Cool things you have done to/for your home

[Sweet Life]

A couple of months ago I *finally* whitewashed our red brick fireplace. It was actually super easy, fun and has made a huge difference in our family room space. I now LOVE this room that I used to hate. I did end up splurging on a Craiglist couch that has really helped with the comfi-ness of the room, but the fireplace alone cost almost nothing and was a great 'easy' fix by itself.

Made me think to ask...what have you done to/for your home that has been surprisingly great?!

[ECingMama]

I painted my ugly brown kitchen cabinets three years ago.....and they are still behind the couch because we've never found the $500 worth of handles and new hinges that I bought when the house was empty. At this point, I am assuming the carpet guys either took them by accident (if the boxes were in the way) or on purpose.

I still prefer my white kitchen cabinet bases to the ugly brown.

But we're going to have to borrow from our emergency fund to buy new hinges and handles here before baby comes. House will be for sale next year anyway.

And....glad you like your space better!

[2sunshines]

oooh, I think a thread like this absolutely REQUIRES photographic evidence! I wanna see these things!

[Sweet Life]

Originally Posted by 2sunshines

oooh, I think a thread like this absolutely REQUIRES photographic evidence! I wanna see these things!

subtle hint?

Here's a 'before' pic. Ya'll will have to live in wicked suspense until I can take an 'after' pic.

I should add that one of my favorite moves (that took EONS of convincing/pleading with DH) was to move the hack job of our media set up to a different room. Win for the wife - it's OUT of this room. Win for the hubby, he ended up with a bigger TV. )

[MegMarch]

The insides of two of our closets are painted a soft, sunny yellow. I want to do the other closets but haven't yet.

Not a huge deal, but we just took out the giant plain mirror in the hall bathroom and replaced it with an oval one that is framed AND is a medicine cabinet. It's so much prettier and more useful now.

Best thing we've done was get a storm shelter put into the garage. I feel SO much safer now When people come over for the first time if they know we have it they usually want to check it out.

[mamaKristin]

I am considering doing a whitewash on our brick fireplace, so I'm stalking this thread.

[esperanza]

Sweet Life- what an adorable family photo! And I can't wait for pictures too!

[Soliloquy]

My house is where beige came to DIE! When we moved in, every wall, ceiling, and door was beige. . The first floor is 95% painted except the great room needs another coat.

Our woodstove used to sit on cracked floor tile that wasn't even glued down. Dh built a slate hearth.

The railings on our second floor used to be strictly aesthetic. They were so poorly installed that they would've saved no one. Dh replaced them and the new ones are gorgeous.

Bbl!

[2sunshines]

I also have a brick/stone fireplace that I would love to do something with but not sure what so I can't wait to see after pics!

Love all the other updates. I'm always looking for inexpensive DIY improvements to the house. It's amazing how much difference such a little thing can make. So what a fantastic thread for ideas!

[charla]

Can't think of anything to share at this point, but I love this thread.

[mamaKristin]

Here is my terrible fireplace. I would love to remove the brick and replace it with stone, but $$. So, I'm hoping to:
- maybe whitewash or paint the brick
- paint the bookshelves (they are on both sides, plus our tv is to the right. I'd mount the tv over the fireplace, but it's not a good set up for viewing)
- mount a lovely beam over the exisiting mantle - with any luck, it will literally overshadow that...charming () arch.
and then we are going to replace the carpet in there with something else, probably vinyl flooring.

I really should have tidied the room first! DH's work laptop, the old vcr, the open cupboard door to access the playstation....yeah

[Singingmom]

[Soliloquy]

These are more little things:

Dh hung a pot rack I bought. I had him hang over the counter next to the sink, not over the stove. This way, it isn't covered in micro-fine oil mist, aka dust super glue. And I can hang wet pots and they drip onto my dish drying rack.

He put a bookshelf on top of the bank of windows in the kitchen. I keep my cookbooks and ferments up there. I'm tall so high shelves are fine for me.

A new kitchen faucet!! I hated the old one but was waiting until we redid everything. But the old one was leaking terribly and dh couldn't tighten it anymore. Right before Christmas it was leaking terribly so we picked out a new one. . We got this one, it's modern/industrial and I love it.

http://www.us.kohler.com/us/Sous-pul...83/1165183.htm

[2sunshines]

Originally Posted by Soliloquy

These are more little things:

Dh hung a pot rack I bought. I had him hang over the counter next to the sink, not over the stove. This way, it isn't covered in micro-fine oil mist, aka dust super glue. And I can hang wet pots and they drip onto my dish drying rack.

I would love to see your pot rack if you are willing to share! I Love the idea of one since my pots don't have an ideal storage system that I'm purely content with right now, but I also have some hesitations.

[mamaKristin]

I love the kitchen faucet!