The other method we will list is painting method. This is a great method to use if you are a creative type, and also if you have children who have difficulty putting things where they should. Simply acquire several different colors of paint ( surface depends upon what type paint. Please use your best judgment), and a paintbrush. After grouping your items, look at and evaluate your space available. Make out a map of sorts, and be sure to leave room for future accommodations. Once you have decided in your mind or on a sheet of paper where everything will go you can do one of two following things. First you can simply paint lines around areas where certain groups will sit. For instance, draw a square line in corner of cabinet exactly where your spices will be. You can ,make lines straight, wavy, dotted, curly...whatever your imagination desires! Then after letting paint dry, place items in their designated areas. The other way of doing this is to paint entire area in instead of just drawing lines. This can be a lot more challenging, but also a lot prettier. Imagine for a moment, opening a pretty white cabinet with brass handles, and finding inside painted with four different pastel colors, each having its own group of like minded items. Very pretty indeed! In fact, if you are an artist, you can paint any type of motif or design for a specific category.

Now, while you are doing this there are several things to keep in mind. First, remember to clean out shelves while you have everything out. Secondly, there will be several things you find that you know won't be used...get rid of them. Thirdly, you probably will find several items that just won't have a category of their own. For this you can make a "misc" box or section, or else place it in a different room or area.

I hope these ideas will help you to create kitchen of your dreams, and to find things easier in meantime. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions.

If tearing it all down took so long, how many hours will it take to put up new walls, including wall overlooking staircase? (Did I mention I'm afraid of heights?)

How long will it take to cut and place trim (baseboards, casing, crown molding, and a new window sill – I broke old one trying to pry loose a lathe strip)?

How long will it take to hang a new door? To sand old floor? To clean up big mess? To lift wallboard to second floor? To return to store for more nails or to replace lumber I wreck or to pick up a few dozen items I forget? To replaster corners I plaster wrong first time (and second and third and ...)?

I sat my wife down for a heart-to-heart. "Honey, we have a business to run, a toddler to nurture, family members to help, a house to clean on occasion, and a jungle that will need mowing one of these days. We need ductwork to thaw our bedroom this winter, foundation needs crack-filling and this nursery would take Hercules many long days of hard labor to complete. I don't know if we can find time for all this before baby is born."

"Maybe we should put something off," my wife suggested.

"Great idea!" I said, looking at my agenda. "Now, let's see. How long do you want to delay delivery?"

I ducked just in time.

The easiest thing to reschedule turned out to be my sleep. Right now I have a house to upgrade. There'll be plenty of time for sleep next year. That is, if I don't grow too old in meantime and need to be torn down myself.