"People say you only live once, but people are as wrong about that as they are about everything.
In the darkest moments before dawn a woman returns to her bed. What life is she leading? Is it the same life the woman was leading an hour ago? A day ago? A year ago?
Who is this man?
Do they lead separate lives or is it a single life shared?
A storm approaches.
It is still over the horizon, but there is lightning in the air.
Are either of them aware of the gathering turbulence? Can they feel the crackle of electricity in the wind? Or are they aware of only the power that they generate between themselves?
The first hint of a storm is not a thunderclap... it is a knock." - TJ Thyne, Bones
This was my "turning point" job.
This client was my "turning point" client.
I was going through a lot at this time and if I'm being honest, I didn't feel like I wanted to continue doing kitchen design. People didn't really seem to like my ideas. They were only interested in me validating their (bad) ideas. Or they would tell me that they liked my ideas, but felt it was "too bold" or they were "too afraid" to do something different.
I was feeling defeated.
Then, Mrs. Maddox came along.
This was an insurance job being done by a restoration company. By the time I met Mrs. Maddox, she was in no mood. She was frustrated, upset. They had experienced water damage loss in their home and that is enough to put anyone in a bad mood.
The first hour I met her did not go well.
She was already frustrated and I felt it. It was not a pleasant experience and it didn't help that I was already feeling like I didn't want to design kitchens anymore.
About an hour in, she apologized and had expressed her frustrations with the whole process and I can't remember the exact words of the apology, but it didn't matter.
I decided that if she apologized and she's just frustrated and this has nothing to do with me, then... maybe... I can throw some of my ideas at her. It's my job to make sure that people get the most of out the projects, even if they're an unwilling participant because this was a "forced remodel" instead of something they were actually excited about.
It's my job to help them become excited. To encourage them see this unfortunate circumstance into an opportunity. From horse shit grows flowers, so they say.
I proceeded with caution.
But by the time we got to the end of the design, I didn't want the project to end!
We were instant friends. Our frustrations had been put to bed if only temporarily.
She loved my ideas, and I loved that she was open to them. I just knew that I could make this her dream kitchen if she would just give me a chance to do it.
This is one of my most favorite designs.
I love counter-wall cabinets for small appliance storage.
I love the soapstone.... the copper accents... I just love everything about the kitchen.
I love that she gave me a chance. I do what I do because I love it. Because I can see these spaces come together before I even start to draft them. And she gave me the opportunity to share my vision with her and she loves it just as much.
It was exactly the reminder I needed to not give up and to keep following my passion and doing what I love. Things rarely go according to plan, but those are the best "creative opportunities" that encourage us to do something that we didn't initially plan to do, but in looking back, end up becoming our favorite part.
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