Miracle on 14th Street

Mayer Rus -- Interior Design, 12/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

FOR MY FINAL EDITORIAL OF THE YEAR, I return to the subject that has overshadowed all else in 2000: my storied kitchen and bath renovation. Contrary to what you might think, dear reader, this is not another bitter tirade or plea for mercy. It is, instead, a warm holiday fable: boy naively decides to renovate; boy encounters unimagined perils and plagues; boy learns the true pain of residential construction; boy remains in exile from his own home for nearly seven months. Not very warm, you say? But this Hanukkah tale of triumph does indeed have a happy ending: boy returns home; boy finds delight, comfort, and beauty; boy rejoices in the glory of design ascendant.

I've spent most of this year crabbing about such things as disreputable contractors and product lead times that should be measured by the rings of a tree. Pish-posh! I simply adore my ultra-fabulous new bathroom and kitchen. I adore the contrast between my rosewood wall covering and my chunky white Corian. I adore the elegant modernist reveals around my new door frames. I adore the bluish-green cast of the light filtered through the glass in my bathroom. I adore everything that isn't currently on my four-page punch list.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to float that whole pregnancy metaphor shtick about how you forget all the pain once the birthing is over. The stretch marks on my wallet are a sufficient reminder that I shouldn't try this again anytime soon. But on the most elemental level, my renovation has reaffirmed one crucial idea: good design makes for good living. Happy holidays to one and all!

P.S.: Don't ever, ever, ever consider hiring Osvaldo Vilela of Wizard Construction. He's an incompetent boob. Merry Christmas, Ozzie!