Are Most of You Working Away in Your Kitchen?
9 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (24)
Related Discussions
Turning water off when you're away
Comments (22)There was a house for sale across the street from me in 2008. It was one of those project houses...needed a total gut job. A nice couple bought it as an investment house. They toiled all spring and summer fixing up the house. The did a fabulous job. New hardwood maple flooring, real plaster walls (instead of drywall--they wanted to stay true to the age of the house), fabulous wood trim. It was an extremely nice DIY renovation. The DIY couple, rented the house out in August to a 20 something couple that worked at a local university. All was good. The young couple fit in our neighborhood great and they seemed happy. Christmas 2008. The young couple goes away for 2 weeks to visit family. When they get home after New Year's they find the house completely flooded. The plaster walls and ceiling have fallen down. The lovely maple floors are in waves. All of their belongs are ruined. Mold is growing up the walls. They go around to the neighbors asking for help. Young couple has no real tools, or even a decent mop. The entire neighborhood pitches into to help them out. We give the young couple a place to stay. The landlords finally arrive...having to the longest 10 hour drive of their lives to get back and see the mess. Turns out a pipe burst in an upstairs bathroom because it was on an outside wall and wasn't insulated correctly. The house is deemed uninhabitable until repairs are made. The young couple finds a new place to live. The landlords start the fight with the insurance company. Their claim is denied. They get a lawyer and continue to fight. Eventually, the claim is accepted. The landlord couple spends the entire summer of 2009 doing what they just did a year ago. A new young couple moves in August 2009. But this year will be different because the landlords installed an automatic shut off leak detection valve. They told us it was pretty expensive but it sure beats doing the rehab yet again. Now, when we go away, we turn the water off at the main, open the faucets and flush the toilets. We have our heat on and have neighbors check on our cat daily. We don't drain anything, but at least if something bursts the water can't just continue to run. So far so good. I will never forget walking into the house across the street last winter. Seeing the plaster walls, insulation and everything from the 2nd floor on the 1st floor with mold growing up the walls was one of those visions I'll remember forever. I'd really like to get one of the automatic leak detector valves for my house too....See MoreThe most important feature you wanted in your new home?
Comments (41)I just sold my 1930s Dutch Colonial in suburban Philadelphia. Some of the feedback I received from buyers was that the lack of a garage was a non-starter. However, my neighborhood was a popular one, and most houses in it lack a garage. (And my house sold in less than a week). The house I moved to has an enclosed carport. Sort of weird. Prior owners enclosed it to use for storage purposes. Down the road, I'm going to explore the possibility of adding a garage door. I've never had a garage - first lived in the city and had on-street parking, then moved to the suburbs and was excited to have my own driveway. I guess it's all in what you've had in the past and what you become used to having. Good luck!...See MoreWhat bothers you the most about your living space?
Comments (31)Because I spent 30 years in a home with virtually no storage (no basement, a garage that was converted into an office) I became an expert at not keeping things. Bedrooms were my January project. Jan 1st, take all the hanging clothing in your closet and place a small kids hair rubber band on the neck of each hanger. Place everything that is in your drawers in baggies (Quart, 1 and 2 gallon size) or small boxes. Throughout the year as you use things they get placed in the drawer or washed and hung in the closet. I don't place anything back into a plastic bag/box and I remove the rubber bands from the hangers. The following January I collected everything that was not used in the past year and gave it or threw it away. Spring was my kitchen and pantry. Again I placed my gadgets in baggies. If they were used during the year they were taken out of the baggie and placed in a drawer. I date all of my frozen foods and everything in my pantry when it is purchased. When I housecleaned in the spring everything that was 12 months old or older was tossed. Bathrooms and tools were my summer project. Fall was office and paperwork. Used the same basic process except for paperwork, which is filed by year and kept in a banker box for 7 years. Like I said earlier, my husband had a tough time getting rid of things, so his things were placed in boxes for 12 months and stored until the next year and then given away. I was good with giving away anything not used in 12 months. He needed the reassurance of an additional year to make sure he didn't need something that he hadn't used in a year. I found that this process eliminated the need to make the decisions - will I use this, will I wear this. . . Didn't wear it in a year - not going to happen....See MoreWhat are you most proud of accomplishing for your home this year?
Comments (53)I got the garage and window/door trim on my little ranch-style home scraped, primed, and repainted, as well as the deck! Did I mention that I hate painting outside? The garage also got completely insulated and sheathed with OSB; it isn't painted and looks a little rough, but keeps the space 10 degrees warmer than it used to before insulating! Oh, and l painted two small houses--interior painting this time!--for a friend who has rentals. No more painting for me for a little while, but l still have plenty of projects to do: redoing my raised garden beds in the back yard, finishing the laundry room(original basement concrete walls only on two sides), and figuring out how to make my kitchen work and feel larger without building on! I have lots of ideas and wish l had the money to go with them!...See More
9 years ago- 9 years ago
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoInvite to friend's home for Thanksgiving.
It's the husband's birthday and he requested my sour cream chocolate cake.
I'm taking from the bakery here, parker house rolls.
And as a hostess gift, my favorite: Chocolate Shop Wine
Marilyn Sue thanked glenda_al
Related Stories
MATERIALSPro Panel: ‘The Material I Love to Work With Most’
7 experts weigh in on their favorite materials for walls, flooring, siding and counters
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGNThe Most Popular Kitchen Storage Ideas of 2015
Maximizing every inch, keeping necessities close at hand and finding room for technology top Houzzer favorites
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGNModern Storage and Sunshine Scare Away the Monster in a Kansas Kitchen
New windows and all-white cabinetry lighten a kitchen that was once dominated by an oversize range hood and inefficient cabinets
Full Story
MOST POPULARThe Most Popular Kitchen Storage Ideas of 2014
Of all the kitchen storage photos uploaded to Houzz this year, these 14 were tops. Which will you save to your kitchen ideabook?
Full Story
MOST POPULARThe 15 Most Popular Kitchen Storage Ideas on Houzz
Solve common kitchen dilemmas in style with custom and ready-made organizers, drawers, shelves and more
Full Story
THE HARDWORKING HOMESmart Ways to Make the Most of a Compact Kitchen
Minimal square footage is no barrier to fulfilling your culinary dreams. These tips will help you squeeze the most out of your space
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGNReaders' Choice: The 10 Most Popular Kitchens of 2012
Citing savvy organizational solutions, gorgeous lighting and more, Houzzers saved these kitchen photos in droves
Full Story
KITCHEN LAYOUTSHow to Make the Most of Your L-Shaped Kitchen
These layouts make efficient use of space, look neat and can be very sociable. Here’s how to plan yours
Full Story
KITCHEN STORAGESmart Storage: Make the Most of Your Hutch
End the “Where are those ... ?” conundrum by storing seasonal and everyday items in a well-organized hutch
Full Story
HOME OFFICESThe 20 Most Popular Home Office Photos of 2015
Technology paves the way for space-saving work areas, while designers make up for small sizes with style
Full Story
ravencajun Zone 8b TX