Time for an UP-FIT!

I think our houses are a little bit like our bodies.  Every once in a while our bodies need a new uplift in some way, shape, or form.  Doesn't have to be major -- I'm not suggesting facelifts or breast augmentation, but maybe a new haircut or clothing style.  The same can be said for our homes.  Every so often your space warrants an up-fit.

Next month will mark our 10th year of living in this house.  I can't believe we've been here long enough to double our previous record of home ownership!  Jim built this house, and one would *think* he designed it free of 'faults'.  Maybe fault isn't the appropriate word, but hopefully you are with me on this.  For those of you who might think building your custom dream home will be the solution to all of your needs and wants, think again.  You'll always find something you'd like to change along the way!

As for me and my house, we've made a couple of changes in our ten years here.  One of the changes was significant.  Jim took my existing laundry room, and turned it into a full-fledged mud room.  Where did my laundry room go?  We had some "extra" space in our garage that Jim was able to tie into our existing home as a new laundry room.

The process is not one I'd recommend you challenge as a homeowner.  You definitely need the skills and expertise of a qualified licensed general contractor.  Our remodel involved the removal of walls, and structural changes that combined the existing floor joist system with the new additional living space.  It involved the addition of new plumbing and electrical services, and the removal of the old existing plumbing from my former laundry room.

If you feel like you're ready for a change, and don't know where to begin - you are not alone!  This article in Houzz offers a great place to start.  There are many ways you can make changes to the space you're already in without having to move.  Some are simple, and some are more involved, but these are some ideas to help get you going!  Have fun with it!

PS - I'd like to post before and after pictures -- give me a day or two to find them and upload :)

From Roof to Curb

How do you add curb appeal to your house?  There are a plethora of DIY shows dedicated to helping you improve the exterior appearance of your home.  When I started looking for help online I found this article in the Houzz.com archives.

I recently decided to make some minor changes (read: improvements) to our home's exterior.  Of course I couldn't do it without a little help from a builder. ;)  Due to approaching post deadlines, I'll have to skip the 'before' picture of our house before the shutters were installed.  Jim made cedar shutters, and mounted them beside each window on the front of the house.  They are wide plank with larger spaces between each slat.  I was looking for more of a cottage feel.  We painted the shutters two shades deeper (darker) than our front door for contrast, and will finish them off with black wrought iron s-hooks.

Before:

Our roof was project #2.  We built our house 10 years ago, and for all intents and purposes our roof was still considered relatively 'young'.  However, in the span of one year we encountered multiple hail storms. We didn't think our roof was damaged, but an inspection proved otherwise.  Thankfully, our homeowner's insurance covered all of the necessary expenses for the addition of a new roof. 

After: 

Author and architect Bud Dietrich of Houzz recommends we, "keep in mind that the roof connects the earth to the sky, so it is an important design element."  Although we didn't alter the roofline, both the color and texture were affected.  Hopefully we chose our new roof color well, and it will add to our home's curb appeal and earth --> sky connectivity!

Remodeling the Houzz Don'ts

Is it time to spruce up su casa?  Considering taking on the project yourself?  Or are you thinking about avoiding the DIY headache by hiring a professional?  If so, click here for a great article that will help you get started!

My husband is a General Contractor and has learned many tricks of the trade through years of experience.  There are many ways to avoid overspending, and tips for keeping your project on track with timely progress.  What you might think is a good idea at the time could very well prove detrimental to your progress and project in the end.

Houzz is featuring a series called "Contractor's 100".  The first article in the series is titled "Contractor Tips: Top 10 Home Remodeling Don'ts."  This article gets our Contractor Seal of Approval!  The information shared is excellent; speaking from experience it's tried and TRUE!

If I could add an 11 to the list it would be this: Don't hesitate to ask a professional for advice beforehand.  Before you get yourself in over your head -- ask if your expectations are feasible.  You are surrounded by free resources.  Question asking is free; problem fixing can be costly.