As you look at options for chandeliers, pendant lighting, and ceiling fixtures, remember to keep colors consistent with your home’s hardware. For example, you can mix metals such as copper and oiled bronze, or brushed nickel with chrome, but you wouldn’t want to mix gold and silver tones. Keep in mind that older brass fixtures can look dated, since they were often used in properties built in the 80’s and 90’s.

  • Well, if you need a little extra motivation to take that first step, look no further than the best home improvement shows on TV.
  • Check out your home’s basement, and where there are I-beams or wooden support beams in the ceiling, that’s where the home’s weight rests and you can’t remove walls above it.
  • “The older the home, the more need, true need, there is to do projects such as , windows, efficiency, related projects, roofing,” Farnsworth said.
  • Even newly constructed homes can see huge benefits from having an energy audit performed.
  • If your home has single-pane windows, they could be wasting up to 25% of your energy costs.

Get expert advice on your home, design tips, how much to pay for pros and hiring experts, delivered to you daily. Replacing your carpet means tossing out all of the old floor covering. Save several scraps of carpet, whatever kind, for use on the top of sawhorses, as a creeper mat for working on the car, to pad your knees while fixing your plumbing or use as drop cloths. And, they’re free with the purchase of a new carpet.

Kitchens

Sundae does not provide legal, tax, or investment advice. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it. Please seek the advice of an attorney, tax professional and/or financial advisor for guidance to properly evaluate particular investments and/or strategies. David Bromstad, the winner of season one of “HGTV Design Star,” hosted his own show, “Color Splash,” for eight seasons.

Energy

Simply pick up a couple of cheap, framed floor-length mirrors for less than $10 at your local big-box store, then paint the frame to match your space. Attach to your closet door with construction adhesive for a permanent look or use removable picture-hanging strips if you’re renting. Glue thin trim pieces to the mirrors for a high-end look. You don’t have to go big when it comes to kitchen projects. Install new kitchen cabinets or give current cabinets a refresh. Upgrade old kitchen countertops and add a kitchen backsplash for a new look.

“You simply will not get your money back on those types of additions, and buyers might be more apt to reconsider if it’s not something they’ve always dreamed of, too,” Matke explains. To quickly and easily rehabilitate your existing fireplace, a gas or wood-burning insert adds energy efficiency to your home without tearing apart your hearth and mantel. Equipping your fireplace with glass doors blocks heated and cooled air from escaping and amplifies the fire’s heat, which in turn reduces energy costs. Closing the damper when the fireplace is not in use will help keep cold out of your home and add to heating efficiency. Having your fireplace and chimney professionally cleaned will also improve fireplace efficiency.

“The process is simple,” says Mike McAllister, owner of Riverside Kitchen Center in Mount Vernon, Washington. “Remove the small flange that holds the existing insert, then replace the insert with your material and add wood or metal stops to keep it in place.” If you’re considering replacing an appliance, replace it with an energy-efficient product.

One of the first home improvement shows to hit airwaves, “This Old House” began airing on PBS way back in 1979. Hosted by Bob Vila, Steve Thomas, and Kevin O’Connor, the series follows the remodel of a house — typically in the New England area — over the course of several episodes. The longer timeline allotted to each flip allows for an in-depth look at different aspects of the process and lends the show more of a how-to feel in comparison to many of its competitors. A cash-out refinance can be just the ticket if you’re searching for a low-cost way to turn your home improvement list into a finished project or two. To see how much cash you could get from your home, apply online today with Rocket Mortgage. A home equity loan or home equity line of credit can let you borrow against the equity in your home.

By Brina