装潢住房HomeImprovement_购物英语

carl: i think we should do the floors before we work on the curtains and walls.
sue: why? it doesn't make sense.
if we do the floors first, and then paint the walls,
we will get paint all over our new floor.
carl: hmm. maybe you're right. but i can't stand all this green carpet in here.
and besides, i know how to paint. i will just cover everything with drop cloth.
i won't get anything on the floor.
sue: are you sure?
carl: yes, i'm sure. i've done a lot of house painting in my life.
and my mother was very picky.
if i got even a tiny drop of paint on her furniture, she would get furious.
so i learned to be very careful.
sue: alright. then maybe we can do the floor first.
these wood floors under this carpet are beautiful.
and me too--i can't wait to get all this old carpet out of here.
but how can we get it out? do we have to hire someone?
carl: absolutely not. we can remove the carpet ourselves.
carpet is held down with carpet nails. you just need to pull it hard and it comes up.
sue: great.
then, after we remove the carpet, we need to restain all the wood floors. right?
carl: yes. but we should hire someone for that.
that will probably be expensive. and it has to be done right.
sue: and then, after the floors are done, we can start to move our furniture in. 
carl: sure. if we can get an appointment with someone to do the floors,
we should probably be able to have the furniture in here after a week or so.
i can get all the carpet out this weekend.
sue: so, after the floors are done, and after the furniture is in,
we need to redo the curtains and paint all the walls and ceilings.
carl: i'm the painter.
you can be in charge of going to curtain shops to choose curtains.
that will probably be pretty expensive too. having good curtains made isn't cheap.
sue: you mean we can't just buy curtains already made?
carl: absolutely not.
the windows must be measured, and then the curtains need to be made professionally.
so that will take awhile. maybe a month or so.
sue: while the curtains are being made, i can start having people look at the kitchen.
i can't stand that old kitchen. i won't be able to cook in there.
i don't want to use that electric stove.
carl: we will need to find an interior decorating company do redo the kitchen.
i believe in portland there are shops that specialize in kitchen renovation.
i will look in the yellow pages. i'd like a kitchen mostly in ivory and light green.
sue: i agree. the colors must be soft and pleasant.
you should feel comfortable when you cook our dinners.
carl: me? cook our dinners? hah! you will be cooking, dear. you will cook.
sue: no, i don't think so. i'll be too busy having tea in our new tea room.
carl: well, i suppose we'll have to hire a cook then.
so you won't be able to afford any clothes next year.
sue: and you'll have to sell your motorcycle. and your cameras. right?
carl: maybe i'll cook once or twice a week. how is that?
sue: four times might be enough. not once or twice.