So we took the leap, closed our eyes, and decided to do another renovation. It seems every house we live in needs a makeover at some point - some have been harder or more complicated than others. The beauty of this one is that most of the work will be farmed out to contractors who do this sort of thing every day. In the past, we have undertaken the gargantuan task ourselves and faced the uphill learning curves that each job presents. This time round we are hoping for a smooth transition from past to present.
The reality is always somewhat different than the dream or the expectation though. We started just after Christmas last year - spending the month of January packing up all paraphenalia and chotkes on the main floor and storing them whereever we could stuff them in the basement, with a spill over deposited in the garage. In February, the crews started marching in: the first one created the most dust and debris jackhammering the ceramic tiles up from the entrance and kitchen.
Dust inviegled its way into every crevice and cranny on all three floors of the house, the chipped tile flew all over, landing mostly down heating and a/c ducts. Once that was through, the next legion attacked the carpets and then laid the new hardwood all over the main floor - what a difference it makes. Then it was over to the carpenter who gave us a new staircase and finally, the painters who gave the house its first facelift in 10 years. We now have an interior that has finally found the 21st century. We are very happy with the outcome - it looks great and is much easier to keep clean. 
In a gargantuan undertaking, we had the swimming pool made smaller (it used to be of Olympic proportions) and more manageable – now we have more entertainment areas, and more garden. The pool itself, being smaller, is easier to heat and keep clean, and we have a modern pool cover that doesn’t sag into a cesspool by the end of winter. We added a gazebo so that we can lounge outside without being in the direct blaze of sun, and the pergola – covered in a beautiful wisteria - was enlarged off the family room. A new outdoor lounge suite and dining set, with outdoor lights and a fountain nearby has rounded off the back garden nicely. Et voila, we have our personal summer resort!
We are really loving the house and living here is a pleasure - no more talk of selling and downsizing. And I think we have just about done all the renovations we ever need to complete. 