JOURNAL 4 –Where the Wild Things Are
A Whimsical Guide to Surviving Your Renovation Adventure
Demolition of Exterior Doors, Windows, Gutters, Downspouts, 3-Tiered Slate Patio & Landscaping
Synopsis of Where the Wild Things Are
First published in 1963 by Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are is a beloved children’s book about a mischievous boy named Max who, after causing chaos at home and being sent to his room without supper, imagines his room transforming into a jungle. He sails away to an island inhabited by wild, fantastical creatures who crown him their king. Though he revels in the freedom and wildness, Max eventually feels lonely and longs for home. He returns to find his supper waiting—still warm.
Want to refresh your memory or learn more about the book? You can read a quick synopsis here.
Have fun in the process!
“Let the Wild Rumpus Start!” – or as we call it, the Renovation Begins
Taking on a home renovation project is a wild adventure of its own. Much like Max’s untamed imagination, your desire to reimagine your home—say, that dream kitchen with brass fixtures or the spa-like bathroom with radiant floors—starts as a spark of inspiration that quickly grows into an uncontrollable force. This desire, much like Max’s wild behavior, turns your cozy, familiar room (or home) into something unrecognizable.
One moment, you’re sketching cabinetry layouts and poring over tile samples, and the next—BAM—demolition begins. Ceilings vanish, walls come down, and your house transforms into a jungle of exposed beams and tangled cords. Sound familiar? Like Max’s once-familiar bedroom evolving into a dense forest, you might look around and ask, “Where did my house go?”
Once a dining room. Soon-to-be a Kitchen…promise!
The Journey: Sailing into the Great Unknown (a.k.a. Construction Phase)
Max sets sail to the land of the Wild Things, and you, dear homeowner, are doing the same—figuratively speaking. Maybe you actually flee to a rental, take a vacation, or just mentally detach as the project gets rolling. You’re trusting your designers, builders, and tradespeople—your crew—to manage this journey. But just like Max’s travels, the seas aren’t always calm.
There are delays, unforeseen structural issues, backordered materials—these are your renovation monsters. They can roar their terrible roars and gnash their terrible teeth, but with the right team and your metaphorical crown, you stay king or queen of the process.
New beam installed over what will be a new Marvin bi-fold door. The other beam is to support the weight of the roof in the new proposed kitchen.
Taming the Beasts and Finding Your Way Home
Max enjoys the thrill of ruling the wild things, but eventually, he misses the comfort of home. You’ll feel that too. As the last tile is laid and the dust (finally) settles, you return—not to the same place, but to something new and deeply familiar all at once.
Your kitchen is whole again. The new bathroom is bathed in light. The chaos has ended, and now, like Max’s supper, your home is waiting—still warm, and oh so worth the journey.
The wild—rumpus adventure comes to a close!
Photo Credit: Kate McNamara: Freebird
Builder: Howell Custom Building Group
Remember that open air ceiling in the photos above? Same space. Complete Kitchen Renovation.
Photo Credit: Kate McNamara: Freebird
Builder: Howell Custom Building Group
The Renovation Circle of Life
A renovation is more than before-and-after photos. It’s a journey of imagination, disruption, trust, and transformation. Just like Max’s story, it’s not always smooth, but it’s always worth it. The process may feel wild at times, but when done right, you arrive home to something even better than what you imagined.
So if you’re about to begin your renovation story, remember Max. Embrace the wild, trust your team, and know that the comfort of “home” is waiting at the end of your adventure—new, improved, and entirely yours.
Reference photo above where I was standing with an axe in hand. Three Seasons Room with lower open—air deck, new landscaping, retaining walls, hardscape
Want More Renovation Storytelling?
Emotionally Preparing for Your Home Renovation: Know What to Expect
14 Home Renovations That Blend Past + Present
Erin Condron Freshens Up North Shore Family’s Longtime Home
Let the wild renovation rumpus begin.
— Claire
