DIY Home Improvements

[Ldyrev1]

Originally Posted by Verbena

We are working on our Colonial Home built in 1784. We have new windows and siding, the two rooms and hall way upstairs is done and the hallway down stairs. We are working in the living room. The new ceiling is up and painted. We just have to paint the walls. Then the kitchen, which is going to be a big remodel. The tile needs to come up and wood floor put in. New counters and the walls all have original bead board so that needs to be stripped. Then last the bathroom. It never ends.

And beside that in the spring and summer the outside gets worked on. In my infinite wisdom I decided to do an 18th century period garden. . . I thought it would be great having period gardens to match the house . . I know . . what was I thinking . . Lots and lots of research. Since the plants are all hybrids now, most of my plants I have to grow from seed, that I have shipped from England, Canada, Oregon. I also got some seeds from Thomas Jeffersons Monticello. It is a combination of medicinal herbs and flowers. Then we have a culinary herb and vegetable gardens. I am hoping to find period bulbs to plant for the fall.

Your home and your planned garden sounds wonderful. I would love to see photos when you are finished, though you may be planting in phases? I would love to plant a 1900 garden at my house also. Your home is much older than mine and I bet it's beautiful!!

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

You totally lost me with the "done on a time table". What's that mean? All my weekend projects are going on 2-3 years...isn't that normal?

Sounds like my family. In one of our houses, we converted a small bedroom into a bathroom. Dad filled in a larger window in the dormer in the room, but didn't do the siding on the outside for a long time. The view from the outside was a big piece of plywood (back of the house). When one of the neighbors asked if we had suffered a fire, he decided it was time to finish it, lol

[MyDearSam]

Originally Posted by Ldyrev1

These are "after" shots with the same views as the "before" shots.

Also note that behind the desk area is a new laundry room with cabinets, sink, sorting bins.

We also moved the door to the right side of the room with french doors.

Thanks so much for posting these before and afters, Diane! I have to show them to DH. He doesn't want to do anything in the kitchen except for the new countertop and flooring.

[Ldyrev1]

Originally Posted by MyDearSam

Thanks so much for posting these before and afters, Diane! I have to show them to DH. He doesn't want to do anything in the kitchen except for the new countertop and flooring.

Sometimes that's all you need to do, especially if you plan on moving in the near future. An update is a good idea. I would have given anything to have just been able to do that because we will never get back all that we have put into this kitchen and this house but we have been blessed to live here while our daughters grew up. It's not just a financial investment.

Also, there are some really beautiful counter materials out now and the flooring options are just amazing. And just having your cabinets professionally painted and new doors put on can make such a difference. Have you made choices yet?

[MyDearSam]

My kitchen is big, bland, and horribly inefficient. I want to take out the oversized peninsula and replace it with an island. Currently there's too much dead space in the middle of the room, and the peninsula cuts too far into the eating area (we don't have a separate dining room). The cabinets are white, vinyl flooring is white, countertop is gray/white. I want to either paint or reface the cabinets, replace the vinyl flooring with bamboo, and the fugly uber-cheap laminate with granite.

[Ldyrev1]

Originally Posted by MyDearSam

My kitchen is big, bland, and horribly inefficient. I want to take out the oversized peninsula and replace it with an island. Currently there's too much dead space in the middle of the room, and the peninsula cuts too far into the eating area (we don't have a separate dining room). The cabinets are white, vinyl flooring is white, countertop is gray/white. I want to either paint or reface the cabinets, replace the vinyl flooring with bamboo, and the fugly uber-cheap laminate with granite.

Sounds like all good ideas and as long as you aren't moving plumbing and/or electrical, it should all be doable. I really wanted bamboo flooring but realized this is a 100+ year old house and in trying to keep somewhat within the style of the home we decided on a wide plank laminate flooring. Our kitchen is huge as well. The pictures don't really show it but the island is three separate sets of base cabinets with an overhang making it square so there is a stool at one end. I'm sure yours will be beautiful when it's done. One step at a time.

Personally, I love the design phase the best!! Well, that and the finished project! LOL

[smithj1000]

I bought a foreclosure and did a whole house renovation. It's almost done and I only have the pool deck and front landscaping left to do. The first pic is the kitchen before (after the first renovation). The others are the after pics. I took walls down moved plumbing/windows/utilities. There's also a before pic of back of the house. I think you'll be able to easily identify that one and also see the scope of the project!

The picture of the kitchen door (in the next post) used to be a bay window that stopped about 3 feet from the floor. I put in the door and added the raised patio. And, when I say 'I', of course I mean the contractors... It was fun, but I'm so glad it's almost over!

[smithj1000]

A few more...

[Ldyrev1]

Your home is stunning and very glamorous! So is the young lady in the first picture. Is this you or your daughter by chance? She is beautiful!!

[smithj1000]

Yes, that's my daughter's senior prom picture. It's the only picture I have of the first kitchen reno. Your kitchen is beautiful as well. Even more because you stayed true to the period of your house.

I always like to start with the kitchen because that's where the most time is spent. It's also the place with the biggest return on investment. Even on a small budget, it's amazing the difference painting cabinets, new countertops and hardware can make.

[lynzy420]

Originally Posted by smithj1000

Yes, that's my daughter's senior prom picture. It's the only picture I have of the first kitchen reno. Your kitchen is beautiful as well. Even more because you stayed true to the period of your house.

I always like to start with the kitchen because that's where the most time is spent. It's also the place with the biggest return on investment. Even on a small budget, it's amazing the difference painting cabinets, new countertops and hardware can make.

Those are painted cabinets? Wow they look brand new. What did you use to paint them with?

Beautiful house and young lady!

[smithj1000]

They're new cabinets. I was just saying that you don't have to buy new cabinets to make a big impact. Painting can create a dramatic effect too. I painted cabinets in a previous house and the difference was amazing.

One of my favorite websites for decorating ideas is houzz.com. Decorators post their projects and, many times, they will include the paint brand and color if someone asks for it. The cabinets posted on that site are usually custom, but if you know the paint brand and color you can certainly duplicate the color.

[smithj1000]

Thank you for the compliment. Be sure to let us know which room you decide to tackle first!

[CouversMom]

We are avid DIYers. We bought a 1912 Craftsman bungalow 4 years ago and have been working on it ever since. I blog about it too. Rather than posting pictures, I'll attach my blog. Haven't posted in a while... We've been doing a lot of work out in the yard, I'll have to do a post soon about that.

The Bois Bungalow

[ironmike86]

Originally Posted by CouversMom

We are avid DIYers. We bought a 1912 Craftsman bungalow 4 years ago and have been working on it ever since. I blog about it too. Rather than posting pictures, I'll attach my blog. Haven't posted in a while... We've been doing a lot of work out in the yard, I'll have to do a post soon about that.

The Bois Bungalow

Thats alot of work. Nice job. My wife wanted to do a full remodel but I convinced her I'm to lazy....didn't take much effort to do that. But I word in Construction so last thing I want to do is come home and work.