Home remodeling projects - fun? Or not so much? RR and I have lived in this house for 27 years. We knew when we bought the house that there was a kitchen remodel in our future. This past February we actually completed the third (this one relatively minor) kitchen remodel.
The first kitchen project, completed in 1987, expanded the kitchen to include a dining area. Prior to that expansion, the room was dominated by an island. If the family wanted to eat at a table together, you had to bring everything in the adjacent (carpeted) dining room. We also created a separate laundry room space and moved the washer/dryer out of the kitchen. This kitchen project served our young family really well.
In 1999, we did some major renovations in the house. We replaced most of the old single pane windows, installed hard wood floors, fashioned a smaller, less obtrusive kitchen island, installed a kitchen pantry unit, replaced the shower units in both bathrooms, and painted several of the interior rooms. Big bucks, that one! Despite the expense, we never regretted these improvements. The house has been brighter, more energy efficient, and more comfortable as a result.
The most recent project was the least expensive so far. Its goals were primarily cosmetic and were designed to make the kitchen feel warmer and more open. The island got a facelift with new countertops that feature warmer tones and integrated sinks. We replaced the thirty year old stove and fifteen year old dishwasher (still functioning but certainly not as energy efficient as newer models). Additionally, RR painted over some of the dark wood trim with a warm yellow tone. The overall effect makes the kitchen feel more open and less cavelike. Although money is tight, we had saved for these modifications and nothing went on a credit card. I think it makes the kitchen an even warmer gathering place.
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| Pre remodel - note the heavy wood accents up high. |
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| Pre remodel - I painted the mural on the east facing wall above five years ago. It remains a focal point in the kitchen. |
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| Remodel in progress - new stove/microwave and upper trim in transition. |
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| Remodel in progress. We really like the new countertops and integrated sinks. |
What has been your experience with home remodeling projects? Have they been worth the money and effort?
My goodness you have an AMAZING kitchen. I love the sliding glass windows above the sink. I also love those lights!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, OE. Yes, the window above the sink adds a lot to the whole room.
DeleteI love what new counter tops and a little paint can do! Your mural is fantastic. I think it's my favorite part.
ReplyDeleteIsn't if quite nice what a little paint can do? I like color and I like change. Voila! Paint!
DeleteGreat investment! Beautiful kitchen, and I love your mural!!
ReplyDeleteWhen we moved into our house, the floor plan was (and mostly still is) very closed and boxy. We needed to do something - anything - to open it up a bit. My sister and BIL were visiting and we were talking to them about what we would like to do "someday." My BIL got a sledgehammer and just started ripping a wall down! hahaha. No turning back. It turned our really well. A small thing, but BIG difference.
Our kitchen was also very 1950s, but we didn't have the money to remodel it. A few years ago, our dishwasher broke and flooded our kitchen. Everything - as in EVERYTHING - had to be replaced. Floors had to be ripped up, cabinets torn down . . . so, thanks to insurance and a little $ from the dishwasher manufacturer we finally got our new kitchen! It's still a bit small, but it is not an embarrassment anymore! As a matter of fact, it is quite lovely!!!!
Now that's a great example of making lemonade out of those lemons that life hands you!
DeleteI remember the before-before-before kitchen - you've come a long way! The mural is beautiful! And the whole room is welcoming and warm. Our next project will be the kitchen, but we want to do it sans credit card too - may be a while!
ReplyDeleteI bet you do! Wayne helped hang the sheetrock on that project - we were racing Meg to see if we could get the kitchen done before she arrived. Kinda. sorta did, if I remember correctly. I miss you.
DeleteLove your beautiful kitchen and your shiny stainless appliances. We've done a few. We did all the windows in the house, double pane with the blinds in the windows. Very worth it as far as keeping the hot southern sun out in the mid day when i can just flip the blinds closed. And they are a tremendous saver of energy.
ReplyDeleteWe also did a full gut and bath remodel in our bathroom, it actually was quite involved and started with termite damage under the house and a beam being replaced and the house being jacked up. Then a few walls and floors needed to be replaced so what the heck we decided while we had the contractor he we'd do the bath. Very worth it. And btw I designed it myself and picked each and every fixture.
With homeownership it's always something!
Yup! Always something on which to a) spend our money and b) spend our time :)
DeleteUntil recently, Hubby and I have been renters. The place we are in now is in need of MAJOR work, but his take on it is that that makes it easier to customize it to our own preferences. I am horrible at visualizing anything, so I often fail to see the "potential" he's always raving about. :)
ReplyDeleteLove what you've done in your space, especially the mural.
His is a useful perspective... now you get to find the $$$ and the time to "customize".
DeleteRedid the kitchen. Actually, blogged about it at the time. You should have seen the before--ugh!
ReplyDeleteGreat mural.
But it sounds as if you like the after?
DeleteThe mural really does speak to me - it's on the eastern wall so sunrise seems just right.
I'm glad you made it happen; I know it was something that was high on u=your list. Top Shelf!
ReplyDeleteFor lots of reasons it was questionable for awhile there but now I'm glad we moved forward on it. Eager to see your new project too.
DeleteOur house was brand new when we bought it 11 years ago. We got to pick out every option.
ReplyDeleteThe original floor plan of the house had a living room/dining room combination. The kitchen opened into the family room. After living in the house a few years, we decided to swap the family room and dining room.
So now, our kitchen is open to the dining room.
The “old” dining room area is our TV, sitting room now.
It works much better.
After hurricane Sandy, our sun room got water and ruined the carpet. We had to tear up the carpet. Presently, it is just a cement floor. But we are going to put ceramic tile down at some point, hopefully in the near future.
I love your kitchen. I especially love, love the mural!
OOOOOOOOOOO - ceramic tile! so cool! What colors might you use there?
DeleteYay, mural! :)
Wow. Your kitchen is awesome. I love the mural. And chuckled a bit at the fire extinguisher - have you ever used it? :)
ReplyDeleteWe just moved in a year and a half ago. So far, we've only painted one room and started a garden in the backyard. Hardwood floors are coming, and we seriously need to replace the countertops (the previous owners used floor tiles to make a tile countertop - what???)
Hardwood floors - I love them! Someone must have got a deal on floor tiles :)
DeleteYou have a large, beautiful kitchen and I like the mural. I've only lived in my present house for seven years but I did a lot of remodeling entirely by myself. And I learned a heckuva lot in the process.
ReplyDeleteThe downside of remodeling is that you need time and money.
Amen on that, Buddy. We needed the money part for the appliances, the countertops and the light fixtures. We needed the time b/c we (mostly RR since I was at work) did the painting.
DeleteMost of my remodeling experience comes from my parents. They have remodeling jobs they started when I was in high school that still aren't finished.
ReplyDeleteI HATE remodeling.
I'm with you, Andrew! I hate the act of remodeling but I (generally) like the end product.
DeleteYes, first home I've seen with such a prominent fire extinguisher. I am assuming that it is there because it was once needed. (sorry about that).
ReplyDeleteWe are in the middle of our kitchen remodel, just the counters and floors and paint left - we love the changes and wish we had done it earlier.