We are just finishing a remodeling job on a "blower upper" house we bought in 1992. The original cost was $110,000. With this remodel and all the other work we have put into it, we have put an addition $200,000 into it. That includes roofing, concrete floor in garage, rewiring, carpet, deck on back, garage door, replace all plumbing, central air conditioning, built in custom book shelves, kitchen redo, and now adding 400 square feet, new windows, siding, and redoing both bathrooms. The point is you can make as much out of remodeling as you want. If you are going to live there for awhile, you just bite the bullet and do it. If you wanted to buy this and flip it, I think you need to keep looking. There is way too much to do to get your money back.

Haven't we all had our personal idea of our 'dream home', especially when we were younger? The Gaines were not wealthy when they came to HGTV, and with 4 kids, may have been 'making do' with Joanna's clever style, and repurposing of wood, and various thrift store items. IMO, this may have been their dream home, very traditional in style, and quite possibly may never have envisioned it being theirs some day. They may surprise everyone by only doing a few upgrades, and NOT painting everything white. I feel Joanna knows where and when to draw the line on that as all the houses they've redone have been fixer uppers, and not stately homes needing very little.

first of all, I want to make one observation that you might find helpful every empty room will look smaller than a room that's not empty that's how our brain works-we measure the distance, mentally, with some visuals to hang onto. If we see just a wall-that wall will seem closer. That's why any stager who understands about staging will put at least a flower pot or something, in an otherwise empty room. so I'd keep that simple fact in mind. It's bigger than it seems. No need to clutter a room too much of course, then at some point will seem smaller too..but one needs to really put an effort to clutter a room to such a degree)) As for the color scheme and furnishings. There are no rules (I mean, there are-they might work for house X but it's great to break them in house Y). Depends on your style, context, location even, the light that room gets..does the house have a definite architectural style? What are your favorite colors? Can you show maybe inspirational pictures that show more or less the vibe and mood you're going for? Will help with better understanding and future suggestions I'm wary with going with definite suggestions until I understand better what appeals to you, and what is the context. That room spells a potentially cozy, comfortable room. You dont always want things to seem larger as in size wise-you do want them to breathe so to say, and to feel comfortable. Is the ceiling standard height? For the illusion of a higher ceiling, if that height bothers you-choose either a color that won't be drastically darker then the ceiling, but as close as possible to it, so as not to get this white lid effect..or if going with slightly darker color make sure to tint your ceiling with that color, maybe a lot, so the border is not very obvious..or another-more expensive but works like a charm-idea-is to use crown molding. And paint it ceiling color, for example. Your transition gets softer, ceiling seems higher. And I wouldn't pass an opportunity to hunt for a cool semi flash mount light either. But add a lot of lighting -table lamps, floor one, maybe wall lights..you want to have layers of lighting, that's how any room is more beautiful. Light. That you can play with and create mood and function you need. Good luck to you!

Tell me again what is specifically personal about "Chuck in a Truck". That is neither personal nor an unknown term in the contracting industry. It not meant to be derogatory in my estimation and is merely meant to refer to persons that are sole proprietors that have little to no overhead in comparison. If you take issue with Fridge, by all means, take it up with him/her. I would respectfully request that you deal with them by name and leave me out of the response. If you would like to discuss the cost of doing business in a more employee driven system and why those expenses may be higher, I would be happy to do so. Perhaps it will give you some more insight and a better understanding as to why and how things cost the way they do in a different type of organization. For the record, I have more than a few friends that are enormously successful and competent contractors as sole proprietors. I take no issue with that, but to make a comment with regards to "mark-up" that it is merely a company making some enormous profit on the consumer, it flatly false, uninformed, and somewhat irresponsible. You are quite right, it is and open forum and you are more than entitled to your opinion. I would only caution that if you are going to hold yourself out as a resource of information, that the information be somewhat enforceable and factually based is all. I would no more cast dispersions about sole proprietor contractors that paint them in a negative light than I would comment on any large group of persons that are as varied and different as the weather. Perhaps that would be advisable for everyone when it comes to levying negative commentary that they be based in fact rather than opinion.