Tag Archives: remodeling

The Dream Kitchen Sweepstakes

Oh, how I would love to win the Dream Kitchen Sweepstakes. I have a lovely home; however, the kitchen does need some work so winning this contest would be absolutely wonderful. The Dream Kitchen Sweepstakes is sponsored by Good Housekeeping and began on February 1, 2010. Do not worry though because this long running sweepstakes is going on until January 31, 2012. No purchase is necessary to be part of this very generous contest that will give a lucky grand prize winner $250,000 in the remodeling of their kitchen! Yes, you heard correctly, $250,000! Wow, that would give you cute … Continue reading →

When Remodeling, Consider the Neighbors

If you are planning a remodeling project, it is important to consider the neighbors. No, not because they might complain but because their home might be affecting the value of your own. Taking a look at all of the factors for your home, including your neighbors will help you make the right decisions about remodeling projects and get the most value from your investment. First, if you are planning an addition, take a look at the square footage of the houses that belong to your neighbors. You want to keep the size of your house in line with the others. … Continue reading →

Checking Your Remodeling Recoup Cost

Do you ever wonder what upgrades to your home might add in terms of value? Even with a slumping housing market, you can still increase your home’s resale value with the right renovation. As everyone knows, kitchen and bathrooms get the greatest recoup in investment overall, but some other numbers may surprise you. Recoup value on projects can vary by region. This can make sense in some places, such as insulated windows in New England getting a greater recoup value, while not make sense in other places, such as upgrading an air conditioning system in Texas getting a small recoup … Continue reading →

Warning to Kitchen Sink Fashion Victims

Do you know which popular kitchen trends that you should avoid this year? I’m making sure that I do my research before we do any updating to our older kitchen. As my husband keeps pointing out, kitchens can look outdated very quickly if we choose features that are hot for the moment but don’t stand the test of time. I counter with a feeble argument: “But if we like it then why not enjoy it?” There is some truth to both sides of the discussion of course. Still, I am doing my research to see if there are any trends … Continue reading →

7 Common DIY Mistakes (7)

This is it! We at the end of our series on the seven most common mistakes that people make when doing projects around their home by themselves. It has been a long road, and we have covered so much. If you have missed any of these articles, just take a look at the links below this one. You’ll find everything there that you need to catch up on the discussion. And we can come full circle talking about a common mistake that can really be overcome within any of the other mistakes. What I mean is, that avoiding this mistake … Continue reading →

7 Common DIY Mistakes (5)

What common do it yourself (DIY) mistake can really get you into trouble? You could be hit with fines, lose weeks or months of time, or even lose your home sale if you have your house on the market. Don’t let it happen to you. The fifth most common DIY mistake has to do with permits. I am always surprised at home many homeowners don’t realize that they need to apply for and have permits granted for many renovation and remodeling projects. Overlooking permits can ruin your project and set you up for some expensive challenges. Permit requirements will vary … Continue reading →

7 Common DIY Mistakes (2)

Do you have a project that you can do yourself? Before you tackle that repair or remodeling job, you might want to read this series of articles. We’ll explore the seven most common DIY mistakes and tell you how to avoid them. Last time, we spoke about the danger of overestimating your skills. This time, we will cover underestimating the value of your time. Sure you may have the knowledge and experience to tackle your project, but did you factor in your time? There are a few ways where time can get you into trouble. The first is underestimating the … Continue reading →

Home Design Trends—Where Do We Go From Here?

There’s nothing like starting your new year out with a home-improvement look that’s on it’s way out. I’ve spent the last week or so discussing decorating trends. I was inspired by a friend who recently created an interior masterpiece (and she doesn’t complain when I come over and drool on her newly tiled floors). My friend is not the only one jumping on the remodeling bandwagon. According to research conducted by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, in the past decade, almost 30 million homes have been “significantly upgraded.” The study revealed that the fastest-growing segment of the market … Continue reading →

Remodeling On A Budget—The Bathroom and Basement

In my previous blog: “Remodeling On A Budget—The Kitchen” I admitted that I often complain about not having the luxurious updates my friend’s enjoy in their homes. Home improvements take money and not everyone’s household budgets can accommodate remodeling efforts. Or can they? Last month one of the dad’s in my daughter’s playgroup (an architect) gave me some tips on how to make remodeling more affordable. The following are ways you can update your bathroom and basement without breaking the bank: BATHROOM Whirlpool Tub. Our toddler daughter has been begging for one of these “pools” for months. I don’t blame … Continue reading →

Remodeling On A Budget—The Kitchen

I love strolling through home improvement stores and taking mental notes of all of the luxuries I hope to add to my own home… when I win the lottery. Kidding aside, I often bemoan the fact my house lacks the luxurious updates that my friend’s enjoy. I figured it would take nothing short of a financial miracle for me to add the improvements I dreamed of. However, last month I learned how wrong I was. One of the dad’s in my daughter’s playgroup is an architect who happens to have the inside track on how to make remodeling more affordable. … Continue reading →