Kitchen reno tip for first time homeowner?!
CC
13 days ago
last modified: 13 days ago
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First time Homeowner needs decorating/painting advice! With pics!
Comments (11)Congrats and enjoy turning your new house into a home! SS or black appliances would definitely work with the maple, but making the switch to Energy Star would be low on my priority if the appliances are in decent shape. First thing I'd change is the wall color, and agree with Teacats that a white like BM White Linen would be great but could go with a deeper Bone White. I think the white appliances will look much nicer and like they belong. If you prefer a light blue or other color, that could also look nice. Whatever makes you and your family feel optimistic and says "home", but that would not be most shades of green for me. If you're the type that can be happy working with your existing kitchen, wander over to the kitchen forum for inspiration on how small changes can have big impacts, but don't go there if you're likely to succumb to kitchen envy as many have big budget kitchens. Since design is an aspect of what I've been involved with professionally and I really enjoy decor, I can look at and appreciate lots of different styles, knowing they wouldn't work for me. I like your existing, and know with a few updates like new blinds, paint and adding art, I'd love it! I don't know that bar seating will be so great for your son or for family communication while dining, so I'd opt for an expandable pedestal round table or an expandable square under the chandie and not go with a fan. Could you be happy with a small loveseat and one or two comfy chairs in the adjacent carpeted area serving as your family room? If you'll use the computer station, fine; but if it doesn't suit your needs, you can always take it out. Patching the walls is minor. Many here have found great quality, solid or veneered furniture that's far superior to much that's mass-produced today, on Craigs List, ebay, estate sales, consignment shops and Goodwill. Trick is to take your time adding wonderful pieces as you find them rather than trying to get all the furniture at once. Happy nesting!...See MoreFirst Time HomeOwners
Comments (33)Elizabeth, it will be okay. I'm a Realtor and have sold many foreclosures. It is more difficult when you are the buyer purchasing a property that hasn't been well maintained. Most foreclosures are the opposite of well maintained IME. But you can do this. Even if you make a misstep or two, it is easy to correct. The main thing is to have a plan. Are the systems of the house in working order? I mean things like roof, HVAC, electrical and plumbing? Is the floor serviceable for now? These are the important things on Day 1 of move in. The design part takes time and planning. Don't rush. That's where mistakes are made. When you are looking at a (presumably) vacant house, it shows smaller than when you actually begin to furnish it. It is best to live in the house first so you can see what works and what doesn't work from a planning perspective. I know it is more convenient to change things before you move in, but again, that is when errors are prone to happen. The best thing you can do as step one is to make any necessary repairs to the house, clean to the bone every surface and then move in and begin the planning stages to make this home your own....See Morekitchen suggestions(first time homeowner)
Comments (15)Congratulations! New homeownership is exciting, and most people come in wanting to put their mark on their home. But (sorry!) I also vote to live with it as it is for the time being. You won't know the ins and outs of what works or doesn't in the layout, and you'll likely find that your preferences will change once you've lived in your home for a bit. And (especially if like most new homeowners you don't have money to burn) doing a renovation too soon could lead to costly missteps. Your current plan will have your kitchen looking like many, many other kitchens installed in the past decade. Which is fine, but it will quickly look "dated" because all of those design elements are so strongly associated with the current time period . "Dated" as an idea annoys me, because if you really, truly love Shaker cabinets and gray, then go for it! But I think most people go for choices like that because they feel safe and you see them everywhere. If you have a kitchen that screams 2021 in a house that otherwise says 2007 or 1992 (or whenever), it's going to look discordant. For now, I would work on a vision for your whole home that reflects you and your home, and slowly make choices that work with the bones of the house that will help the whole home look cohesive. Develop a five or ten year plan to get there. Start with the small stuff that's easy to change (paint, rip out carpeting, add in hooks and shelves and features that make the space more liveable for now) and scale up from there....See MorePlease help! First time homeowner I dont know what to do with my yard
Comments (31)Good advice about being wary of what gets planted with the pool. Not just tree roots but tree flowers, seeds, and leaves are a constant bother with a pool. You might be able to add taller trellises here and there to the fence, and train flowering vines on them, for more privacy. One thing that helped budget wise was to wait to buy plants until late summer/early fall, when nurseries and big box stores heavily discount shrubs and perennials. Most of my shrubs and trees were acquired that way, saving 50-75%. As someone above said, take the time this summer to prepare the areas for planting. "Most bang for the buck improvement items" is pretty vague - can you make a list of specific improvements you want to see, then order it by what is most important to you and/or a pressing issue that needs fixing? (pressing need = things like bad drainage, improper roof runoff, a patch of invasive weeds, rotten fence boards). Also most do-able. I would spend some time at the library, looking at home & garden magazines (my library has gone to all on-line that I can view from home) and checking out books to get more solid ideas of the way you want things to look in the end. See if "walkable" ground covers would work in your area, instead of sod - to cut down on the mowing, fertilizing, weed control etc. Do you have any family members who would pitch in to help? Maybe a preteen or teen for a few dollars?...See MoreM Miller
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13 days agoDiana Bier Interiors, LLC
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13 days agolast modified: 12 days agoK Laurence
13 days agoMark Bischak, Architect
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13 days agoBoxerpal
13 days agoDiana Bier Interiors, LLC
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