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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Comment
Dave Schilling

The White House is getting renovated. Can we do the whole country while we’re at it?

Machinery tears at part of white house's East Wing, with US flag in the background
‘The nation itself will turn 250 years old next year, though, and it’s surely looking long in the tooth.’ Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

Who doesn’t love a good home renovation project? Something to take your mind off the humdrum details of life. A fresh start. A dream made reality. I recently repainted my french doors from teal to aquamarine. I felt like a new man, albeit one with all the same problems. Just with a new door color.

The average homeowner will always find something to change, tweak or revise – even in the most beautiful property. Don’t like your kitchen sink? Rip it out. Not a fan of subway tiles? Scrap them. Have you ever considered the sublime serenity of a rainfall shower on your body in the morning? All of these amenities can be yours for the price of materials, labor and the psychic distress of a bunch of burly middle-aged men traipsing around your house with large, thick boots. A small price to pay for a bit of temporary contentment.

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