C, D and E

[kaylie]

Yay. I'm glad I'm not the only one. H is not a fan of the process at all, mostly because it ends up being more work for him. =) He's one of those bare minimum people. Probably good for balancing me out though.

I too would like to see this pink linoleum wonderland you speak of, new2this2.

[IIOY]

Mar 4, 2013 23:44:40 GMT -5 mrspez07 said:

That's why landscape architects yards always look like crap. I can design all day with someone else's money on a project that is going to be installed all at once by professionals, but can't do anything major in my yard because A leads to B and B requires C, D and E

LOL, I love this and completely understand how this could happen. My next door neighbor was a landscaper and he just kept upgrading his yard. I kept telling H that it must be costing them a mint, especially when his trees would die (we have the world's worst soil), but he just couldn't stop.

As for the OP, doesn't everyone do this? :-)

[auntie]

Oh dear God yes.

"While we're at it..." should be my middle name. Especially when there's a contractor involved. It leads to the same thinking that leads to my diverse orders at Sam's Club- you know a set of tires, some Birks, Preparation H wipes, toilet paper and rotisserie chicken.

I do this all the time. When I got my new windows over the summer, I had the contractor replace two of my toilets. Because you know, new toilets are a natural extension of windows. The toilets inspired me to replace my PR vanity, sink and faucet. And since I was near the kitchen center, WTF?, let's replace the crappy drwaer base cabinet that's acting up in the kitchen.

I lost a shutter in Sandy, I'm afraid to call the contractor because I know there's a temptation to throw a storm door into the mix.

[kaylie]

Mar 5, 2013 9:34:32 GMT -5 auntie said:

When I got my new windows over the summer, I had the contractor replace two of my toilets. Because you know, new toilets are a natural extension of windows. 

I love this. I never would have thought to have toilets replaced at the same time as windows!

[TBM]

Around my house, we refer to this as the 'If you give a mouse a cookie....' syndrome.

Instead of needing milk and a straw, it always winds up being something that breaks the back and the bank.

The most dreaded words (according to DH)are "I was thinking..." ;p

[rondonalddo]

Yes, but it basically boils down to the fact that pretty much everything in our house needs to be re-done.

I was thinking that we should at least replace the broken molding in the living room before we try to sell in a couple years...but if we do that, it will just draw attention to the crappy old acoustic tile ceiling and crappy paneling on the walls, and if we replace those with drywall, then we might as well take the fake chimney down, but we just replaced the carpet a couple years ago and I don't even know if it could be patched...so really the problem is that the entire room needs pulled open to the studs and re-done (because I've seen the plaster under the paneling and it is not in good condition). And I'd love to do that, but with the money we've already spent on the house, its limitations, and the market we're in, I think it's really going to have to be just replacing the molding.