Days 56 to 71

OK, 16 days since the last post and nothing to show. Weird, right? A quick recap follows:

• Days 56 through 59 – Betty’s sister visits. No work done!
• Days 60 through 62 – Long weekend for all. ACC men’s basketball finals. Are you kidding? Of course, no work done!
• Day 63 – Monday. Floor refinishing starts on Day 64. Why work today? No work done.
• Days 64 through 67 – Moon’s Flooring refinishes the hardwood floors. Betty and John head for weird B&B’s in Murfreesboro, NC and Williamsburg, VA so that we won’t succumb to the fumes. No work done by The Bath Shop team.
• Days 68 through 71 – A weekend and a couple of extra days. No work done. “Punch list? Oh yeah, I think they have one, but we’ve been paid most of the money so no need to get in a big hurry about silly punch list stuff. Who cares that our worst case completion date was 2 weeks ago? That’s their problem.”

So here we are. What remains?

Baseboards are smudged with wall paint. Walls are smudged with trim paint. Wooden bannisters, windows and door hardware are smudged with both. Keith, the painter, who was so highly touted by Jason and Diana for his attention to detail, has been fired for sloppy work. Keith told us that he “hated painting.” He said that he had only been with The Bath Shop for 6 months and wanted to strike out on his own as a project manager  – a position that he used to have in Connecticut. (Spoiler Alert: See alternate version of the truthiness universe on Day 72.)

Some cabinet doors are abraded, some won’t close. The range is improperly installed. The punch list goes on and on and on. Is there a bee conference somewhere? I’m ready.

The Bath Shop punch list has not been addressed. Diana will come tomorrow (maybe) to plant The Bath Shop flag and declare her triumphant renovation of our kitchen.

The counter depth refrigerator ordered on February 28th got lost in transit. The Lowe’s guy asked, “How do you lose a refrigerator?” Good, but obvious, question. I don’t know, but Lowe’s managed. Re-order and delivery will take 2+ weeks. In the meantime our old refrigerator found a new home through the Habitat Re-STORE. Lowe’s did deliver a ‘loaner’ today while they try to figure out what went wrong. No wonder Amazon.com is winning the retail war.

We also met today with a non-Bath Shop designer, Beth. Beth worked (successfully I hasten to say) on our basement renovation. She agreed to help us with furniture and fixture choices for the living room. She’s already suggested a new color for the kitchen. Good-bye Sea Salt, hello Coral Reef. Beth will recommend painters who know what they are doing. New oriental rugs have been ordered. The old one will need to find a new home.