Whenever we build things there are always lots of “plan-ahead” moments that will happen depending on our level of experience and abilities to “see the BIG picture.”
NOT being able to see the “big picture” is all too common today—-in all walks of life. I am not sure it is entirely avoidable.
No one can know everything—-or foresee everything.
There are sometimes unintended consequences as well.
I guess the bigger question is: “Why is it when one comes up against their lack of knowledge wouldn’t one do something about it?” Why wouldn’t that discovery result in corrections that reflect that lack of knowledge? Why do we tend to just bull our way through and “hope” for the best?
I used to ask my employees. “Do you want to remember in 10 years how you fixed it or how you didn’t fix it?”
Certainly “AHA” moments should not result in “FKT” moments—-should they?
When people commit these kinds of “errors and omissions,” don’t they know that these “goofs” are going to end up as blog fodder somewhere—or worse yet on some Mike Homes type show?
In the following pictures we see where the installation of the new range has resulted in loss of full function of the two drawers—-one on each side of the range.
While this problem goes back to the original cabinet design for the kitchen, it is possible that another brand of appliance might have been found that would have allowed for proper clearances of the drawers past the range handle and door—then again perhaps it has always been this way.
Installation of drawers in corners like this is poor basic kitchen design, as it often wastes the entire space of the corner—-or results in the corner being very inaccessible. Installation of revolving shelves to better utilize the corner cabinet would be a better solution to this problem. Some people may also be “OK” with the less than functional drawers the way they are. After all they are “somewhat” functional.
The same cannot be said of the dishwasher in this same kitchen. Not only will the door not fold all the way flat due to the refrigerator being in the way—-it also destroys use of the corner for storage.
But wait a minute—-what is it that I see in the crack between the washer and the cabinet?
AHA! It’s the WATER HEATER—-how silly of me to think this space was being wasted!
Is this water heater accessible?
First of all, the refrigerator will have to be removed so that the dishwasher can be removed so that the heater can be serviced, repaired, inspected, monitored etc.
Looks like WAY to many FKT moments won out over the AHA moments in this kitchen.
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Charles Buell, Real Estate Inspections in Seattle
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