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Kitchen Too Small???? Depressed by your rooms??? No matter what your budget, there's a way to solve the problem. A home that isn't a good fit is as bad as a tight pair of jeans after some holiday weight gain---------tight, ugly and frustrating. A few years ago you might have sunk six figures into a colossal rehab or simply ditched the house altogether. Now it's time to start viewing home makeovers as a long-term project rather than a one-shot deal. In the kitchen Think Simple!!! The place we eat reflects the way we want to live. That's why it's so tempting to throw big money at kitchen rehabs. But if you stick to the same basic layout and focus on key aesthetic changes, you'll get a far bigger impact fo your renovation dollar. Trim the cost of custom cabinets. Use wood for Floors. Don't move windows and doors. Stick to mid-range appliances. Raise the ceiling if you can to the rafters and add skylights. Reshape the Molding. Create new lines with chair rail, cornices and crown molding. Give doors a wraparound with cove molding to create interesting architectual features. Add some ornament decorative pieces to create a focal point (focalpointproducts.com) are far cheaper than hand-carved pieces (outwater.com) Read more......
Grow. Curbing Costs of Curb Appeal. A beautiful lawn is fairly easy and inexpensive to maintain, and putting in WaterWise plants will cut your watering work & costs. Cut the Deck, Grow the Patio. Skimp on size. Cut the typical $10,000 deck price in half. Expand the patio which does not need a foundation. Ditch the railings. Add a curve. A modest deck doesn't have to look boring. Budget $500 to $2000 for an angle or curve at a focal point of your deck and the efgfect will transform a simple box into art. Last but not least. Maintain!!!! Find your inner handyman. Looking to slash your home's upkeep expenses??? Roll up your sleeves and start doing lawn and outdoor cleaning maintenance yourself. You can find more helpful tips at: Money Magazine April 2009 |
