Remodel

September 14, 2013

The Most Crazy Before & After I have Ever Seen!

I really want to know how much money they spent on this project…

If you’d asked self-taught designer Nikki Lloyd and her husband, Ryan Whaley, five years ago if they would ever move back to their hometown of Sandusky, Ohio, the answer would have been, “Not a chance.” But “every time we came home to visit family, we began to see a community on the rebound, and we really wanted to be a part of it,” says Lloyd.

The couple moved to the quaint lakeside town and invested in a dilapidated late-1800s building in the heart of downtown Sandusky. The building was a wreck, but Lloyd has made an art out of taking diamonds in the rough and creating shiny gems. She had previously improved a ho-hum prefab home near Breckenridge, Colorado, and a teardown-turned-charming-cottage in suburban Ohio.

But never had she tackled a project with such a history as her new home, once an early-1900s high-end bordello known as The Green Door.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Nikki Lloyd and Ryan Whaley
Location: Sandusky, Ohio
Size: 1,500-square-foot loft, plus a 750-square-foot office and a 750-square-foot cocktail bar; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

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June 24, 2013

Refreshing Kitchen Color Theme and Kitchen Remodeling Work-Book

I just can not resist this ocean blue!

This is, again, from Houzz.com. 
I have been learning so much from Houzz.com on many types of remodeling projects. Can’t wait to actually start my own remodeling! Of course I won’t have enough return on a $70,000 kitchen remodeling (until I buy a multi-million villa, huh?) but I think it is reasonable to paint the cabinets and change the faucet and sink, as well as backsplash, right?

Uh-oh.. there we go. Me setting crazy plans again.. Why don’t we take some time to review how to plan and execute a kitchen remodeling this time, and I will consolidate a few good blog posts about DIY refinish kitchen cabinets and backsplash next time? Ohhh, and counter top material as well 🙂

Work-Book to Kitchen Remodeling

Often time, when I visit an open house or house show, the first thing I would love to change is the kitchen (followed by the bathroom, of course). I know it could be very costly when it comes to kitchen remodeling due to the functionality design, as well as plumbing, electric, and appliances. But when do you start? Here is an awesome blog post:
Some kitchen remodel considerations:
  • Are you remodeling your kitchen within the existing footprint?
  • Do you want to relocate the sink or range, which would mean moving the plumbing or gas lines?
  • Are you planning on opening up to another room and you aren’t sure if you have a load-bearing wall? This might require structural work and unforeseen costs.
  • With new construction, you might have already heard prices referred to as the cost per square foot, but this formula rarely works with remodeling. Every home has unique conditions due to age, construction type (masonry versus frame, for example) and layout.
  • Detailed pricing information up front will help you meet your budget. Where to start? Here are a few suggestions.
Budget, plan, find a good pro and work with them – there are much to learn! 

June 22, 2013

Custom Media Wall for less than $2,000!

This week: Frugal-tastic Media Wall $2,000!

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/12160998/thumbs/Basement-of-the-Week–Expanded-Living-Space-on-a-Budget

As a real estate newbie, I am always a little hesitant about the basement. It is dark, gloomy, enclosed… A custom media wall may cost you at lease $5,000 in addition to the overall remodeling of the area. Geez. Let’s just through a TV on a stand and call it a media corner!

Well, we have an cheaper alternative for you and it looks just as cute!

If you are interested in a tutorial, here is the designer’s website: http://www.no29design.com/2012/04/built-ins-part-one.html

See before and after here