How to Celebrate the End of a Remodel
Homeowners and remodeling pros share their favorite ways to mark the completion of a long home project
After all the drywall dust has settled, it’s wonderful to fete the completion of a home renovation. In a recent Houzz discussion, users described their favorite ways to rejoice in the moment the plastic zip doors and the dumpster are gone, and how they’ve shared the joy their newly finished spaces bring them. Here are some of the ways they’ve celebrated. What would you do?
Have a Christening
Some prefer a more intimate celebration with champagne or another libation. “When we finished our kitchen remodel, we popped open a bottle of our favorite wine we’d been saving for the occasion,” Houzz user skmom writes.
“We generally have a glass of wine in the new room. Doesn’t matter if it’s a bathroom or a bedroom or an office — we enjoy it,” auntthelma writes.
Count Your Blessings
User cecilia1955 has a lovely and generous idea. “When I finish my kitchen-family room remodel, I am having friends over but making it a charity event. I’m asking everyone to bring something for the homeless (toothbrushes, soap, diapers, etc.) instead of bringing us a bottle of wine,” she writes. “That way I help a charity and get to show off my remodel!”
Some prefer a more intimate celebration with champagne or another libation. “When we finished our kitchen remodel, we popped open a bottle of our favorite wine we’d been saving for the occasion,” Houzz user skmom writes.
“We generally have a glass of wine in the new room. Doesn’t matter if it’s a bathroom or a bedroom or an office — we enjoy it,” auntthelma writes.
Count Your Blessings
User cecilia1955 has a lovely and generous idea. “When I finish my kitchen-family room remodel, I am having friends over but making it a charity event. I’m asking everyone to bring something for the homeless (toothbrushes, soap, diapers, etc.) instead of bringing us a bottle of wine,” she writes. “That way I help a charity and get to show off my remodel!”
Admire It and Take Pictures
“Usually I take pictures, then sit in the main room and just take it all in,” building pro Justice Homes writes. “Always a nice feeling when a job is completed and it looks amazing!”
Mjdavies Keppoch1 documented the renovation journey, creating a photo album of “before,” “during” and “after” photos to chronicle the experience. And there was also a party for everyone who worked on the project and the neighbors to say thank you and to give them a chance to see the house “in action.”
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“Usually I take pictures, then sit in the main room and just take it all in,” building pro Justice Homes writes. “Always a nice feeling when a job is completed and it looks amazing!”
Mjdavies Keppoch1 documented the renovation journey, creating a photo album of “before,” “during” and “after” photos to chronicle the experience. And there was also a party for everyone who worked on the project and the neighbors to say thank you and to give them a chance to see the house “in action.”
Browse design and remodeling pros who work in your area
Recuperate
“Leave,” writes K Laurence. “Last time we went on a cruise. I was tired of staying home, watching over things and dealing with the disruption, mess and workers coming and going for weeks at a time.”
What’s better than to refresh with a trip, then come home to a newly renovated, cleaned-up house? It will feel like a vacation from construction right after a vacation from construction.
“Leave,” writes K Laurence. “Last time we went on a cruise. I was tired of staying home, watching over things and dealing with the disruption, mess and workers coming and going for weeks at a time.”
What’s better than to refresh with a trip, then come home to a newly renovated, cleaned-up house? It will feel like a vacation from construction right after a vacation from construction.
Take a Long, Steamy Soak
This is one of my favorites. Molly May writes, “The very first thing I did after the renovation was complete was take a bubble bath in my new tub.”
She had planned her entire bathroom renovation around the mountain view shown here, and she wanted to enjoy the fruits of all that labor — and the spectacular vista — immediately.
How to remodel your bathroom
Browse stand-alone tubs
This is one of my favorites. Molly May writes, “The very first thing I did after the renovation was complete was take a bubble bath in my new tub.”
She had planned her entire bathroom renovation around the mountain view shown here, and she wanted to enjoy the fruits of all that labor — and the spectacular vista — immediately.
How to remodel your bathroom
Browse stand-alone tubs
Enjoy the Perks
“When we finished our kitchen, we treated ourselves to an overly elaborate espresso machine, which is enjoyed every day, just like the new space,” Houzz user acm writes.
Start Plans for Phase 2
“Vow never to do it again … for about a month, then I start thinking about the next project,” Janelle writes. Seems this is a common occurrence.
“We start another project before one is finished,” sharayak writes. Others wonder if there really is such a thing as “done” when it comes to remodeling.
Is a Phased Construction Project Right for You?
“When we finished our kitchen, we treated ourselves to an overly elaborate espresso machine, which is enjoyed every day, just like the new space,” Houzz user acm writes.
Start Plans for Phase 2
“Vow never to do it again … for about a month, then I start thinking about the next project,” Janelle writes. Seems this is a common occurrence.
“We start another project before one is finished,” sharayak writes. Others wonder if there really is such a thing as “done” when it comes to remodeling.
Is a Phased Construction Project Right for You?
Have a Job-Completion Party
“We have what we call a job-completion party, where we arrive with a thank-you basket, usually themed to match their new remodel, and provide appetizers and drinks,” Laurie Robbins of Potter Construction says. This photo, taken at one such party, was a gift from the construction company to the homeowners. The completion-party crew here includes the clients and everyone who worked on the project, including architect Lathrop Douglass, the designers from Six Walls Interior Design and the Potter Construction crew. (Here’s the project they were celebrating.)
Such a nice party will be everyone’s last memory of the project instead of the noise and inconvenience of living in a construction zone.
Share: Did you recently finish a remodel? In the Comments, please tell us about your project and how you celebrated when it was done.
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How to Find Your Renovation Team
Find architects, designers, builders and contractors near you
“We have what we call a job-completion party, where we arrive with a thank-you basket, usually themed to match their new remodel, and provide appetizers and drinks,” Laurie Robbins of Potter Construction says. This photo, taken at one such party, was a gift from the construction company to the homeowners. The completion-party crew here includes the clients and everyone who worked on the project, including architect Lathrop Douglass, the designers from Six Walls Interior Design and the Potter Construction crew. (Here’s the project they were celebrating.)
Such a nice party will be everyone’s last memory of the project instead of the noise and inconvenience of living in a construction zone.
Share: Did you recently finish a remodel? In the Comments, please tell us about your project and how you celebrated when it was done.
More
How to Find Your Renovation Team
Find architects, designers, builders and contractors near you
Many who’ve been living through a long remodeling project celebrate with friends, family, neighbors and the project crew as soon as the work is done. After the renovations on her 1950s bungalow were complete, for example, Houzz user Tori West invited the construction team, family members and the whole neighborhood over for a housewarming party, complete with a food truck from her favorite restaurant to serve everyone. “People still talk about it, and it was a great way to get to know the neighbors,” she writes. It’s also a good way to thank them for putting up with the noise, parking problems, port-a-potty, dumpster and other construction inconveniences.