Valda Vierling This house in the heart of the Colorado ski country is perfect for large groups or family reunions. It has 8 bedrooms, one set up as a bunk room. It can be inquired about through vrbo.com, listing #265987.

Applesteam Limited great article, some amazing places, thanks for posting

susanaabell I really MEANT to renovate this southern belle... but found true love shortly after closing, and true love won. Now this jilted beauty languishes as only a southern belle can, and suffers the humiliation of being rented out like an '80's condo... "Tomorrow IS another day... " sigh... Any takers?? http://www.timmyabell.com/208sale.htm

skaboom111 The blue paint really helps to keep mud dubbers and wasps from building nests. They think its sky and don't attach is the theory .

Majid H. Ahmadi Nice job

davidbenji77 I love the look of the stacked stone seating...but looks like a great 'home' for black widows.

jdaley46 I also agree that the best way to tackle this project is take it one room at a time. Photograph it wall by wall and enter it all on a spread sheet. If I might suggest to name the columns by description, size, cost and if your are lucky enough to know the year and place of purchase. I have done several remodels and that is the way I track all my expenses, room by room. The more information the better. You could even highlight the items that you feels are most important. Sentimental value will be just that. I once sold a home with almost all of the furnishings and the spread sheet was a great tool for me. It takes a lot of stuff to make a home and that will be immediately apparent.

ejmcgrenere This is something I have not even given a thought about, but what a wonderful idea. I think most take too much for granted.
It will certainly take a lot of time, but very sensible.
Thank you so much for putting this in print, helps make all decisions so much easier for those whom have to take care of
All your final wishes. Ellie_j McGrenere

Maison & Co. Another way to add character to your patio is with a charming French antique! We love our 19th century French garden bench, 19th century French oval-top butcher table, and French dining table. Give us a call! 316- 640-4250.

denold I like the idea of french doors from our kitchen to the patio, but I don't think I can live with flies, bees, mosquitoes coming in our house. Is there a way to still have a screen door even if you have french doors?

eCustomFinishes Love it. Dont forget about using true barn wood for furniture, and also a light distressing for the finishes will go a long way to perfect any farmhouse. Lovely homes

rwiding Great article with lots of good ideas, particularly the BMW ballet white. We are immersed in the final stages of planning a major addition to our small 4x4 square farm house, a vacation home that needs to accommodate our growing family of spouses and grandchildren. Working hard to retain the authenticity of our 1920's farmhouse.

Laura Gaskill I love this! Definitely going on my life list! :)

Pardy Mentzel Check out "Ark Herb Farm" on Facebook! Amazing treehouse overlooking central valley Costa Rica...located on 8-hectare herb farm/botanical garden...$50 per night...this is what a treehouse should be!!

Georgel Acosta Bamboo Tree House at Rincón, PR, nice place!!!!

Mary to jillring74--i bought mine in the patio supply in Target. You have Target's in Canada, I see.

madaboutdesign0924 If I had my druthers, I would retire somewhere in the NC mountains, with a medium sized city nearby, but my son, although born in NY, has become a Florida "big city" type of guy, so my little family, including a grandchild, are not likely to embrace this lifestyle change. But I really do love the idea. I agree with some that all the wood and lack of color would not suit me, but that could easily be remedied. My wheels are turning!

debnsync The title of the article caught my attention as well as a lot of other people, apparently; it does not show enough options or stimulate ideas or creative thinking for me although I appreciate the effort that went into it. I have this "office space/existing space" needed to be used for other things, facing me in both places, small homes, and it is either double-usage or spending a LOT on re-creating the spaces through building, ripping out walls, re-decorating with built-ins, etc. We need more ideas for the double-duty space without the high $ as we have other stuff we want to do, too! Help!!! I have been looking for a bit, at used/new/lovely desks, replacement dressers that could double as a top space for use to spread out work, and also thinking a long, secretary-style table so printer may be used more readily, as well as a way to provide also, concealed space for my files. The little cute room was once an apartment someone rented prior to our ownership, and it has a little kitchen with a lot of little cabinets where clothes are stored now. So you see the problem with using that? I would love to design using it but too much $ afraid! It is killing me though because I know it has the potential, even now the old wicker dresser is angled to divide the room it appears, but is actually because he puts his flat-screen TV on the top when he is here for summer. Another bed arrangement is also possible for sure, so ideas are welcomed!

ALSO by the way, does ANYONE know if indeed Murphy beds are comfortable, or are they like the couch-fold-outs that have terrible mattresses and uncomfortable? Since this one room would be a conversion of one son's room who does come here during school breaks, etc., and I really would love a better choice,similar to the bed w/ pillows in one of theses photos, which can also double as a sitting, relaxing area as well. MUST be comfortable. Thanks! Write me if you like under my houzz account! thanks

debnsync separate entrance to outside upstairs via a door straight behind the canoe shelf! Tiny tiny closet is also there. The chair is an old one I dragged in for ideas. I am planning to replace the wicker dresser; it's too small, dated, rather stay away from too much of that stuff although since we are at the beach, people will buy it. The printer is on our kitchen apartment cabinet, not ideal! Then on left of that last photo, to the direct left of the refrigerator, are the stairs back into the house we "entered through" in the beginning. This would be husband's space since it is more sound-proof for business/conference calls.

gingermacdonald Anyone know the color of the pale citrus green family room (top pic)?

Panageries Another addition to spring cleaning is spring organizing! Take a look at the tips we have outlined in our blog (installing outlets in drawers or cabinets for your hairdryer and electric toothbrush and an over-the-door shoe organizer for storing cosmetics by type are just a couple examples)!! http://www.panageries.com/organization-is-a-beautiful-thing/

Laura Gaskill @Realstone Systems - Love the idea of adding a smoker & beverage holder!

austin outdoor design Laura - We appreciate the comments in the article. Always a pleasure to see our projects used to give others some great ideas. Thanks!

James Toland Good place to start is with Cal Flame products. They can be found here: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=cal+flame&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=Search+All

rinqreation Less or no dairy products indeed help ease down allergies (organic or not), so stop drinking cow milk. Less or best no sugar (especially the refined ones). Less or no wheat. Less meat and no porc. No sweetening additives. No light products. No chemicals, no synthetic cosmetics. And the list could go on.

We stress our bodies with all kinds of toxins, it's fighting constantly to keep up healthy, but we keep poisining it. Reducing toxins in our food and care products makes us coop better with the toxins in our environment. When you can't stand fragrances for example, it's because your body tells you "you're full" already. Plus they are too fake indeed.

I quit eating porc, don't drink cow milk, less hard candy and white sugar, buy organic shampoo and skincream and prefer spelt or teff bread over wheat. I don't use make-up, clean my house with ordinary dishwash soap and do whatever I can to avoid toxins (within my budget). Completely organic is too expensive for me and I believe some of the molds and bacterias (on organic fruit and vegetables) are just as bad for our bodies when we're not used to them. My skin condition and intestinal 'life' have improved a lot with simple adjustments.

The point is to take in less toxins/allergens so our body has time to clean and heal itself. Some people are more sensitive than others, so it's all about finding your own balance.

Timothy Carpet is a HUGE one. Carpet picks up and concentrates allergens like a water to sponge. Plus you are walking around knocking allergens into the air all the time. No carpet and no shoes will eliminate the majority of the allergens. Doesn't hurt to have and attic fan to vent the house air completely every few days then dust while it is on so anything knocked loose will get sucked out. The allergens will trap & concentrate in a house's air from cooking, skin shedding and outside. Hope I can help someone.

smittycdm Wow, this is ALL excellent advice! My husband & I needed to rent while we remodeled two years ago. Finding a 2 Bd, 2Bth rental near our house at a "reasonable price" was interesting (eyes are rolling around at the memory.) One fortuitous day, my husband stayed home to take 3 simultaneous conference calls on three phones (acctnts r insane, should be a bumper sticker) & spied a newly posted “For Rent” sign directly across the street. The house happened to be owned by friends of ours, now living in Singapore. So, whoever said you need to check with friends, drive up and down (or get lucky), you were right. The pylon thing is weird.

jkovacs If it's an apartment complex, insist on seeing the actual unit they have for you. I learned that lesson the hard way after falling in love with the model, but then having to move in to a dump. Even the building they had me in was a dump on the inside, despite the fact that they all looked great from the outside. It was a long six months, but I was grateful I only did a six month lease.

brittatigan When I paint a wall, I keep a baby-food sized jar of paint in my pantry (clearly labeled). Touching up dings takes just a minute or two.

sdonaghue Not a waste at all! Cleaning is never fun, but always so rewarding after you finish! During the cleaning process, I usually change up a few things. After all, why move everything to clean it and then put it back in exactly the same spot? That would be boring. Ths is a great reminder/refresher list! Thank you. One thing I do about once a year...put my draperies in the dryer with a damp towel. The towel collects the year of accumulated dust and the draperies look fresh and new. No shrinking! No wrinkles, no ironing!

mimola My husband and I live in upstate NY. We had always talked about owning a second home in FL and in 2009 when the RE market tanked, we decided we should see what we could find, although we were 8 or so years from retirement. We found a town on the Gulf Coast that we loved (Dunedin) and looked at all kinds of real estate - condos, single family houses, etc. Decided we were not the 55+ community types, wanted a yard, but didn't like the idea of having a single family home sitting empty for part of the year. Our realtor came up with the idea of a duplex where we could rent out one unit, thereby having someone living on the property and helping to pay the mortgage, while we could keep the other unit for ourselves. We found a 3 BR ranch in a desirable neighborhood and excellent condition that had an attached mother-in-law 1 BR apartment in back and took the plunge. So far, It has been wonderful! We get down there for getaways when we can and eventually we'll become snowbirds, taking the main house for ourselves and using the apartment for visiting family or friends, or renting it out short term or long term if we need or want the income. I agree with every single recommendation in the article and as I read it, was relieved to realize we had done those things. Here's my advice (much of it echoing the article and previous comments) if you are interested in doing something similar: 1) Educate yourself as much as possible. "Real Estate Investing for Dummies" and "The Second Homeowner's Handbook" a well as other resources exposed us to many important points we wouldn't have thought of on our own. 2) Be absolutely positive that you're buying in a desirable neighborhood. 3) Unless you live nearby and are handy with time, money, and skills, buy a property that needs little to no work. 4) Be able to pay the mortgage even if the property goes unrented. 5) Interview property managers extensively. Check their experience and references, talk in depth about how they will search for and qualify tenants, and go with someone you really trust and communicate well with. We could not do this without our terrific property manager. We've had two tenants so far, both excellent, and each time the property rented within a few days of being advertised. We have an in-depth lease, reviewed by the property manager's legal counsel. Think of things that could happen and cover them in the lease. That's a lot better than trying to deal with problems later. Our lease even includes such things as who parks where when the apartment is occupied and the fact that both parties get to pick fruit from the citrus trees. 6) As the article said, build a professional team. While the house had been totally refurbished just prior to our buying it, the apartment needed work and we didn't know anyone in the area (this was before we hired the property mgr) so we used Angie's List to find an excellent contractor, plumber, electrician, etc. 7) Maintain a friendly but business-like relationship with your tenants. Even though we live side by side when we are in town, they are the year-round tenants and we respect that. I.e. when we are there we don't act like we own the place (even though we do.) It's their home. By the same token, even though they know our names and could easily get our contact info, all communication about the property such as maintenance issues or other requests go through the property manager. Five years ago I wouldn't have dreamed that we'd be second home owners and landlords, but I'm thrilled that we are and that it's gone so well.

Megan Koopman By the age of 30 I owned 5 rental homes, all single family residents and all in Phoenix, AZ. The best thing about Arizona is that it is a landlord state. What that means, courts will normally rule in favor of landlords vs renters. Most of the laws are written to benefit landlord, within reason. California is not a landlord state. Check the laws for your state before buying or converting rentals. We had a rough real estate market the last few years with most of our properties dropping at least 50% in value, however rental income during this time fluctuated either not that all or $100/month. My trick for being a landlord for 10 years, buy new homes (less than 5years old), low maintenance places, 12 month leases, and be very picky on the renters. Times are hard like last year when 2 rentals rent vacant and we still had to pay mortgage for 2 months without the income. It is always a business for me. I have become friends with several of my tenants but if they were 5 days late on rent, I still sent them eviction notices. If you give people ANY wiggle room, they will use you and take advantage of this. Be stern, they will appreciate it if they are good people. I had to hire a property manager as I recently moved out of state. That's much nicer on us. We have mortgages on all properties which will be paid off by our tenants over the 30 year term with little money out of our pocket, we will own all our houses out right and be ready to retire! Anyone can do it that thinks like a business person.

Laura Gaskill @sartarehare I also would love to keep and recommend keeping and refinishing good, solid wood cabinets! As I mentioned in the ideabook above, having your existing wood cabinets refinished is a great option. I was simply providing source ideas for cabinets in a range of price points to guide those who do want or need to remove old, particleboard, or damaged cabinets. Good luck with your own remodeling plans! :)

Tara Bussema @winstondog, the chairs and sofa are not from Thrive. they are original vintage pieces from vintage stores on 4th street in Long Beach, CA. hope that helps! you can click on the photo for more info.

retters513 bought our 3 bedroom 1 bath ranch when my 4 children were of grade school age. 6 of us in the small space for some time. Then we turned garage into mudroom,2nd bathroom and laundry room,finished basement, and put a 16x32 great room addition on with 10 ft. gabled ceiling's and a huge wall of stone up to ceiling, with a fireplace. The room has 10 window's, 2 in the stone, and a sliding door. My husband being a mason contractor helped us be able to do it all. He and my young son's did ceiling, wood floor,wall's, and a full block basement under addition. This room has since been the best gathering place for countless large gathering's. I recommend going as large as you can and higher ceiling's.Picture is of Christmas morning checking out a remote flying saucer.

Mona Abbasi Some of this mirrors are scary. They reminds me horror movies.

Dana Veach I love using mirrors to visually expand a space. I'd enjoy the small silvery Oakley mirror...perhaps on a wood paneled wall that reflected leafy green growing plants as though peering into a woodland scene...the round Wisteria mirror on a wall reflecting a beachy or nautically inspired decor, and a pair of those Restoration Hardware Entablature mirrors flanking the entry to a long stone paved corridor or hallway...just ideas, since my budget precludes any of them! Thanks for the selection, Laura!

pkoko624 I have a question....we currently have an exposed aggregate patio. Our house is older and it was probably put in many years ago. The slabs are not all perfectly level from settling over the years. We were considering putting pavers or some other landscaping stones over the top. Can we just add a couple inches of crushed rock or sand or do we have to completely tear out the concrete. It's solid and in good shape, just unattractive.

dkguenther An easy and less costly solution to renew old concrete patios and driveways is to use a special resurfacing concrete mix. This will fill in cracks, cover stains and level it out so it looks like new again. It bonds to the old concrete if done properly. If/when the surface is level you can apply a resin bond with pebbles, which is good around pools, on driveways and sidewalks.