Online "diary" dishes dirt on kitchen remodel

Jack and Candice have disliked their kitchen since they moved into their suburban Chicago house six years ago. So, like many of us, they are gutting the room and starting anew. But unlike any of us, the project is being chronicled in "The Kitchen Diaries," found on the Web site Kitchens.com.

The site itself appears to be mostly a clearinghouse for advertisers, but "Diaries" is a good read. It has loads of pictures of the house before construction began last week, a list of the appliances, countertops and other materials the couple selected, and a blog to be alternately written by Jack and Candice detailing the renovation progress, as well as tips for surviving a major redo.

Too often, said Kimberly Sweet, the newly hired editor in chief at Kitchens.com, homeowners begin remodeling and don't anticipate the dust, delays and added expenses that almost always occur.

"There is so much reality television that covers remodeling, but it all seems to be neatly wrapped up in a half-hour or an hour," she said. "We want to educate people about that process and show them the complete steps involved."

Week 1 activities have been posted and Jack and Candice's old room has been gutted, and the temporary one-burner-in-the-basement kitchen is in use. And that's about all so far.