So I need to help my sister change the look of her horrible "builder grade" tile that surrounds her fireplace. I am a painter by trade & I know I can prime, texture with joint compound, & dress up her fireplace but I'm curious what some of you have done to really change the look...without removing the tile? I don't really want to adhere fake stone to it either...there's got to be other ideas out there for this....any suggestions or PICTURES of what you've done??? Thanks in advance!

I buy and sell at least a house a year, and have done more. I like to buy places like yours...dated, that others won't make an offer on because they can't see through the skin to the good bones :) So for what it's worth...here's what I'd do to get your house off of my hands :o) Your kitchen is horribly dated, and you know that. So what can you do cheaply to fix it? First, pant the grout black on the floor. Don't do anything else with the floor, just paint the grout. You'll have a high contrast floor that pulls in the black granite. Second..do the granite...it's huge, the fabrication costs aren't the major expense at all there...you have free granite available...take it! Tile right over that backsplash. 4" square tiles are very dated. I'd do white subway's (cheap from home despot) with a grey grout. Then change out all those knobs for black knobs. If that BS is solid, you can easily tile over it, and even do it diy if necessary, but changing the shape there will be a big deal. Then, paint those cabinets. And if it were MY kitchen to sell, I'd not only paint them, I'd trim them out by adding a molding strip to the inside of the existing strip (glue and some pin nails...not hard...I've done it a few times). And I'd paint the cabinets in a heart beat. Their shape and color are frankly horribly dated. Cleaning them up with paint is a big deal. It does NOT Matter what the future buyer does with the kitchen "after you do all that work". What matters is that you catch their eye and sell the danged thing in the first place! This is NOT a cool 1940's kitchen...it's a dated 70s at it's best. (I am currently doing a dated 70's kitchen myself...I will be doing the cabinets in a soft yellow). In yours I'd go for a white that works with the floor tile. You give yourself a crisp black and white theme that way. I don't like the white walls on a tall room like that. After all is said and done, I'd paint either a pretty butter color, or perhaps a soft green...gray would work as well, just paint some color! I am just one person who has an opinion :) But I do buy and sell houses and I drool over houses like yours where the stuff is left as is...because I'm one of a few (and I'd count many of the folks here like me) who can see beyond your "Stuff". But 99% of your prospective buyers...they can't see that. Some elbow work and a few bucks would help a lot here. Get rid of everything in the dining room except a table and chair. Edit to death. Those wires make me crazy, and they'll cost you thousands. I would add a chandelier or I'd buy a cheap oblong or rectangular table and do pot light conversion kits on the current pots. (You can't do that with your current table). If it were me, I'd do that before I'd add a chandelier. I would however change out that fan for a chandelier over the kitchen. Keep to simple black and white lines which will make your floor tile look great (if you paint the grout) verses doing something else that will highlight the out of date features. And change out the appliances. People do notice that. You know that :) I've never used an agent to sell a home, (I do it myself) but I will say....most agents I've run into have no clue what it takes to stage a home for sale. Typically they're failed workers elsewhere who go into real estate for a few years then fail again. (I've worked in real estate...I see this all the time). And then there are the top preformers who are really good...they can be of help, but you still get their opinion most of the time. If you really want to sell..consult a professional stager...not an agent.

Nadine -- I think the cabinets will look great. What about cabinets with doors below to hide the toys/games and open shelving above for books? I thought I would throw out a couple of other storage ideas from one cluttered toy mom to another BTW -- THANK YOU for posting the honest pictures of your room; it's so helpful to see that other peoples' houses also look like a toy factory exploded in the living room. :) Storage furniture that we have in our living room: coffee table with baskets that we use to sort and store various toys, including Mr. Potato Head + accessories, furniture and dollies from the Loving Family (Or something like that -- the dollhouse thing with the twins and multi-racial families) series; ABC blocks, small cars; Soft bowling set. Ikea pine coffee table Baskets that hide the toys so it looks like a nice pine coffee table instead: Ikea baskets This table is chipper chicken but it's a work horse. Looks nice and nothing kids try to do to it hurts it, and it holds a TON of toys. We only bought six baskets to fit in the table, but it could easily hold 12 (I always wanted to go back for more, but DH never got around to it). Cleans up easy peasy with dish soap or even soft scrub (for those bigger oops moments). We also went with a TV unit that includes two side units with storage doors and bookcases above, plus we had a separate console built for underneath the TV that holds more baskets of toys (it fits the same size baskets as fit in our ikea coffee table). Here's a picture for inspiration: I know entertainment centers are generally pretty $$$, but the reason I was showing mine is that it was actually an entertainment center for our old projection screen TV, which they don't make anymore -- plus a console we had a custom cabinet maker build for us to match. A lot of people are getting rid of their old 3 piece entertainment centers that were made for projection TVs -- you might be able to find something on Craigslist, ebay or a second hand store that is good condition for a low price, which you could then modify by adding a console (also fairly inexpensive through local custom cabinet shops). :) Notice in the picture the giant laundry basket full of balls and the smaller lined baskets with books and other toys. Baskets are KEY. I keep them sorted by type of toy so that it's easier for the kids to find what they're looking for. Those baskets came from Michael's and I only buy them when they're 50% off + the coupon. :-) I like these baskets because they're sturdy, but look really nice and the liner is totally washable. Here are the baskets from Michaels: So I don't have much to add for your fireplace, but there is a lot you can accomplish with some minor furniture redos.

youre asking for advice and what has been given you say, "we can't do that". You say you don't "care for the front door", but not sure if you want to change it. the yellowish color 'must stay'. Changing the house to white, with the dark trim really looks more modern. I like it, but not sure if we'll change it. We aren't magicians! You have to be willing to change things if you want an updated look. what about the landscaping? the garage door? Spanish? absolutely. Celerygirl gave you some nice examples. But you're going to have to paint. sorry, but that stucco color is blah. I love this one I put a few elements onto your home. It would look 100X better w/white stucco and charcoal gray trim. copper accents, some landscaping. Paint the brick planters. new or painted garage door. And I love this one too. If you copied either one of these, you'd not only increase your home value, you would be the envy of everyone on the block! Spanish or modern, pick one of these. and please, do the landscaping like either one too. they're stunning. your faded red brick and sad plants are not conducive to an updated style. You don't have to spend a huge amount on the yard if you're willing to put in the work yourselves. go for a xeriscape yard if you're in So.Cal. Can you do a window on the upper left? that plain spot is really distracting. on this photoshop I gave you siding (and this is where you can bring in your composite wood slats) and an extra window. painted the door, and you seriously need some landscaping. that alone is over 50% of the look. so imagine this wood siding on your upper left portion. dark trim, and I'm sorry, but the yellow/beige stucco needs to go. another shot of the wood on the upper left I love this remodel they did. reverse of yours, but you could do a regular siding w/dark window trim, wood accents Modern Farmhouse look? do a board and batten siding on the upper left half. dark trim, wood accents. you could paint your door black, garage too, and get some glass in the garage. you mentioned craftsman. you'd have to change a lot to get a craftsman look like this one or this one Modern upgrades: I'd want to address the left side at the minimum. maybe put an arbor over the middle portion, or make a sitting area w/a pergola attached to the house. you can image search 'front house pergolas' to get ideas. or wood arbors on front of home.