For weeks now I have been trying to make decisions about my kitchen remodel. I started out just wanting a fresh coat of paint. But before I could get my paintbrush wet, I realized that the paint wouldn’t look good on crooked walls with random holes in them. So my father volunteered to fix the holes.

Then I took a look at the cabinets. After 22 years, they are in need of more than TLC. They need a makeover. On my way to deciding which color to paint the cabinets, I was stopped by the ugly, functionless stove hood that I nearly burned off the wall some 20 years ago. I could go no further until that thing was out of my kitchen.

At the paint store, I got very close to selecting cabinet and wall colors, but took a wrong turn and ended up near the countertops. My aging countertops would look just plain silly sandwiched between lovely new paint and revamped cabinets. Along with the counters, of course we need a kitchen sink replacement.

I started shopping for granite, but before I could get my hands on a slab, a surprise guest stopped by and insisted that what I really need is a skylight in the kitchen. Before I could even wrap my head around that idea, another person insisted that I need a larger stovetop, which means remodeling the cabinets.

Now, as you might guess, I am frozen. I don’t know where to start, what to do, and in what order. Do I start with the sink? Or the paint? Or the counter? If I had enough cash to hire a decorator and a contractor, I would. But I don’t. So for now, I think I’ll retire to my kitchen-in-transition and make a pot of soup. I’ll think about the kitchen remodel tomorrow.

– Jolene Thym