Anne
King Lincoln
Login to Send PM
Let's talk abut your home improvement projects.
Today, I started working on an end panel of our kitchen cabinets that we are painting a chalkboard on. It isn't totally permanent since we do plan on redoing our kitchen, but I think Desi will like it for the time being. And it isn't too expensive.
Also recaulking the bathtub again. This has turned out to be a PITA and I wish we could just redo our whole bathroom!
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
Login to Send PM
I am STILL working on my kitchen. The cabinets are really coming along, but I can't find hinges that fit.
I found this really cool product Skimstone that I am considering for my counters now. I still want to do concrete, but am leaning towards this for ease/price/time. It seems that only trashy people use it, so the taste level in the before/after shots leaves a lot to be desired, but I think if done right it could be really cool.
chrisgillespie
Short North/Victorian Village
Login to Send PM
When you said skimstone, it made me think of a concrete treatment my brother does on some exterior concrete. He wasn't familiar with the skimstone, but he uses mirror coat on some finishes that he applies to existing concrete patios. The finished product really looks like stone, but takes some skill and practice to apply to make it look like that. It's multi-stage, he uses masking tape to create grout lines, and then applies layers of color, and then seals it. Seriously very cool, and definitely not something just used by people just being cheap. The pools he built when he worked as the foreman for Free Form Pools were some of the best pools in St. Louis (he went into business for himself a couple of years ago). Their clientele had million dollar homes, and they did sometimes use that application (he only used it outside, tho - he doesn't do kitchens). Here is a picture of one of Mike's pools (unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the application we're describing available):
http://www.stlouishomesmag.com/St-Louis-Homes-and-Lifestyles/August-2007/Boundless-Beauty/
So, you might want to investigate products, but I wouldn't say these built up applications are trashy, per se :)
chrisgillespie
Short North/Victorian Village
Login to Send PM
We're getting ready to do our kitchen. I do a lot of home improvement, but have taken to hiring it out in my current home (altho I like to design it myself). I bought my first house when I was 23, and simply didn't have the money to hire people to do the work then. That home had been built in 1927, and I was the second homeowner when I bought it in 89. It really hadn't been updated at all. The first week, I installed a shower (it only had a tub), and replaced the toilet. Within the first month, I also tore out all carpeting (there were hardwood floors underneath), and painted everything. Eventually, I gutted the bath (the plaster walls were a nightmare to keep clean for someone who takes hot showers). I also remodeled the kitchen. It was all a lot of fun, and a great creative outlet. In St Louis, I also had a lot of family resources very experienced in home improvement, so I wasn't on my own. I originally thought I'd have everything in the home updated within 2 years, but saving for projects, and having time to do them, made it take much longer than that.
Now, the home we are in was built in 1880. It was updated in the 1980's, including an addition on the back. Since we moved in, we have replaced the furnace and A/C, rebuilt the box gutters (that were sagging) and put on a new roof, removed peeling wall paper, and the biggest project was redoing the upstairs bath and putting a washer and dryer in a nearby closet. I've been here over 5 years (Carl bought it a year+ earlier). We're only about half way there :) It takes time (unless you have unlimited funds and incredible vision). We're getting ready to do the kitchen next. It's a real challenge, because it includes that addition, and is sort of a great room (kitchen, dining, family, and bath), and has a complex layout. I'll get some ideas from designers, but I tend to like to do the design myself (although, with this home, I'm happy to contract out the work). I'm right now immersing myself in kitchen magazines to decide what we'll do. Hope to begin this spring.
Here is what we did in the bathroom. If you click on the first picture, and then go through in order, it shows the bath and hall closet before, during, and after. The before had more issues than appears in the pictures (I hated the carpet in the bath, but also the tub was rusting, fixtures were corroded, and the layout with the channel between the tub and sink making for tight quarters with Carl and I both in there at the same time trying to get ready):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisandcarl/sets/72157602869052996/
The dogs, of course, were excellent supervisors of the work ;)
misskitty
Columbus
Login to Send PM
Man I could go one forever with projects I am doing in my house. This is my first home as well and I got it on my 21st birthday. I am still confused as to why they made it ok for me to by one then but whatevea lolz.
When I first got it I replaced the dry wall in the living room, finished it and painted it, the carpet, and put in new wood floors in the dining room. I have change the colors of the rooms often so that's always on going but I like color change.
Right at the moment I just finished the new walls in the bathroom and floor. Soon I will be wainscoting and painting. Next is the kitchen floor and walls lolz
I will say I didn't know anything about fixing houses, remodeling, or any of that when I first moved in. I have learned so much
chrisgillespie
Short North/Victorian Village
Login to Send PM
I hear ya, misskitty. Paint is so fast, easy, and inexpensive, that I painted frequently in my first house, too. Makes ya feel like you're making more progress, and things feel so fresh and new and different :)
Congrats on getting a house so young! When I bought my house, everyone said a single girl should continue to rent. I wanted the privacy, freedom to have a big dog, and a garage (the street my first home was on was hilly, and the garage was in the basement - entry from the front). Home ownership is a lot of work, and it doesn't always pay off more than renting (after maintenance and improvement expenses, taxes, etc), but the additional benefits, especially freedom to do your own thing, are so worth it IMO. Not to mention that self sufficiency and confidence you develop while learning how to fix and remodel. Way to go!
CDS sherman
East Franklinton
Login to Send PM
after building this place 4 years ago the last thing i want to do after working on other peoples homes all day is work on mine. i just get burned out and the house is complete enough for me. it would be nice to have my 2nd floor bath complete though. eh someday....
Mercurius
First Avenue
Login to Send PM
laChewla
Victorian Village, The Heart Of It All
Login to Send PM
Mercurius wrote >>
CDS sherman wrote >> it would be nice to have my 2nd floor bath complete though. eh someday....
I don't know, the times I've been there, that room seems to be a popular hang out place. You should at least put a working ventilation fan up there though. ;)
I've actually slept in there!
CDS sherman
East Franklinton
Login to Send PM
building this place was a challenge for sure. here are some before and after shots of my project.
those were some of the loft framing and drywall along with the stair case.also i was welding in the support columns for the structural changes that were being made for the beams.
and that was when i was finishing up, it looks for the most the same now with the handrail complete. believe it or not it only took me and my 2 workers 2 1/2 months to get to that point which is funny because my current kitchen job has now taken almost 2 months to complete! it will be done this week thank god....
CDS sherman
East Franklinton
Login to Send PM
laChewla wrote >>
Mercurius wrote >>
CDS sherman wrote >> it would be nice to have my 2nd floor bath complete though. eh someday....
I don't know, the times I've been there, that room seems to be a popular hang out place. You should at least put a working ventilation fan up there though. ;)
I've actually slept in there!
yeah i was thinking of turning my office into a bedroom and moving a roommate in.... the bath room could make a cool room but it would have that jail cell feel to it with the toilet and all.
laChewla
Victorian Village, The Heart Of It All
Login to Send PM
CDS sherman wrote >>
laChewla wrote >>
Mercurius wrote >>
CDS sherman wrote >> it would be nice to have my 2nd floor bath complete though. eh someday....
I don't know, the times I've been there, that room seems to be a popular hang out place. You should at least put a working ventilation fan up there though. ;)
I've actually slept in there!
yeah i was thinking of turning my office into a bedroom and moving a roommate in.... the bath room could make a cool room but it would have that jail cell feel to it with the toilet and all.
Funny you said that - Zach and I were joking that night as we slept on the bed about 1 foot from the john.
chrisgillespie
Short North/Victorian Village
Login to Send PM
Wow! Nice job on that loft, CDS! Welding looks like fun :) Thanks for sharing the pics.
CDS sherman
East Franklinton
Login to Send PM
thanks chris! i do enjoy welding and its been a handy skill to have as many of my projects in the past have had some sort of metal fabrication needed, structural or decorative. the patio at union in the SN was one of my last outdoor welding jobs in awhile.
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
Login to Send PM
Anne wrote >>
Let's talk abut your home improvement projects.
Today, I started working on an end panel of our kitchen cabinets that we are painting a chalkboard on.
I have a whole wall in my kitchen that is painted with that chalkboard paint. Everytime someone new comes over to my house it's almost always the first thing the say "wow that's cool" about.
Likes Old Houses
Harrison West
Login to Send PM
I have wrote a lot of checks in the past 5 years for our house on a lot of sytems. I have handled a lot of demo work myself. The last big project was to have our porch floor replaced and the house painted. I spent dozens of hours stripping 100 years of paint from the porch details, and it was well worth it. The next project may be a master suite addition. We will see what the architect says.
Ndcent
OTE
Login to Send PM
Nothing huge right now...we have a chandelier to install this week and I want to get moving on some pendant lights and undercabinet lighting in the kitchen. I might like to get some magnetic paint for those little spice jars to attach to the inside of a kitchen cabinet for the few dry spices we use.
This fall I'd like to get moving on a fireplace, something similar to what Spark Modern Fires does.
Maybe after a refi, I'd like to get started on a front porch. Something modern to hint at the interior of the home - thinking braided steel cable, corrugated steel, etc.
Motorist
The Trots
Login to Send PM
I've done a little work to my house. Mostly just painting, but I'll post some pictures of some of the other stuff later today.
Ndcent, two of my co-workers in OTE have had fireplaces redone by the same guy and they look great. Nothing modern like you're talking about but you could probably have whatever gas fixture you want installed. I'll get his name if you're interested.
You must log in to post.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus. Click here to visit TheMetropreneur.com.
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
