While we were gone for those four days and three nights, our stress level was relatively low. All the stress had been as to whether or not they were actually coming to do the kitchen, but we weren't really nervous about how they would renovate. Let's be honest: anything was better than what we had! We speculated and wondered, but were thankful to finally KNOW that our kitchen was chosen.
However, on Thursday, the reveal day, our stress level began to mount again. A large part of the nervousness for me was knowing that we were going to be on camera again. That is stressful! Around lunch time we headed to Jeff and Diane's (from our Mt. Hood rented house) to hang out for the afternoon and wait for Tiana's (the assistant producer) call that they were ready for us to come home. Time moved very, very slowly as we waited. We put on our snazzy reveal outfits and sat and watched the clock in the living room. Initially they told us that they were shooting for 3 pm, then it moved to 4 pm. We were going to leave the kids at Jeff and Diane's and have them head to the house about an hour after us, but then the crew decided they wanted the kids on hand, so we brought them with us. In the end, we all ended up at the Declerque's house (our good friends and neighbors) for a couple hours (inlaws and all!). I have never been so thankful for great neighbors as I was through all this kitchen stuff! Everyone put up with all the extra cars and noise, Leslie watched the boys for us that first crazy morning, and then we all ended up at the Declerque's for hours on that final reveal night!
Finally, around 5, they told us that we could drive down and park in the driveway. There were a ton of cars at the house. We parked, and the producers came over and chatted with us for 15 minutes or so. It was fun to get to know Geoff (the executive producer) some. Rachel, the other producer talked with me quite a bit, and when I told her that I was nervous to be on camera again gave me a huge compliment that she had been joking that I could work for HGTV because the answers to questions I gave were just what the show wanted. That made me laugh, because I know it must be because I watch HGTV so much! Regardless, that calmed me down quite a bit.
Finally, it was time. They walked us to the front door, and we talked with John and Anthony a bit. We were so thankful that we had been able to get them and some of the crew into the Nike employee store, because that gave us a great talking point. The Cousins really emphasized that when we opened our eyes we needed to be verbal. "This is not the time to be speechless," they told us, "Speechless doesn't make good TV." Then they had us close our eyes, and they walked us into the kitchen. While our eyes were closed they wanted us to review what the kitchen looked like before the renovation. And then they counted down...very slowly!
It's hard to describe what that moment was like when I opened my eyes. I really had no expectations or ideas as to what the kitchen would look like...we really had that little say about it. We didn't even know what the floor plan would look like, let alone the specific design choices. The first thing I saw were the red cabinets, reclaimed wood shelves, the flooring, and the beautiful tile. I LOVED it. They had asked us to be verbal and point out specific things that we saw: I noticed the map, the tile, the flooring, and then the picture of Multnomah Falls above the table.
After the initial surprise, they spent probably 20 minutes filming us with the Cousins as they described how they designed the kitchen. The idea to push the cabinets to either side of the kitchen and "wrap" the fireplace was a brilliant space planning decision. We would have never thought of that! Also, the fold up table was an absolutely amazing way to utilize the space between all the hallways. The picture of Multnomah Falls is very special to us: Anthony had taken that picture two days before the show, and when he found out that we got engaged there, included it as a last minute design choice. The picture underneath the fold-up table was taken the morning of the surprise. It is also very special to us. I found it easier to be natural and talk on camera during the reveal, because I was so intrigued and curious as to what they did and why. And the whole time being stunned that this beautiful space was going to be my new kitchen!
One of the craziest things was this: we had expected to have certain things that we really didn't like. We figured there would be a crazy back splash or weird colors, but there wasn't! We LOVED it. What they did was not only amazing, but it perfectly fit us and our design style. They nailed it.
When the crew was done filming that session, we brought Seth and Sam in with their eyes closed to "reveal" the kitchen to them. It was really cute. Then, there was a break of cameras and we were able to talk to everyone, including the designers and contractors and thank them. My memory of this is that the production crew kept trying to kick everyone out of the kitchen because they still had interviews and hours of filming left to do, but we kept milling around the kitchen excitedly talking. John and Anthony gave final hugs and left. Jeff and Diane came in and saw the kitchen. We "oohed and ahhed" over everything. Then finally the kitchen cleared out and they set up stools for Ben and I for our final interview.
All this time the kids were in the playroom with Jeff and Diane with no dinner in their bellies. So finally after our interview we all left and grabbed pizza for dinner. It was like 7:30! The production crew still needed to finish filming the kitchen with all the still shots. I was so thankful that I had a big box of snacks from our trip that we were able to bring inside for the crew, because I could tell that they were tired and hungry too!
One of the oddest things of the entire experience was not being able to really "give back" to this production crew that chose your kitchen for a free renovation. These people spent four days at our house, pouring themselves into the project, and we barely met them or were able to thank them. We even forgot to get a picture with all of them--which I really regret! They were all so kind to us and we were so thankful for the blessing that they gave us!
Now without further ado, here are the "after" pictures for those of you that didn't get to see the show!
All these things on the shelves I got to keep! Seriously keeping all the decorations was one of my greatest thrills!
I love the contrast of the two cabinet colors, and also the two different kind of hardware. And the floor! The floor is gorgeous and so practical for a family of three boys (laminate!)
One of my biggest requests was a place for homeschooling, my computer and my printer. This spot is perfect! There is also so much kitchen storage that I've saved the three drawers on the far right for homeschooling materials. Its just perfect!
The double ovens were in the old kitchen and I'm so glad that they kept them!
This row of cabinets is at a lower height (So they could keep the existing window). It's been awesome for the kids to cook on! Oh, and this lemonade dispenser and the cupcake tower: yep, I got to keep those two. Big thrills for me! I would never buy those things (too frugal), but love having them for hosting! (The red Kitchen Aid was mine...they really did nail it with the red accent design choice!)
I love the hidden panel for the dishwasher! I also love the color of this hardware and the faucet. Also, a farmhouse sink was on my mental "wish" list...and I got it!!
The fold-up table.
The underside of the table.
School/office area. It no longer looks this clean!
My sink with the view!
The map. In the actual show on HGTV, John and Anthony talk about how they made the frame around the map so that I can hang pictures on it. That was a new surprise to us because no one ever told us that!
This is the picture that is under the table. It really is a great one, and I have in framed in another part of the house, because the table is rarely "up", so we never got to see it.
Picture with the Cousins in the new kitchen
The whole family: notice Josh in this picture. That was pretty much his attitude about the whole thing! I have this up on a shelf in the kitchen now as a memento of the crazy experience!
And this is totally out of order, but I found a couple more pictures of the camera crew with our family when they showed up at the house. These are just too cool not to share!
(Look at Josh's face in this one: pure terror!)
Filming as we were getting ready to leave. They didn't put this at all in the show.
Stay tuned for one final blog post: the "aftermath" of the Kitchen Makeover Show.
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