Professional home improvement is ancient and goes back to the beginning of recorded civilization. One example is Sergius Orata, who in the 1st century B.C. Is said by the writer Vitruvius to have invented the hypocaust. The hypocaust is an underfloor heating system that was used throughout the Roman Empire in villas of the wealthy.
A cash-out refinance is a low-cost way to make home improvements when you don’t have the money on hand. Refinancing can be a good way to borrow a lot of money at once, which means expensive renovations are in reach and won’t take much from your monthly budget. Taking down a wall between the kitchen, living room, or dining room can expand your entertaining area, and make the footprint feel larger while you’re not actually adding square footage. However, to remove a wall safely, it needs to be non-load-bearing, meaning a wall that isn’t integral to the structure of your home. You can hang a mirror just about anywhere, but it’ll be most effective facing opposite a window to reflect the outdoors and sunlight. When you’re hanging a heavy mirror, be careful to use anchors, cleats, or picture wires to ensure it’s properly installed in the wall.
- Another PBS series, “Hometime” made its debut after “This Old House,” expanding on some of the tropes that made its predecessor so popular.
- You can rethink how you get rid of it, save some disposal costs and maybe make a few dollars selling reusable items.
- Improving the things you can’t see could be even more valuable than just making the place look better.
- Eye-catching front doors might be handy if you have guests coming to visit but may be off-putting to potential buyers, so keep it neutral.
Overhead pot racks can hold your bulky kitchen items right where you need them while making a rustic design statement in your home. Removing the doors only takes an afternoon and a few basic tools. It’ll cost you little to nothing beyond the cost of paint and caulk. If your bathroom is small, chances are it feels even more cramped with an opaque shower door and enclosure. Swap this out for a crystal-clear shower door to open up the room and make it feel bigger.
Detroit pride factors heavily into the series, which is no surprise since Tim Allen moved to Michigan with his family when he was 11. Allen’s TV alter ego Tim Taylor is incredibly proud of living in Detroit but that’s not where the Taylor home actually was. But like most TV series, it doesn’t matter where you actually are as long as you act like you’re somewhere else.
If you have a few worn/discolored areas on the hardwoods, touch them up yourself with a little water-based stain to make them less noticeable. And don’t forget about the charm of a nice throw rug when needed. Another PBS series, “Hometime” made its debut after “This Old House,” expanding on some of the tropes that made its predecessor so popular. Each episode takes a deep dive into DIY or contractor-performed home improvement projects, choosing to focus on a single installation rather than the renovation of the entire home.
You’ll more than make your money back with a loft conversion, too, but it’s not quite as lucrative as other means of extending because of the costs involved. You’ll need to add some windows and a staircase, too, which can rob you of space elsewhere. Perhaps fitting a new kitchen or bathroom, or creating extra living space? For most of us, renovation means modernising our home, adding more “functionality” to it or increasing its value. Usually, we’re more preoccupied with finishes and fittings than the things we can’t see. But the hidden elements of a renovation are well worth our attention.
Improve the Landscape
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.
What Can You Use That Cash For?
The Mighty House radio show has been a labor of love for over a decade (another number I should know… but I don’t… it’s been longer than that). If you are a listener or a viewer over this amazing internet thing, Your feedback is what keeps us going. Please comment on Facebook or call the show – you can say whatever you like – it’s your dime. These days “home improvement” spans a gamut of possibilities. We call it “Home” not “House” improvement for a reason.
So next time you renovate your home, take time to look at what’s behind the walls. Improving the things you can’t see could be even more valuable than just making the place look better. No one likes being disturbed by someone else’s music or TV. Yet modern life involves enjoying high-quality audio from increasingly sophisticated sound systems. Add good acoustic insulation when you renovate, and it’s easier to have peace and quiet in one part of the house when there’s noise in another.
While you have the painting supplies out, brighten trim with a light-colored, high-gloss paint. The set designers set out to make the home as normal as possible. It needed to be as middle of the road as possible to appear to be the house of a middle class family living in a suburb during that era. The Taylor house has a few personal details but it could easily be anyone’s home, a key part of making the series relatable to audiences.