Here’s a happy tale of Wendy and Ron Kroeker’s COVID-19 kitchen reno.
"First the floor plan was kind of worked out on a snowy winter day about three or four years ago, ‘just for fun,’ I told Ron, but he knew where this was heading — a new kitchen," says Wendy.
"Planning a kitchen is serious business because it has to be functional, practical, user-friendly, safe, unique and beautiful," she says. "As trendy, unique and up-to-date as we could manage was the plan. We would let the creativity flow — after all we were both artists and Ron is a graphic designer."
Skip ahead to this past January and the couple had moved everything out of the kitchen downstairs to their basement kitchen. In fact the entire main floor was cleared out, dust barriers were put in place and a local carpenter friend was hired to tear out the old kitchen and build a half wall.
"We hired local electricians, plumbers, mudders and painters, and the job was off and running," says Wendy. "Then on Feb. 27 we leave for Calgary for three weeks for a family thing, and while we’re away, the COVID-19 pandemic develops, resulting in us having to self-isolate for 14 days upon our return."
Businesses and retailers were being shut down and their project was in peril.
"Post-quarantine, in co-operation with the various crews, we agreed there’d be no more than two different trades in at any one time. We would spray down any surfaces we knew we had touched, and the trades people would touch when they came in, such as door knobs, common surfaces and washrooms," says Wendy. "They were asked to use hand sanitizer we provided when they arrived and when they left."
The couple also maintained and encouraged social distancing. This all may have slowed down the project, but the upside was they had lots of time to think, make changes and do other things, like shop for flooring and counter tops.
"In some cases we had to wait in line for those items at the different stores. We also shopped online where we got our refrigerator, drawer handles and lighting," says Wendy. "The cabinet people, Tri-Me Cabinets, came to our home, took measurements, we picked out our colour and style and off they went to build them. It took a few weeks, but was so worth it."
Because so many places were shut down and family and friends were exercising social distancing, the Kroeker’s had a lot of time on their hands. This project gave them something to do so they didn’t feel the sting of isolation to the same degree as others.
"Currently we are moving things back into our new kitchen and it feels great," says Wendy. "We are still healthy and we hope to enjoy our renovation for many years to come."
Thanks for sharing your story with us today Wendy and Ron — enjoy that spectacular new kitchen, you’ve earned it!
If you have a great COVID-19 renovation story you think might inspire and even cheer us up please send me an email.
lmustard1948@gmail.com
