Describe Your Remodeling Job in 10 Words or Less

Mies van der Rohe famously said that "less is more." Ernest Hemingway answered the challenge to write a full story in six words with: "For Sale: baby shoes, never worn." More recently, Larry Smith, founding editor of the online magazine, Smith, solicited six-word stories of readers' lives. The entries poured in, spawning a book whose title came from a user's submission: "Not Quite What I Was Planning."

Well, I've said it before and I'll say it again: You should be able to describe the nature of the remodeling you would like to have done in ten words or less. You see, I gave you a few extra words to play with.

Word challenges aside, remodeling jobs should fall within one of four categories:

1) A minor remodel of existing living space.

What this might involve:

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  • new cabinets, appliances, or the arrangement of elements in the kitchen
  • retiling a bath
  • plastering and painting
  • the addition of wainscoting, wallpaper, or another surface finish
  • sanding, carpeting, or reflooring
  • adding or installing bookcases or built-ins
  • hiring a designer, carpenter, or painter

What this will not involve:

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  • major changes in partitions or the overall shape of the space that you're remodeling
  • changes in the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems
  • hiring plumbers and electricians
  • filing for a building permit