Hey ya'll!

Just got back from Atlanta where I made-over an office space for 13 school nurses sharing a mere 20’ x 30’ space! Suffice it to say, this was one of the larger challenges that Rachael Ray has thrown my way (yes, I totally meant for that to rhyme). If you love your job- and these ladies do- then your workplace becomes a sort of
second home. This renovation was well deserved after 13 years of making do, or, as the
nurse’s say, “putting on their big girl panties!”, and it was tremendously rewarding to do it for them.

The thing that I love most about my job is that I get the opportunity over and over again to be invited into people’s lives in a very personal way and create new friendships during the process. Doing makeovers is about more than colors and furniture- it’s about getting to know people and then helping them create a space that makes them happy and comfortable. Surprise makeovers also require an enormous amount of trust on the home (or office) owners part, and I always consider it and honor. You really get kind of woven into the fabric of their lives. (Wow, that’s really corny.)

But now, it’s like I get to double dip in the buddy bowl! In addition to the clients, I have a whole new crew each time to get to know. When I was doing Design on a Dime, Spencer, Dave and I had a familiarity and shorthand with each other that made all of our installations run with ease. Since I now do makeovers all over the country for Rachael’s show, I work with local construction crews each time and I’m always a little nervous beforehand. Let’s face it- without knowing someone’s skill-set and work ethic, launching into a situation where you spend (in this case) 5 long exhausting days with each other can be daunting. I got really lucky this time though. These 11 guys gave 250% and put in 15+hour days to make this makeover happen. Their wives started calling themselves “makeover widows”!

I’ll now insert a shameless plug- the company is called Prime Contractors, Inc. and they're based in the Atlanta area. It pains me to admit this awful truth about myself, but I can be a wee bit obsessive and a borderline perfectionist on a jobsite. If I had my way about it-and geography wasn’t an issue- I would work with these guys on every job from here to eternity. Aside from being fantastic painters, finish carpenters, electricians and everything in between, they were an endless supply of one-liners. This is a quality crucial to making installation days bearable! I really do adore all 11 of them- even Tony, who won’t admit that he likes me back. Thank you Keith, Mark, Byron, Casey, Cisco, David, Larry, Tony, Tony, Trenton & Ruston!

And my nurses…these ladies were like a basket full of puppies and rainbows and unicorns all rolled into one. (What. I love unicorns) We could not have asked for a more gracious bunch to do this for. Staples outfitted the office with everything- paper clips to furniture to 15 NEW COMPUTERS! And the loveliest part is that these gals would have been just as stoked if we’d painted the walls and called it a day. The whole thing just gives me the warm fuzzies!

I’m writing this having already said my emotional goodbyes- to the guys in Atlanta, and the nurses in New York after we did our in studio. Luckily, email keeps the world in touch, and my brother Bobby lives in Atlanta, so I’ll be seeing my ladies and my guys for lunch before too long. (I wish I’d thought of that before I got all gooney and weepy on them!) The whole extravaganza airs on the Rachael Ray show October 23rd, so set yer tivoes!

On to other news- not many people know this, but yours truly was a contestant on Wheel of Fortune about 8 or 9 years ago- I had highlights people, so it’s been a while. I competed with the hopes of making enough cash to landscape the 1st house that Scott and I bought together. Did I do well, you ask? Let’s just say it took another 2 or 3 years to get started on the yard. Well…..I just got my chance at redemption. I was asked to play for charity during Wheel’s 25th Anniversary Celebrity Week. It was taped at Radio City Music Hall, so my childhood obsession (alright it lasted like, a week) of becoming a Rockette was partially fulfilled. I can’t tell you how I did (it’ll air in November), but I was playing for the West Virginia Chapter of Habitat For Humanity, and I think they’ll be pleased with the results. I played alongside Sandra Lee and Montel Williams, and both were fantastic to hang with. As we got closer to playing time, though, there was a little psyche action happening and we all went into competition mode. We ended with hugs kisses and pictures with Pat and Vanna who- can I just say- looks as damn good as she did in the beginning days of Wheel.

Hope you’re all seeing the beginning signs of fall in your neck of the woods. Love the leaves and smell of the air and all, but I’m really just excited to wear boots again! Stay tuned...

Love,
Kristan