This is the toughest blog post I will ever write - simply because I wouldn’t want to relive the 3.5 tough months of house renovation while writing. But reflection is important & so is writing here. So here it goes!
In Aug 2023, my mom & I decided to begin the renovation of our house. We had been putting it off for close to 7 years now. Yow know how it’s with Indian parents, the first time they talked about it was in 2015, but they didn’t want to take up the project around my 10th grade - it would’ve disturbed my “studies”. Next was my 12th, my entrances. Soon enough it was my brother’s 10th & 12th grade. And all through this, we were living in something close to a “mess”. Well not exactly, but you get it - lots of stuff with nowhere to keep, dull walls that needed fresh paint & broken cabinets that needed to get out & be replaced with new ones. We realized it was high time & we can’t keep postponing it forever. So we began.
The whole process was a whirlwind of dust, decisions, and design dilemmas.
The first hurdle was the dust. It was everywhere. Imagine living and sleeping in a construction site for three months. The dust wasn’t just on the floors and furniture, it was in the air we breathed. It was a constant reminder of the chaos that once was our peaceful home. And mom would often regret making this decision - of starting renovation. Imagine having to deal with the regret in her voice, along with the dust & dirt, everyday.
Cleaning up was a task in itself but decluttering was by far the most challenging part. We’re a family of knowledge (in pages) lovers, and over the years, we’ve amassed a collection that spans from my parents’ engineering days to our own. Our house, while filled with memories and warmth, was small and couldn’t accommodate our ever-growing library. Deciding what to keep and what to let go was heart-wrenching. We had to sort through stuff that we had accumulated over the years. And it wasn’t just the books—it was a myriad of other things too. We spent several sleepless nights cleaning, sorting, and making tough decisions. Safe to say, we managed to create more storage space during the renovation, which is a relief.
The next challenge was the decisions. Each room was like a blank canvas, and we were the artists. But selecting the designs was a confusing process. We had to decide on the architecture for each room, and then plan the decor and placement of elements. It was exciting but with all the growing stress, it was really overwhelming. Clicking thousands of pictures & keeping the decision for when we get “time” & never really getting any free time at all. And then getting my brother’s opinion on our decisions. He really critiqued most decisions. Actually he wasn’t even on board with the renovation plan until he started seeing some results.
The three of us were torn between wanting a fresh, modern look and preserving the homely feel that our house had always provided. It was an emotional tug-of-war, as we loved our home just as it was - the place where we spent our entire childhood & growing years - but also knew it needed to change.
The reality of the renovation, however, didn’t always meet our expectations. For example, in the picture above ^ I had planned & imagined an amazing space saving idea - a pull out study table. It came out much smaller & less sturdy than I’d expected. Yes it looks clean & minimal but won’t always be a good study table. So, obviously, there were moments when the progress made didn’t align with our vision, and we had to find ways to adapt and make it work. The cost, too, was a constant source of stress. Each Rupee spent sent mini panic attacks coursing through me.
And you know what the craziest part was? Dealing with the workers. The civil workers, electricians, plumbers, and carpenters were all part of the process, but dealing with them was not easy. There were times when they disrespected us and our home, but we had to get along. There were moments when they undermined us because we were 2 females doing this alone (ladies ko band kaam nahi samajhta). But we had to understand their work and communicate our ideas effectively.
Not everyone might think this is as cool, I mean of course we aren’t architects or interior designers. And we hired neither because their charges were sky high, as if the renovation wasn’t already costing us an arm and a leg. But we loved how it turned out & it’s a big deal for us. Our house is small & we wanted to make it beautiful for us. So we did.
Let’s do a mini Before vs After? I mean, we spent 3.5 months of sleepless nights to get this done, let’s bask in the beauty of the results.
Picture 1 - This is the common study my brother & I use
Picture 2 - Washroom (my artsy mind brought the design together)
Picture 3 - Common wash basin area
Picture 4 - Our living room!
Looking back, the journey was tough, but the outcome was worth it. I’m filled with gratitude that we undertook this renovation. It saved future Mrunal from this trouble. Despite the challenges, the dust, the decisions, and the design dilemmas, the outcome has been worth it. It’s a beautiful fusion of the old and new, a testament to our journey. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Fun fact - The plan was to finish renovation by Dussehra (Sept end) but we barely finished it till Diwali (Nov). Picture below - me, my mom & my brother during Diwali, finally relieved.
