Renovating a kitchen is hard work. It's hard mentally and physically. Like eating hotdog flavoured ice cream.
This has been going on for months now and I finally decided to sub-contract out some of my demolition. To my (nearly) 80 year old mother.
Best decision I ever made.
Brick wall Betty
Ripping out drywall with my nearly 80 year old mother, BETTY!
After I sent measurements of my kitchen to my kitchen designer Carol Reed, she mentioned that the wall between my kitchen and my dining room seemed to be an old exterior wall, based on how thick it was. I, being the kind of person I am, HAD to know. So at about 1 o'clock in the morning when I was feeling especially exuberant I attached a holesaw to my drill and started working at it. About 3.4 seconds later I was through the drywall and peeking into it with a flashlight.
BRICK. I saw BRICK. It was pretty much the best Peep Show I've ever been to. Only sexier. Because brick walls, the lingerie of the design world, are sexy. Rip that clothing off and reveal the lingerie!
The drywall was coming down to expose the sexy brick wall for all to see. In a few days I'll show you the results of that ripping, tugging and peeping.
Brick porn. Hotter than a pot full of steaming hotdog water.
andrea meyers
can you edit this? love it :), almost snorted cocoa out my nose!
Karen
YOU'RE HAVING COCOA???!! NOW I WANT COCOA!!! With a piece of toast and butter! I'm gonna DO it! Yay! ~ karen
Andrea Meyers
with a piece of pumpkin bread warmed with browned butter!!! Why not go ALL out!?
kerry
Love it!!! Although I'm a little concerned about showing it to my mom, who's currently living in my house. That has a kitchen in desperate need of a makeover. Don't want to give her ideas!
Mickey
Thanks Betty....you made my day!
Wendy W
I LOVE BETTY!!!! She is so awesome! She reminds me of my Mom when she was well. Hope to see more of her soon!
Connie
I can't believe I didn't get fired this morning. I often start my work day with a quick visit to your site as I'm "getting organized" for the day ahead. This post had me laughing so hard I think I may have blown my cover!!!
My sister and I are avid renovators, we just finished an awesome re-do of our old family cottage. Flip flops are our work shoe of choice, much to the horror of the workmen we had to hire for the jobs we weren't able to do. I hope to be Betty in 20 years!
kelliblue
OW she's (got) a brick....HOUSE
She's mighty mighty
just lettin it all hang out
she's (got) a brick house
she got a wall to smack
that's a fact
ain't holdin nothing back!
Love your blog Karen, but this one is the BEST! As one who lusts after good brick porn, I await the end results. You--and Betty--totally rock! (awesome Dick Dale btw!)
Karen
LOL. That was a most excellent song rendition. ~ karen!
Nancy
omg omg. I watched the first half this morning, and finished when I got home from work. I agree, best video ever! Can we nominate you and your mom for something somewhere?
Karen
I'd hunt down whoever's in charge of the Oscars if I were you. Documentary category of course. ~ karen
Linda S in NE
So is this the same 59 year old Betty, that's going on 80?? Loved the video.
TC
Betty, the video & the brickJust AWESOME!
Grammy
Great video. Great mom. Great brick discovery! Additional amusement came when I finished watching the video and saw that the Google ad placed at the bottom of the video said: Find Drywall Contractors. Read reviews and get quotes from local contractors...
With the still-screen of Betty hacking away at the drywall above it, the ad was priceless. I took a screenshot of it.
Karen
LOL!!! ~ karen
Grammy
If you'd like a copy of the screenshot, let me know at my e-mail addy how to get it to you.
Karen
Oh heck ... just send it to karen@theartofdoingstuff.com I trust you and everyone else to not start sending me daily updates about the state of your innards or whatever. :) ~ karen!
Grammy
Done.
Stephbo
I would say, "What the hell are you doing tearing apart walls at one in the morning?," but that's exactly the kind of crap I do. It's nice to know I'm not alone. And I'm extremely impressed that you were able to do all of that work whilst hanging upside-down from the ceiling. Not every woman could do that. ;)
Bols
Your mom is a feisty little devil, isn't she? And yet, I was going to say that's where you got if from but you said so myself. I am imagining you at the ripe of 80 building an extension to the Great Wall of China!
This makes me recall one particular day at my old house when I decided at approximately midnight to patch a hole in the drywall. I cut an opening of about 5"x5" and my mitre saw was sitting outside (it was summer and I can't remember which particular project I worked at at that time). I figured the neighbours might wanna strangle me with their own hands in the morning if I fired it up (the neighbours on the west side particularly grumpy) so I decided to cut the wood that I used as a patch with a handsaw. Well, I am pretty good at that, so about 1/2 hour later, the drywall was patched and muddied. I think I actually even dried the mud with my hairdryer so that I can sand it. I can't remember if I waited with painting till the morning.
But midnight and the wee hours are PURRfect for all kinds of fixing!
Karen
I agree. It's kind of my favourite time for doing most things, LOL. ~ karen
Kim from 3 peanuts
Well, you come by your determination honestly that is for sure. LOVE Betty but I was concerned for her feet.
Oh and an exposed brick wall in a kitchen is the BEST. I actually installed some in my last house when we built it just for the look. I miss it. Can't wait to see yours.
Amanda
You're getting me all hot and bothered! I wish I had something behind my walls other than granny panties....
Teresa J
OMG!!! I love your Mom!!! "Can you edit this?? Just wondering..." I will crack up all day every time I think of it. Loved her shoes, loved her pretty nails!! I want to be like that when I am her age!! With no grey either!! I dye my hair now and will continue cause look how young a person looks! Thanks for sharing Karen!! Tell your Mom she is a hit!! You should call HGTV......
Laura Bee
We tend to get our work ethic & tenacity from our moms I think. You got extra lucky! Attitude is everything.
Best video yet.
Laura Bee
On the subject of walls - all I found behind our basement bathroom wall was handfuls of beer caps from the 60's. There's a hole on the other side in the main part. The old owner must have hid down there & drank beer & flipped his caps in! Again - you got extra lucky!
Rondina
I wish I knew where I got that same gene from. Aside from me thinking, "I'll still be doing this in 20 years?" I was, let's say, "concerned" about your new kitchen floor. Notice I wasn't concerned about Betty at all. Just the floor.
ally
if memory serves, isn't the outside of your house.....RED brick? So how is it that this previously outside wall is yellow brick??? hhhhhhmmmmmm.
Karen
Its painted. As was the rest of my house exterior at one point. ~ karen!
Olequiltbat
Mike Holmes....eat your heart out. We now have the next newest home renovators.
Home renovator series will never be the same.
Betty ...you're a girl after my own heart. Enjoyed seeing you both together. Betty's a treasure.
Hope we see more of you ladies working together.
And....PS..don't tell mom how to use the video camera. :)
Sandy
Jodi T.
Is Betty in her sock feet?! Love this. She's awesome.
Karen
No. She's wearing her favourite shoes ... Fit Flops. ~ karen!