I first met Laxmy and Rahul in December 2019. The 15 year old apartment they had just bought needed a complete renovation- bathrooms, flooring, windows, balconies, plumbing, electrical wiring, woodwork and lighting. In addition, one wall had to be broken and a lintel inserted to create an open kitchen with a bar counter. The kitchen alone was to be finished in solid maple wood, while the rest of the woodwork was finished either in veneer or laminate. Our plan was to work fast, do multiple tasks in tandem, and finish the job within 4 months.
We were just a few days into the demolition work, when the lockdown was announced. When it was lifted two and a half months later, new challenges took its place. As if Covid protocols were not hard enough, limited work hours and limited workmen allowed at site due to Covid made things even more difficult. We had to complete our work with minimal disturbance to the neighbours who were now WFH. And yet somehow, we finished the job within the originally stipulated 4 months. We were lucky to have clients who kept out morale up by being most understanding, accommodating and appreciative throughout. If only we had a couple more weeks in hand, we could have done so much more. But all things considered, this project was a miracle in Covid times.