I was recently involved in a discussion about whether or not a relatively complex plumbing procedure could be considered a DIY job.

This was no simple job. It was the kind of thing that involves tearing out tile and cutting pipes, which, depending on the material of your plumbing can be an art in-and-of-itself.

It brings up a question: What exactly is or isn’t a DIY job and when is it time to hire a pro?

The answer to that question can be fairly complex. It depends on time, money, skill level, tools available, and the laws and codes involved.

I really don’t think there is a clear-cut solution. Some DIY’ers are as skilled as a pro, while others should really stick with simple projects.

So I asked myself… what are ten reasons to take the plunge and hire a pro?

Over the next few posts, I’m going to elaborate on each of these points, so if you’re considering a choice between the DIY route and the option of hiring a pro, stay tuned.

The posts will be available in the “Hiring a Contractor” category.

I’m open to comments… more reasons? Reasons not to hire a pro?

The Promise:

Helping you build your dream, without losing your mind, money, or marriage!

This is no empty tag line. Not only are these very real concerns when it comes time to remodel the house, but I really intend to help you with them! Read on to find out how.

Remodeling Can Make You Crazy!

The emotional dangers that lurk all around any home remodeling project are often quite a surprise to folks! Get involved in a project of any size and we’re talking a Stressnorati ranking in the top 10!

The sources of this strain are far reaching and sometimes unexpected. The plumber that your friend Jayne said was great shows up a little tipsy. The building inspector shows up and says “you DO have a permit for this work, right?” Or worse…the roof leaks, the pipes break…you get the idea. It can be a nightmare.

In the fight for “Most Common Cause of Mental Disaster in Remodeling”, the clear winner is simple, money.

Remodeling Can Make You Broke!

Financial cost can really place homeowners under strain. This can be concerns over “can we afford this?”, or “is this a fair price?…are we paying too much?”, or the worst one “this is costing three times the budget!”. No matter how it comes, concerns over losing money face every homeowner looking to remodel.

This applies to everyone no matter where you stand. So far, I’ve not worked for anyone with so much money that they didn’t care. Most people with so called “deep pockets” got that way by watching their pennies. Sometimes it can be hardest for them (from an emotional perspective).

So, you know what happens when you have the following:

• Drunk Plumber
• Leaky Roof
• Over budget…
• And no place clean to even sit down and cry about it!!!

Remodeling Can Make you Single!

All of this can add-up to some serious marital discord! Couples often get upset because they have very different perspectives on the issues. This can cause the solution to a problem in one spouse’s eyes to be a major aggravation to the problem in the other’s.

There Is Hope!

This is where I get to the promise: Helping you build your dream without losing your mind, your money, or your marriage!

How? By showing you the right order, the right methods, and the right questions to ask so that you don’t get blindsided.

Is it worth it to go through all of that above just so you can have a new kitchen? (I know some of you are wondering….hmmm?) No, it’s not, because that’s not the only way to get a new kitchen. If you do it right many of these troubles can be avoided.

Note I say “many”, not all. No empty promises here…it’s not a walk in the park, but it can be fun.

Follow the Plan!

These keywords aren’t just meant to be some inspiring little catch words! There is a plan here. These are the steps to getting this done the right way.

Dream

You need a vision.

Design

You need a plan.

Build

You need to get it done!

Live

After you’ve done all of the above, and done it right, you’ll have the reward of living, family and finances intact, in the home of your dreams. Happily ever after!

Obviously this is going to involve a whole lot of information.  If you want it live, the only way I know to get it is to sign up for our free subscription, either by email or in an RSS reader. The place to do that is right over in the far right sidebar, up near the top of the page.

When homeowners are considering a remodeling project, the question “What will it be worth?” is one of the foremost for many. The idea that the work is in many ways a real “investment” has served as great comfort to folks as they write the check for Draw#1. Things have changed though, at least for now.

While I know that the prevailing sentiment is that things have certainly changed for the worse in all things real estate related, I prefer to look at the bright side. I don’t say so easily either, I’m certainly among those who would be considered “severely” impacted by the market shift. But that’s another story.

Before getting into the bright side, let me explain a little bit about how people have gone about determining value in years past.

Cost vs. Value Report

Remodeling Magazine publishes an annual report called the “Cost Vs. Value Report“. The report goes to great lengths to help determine what the resale value of a project is in different markets nationwide.

They do this by providing specs for a typical project, such as a Bathroom Addition, to remodeling contractors in each featured market for the given year. The remodeling contractors provide cost estimates, based on the prescribed specifications.

The researchers also provide the same specs to a selection of local real estate professionals, including appraisers and real estate agents. It’s up to this group to review the project and give an estimate, based on their own experience, as to what the project will be worth.

A Great Sales Tool

This Cost vs. Value report is widely used as a sales tool, or at least it was when values were a little stronger. A home improvement seller such as a general contractor, a window replacement firm, or a siding company, would show the prospect in black and white what they could expect to get for the work if they sold the day it was finished.

Siding has always been strong for example. So the siding contractor shows you a report published by a national magazine, an apparent expert on the market, which clearly shows that you will recoup 90% of your investment. I know that any decent salesman would add the line “and that’s if you sell today! Clearly it will be higher in a year from now as the house overall appreciates.”

I know, because I’ve said those exact words, though I never used the report.

Average Cost Per Square Foot

This is the resale value method I always used when a client asked me “What will it be worth?” My answer was fairly boiler-plate and it went like this:

“Well, it seems that the houses in the area are all going for about the same price per square foot. I’m no expert on value, but It stands to reason that if we make your house 500sf larger, then you can just multiply out that number to get a decent estimate of the value.”

This worked fine for me because I was selling room additions for the most part, and reading it now, it makes perfect sense. In a predictable world that did what it was supposed to do, it would still make sense. But it doesn’t; not today. Not for now.

The Mental Cost Reduction

The purpose behind all of this is what I think needs to change. I think way too many people, on the professional side, and on the consumer side, were focusing much to strongly on the investment value of a home improvement project.

The homeowner sees an estimate, say it’s $100,000.00. That’s a whole lot of money! “Maybe I don’t want to spend $100,000.00″ they think. But they want that space, there must be a way to make that make sense. And this is where resale value of remodeling comes into play.

What if the client believes that they will have $100,000.00 in value from day one. Then how much are they spending? Zero, right? It’s no longer an expenditure, now it’s a transfer of funds from one place to another. Why not put it in the house where we can enjoy it?

The same would apply if the report shows them that the value will be $75,000.00. “Well, at least this is only costing me $25K, the rest is real value.” Makes perfect sense, right? Not today. Not for now.

Borrow, Borrow, Borrow

This actually could make some sense, even today, for those buyers paying cash. I’m among the majority who still hold out hope that real estate values will, eventually, bounce back and return to being an asset that appreciates, rather than one that drops in value, like a rock.

But the idea of borrowing based on these estimates of resale value seems very misguided to me at this time. Which brings me to the good news.

The Bright Side

Remember me saying that I wanted to look at the bright side? I bet you were starting to forget there was one! I know I was. My own writing was depressing me! I wonder if that means I should do some editing?

But the good news is really good news.

If we all wake up from this hypnotic trance where our homes are our “biggest single investment” and consider them as HOMES, not investments, I think we’ll start making much better choices. Much better!

(bringing back one of my early favorite posts from last winter)

Let’s Roll…

Or brush, or sponge, or rag…even spray! No matter how you do it, just paint!

For most of you (not me!) it’s the dead of winter and outdoor projects are pretty much out of the question!

Even if you’re going to hire someone, it’s too cold to go out there and even show them what you want done! So what to do? How can you scratch that remodeling itch when the mercury drops to unmentionable levels?

I asked myself that question and the first two things I thought of were painting and lighting. They go hand-in-hand and I’ll touch on great lighting tomorrow. But for today, let’s talk about paint.

See the Room as Art!

There is an artist in you whether you know it or not! If you already know it, great! If not, just look at some pictures and ask yourself “Does this inspire me?” When you start to feel inspired, that’s when you’re on the right track. Follow that look and you’ll find what you want for your new space! Let’s start with a simple one and work our way up to CRAZY!

Simple, right? But beautiful too! The contrast of the darker wall color against the bright white trim works great in this nook! Great use of similar colors in the art and furnishings brings it together. A small area like this can be tackled in a weekend and make an impression for years!

Make White Sing!

A white wall has many great characteristics. They make spaces seem more open, and of-course, brighter. Sometimes, when there’s a shortage of natural light or to go with a particular design, white is the way to go.

Two thoughts about white walls:

1. Even if your room is already white and you want it to stay white…repaint it anyway! If the paint is more than a couple of years old, it will make a difference. You might also change a shade to “tweak” the look a little bit. There must be 1,000 “white” colors!
2. Add color with furniture and decor, like in the photo above. You might have an old chair laying around that you can repaint in two hours. Try it…it could change your life! (at least a little bit)

Look Past The Walls!

Feeling inspired yet? If not, check your pulse! These cabinets ROCK! I’m not so sure about the ABC’s on the glass, but I do love the use of color in the kitchen cabinets.

It can easily run $40,000.00 or more for new cabinets. Why not look a little closer and ask that artist in you what other options there might be? If you get a good answer, I’d say you should buy the artist a cup of coffee or something! If not, keep reading…

Hit the Door!

Painting the kitchen cabinets a little bit of a reach for you?  You’re not alone.

The impact you can make by painting a door or window is really astounding! I can’t decide which one I like better, the blue or the red?

What do you think?

So, honestly, don’t you feel like painting? You have options:

Walls, Ceilings, Trim, Doors, Floors, Furniture…

Everything including the Kitchen Sink can be painted, though you might want a pro to hit the sink for you.

The bang for your buck is unmatched and the D.I.Y. difficulty factor is  among the best you’ll find. Go for it!

Get Radical!

If the artist in you still has not stirred, I have one more trick up my sleeve. If this doesn’t get you going, there may be no hope…I’m sorry.

Now THAT is color!

Oh, a couple more details…you have to do it right! The web is full of great resources. I found a site here that has good advice on exactly how to paint. You can also email me for my thoughts if you’d like. I would love to see your before and after photos. I’d love to help.

Let me know if I awoke the artist in you in the comments, and use the ShareThis feature to share this new blog with friends. Just click on that little green button and all the options will show up before your very eyes. If nothing else, it’s colorful!

You’re ready to remodel! Or at least you will be, as soon as the holidays are past. The timing is right, the money is set aside, the need is real. Whether it’s more space, upgrades or improvements, or dealing with long overdue repairs and maintenance, you have work to do.

All you need is a contractor. A good one.

While it sounds easy enough, the prevalence of online services that offer to help you find a contractor leads me to believe that many people don’t know where to begin. Here are the top ten tactics I would suggest for finding a good contractor. These are based on a lifetime in the business, not only as a contractor being hired, but as a person who hires contractors all the time.

1. Your Existing Network

An existing local network of friends, neighbors, relatives, and contacts is absolutely the best source for a good reputable contractors name and number. Even if you’re not involved in many groups such as churches, social and service organizations, and business groups, you still have a larger network than you realize. Simply asking around is a great place to start. Something like, “Hey, I’m thinking of doing some electrical work over at the house and I need a good electrician, do you know of any?” is all it takes. If you happen to be going to a doctor or a lawyer, ask them…they all know good contractors.

Talking to someone you know, even just casually, about the experience they had with a contractor will really give you more insight into that company than anything else. This is especially true when you find the customer rather than the contractor giving you his best referral.

2. Drive Your Neighborhood

While I was asking anyone who would listen, I’d also look around my neighborhood. If you live in a compact enough neighborhood, you might want to walk or ride your bike. The idea is to keep your eyes peeled for work going on. Sometimes you need to look closely because not all contractors put job-signs out front. If you’re on foot or pedaling, you’ll find it much easier to slow down and really look at the work, you might even get lucky and meet the owner and/or contractor while your at it.

The best outcome of this is that you will meet a contractor that feels right to you, and then that contractor will be able to give you a list of a number of other jobs he’s done in within a few miles radius (adjust for rural or high-density urban). If a contractor has numerous jobs within a small area then you can be somewhat assured that the company is reputable.

3. An Architect or Designer

Architects, Residential Designers, Interior Designers, and Decorators are all in the business of home improvement and their success depends upon them knowing people who can accomplish what they dream up! They all know contractors and it can be worth the cost of hiring them to find out what and who they know.

A word of caution though… always be careful if the person or company giving you advice has any potential to profit from that advice. Any of the above professionals may have an established arrangement with contractors who pay them a referral fee or other type of commission or compensation in return for the lead. This isn’t uncommon, but it is a point of some discussion in the professional world.

Your best bet is just to ask flat-out if you’re in doubt. You need to know and most people will answer honestly if asked directly.

4. Local Suppliers of Materials

If you don’t have a great network of local contacts, or those efforts just aren’t panning out, I think this option is one of my personal favorites. Simply put, this works.

Find out who the local suppliers are for the material that your work will require. If you’re doing a painting job, then it will be a local paint store. If you’re building a house or a room addition, look for a building materials supplier, the best bet would be a locally owned lumberyard. Locally owned and managed businesses offer a little bit of advantage because you’re more likely to encounter the owner of the business who will not only know who the contractors are, but how well they pay their bills.

It can be a little awkward at first, you might even want to buy something little to get the conversation started, but these guys know who does a lot of work, who does good work, who does both.

5. Local and National Builders Associations

While I’m sure there are other organizations, the largest organization for building contractors is the National Association of Home Builders, or the NAHB. The national association is broken down into local chapters.

You can find these local chapters at the national website and they are a great source for reputable local contractors. Although I’ve rarely taken the time myself to get involved in these associations, I’ve noticed that those contractors who were in leadership roles were generally quite good at the work they did. So, based on my experience, the fact that a contractor is in a leadership role in a local Builders Association probably means that they are good contractors, another contractor’s complete lack of involvement or even membership would not necessarily indicate any fault.

6. National Specialty Associations

This resource is essentially the same as the NAHB, except that it will include more specialized trades. Here are a few specialty associations that might be of help to you in finding a contractor:

• National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA)
• National Association of The Remodeling Industry(NARI)
• National Electrical Contractors Association
• Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association
• National Roofing Contractors Association

All of these associations have local chapters and good advice on their respective websites about the process of hiring a contractor for that specific trade. These are good resources and a good place to find the names of reputable companies in your area.

7. Local Contractors Websites

It’s worth the effort to weed through search engine results in order to find direct links to local companies. Most companies websites will give you a feel for the company and the services it can provide. If you get a website from a job sign or vehicle sign, then you might use the website to decide if you want to make an appointment or not.

While I’ve mentioned in the past that I have my doubts about getting the very best contractors through online contractor placement services such as CalFinder, I do think that they can be one place to look among many others.  It’s just important that you go beyond what you find on the internet, whether it be directly from the contractor’s website, or from a referral service.  (btw… CalFinder does have a great remodeling blog, that you might enjoy reading)

8. Local Business Publications

Many local business publications have searchable websites. Companies such as American City Business Journals have publications nationwide that regularly feature locally respected and well known businesses. You can use the search feature on the page to search keywords, such as “remodeling contractor”.

These searches will go years back and that’s good for you. Isn’t it comforting to read an article from seven years ago about a contractor, then call that contractor and find she is still in the same line of work at the same location as she was when they wrote the article? (I always say “He” just based on percentages, but there are a growing number of women in construction who are showing the boys how it’s done!)

9. Local Newspapers

Similar to the above in many respects. But the other big feature in local newspapers is the good old fashioned advertisement. If I can’t get a referral and I’m going to meet with a contractor cold, I would much rather it be from an advertisement in a local publicationthat the contractor has possibly designed himself, or at least approved himself. It’s likely that ad will tell me what I need to know…what does this company do? Where are they located? How long have they been in business? Do they have any special offers right now? Does the ad present a professional front for the company?

10. Other Local Advertising

Local advertising also takes on many other forms. From direct mail circulars (a local one is called “The Flyer”) to bus-stop benches, there are ads for contractors all over the place if you look for them.

These resources shouldn’t be discounted out-of-hand! Many very good contractors are what you might call “old school” and they use tried-and-true advertising methods. It’s usually easy to tell which companies are playing a numbers game just trying to blow through thousands of leads, versus those who are good solid relationship oriented businesses that you want to work with.

Happy Hunting

You’ll notice that nine out of ten of these are local sources. I clearly am of the opinion that local sources for contractor referrals are best by far.

You’ll notice that I didn’t mention the building department. The problem there isn’t that the building inspector doesn’t know who the best is…he does. But he isn’t allowed to tell you and he certainly can’t tell you who not to call, so they usually can’t give you much. Get one to talk, though, and you’ll learn everything you need right there.

I think I have this list generally in the order I would approach it, so you may never need to ride around getting numbers off of bus-stop benches. That’s good because you really want a referral, someone to voluntarily say “ABC Remodelers does a great job, you should call them.” That’s what you want to hear and you need at least a couple of those, hopefully a few more.

Great contractors are out there, and now you know how to find them!

Of course… if you happen to be looking for a Remodeling Contractor in the Tampa Bay Area, then you can find me at the preceeding link.

I received the following question in an email and I thought the answer might be useful to others, so rather than just respond in email, I’ve posted it here .

I’ve spoken to many hundreds of excited owners over the years who want to add a second floor on the house and Natalie asked the typical questions.

Question:

We need to add on to our house at least one bedroom, and a guest room would be nice as well. The way our house is situated, the most aesthetically pleasing way to do it would be to add a couple of rooms on a second floor.

My question to you is, what are the limitations with adding on a second story to a house that is currently only a single story? Can it be done, or will it be prohibitively expensive. Any experience you have to share would be appreciated! – Natalie

Answer:

Hi Natalie,

I appreciate your question and I do have some experience I can share. My company has designed and built a few dozen second floor additions over the years.

Let me break down your question into segments.

Can it be done?

Yes. There is no such thing as a house that cannot receive a second floor addition one way or another; or at least not one I’ve seen yet…somebody will probably send me a picture of a house under a concrete overpass or something.

Years ago, after struggling with engineer after engineer on job after job trying to determine if the existing first floor foundation would hold up a second floor, I decided to skip the first floor footings altogether.

The truth is that most newer one story homes have almost zero “extra” strength built into them. As such, most one-story homes have insufficient foundations for the added loads of a two-story. Each state has it’s own set of building codes and Florida is among the most stringent, so a local professional will be able to help you better in that particular area. The lengths I’m accustomed to going to might not be required everywhere.

In the event that the existing foundation is insufficient, there are two options. First, you can augment the existing foundation with additional concrete and steel. The other option, the one I went to on all second story additions, is to build new footings for the second floor itself.

We did this by essentially building a “stilt house” within the existing home. Structurally speaking, these were like two independent structures. You could remove the first floor from under the addition, and it would remain intact.

This is done by placing adequate foundations directly under posts (we often used 6×6 posts) which supported the framing for the second floor. I would design the additions so that these posts can be placed inside existing or new first floor walls, or otherwise integrated into the first floor design with new features. The point being that these posts are “invisible” after the work is done.

So, this is a very long way of explaining that yes, it can be done in almost any house.

Is it prohibitively expensive?

Second floor additions are more costly than first floor additions, but I wouldn’t say prohibitively so. In my experience, the cost for a second floor job is about 20%-30% more than the same square footage built on the ground level. The majority of this extra cost has to do with the requisite remodel of the area under the addition and the cost of the stairs and stairwell.

The cost of an addition can be quite a bargain in times like this when the money you might effectively “lose” by selling in a depressed market is substantial. If you feel an addition of any type would be a good investment, I wouldn’t let the cost of a second floor addition scare you off.

Other Considerations:

Design

A good design is always an absolute imperative on a room addition. I would advise you to not compromise on this. Work until you have a design that meets your needs and you feel will be aesthetically pleasing.

Second floor design work is much more challenging, so you want to be certain that you’re working with someone who has experience in second story additions. If someone says “I haven’t really done many, but it’s no big deal.”, don’t believe them. It is a big deal and the design is the key.

Living During Construction

First floor additions have the great advantage of being able to be completed to a 95% level before breaking into your living space. Even if you’re remodeling adjacent space, the construction area can be effectively sealed off from your home.

Not so with a second floor addition. If the area where you plan to add-on is over an important living area, it could present a real problem. You really need to be able to move-out of the area directly under the addition for the duration of the project.

I’ve had a few clients move to a rental during construction and for a major project that can be a good idea. For most folks, it’s not an option. So plan on “camping-out” in your own home for awhile and be ready for some major inconvenience.

Over the Garage

For a number of reasons, building a second floor over the garage is a great move. The garage has a pretty impressive list of advantages:

• The cost to fix-it after construction is much lower since there is no floor covering, basic walls, little trim if any, etc.
• The ability of most families to live without the garage for a couple of months is much greater, as compared to the kitchen for example.
• The garage floor is often lower than the adjacent house. This is a huge advantage if the skies open and the rain pours down right after they tear the roof trusses off your house. The water will run out of the garage and down the driveway, instead of into your living room.

So, if it works in your plan, consider building over the garage.

I think that covers the basics…I hope it is helpful.

This one is a perfect 10 if you ask me. I found the picture at one of my favorite haunts Houzz.com, and the kitchen is by Valerie Pedersen who works in the SF Bay Area.

Wow! I love, love, love it! I was searching for window seats and I came across this shot. I really love the built-in seating (storage inside would be cool). And while we’re talking seating… I love that bench seat too! The whole thing just works for me.

A Closer Look

I see much more than just the seating here though. One great thing about this kitchen is that it’s timeless. not much here is going to be outdated in five years. The white cabinets and black granite look awesome with that white subway tile wall splash.

(trivial info: traditionally, the “backsplash” was only a few inches above the counter. When the whole wall between the upper and lower cabinet was done it was referred to as a “wall splash”… not so much nowadays)

I also love the farm sink in this kitchen. To me, the whole kitchen almost has to be designed around a farm sink for it to look right. This one looks great! Great faucet too.

Great Trimwork Too

One of the other things that make this room look great is the use of “normal” but beautiful trimwork.

• Standard 5.25″ Crown
• Simple window casing
• Upgraded, but simple, baseboards
• Small Crown on upper cabinets

Some Great DIY Ideas Here

When I look at this picture, I see a list of individual projects that most beginners can handle.

• Painting – the biggest thing in this picture almost gets missed. That is a great contrast between wall color and cabinet and trim color. You can do that right now in your house!
• Light Fixture – the next step-up the DIY difficulty ladder is installing a cool light fixture. Installing a fixture is something you can learn to do with a Google Video search. It makes a huge difference (just don’t skip the “turn off the breaker” step)
• Cabinet Hardware – Maybe easier than the light fixture is to change out your pulls, knobs, and hinges. Heck, once all that is off, maybe you want to spray paint your cabinets!
• Run that trim! You can so do this! Start with the easiest thing, probably the window casing; maybe the baseboard. When you want to try crown molding, do that little crown on the cabinets first so you can figure out how to hold it upright in your saw for easy angle cuts.
• Build A Window Seat! – Once you get your skills to the point where you can run that crown, you can tackle the window seat. Then you’ll be in high-style!

Have fun!

We all know that I love remodeling. My best-selling free eBook is entitled The Power of Remodeling — How Remodeling Your Home Can Change Your Life. That’s right, change your life!

But what about your marriage? Changing your life is one thing… anybody can do that, right? They got The Secret, Tony Robbins, and old copies of Dale Carnegie to do that. But your marriage!? That’s serious business we’re talkin’ now.

And isn’t home remodeling supposed to be like the dedicated arch-enemy of marriage? Isn’t it a fact that something like 2/3 of all couples who start remodeling never get past the demolition? Yet, now I’m saying it’s good counseling?

Anybody who pastes his head on butterflies and cartoon cowboys must be crazy anyway, right?

Wrong! Only 1/3 of marriages fail before the end of demolition!

Okay… all joking aside. This is serious business.

Remodeling Is Marriage Counseling

I read a post today about how really building a relationship was about getting to the core… well, here is a quote:

“Instead of living by others’ expectations, discover and live from your core.”

Got that? Your CORE! Okay, I don’t really know exactly what that means, but I do know this: It made me think about remodeling. In fact, I thought that’s where she was headed… but no.

Here’s what I think:

Save Your Marriage By Remodeling

• Remember that this home is for both of you! It shouldn’t reflect her style or his style. It should reflect YOUR style together. As a couple. A little work is all it takes to figure this out.
• Husbands – Realize just how important the house is to your wife! Don’t take it from me, take a look at what she likes to read online… check out her Google Reader…( I’m not a certified counselor)
• Wives – Remember that his lack of style is actually a style. It may seem like it’s not to you, but it is to him. There is no doubt that a set of surroundings exists that he would consider “perfect” and, all things being equal, he’s probably up-for the idea of making it happen.
• Research together – the best thing you can do is go out to places that you think might give you some clues. Model homes, hotels, restraunts, pool halls, Lowe’s Motor Speedway (not the parking lot at your local Lowe’s), whatever… lots of places. Spend some time paying attention to what physical surroundings actually instigate a good feeling in each of you. Take a picture, write it down.
• Designate Areas – What was that movie where they split the house down the middle? War of the Roses? Like that, but in a less dramatic way. For some reason, I don’t like the term “man cave” but there is some sense to the idea. If your design styles aren’t totally complementary, try to have some section that you agree belongs to your spouse to design however he/she wants.   (most often, he gets the garage, and that’s not fair! At least give him a porch too.)
• Agree on a budget! This one is the main culprit. Money fights! I can tell you from experience how to avoid this, but it might mean you start your work later. Have an agreed “splurge fund”. The problem is when the time comes for a toilet purchase… you want the nice one with all the bells and whistles (pottys have bells and some sport whistles too). He doesn’t see the value…it has a very simple purpose, he says.  This is where the splurge fund comes in. If you say, “Jim, this John is important to me! I’m willing to splurge on it!” (again, I’m not certified in this…so…)
• Decide on a work schedule! It can be very challenging for both of you to have work going on six or seven days a week twelve hour days. (that’s your contractor’s hours, right?) Decide before you start what the hours will be, tell your contractor, or hold yourself to it. This is especially true if you have strangers around. It gets old. Fast. It might mean to do the work in stages. That’s not so bad anyway.
• Just work together… from your core!

The overall point is that your house is the largest outward expression of you as a couple and if you both get involved in the remodeling process you’ll both get a sense of ownership of the project. You’ll both be excited, if not about every aspect of the work, at least about something! When one person isn’t really excited at all, it can be bad news!

Did I say I wasn’t certified?

By the way… if you’re wondering how I ended up reading this post on marriage, I’ll show you. I saw this link on Facebook:

Build a Better Marriage By Getting Buck Naked … so I clicked on it!

Now, I know that you have some thoughts on relationships and remodeling! Let’s hear ‘em!

I wrote a quick post this weekend about towel warmers, which I would say are a “luxury” component of a bathroom. And… I’ve had pretty bathrooms on my brain ever since. So I dug-up some pictures (or am I supposed to call them “images” now?).

3 Beautiful Bathrooms

Clean, Cool, Traditional

I found this bathroom inspiration at BHG.com, and it’s full of details I love.

• Tile on the ceiling is nice and the angled pattern is a nice touch.
• That brick-style tile pattern is called “running-bond“… lingo.
• I love the way the wainscot goes so high up the wall.

Plenty of room in this retreat, or so it would seem!

• I’m totally loving the built-in window seat with drawers in the base.
• And I’m loving the glass doors too!
• The trimwork around the windows is even more impressive. Very nicely done.

• And the panels on the front of the tub…if anyone talks to Rhoda, tell her about this.

Simple, Colorful, Classy

• Great Color – I really like this shade against white trim!
• Cool fixtures and hardware – can make a simple bathroom pop!
• And of course… I like the trimwork. Big base. Wrapped window!

• Nice Floor – going against the grain using wood in the bath.

Bright and Comfortable

• The shutters are the first thing I notice. I really love the way they did the window in four sections. You can open the top for light and keep the bottom closed for privacy.

• Overall, this bathroom is just really put together well. Everything works! I like the linen rack and the rug.

Hang-On to Inspiring Photos!

As a remodeling contractor and designer, one of the most useful things a client could do to help me understand what made them tick, was to give me a folder full of pictures they loved. It really helped me to come up with a design that was “just perfect!”

Keeping a “dream file” for each room in your house will help you really develop a sense of exactly what you like and don’t like so that when the time comes, you’re not forced into making a split-second choice. And if you keep your eyes on the goal, the time when you just sit back and enjoy a warm bath in a new retreat will come. No doubt about it!

Want To Talk About It?

I’m always forgetting to answer questions in the comments.  I’m sorry!  It’s not because I don’t want to, just something about the way it works, the process of getting an email, logging into the blog, navigating to the comments…etc. Plus I don’t know if you ever remember to come back and look!

Facebook is working much better to facilitate a real discussion about remodeling. I would love to talk to you there about bathrooms or whatever else you want to talk about. So far this weekend, a couple of readers have gotten involved there and I’m excited about it. Come check it out, it’s fun!

Remodeling Guy on Facebook or Follow me on Twitter

And of course, comments rock too! Have a great week!

Bath #1: BHG.com Bath #2: DIYIdeas.com Bath #3: Sunset.com

Today, we have a great guest post!  I’m honored to welcome Melissa Michaels from The Inspired Room , enjoy!

Top Ten Things I Learned about Remodeling a Kitchen On A Budget

Several years ago, we took on our biggest home improvement project to date — and lived to tell about it.

Sometimes Paint Isn’t Enough

Remodeling a hideously ugly, smelly, rat-infested sorry excuse for a kitchen was not for the faint of heart. We bought the house knowing how bad the kitchen was, but I thought I was just going to break out the bleach to scrub it down, slap on some paint to freshen it up and buy new appliances that actually worked and call it good. I was prepared for everyone to step back and be amazed that something so ugly could be pretty again with a new coat of paint.

But, sadly, sometimes a little paint isn’t enough. Once I really assessed the situation, it became obvious that I had to do MORE! The kitchen is an important room in the house, so it pays to do it right if you can. I am so glad I did, because my kitchen is what probably sold my house this spring.

Let me clarify here: doing it “right” doesn’t mean spending $100,000. It just means doing your homework.

I thought long and hard about what we could do ourselves and what was best left to the professionals. And I also came up with a number of creative ideas that gave me a lot of bang for my buck.

It took a lot of thought but it was worth it. Two years after buying our house, we finally had a lovely kitchen!

Before

So, what are the top 10 things I learned about remodeling a kitchen on a budget?

1. Assess the situation ahead of time and get a lot of opinions.

Let professionals come over and give their opinions. Get bids on doing individual projects like new counters as well as bids on the entire kitchen. Eventually you’ll start to get a feel for what is necessary, what you could do without and who you want to work with.

2. Find a creative contractor.

We interviewed at least five contractors before we decided on one. While the estimate was important in our decision, finding someone who had creative solutions was by far the most important thing to us in the long run. Our contractor would suggest things that made our kitchen look more custom and high end but didn’t cost an arm and a leg. I am not a contractor so I don’t always know what can be done, so having his opinion was invaluable.

3. Take your time in the planning stage.

I was super anxious to have a working kitchen, but my husband and I spent many many hours looking at magazine photos for inspiration, thinking creatively and drawing up sketches to show our contractor.

I estimate we saved about $30,000 by doing a lot of the thinking and creative planning ahead of time. We found solutions to what could have been very expensive fixes simply by taking the time to solve them creatively.

4. Do at least some of the prep work yourselves.

Neither my husband or I are particularly handy with tools or building things. But, we do know how to use a sander and a paint brush. So, we (OK, I really mean my husband) spent countless hours sanding rough dark beams, priming them and painting them.

I cannot even imagine how expensive it would have been to replace the beams, let alone have someone else do all the prep and painting.

5. Details, details, details.

The key to a custom looking kitchen is in the details. I don’t mean fancy pants hand carved marble corbels either. You can choose things that look unique and special, or you can chose something that is plain and non-descript.

It is the little details that will give your room the “ooh and ahh” factor so be unique and add some special features. Here is a post where I shared specific ideas from my kitchen, if you want to see more.

6. Don’t be afraid to speak up.

I think we drove our contractor crazy sometimes because we wanted everything to be just right. Sometimes would get out our level and let him know if things weren’t quite level. We actually overheard one of the subs tell his boss that we were using a “piece of crap level” (can I say that here?) because to his eye, it looked fine. But, we were paying a professional and we deserved to have things look right to OUR eye.

7. Mix things up.

Don’t be boring when you can be special! Mix things up! Yes, you can use more than one style of hardware and more than one cabinet finish.

We had five kinds of cabinet pulls in our kitchen. We chose four types that were hammered black iron, but various shapes and styles. And then for our glass cabinets we chose glass knobs with an iron base. They all tied together but gave more interest because of the various shapes. We had two different cabinet finishes and a couple of variations on our basic cabinetry detail to bring in more personality.

8. Drawers are better than cupboards, IMHO.

If you are putting in any new cabinetry or retro-fitting an old cabinet, I must tell you that I love drawers more than cupboards. I find cabinet doors clumsy. And I especially do not like the cabinet doors that you open and then have to pull out a drawer. Too many steps for me!

I like to pull out a drawer and see what is in it right away. No standing on my head to see in a deep dark cupboard and no fancy maneuvers to pull out a drawer within a cupboard. Just a simple drawer works for me! I had lots of them with HEAVY DUTY HARDWARE in my kitchen and I LOVED them!

9. Creative concealment: my money saving weapon.

I do not like to spend big money to rip things out if I don’t have to. I had the craziest window EVAH in my kitchen. Several contractors told me to rip it out. It was ugly. Yes it was ugly. The cost to replace that beauty? $20,000 because it would involve remodeling the whole corner of my house. Yeah. NOT!

A good coat of primer and paint, a little trim work from my contractor, a curtain rod and strategically placed panels disguised this hideous feature for teeny bits of money.

10. Work with what you have.

We kept the basic footprint of our kitchen intact. We were able to keep plumbing and electrical costs to a minimum, as well as avoided replacing a tile floor by simply leaving our floorplan the same.

Furthermore, we reused all of our existing perimeter cabinet bases and freshened them up with new doors and paint. It all looked brand new! LOTSA money saved. Using what you have whenever possible makes the job much more affordable.

*********************

RG – That’s some great advice…especially the part about hiring a creative contractor!

I’m sure you all know Melissa! She’s the smart and creative soul behind The Inspired Room which is just chock full of, well, inspiration. And humor. And insight.  (and don’t miss that link up in #5 – great pictures of the whole kitchen there!) Thank you Melissa for your post here today!

Melissa was one of the first to RSVP for the Remodeling Guy Round-Up (even though no reservations are required!) and I’ll be back tomorrow to show you some super quick and easy ideas you can get done before Friday!