Before & After

Resources

Tales From The Set

Letter From Debbie

Oh boy, oh boy, this was a scary Facelift. We were full of bravado when we started, but it quickly turned to panic when the Facelift team and I suddenly realized we had bitten off far more than we could chew. We had ambitiously planned to rip out all the cabinets, plaster and paint the walls, rewire the lighting, in fact, change practically everything but the proverbial kitchen sink; all this in just four days!

What was fascinating to observe over these crazy four days was Glenn's ever changing moods. On Day One, he was a chirpy, happy guy, filled with the thrill of surprising his wife with a new kitchen. As the hours rolled into days he became not only tired but also exasperated by the dust and the dirt and the pressure. Having to take care of his 2 kids while mom was away, made it even more stressful. When Saturday arrived and Suzanne was due back, he was beside himself with sheer exhaustion.

What you did not see in the show was the drama that unfolded en route from the airport. Suzanne loves to have the children come along with Glenn to pick her up when she has been travelling, but on this occasion, I was worried. It was so wild and chaotic in the house, I felt it was too dodgy to trust their youngest son to keep the secret. I managed to persuade Glenn to leave the kids with us. Well, Suzanne was furious that the kids weren't there to greet her. Obviously, she didn't know the reason, and poor old Glenn got an 'ear full' on the drive home.

Can you imagine then, Suzanne's shock (and guilt!) when she discovered that her wonderful husband had almost shed blood, sweat and tears in his quest to surprise her with a fantastic new kitchen!

Love Debbie

Letter From Suzanne

I was very surprised when I walked into my house after a grueling flight back from San Diego to discover a brand new kitchen. It was overwhelming! I could tell immediately all the hard work that went into the "Facelifting" of my kitchen. Before I left on my business trip I was muttering to myself about how disgusting the kitchen was. We had not redone the kitchen since we bought the house so the wallpaper was quite outdated and greasy. Another nightmare in this cramped kitchen was the table. Every time Glenn walked past the table to go out the back door her would curse, as he tripped over the chairs - not a good vibe.

So... to discover freshly painted walls, glass fronted cupboards, gorgeous tiles on the wall and nice lighting - well, I was blown away. You were able to design the kitchen in such a way that everything is accessible and we can eat in it. We have enjoyed many hours in our new kitchen and even hold dinner parties in it. We call it "Glenn's Bistro" since he does all the cooking and "Suzanne's Soup Kitchen", since I do all the dishes. We both look forward to many more years in our new kitchen - and the kids do too.

Thanks again for all your hard work and thoughtfulness. If you would like to come back and do any other room in the house (or the garden) we would be more than happy to oblige. I think Glenn was looking for a new basement studioÖ. I would be game!

Suzanne