Kitchen Reno: Day Six

She Said

I’ve had time to look for my invoice.  With Home Depot, everything is listed as a line item.  Line item 08 on page two of my seven-page invoice:  “Remove and replace shutters on patio doors”.

We’ve also had a chance to visit a Home Depot and peruse the window coverings department.  It seems that the previous owners also spent a lot of time at Home Depot and we’ve got “Tiffany & Grandview Shutters” by Shade-O-Matic (seriously, you just have to say “Shade-O-Matic” out loud to appreciate it!).  This is great, right?  Since HD carries this brand, it shouldn’t be an issue to get them trimmed by the company…?

I call Mari.  I mention to her than we’ve had a chance to visit a restaurant she recommended some time ago.  It was awesome, so we’re having a nice chat, so far.  I tell Mari that I’ve found the line item listing the shutters in my invoice.  She’s obviously just missed it and sounds perfectly happy that I’ve found a reference to it (better than a write-off, I’m sure).  Charles and Rob have clearly done what was listed; it’s just that the shutters no longer fit.  Oh, and there’s the stopper, by the way.  No problem; she’s making notes.  She’ll put in for a service call to get it all handled.

And that’s it!  This is why I freakin’ love the Home Depot!  Not just any Home Depot – the South Keys Home Depot, where Mari (Special Services) and Didi (Kitchen and Bath) work.!!  More on Home Depot and our decision to use them for our kitchen reno, coming soon to FAB….

Eric is back today.  He’s such a nice, polite boy.  I offer to get him a coffee, but he’s “good to go”.  Okay then; see you in a few!

When I get back, he and another associate are going great guns and we’ve got a bunch of upper cabinets installed!

Looks like they need a third guy to help install the 8-foot pantry cabinets.  Amazingly, I’d completely forgotten that we had ordered a pull-out pantry cupboard – exciting!!  The fridge is going to be flanked by pantry cupboards on both sides, with enclosed shelving above (good – no place to put junk on the top of the fridge – anyone else do that??).

It really takes seeing it to get it to sink in….    I think it’ll be dynamite.  They don’t have time to finish today, but instead of a full three days this week, it looks like they’ll only need one and a half!

Meanwhile, however, we’ve discovered, via another (completely unrelated) electrical emergency, that we should have arranged to have our electrical requirements for the fridge dealt with in advance of having the cabinets put in.  Now, this might sound pretty “duh”, but I had actually been advised to have an electrician come in between having the cabinets done and having the counter tops put in.  I actually have someone coming this afternoon at 4 p.m..

My emergency electrician, Gerry, is telling me that, since we need to put in a dedicated outlet for the fridge, and move an outlet away from where the new range burners will be, I’d rather have it done today (although he can’t stay) or at the outside, tomorrow, before the rest of the base cabinets get put in.

Panic! 

He says he can fit me in tomorrow.  He asks the cabinet guys if they can hold off with those last base cabinets.  They say “sure”.

I see Gerry out and thank him for coming to deal with our emergency.  As I return to the kitchen, however, the cabinet guys ask if he’s for sure coming back first thing, since they’ve got a schedule to keep.

Bounding across the lawn, I’m waving at Gerry.  He waves back as he starts to pull away.  Thankfully, he stops.  I say, “I’m so sorry to put you on the spot, but the guys inside are asking if you’re going to be able to make it back first thing…?”

“Yeah; I’ll be here first thing”.  Vroooooommm!!

“Thaaank yooouuu…”, I cough, through the fumes of Gerry’s truck.

Now, what do I do about Glen, the electrician I have coming to give me an estimate at 4:00??  It’s bad karma to waste someone’s time, and I know that Glen has just lost an employee and so he’s super-busy.  I call Maryanne, his wife/admin. assistant to cancel, explaining my predicament, as it’s been outlined to me, and that it’s nothing personal; I’ll certainly keep Glen in mind if I ever need any other electrical work done.  She’s totally fine with that and wishes me luck.

Sure hope Gerry shows up tomorrow!!

Stay tuned!

~ One of Seven