Renovation of a 70s style kitchen - long overdue! Then new flooring.

Already started, under cabinet lighting... going in as I am typing. Also starting new landscaping for front foundation this month. The big projects/ expenditures are done- painting, paved driveway and shed.
We will go into the new year with just the needed purging and finish unpacking from our move. That will be the worse part.

Laundry room/mud room. Working with small space and very narrow area for cabinets. Quite a challenge with the window in the way! Need new appliances but don't want to buy the high ones since I would really like a countertop above the appliances to fold laundry. Need a catch all for keys, sunglasses, hats as we come in from garage.

We just bought a 1940's home, IT's A WREAK! Total remodel!

very good

There are several options out there to make this backsplash project a success. A popular option for our NewLinkz customers is the Peel & Stick Tile. No glue or grout needed, just peel stick and you’re done. You may want to check them out for your project. https://www.houzz.com/products/3x6-peel-and-stick-brushed-stainless-color-metal-wall-tiles-set-of-8-prvw-vr~37877755?lid=23993977

If you have any questions, feel free to drop us a line and we’d be happy to walk through your project with you.

Cheers

Ema, Lead Designer

NewLinkz

will be redoing our bathroom. I've been buying things a little at a time. basically a gut job. will redo our vanity to save cost. taking the tub out and replacing with a shower. a little nervous doing this myself.

Well, we just developed a leak in our roof and had a roofer we trust come and take a look at it. We are now doing a new roof in the spring. I just love surprises...

I need to remodel: kitchen, tv room, master bedroom & bathroom.

Scarymaryann, before we moved here, I bought a pad of graph paper. I measured every room and drew one room on each piece of graph paper. I am not an artist. For the windows and doors, I drew thicker lines. For the doors, I had arrows showing which direction the doors opened. For furniture, I drew rectangles or squares. I did everything to scale. I also looked in a home organizing book to see how much clearance is needed around dining room tables for the chairs to come out. It also said clearance needed in front of other furniture, such as couches. I also marked baseboard heaters and shelves. You shouldn't put furniture directly over a baseboard heater.Some rooms in this house have shelves at chair rail height. You can put a couch or desk in front of them but not a floor to ceiling bookcase. It is very important to have a scale drawing and mark this stuff on it before you move, if you don't want to rearrange furniture. Because of the drawing, I could tell movers exactly where to put each piece of furniture.

Loni -- Assuming you meant you are replacing tub with tub-sized shower, the trick is to find a "shower pan" with the drain in one end at the same position (or very nearly) as the tub, to avoid having to re-dig plumbing or jack-hammer a slab (!). They exist! We found one in ?Silestone? One of those Corian-like solid surfacings anyway. With a four-piece shower surround, with trim in a darker pattern. Plus added corner cubbies in both ends for his and her shampoo&stuff. We did not do it ourselves, but the sub-contractor that did install it, had never done that particular material before, but it was enough "like" other kinds (fiberglass and acrylic) that he had no trouble. Lived with it for 13 years with NO PROBLEMS. Loved that shower!

The double-wide recently reno'd shower in the master bath of the house we just moved into, was a real positive influence on our choosing this house.

2016 - Bought a cute one-story townhouse, painted every room except baths, had carpet ripped up in "common" areas and replaced with engineered hickory hardwood, German smeared the fireplace, started herb garden. That was just September and October.

2017 - Keeping popcorn ceiling (cost of removal would pay for a Sub-Zero or other wanted toy), painting kitchen cabinets, new appliances, subway tile, replacing double corner sink with large single bowl, replacing tile countertop with granite/quartzite. Replace patio slider with French doors. Replace grungy dark brown carpet in bedroom "wing" with new (I prefer the acoustics that carpet brings to that area).

2018 - Redo both baths (nothing major - just replace oversized vanities and mirrors, then paint), replace slider in master bedroom with French doors.

2019 - Retire.

I am new to this site and need to post a question, not sure where to go to post a gardening question. I can see how to make comments...... I live in North Florida on a sand ridge and need help growing grass. What am I lacking???

Hi Tammy Jo!

The real place to post gardening/landscaping questions is in the Houzz affiliated forum, GardenWeb:

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/lawns

I have been answering someone's Q's about houseplants in the Design Dilemma portion of this site, but it really does belong over in GardenWeb and since I have NO experience with lawns and very little with gardening in sand (only through my mom who lives in the high desert) -- I will pass on this one!

If you find a similar question in that gardenweb sub-forum, you can read their advice or append your question, otherwise, start a new thread (so people will see your question, as people tend to stop following threads they aren't involved in after a short time).

ETA: there is also a Florida gardening section:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/flgard

Where you might find more specific help or even someone local who is familiar with your exact conditions.

Tammy, you are lacking soil. Sand, soil and organic matter like humus or top soil in a workable mix will give you a successful lawn. The question is, in this day and age is that what you want? Also, in Florida with fire ants, do you really want a lawn?

Here are some articles to get you started....

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh012

http://www.sunriseirrigationandsprinklers.com/six-types-grass-florida-lawns/

http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/hot_topics/lawn_and_garden/choosing_a_lawngrass.shtml

Wouldn't the fire ants like the bare sand better than a lawn? Maybe Florida fire ants are different than those in SE Utah but there they like the sand for their "hills".

Re-working the stairs for a home we're moving to in spring. The risers are about 10" and the treads 8"! Besides lots of cleaning and painting, we will slowly do less-necessary renovations as we go; but those will include rearranging the kitchen and adding an upstairs bath. I can't wait to get started!

Here are some SketchUp renditions of our family room bath reno for 2017 I described a month ago, plus monorail lighting for the LR if budget permits. Middle pic is "before" builder's grade vanity. The rendition is viewed through the exterior wall from the patio. There is a door on the vanity side. The pedestals flanking the toilet are for the bowl brush and plunger. I hate having them sit out on the floor. For the vanity countertop we will use Cambria Newhaven we have left from the K reno. The top piece over the vanity will contain halogen down lighting.

I have no plan about my own home but one of my good friends is planning to fix their guest bathroom. It seems to me they don't know where to start and who are the best to change tiles, tubs, wall tiles and doors all together in once and avoid the trouble going different people. Do you have any suggestions?

Fiberbuilt, I would suggest your friends hire a CKBD if they're going to be doing the whole bath. The CKBD will know GC's who can hire good subs for tile, plumbing & electrical. I heartily suggest doing it all at once, given the scope of their reno. Doing so will allow taking it down to level the floor and making the walls plumb for wall tiles, especially in tub/shower surround. Houzz is full of disaster stories where tile has been placed on untrue surfaces.

Thanks so much for your suggestion. Do you have any contact info for CKBD? Do you have an idea how they charge?

Leeza, I love the idea of the cubby holes. I was hoping to have the floor of the shower meet up with the regular floor and have the glass all the way to the floor. I will have two different tiles for the shower and floor. I was hoping to just have the two meet. I also plan to tile the shower walls. thanks for the great ideas.

Fiberbuilt, I don't know where you are but you can find CKBD and other pros right here on Houzz. I don't know if they all work the same, but there may be a nominal fee up front, but bulk of their fees comes from charging retail for materials they can buy at discounted trades prices. Most often client would pay the GC for installation.

Loni S, I'll post a pic of one I did a short while back similar to what you're describing if I can get the pic to load off my phone

I am purchasing a new home for my 91 yr old mother and myself. It is a very small quaint home, 2 bed 1 bath, and it needs a few updates. Like the kitchen and utility rm floors need new vinyl and I hope to have a vinyl hardwood floor look put down in both rooms. Also, I would like to place new counters in the kitchen and some nice tile backsplash and a new sink. The fridge and stove are very very old, but they will have to do for now. The living rm has a freestanding woodstove and it needs a proper fireproof surround. I would like to do a brick surround and pad. In the second bdrm. I would like to have a pair of french doors put in facing the back yard. The rest of the house is good, new carpet in the bedrms, liv. rm and it has a new roof, low e vinyl windows, and vinyl siding. It has a lovely little bathroom too. I may need to put a new furnace in, If I find that I do then I will be putting in a Propane Hot water system.
I just hope that I will have enough money to do this all with with as mom and I are both on SSA, and with moving expenses and all, well, neither one of us qualify for loans so the only way we can do this is with cash. Wish us luck!

This is the vinyl floor i would like to have put in.

This is the type of brick surround I would like to have done.

Ellen, What a dear home! I hope everything works out for you. There are budget ways to do most things, you have to find them and sometimes get lucky and be in the right place/right time.

When we did our bathroom 12 years ago, I managed to hit sidewalk sale(s) at Home Depot. As we live in a major population center, after finding a good sized vanity, I was able to go quickly to another HD location and they had the tall linen cabinet that matched! Then we found the corian top, with sink (the exact size of the vanity), at Lowes on a good sale. Our general contractor was beside himself as I was getting these things way below his DISCOUNTED prices!

Be sure to post your own questions (about the most economical way to do something, for example) in Design Dilemma forum.

As long as the range keeps working, my opinion is to replace the fridge as soon as you can (of course, after you have done the things you must, to allow moving in and living in comfort) -- because the new refrigerators are amazing in quietness AND how long they keep food fresh, as well as being energy efficient and so cheaper to operate.

Building a new cottage, two and a half stories, coastal beach house in Michigan.

We're using Bahama/Bermuda shutters, any advise what type to use. Cement board, wood, aluminum, etc? Also, which home elevators are the best without breaking the bank?

We will be on a small lake, love the ideas I've found on Houzz.

Unfortunately, my computer crashed and I lost all my idea books. :(

Starting over, hoping to figure out how to restore them.

Great fun and a challenge to find ideas to get everything right!

So pleased with my Houzz web site, would be lost without it!!

A friend of mine built an elevator in his house for his elderly father to keep access to the upper portion of the house. He bought a 3 stage mast and hydraulics off of forklift company (used but in very good condition) and essentially built a beautiful plywood box which he attached to the forks. It works very well but it's not the kind of project that just anyone can undertake but it may be worth looking into

2017 projects: paint house exterior, front deck railing, paint interior doors, finish greenhouse exterior, landscape front yard, driveway gate and possibly fence a portion of the property, thin out some of the trees.

Rick, thanks for the info. We aren't able to install an elevator ourselves, will need to check it out locally for best options.

In Indiana, code requires indoor elevators to have a separate phone line. For emergencies.

Many projects, but one at a time. Gut and renovate bthrm, gut and redesign kitchen, replace carpet with hardwood floors in 2 bdrms and living room, replace front deck with a covered porch, pave driveway and landscape front and back yard.

Ellen, see if you have a Habit for Humanity thrift store in your locale. Lot's of savings on building materials there. http://www.habitat.org/restores

I'm working on completing our upper floor, which is not overly large, and pretty much entirely master suite. I need to finish the bamboo flooring (it's around 3/4 done - I'm just waiting on a stair nose and a couple more boxes of flooring, getting the sliding doors (for the closets) and pocket doors (for the bedroom and bathroom) up, trimming out the space and completing the powder room attached to this soaking tub room, that we finished about 2mos ago.

My 1st project ever will be remaking my bedroom. I'll paint it with a joyful color to give the room life, add a copper and abstract touch for a modern-chic, yet artistic finish. The green theme with hanging plants and terraniums (+ my fish) will balance all of it, creating a peacefull, zen environment I will not want to leave.

Rick, awesome space, it looks amazing. thank you for the pics.

Rick, that's the way I would like my shower floor, only I have two different flooring materials. I'm not sure if it's going to work out that way or not. I hope it does!

I used Schluter glass track to set the glass in. I cut the floor joist down by about 2" to make the pan flush with existing floor. I installed a linear drain at the door. that shower has 7 heads and runs about 10 gal. per minute so slope and drain placement was critical. Good Luck Loni !

I hope we will do the basement. The bathroom project is almost finished.

Time to gut the grotty old kitchen and laundry room. Goodbye chipped white & cream floor tile and missing/filthy grout. So long stained sink and broken sprayer. Au revoir run down cabinets and soffits! I'm dreaming of a white kitchen (instead of a white Christmas).

When I say the basement, it includes the laundry room, storage areas, dog areas, and fun areas like a pool table.

When I say the basement, it includes the laundry room, storage areas, dog areas, and fun areas like a pool table.

Whole house remo planned for 2017. Just closed on a house built in 1975. Ranch style, 3/2.

The 1940's home we bought will need a demo down to the studs. New drywall, flooring. Running new wiring and moving the outlets and some of the plumbing. We will be moving the shower and the sinks in the bathrooms. I suspect we will also be putting up support beams and opening some walls for a more open floor plan. The 40's layout isn't the most attractive, so it needs to go. We will be going for a more craftsman (arts and crafts) interior. We are also ripping off the enclosure on the front porch and returning it back into a porch, not half mud room/half mess... New siding and adding a Ramada to the side of the house. We can park under it during the winter and use it as a BBQ outdoor picnic area in the summer. We bought the neighborhood ugly house in a great area, poor baby will be up to snuff with the rest of the neighborhood by this time next year.... boy lots of work tho...oh, and that stupid balcony... ugh.

Finishing 2016 with an updated kitchen for under $5000....new quartz counter-top, under counter lighting, and subway tile backsplash. 2017 project will be ceiling lights and new fan.

I would love to find someone like Hillary Farr! As I am going to need all the help I can get.
I am moving back to childhood home to take care of my mother. we will need to add space, gut kitchen (tear down wall), reconfigure bathroom, laundry room, and master bedroom. Also redo entryway and living room. I hope I can find someone dependable!

sue chan : box stores in your area might have a board with business cards of local carpenters/contractors. Get referrals

Almost an entire redo of my row home due to a leak from the 3rd floor bathroom. Hopefully after getting the major repairs and flooring redone, I will still have money to redo the kitchen. If not I'll have to make simple cosmetic changes and minor repairs.

Beach house in Morro Bay - converting the one car garage into another living space; one that will open up to our backyard.