renovating

5 Mistakes I Made While Renovating My Kitchen

This summer, I embarked on a soup-to-nuts kitchen renovation..for the first time in my life. I hand-drew a floor plan to scale, ripped out tile and hacked down cupboards, and product sourced everything from our custom cabinet makers (a friend of a friend) to our backsplash tile (a Wayfair score!). Am I obsessed with my tiny jewel of an apartment kitchen? Heck, yes. Did I make a boatload of beginner mistakes along the way? You betcha. I’m sharing them here so you can avoid them.

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Since the kitchen is all white and we chose durable, man-made quartz for the countertops, I wanted to bring in some more luxurious, natural texture via the backsplash. I found a gorgeous, long Calacatta marble subway tile which I thought would be the next best thing to a pricey, single-slab backsplash. The problem? Both the sample tile online and the first tile in the box were a pale, white marble with the subtle veining I’d been coveting. But the rest of the box was considerably darker with black veining. Lesson learned: Check the rest of the box—and read reviews more thoroughly (it had been flagged by an earlier purchaser).

Before we actually started purchasing appliances, I didn’t expect them to be too costly. For starters, everything was apartment-sized (24-inch fridge, 18-inch dishwasher, etc.)—and I had sifted through the internet for the best deals available. After sending my choices to my contractor—wouldn’t ya know?—he informed me that I needed special appliances. For example, since I wanted a fridge that was flush with my custom cabinetry, I had to buy a “built-in” fridge, which has different venting capabilities. It cost me literally nine (!) times as much as a regular one. Also, the over-the-range microwave I wanted

She thought they were renovating the kitchen, he worked with a Seattle company on a bigger surprise

30 years into their marriage and nearly 20 years in the same house, Alvin and Joanne were ready for a refresh — not the marriage, Alvin emphasizes.

“It doesn’t feel like it’s been that long! We still feel like newlyweds who got married yesterday,” he says.

But the house was starting to feel a little dated, and the couple heard from a friend that Granite Transformations did really great work. As a former interior designer Joanne took the lead on most decisions, and then Alvin came up with a plan to celebrate their love at the same time.

“I said honey, I don’t think we can afford to do all this, and convinced her to postpone the fireplace and bathroom renovations. But of course in my head I thought ‘I’m going to make sure we get this done.”

Alvin worked with Granite Transformations to orchestrate a surprise, and they completed the bathroom and fireplace renovations while Joanne was away working as a flight attendant.

“The crew from Granite Transformations were great about working on the surprise. They’d bring paperwork to the school where I volunteer, separated invoices to keep things secret — things like that.”

Gorgeous transformation

Alvin emphasizes that his wife was the decision-maker for all the gorgeous design details, and he just said, ‘yes dear.’ But if he didn’t know her preferences, how did he pull together the surprise?

“The fireplace matches the marbled countertops in the kitchen, so that was a no-brainer,” Alvin says, and Joanne had already started to pick things out for the bathroom before they put the project on hold. “I said why don’t you put all your top picks in the folder for later on? And then I took all that to Granite Transformations.”

FURTHER READING: Your easy-clean kitchen never looked so good!

Jasmine Roth Hosts New HGTV Show That’s All About Renovating Rental Homes

From House Beautiful

Today, HGTV premiered an exclusive first look at a new series called Rentervention. The show, which has not yet been ordered to air, is exactly what it sounds like: a rental intervention. While many might find it difficult to style a rental, Rentervention shows renters how to make their temporary space feel like home — without getting out the power tools.

The series is hosted by design star Jasmine Roth of HGTV’s Help! I Wrecked My House and TV personality Brian Balthazar. In the pilot episode which debuted today, two renters living in the same complex, Ray and Tamesha, were paired up with designers Kelley Moore and Kyle Schuneman respectively. Then, each tenant-designer duo was given 48 hours to pull off a stunning rental transformation.

To add a little competition into the mix, photos of each transformation were then posted on HGTV’s social media accounts, where fans decided which renovation was best. Yup, your “like” may have helped choose a winner. The prize? Six months of free rent—not too shabby!

As more details become available on Rentervention, we’ll be sure to keep you updated. If this series is ordered to air, it will be one of HGTV’s first show focusing entirely on renovating rentals! You can stream the pilot episode now on Sling.

WATCH NOW

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The Economics Of Renovating Down Comforters, Pillows, Featherbeds And Down Toppers

Planning a house renovation project akin to a rest room, kitchen, or lounge renovation or just a cleaning-up or clearing-out renovation can look like an enormous challenge with out the proper cleanup instruments. Bathroom design is the first space of your toilet renovation it is advisable to get proper. So if you’re not a contractor yourself, the renovations are best carried out by skilled and skilled professionals. Your interior designer should also provide you with sound recommendations on your new workplace format ought to any changes be mandatory.

According to Transforming Magazine’s 2010-11 Cost vs. Worth Report, a homeowner will recoup about 60% of the price of a serious kitchen renovation. So you’ve got contacted a renovation contractor to renovate your present area with an addition and arrange a gathering with him.

Most house buyers don’t understand that they will buy a home in a city they like, neighborhood they get pleasure from and property size that matches their liking AND design or renovate the house to their liking before they even move in. The recognition of the 203k mortgage product is rising now greater than ever and it is this type of loan that lets you add the proposed enhancements to the gross sales value thus growing the value to the home before you even move in. The financial institution in flip pays an permitted contractor the amount of allotted draws to complete the work executed that you’ve specified in the contract.

Upon getting established your goals and put together a renovation group, you can start designing. Examples of renovations needing this permit are chimney repair, damaged stairs, repairs performed for decks and drywall replacements. Finally, you will want to determine an effective office layout collectively together with your general contractor and your interior design professional.

Home equity loans …

Do You Know The Benefits of Ceramic Sinks? Something to Think About When Renovating Your Bathroom

Ceramic sinks have been used for years and are probably one of the most popular sink choices you will find around the world, but what makes these bathroom essentials such a top choice over all the other materials available, such as porcelain and glass?

These sinks are exceptionally versatile and you will find that it does not matter what your bathroom size or design is, the ceramic sink will blend in with ease and simplicity. They can enhance your bathroom design, help brighten the space when choosing a brilliant white and they can be chosen in the size that works best for your bathroom space.

These bathroom sinks are exceptionally easy to care for, which makes them a top choice and is one of the main benefits you will experience. A simple wipe is all it takes to clean these items in your bathroom, helping you keep your bathroom clean with ease. Remember not to use abrasive materials when cleaning, all you need is a mild detergent and a soft cloth and you will see the sink wipes clean in seconds.

Further they are exceptionally hygienic, which is something you want throughout your home. Germs can be wiped away with ease, but the ceramic is not porous, so it does not absorb bacteria, which is a major benefit. You want something in your home that you can count on, so ensure you purchase a high quality sink from a top supplier who can guarantee that the product you are purchasing is genuine ceramic, so you can make your purchase with confidence.

In addition to this, another benefit of ceramic sinks is their durability. They are resistant to chips and cracks and can have items fall on them without breaking. This can give you peace of mind, especially in a family …