How to Remodel your Home Successfully

The interior décor of a kitchen can easily become outdated over time. The flooring, walls, paint and more may show the true age of the home, and this can affect the overall style in your home. Remodeling your kitchen can make a huge difference to the feel of your home. However, you may simply not know how to get started with such a big project.

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Develop a Plan

To create a beautifully remodeled space, it is important to fully plan out your remodeling project. This will include carefully choosing all of the materials and supplies that will be used in your project. You can most easily develop a plan by visiting several home improvement stores and touring showrooms. Take note of which styles you like, what their estimated cost is and how significant the installation process is. Then, sit down and pull your thoughts together into a plan, noting the cost, the design elements and the installation processes involved. This step will help you to determine what your finished project may look like as well as what the total project may cost. If you believe your project is too costly, you can simply revise your plan using different materials to save money.

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Fund Your Project

Some people will have the funds necessary to renovate their kitchen on hand in a savings account and ready to use immediately. Others, however, will need to try getting a renovation loan to cover the expenses for the meantime. This may be a home equity loan or line of credit, or it may be an unsecured personal loan or a new credit card account. Consider choosing an option that will provide you with the funds necessary to complete your project according to the plan you have developed while still yielding affordable payments that you can easily manage with your budget. 

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Seek Assistance When Needed

With the funds necessary to pay for your kitchen renovation, you can then get started with your project.  There are many aspects of a kitchen renovation project that a skilled homeowner with a do-it-yourself mentality can accomplish. However, there are certain stages of a project that may need to be outsourced. For example, if you are relocating pipes, electricity outlets and more, you may consider using the services of a licensed plumber or electrician. It is far better to have these important tasks completed correctly the first time than to contend with issues like leaky pipes, faulty wiring and more later on. 

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The fact is that renovating your kitchen is a major project, and it can be a costly project too. However, by following these steps, you can most easily install the kitchen of your dreams into your home in an affordable way.

Dream House: Outdoors

Trey and I can't wait to be homeowners just to have a backyard for our kids to play in and to do some yard work.  I would also love to have a pretty patio or porch to relax on.  Any of these would do :)

Pottery Barn via A Life's Design

via Ditte Isager Photo

Also, my future house has to have a pretty flag like this one:

via Bloom

via life is a sweet dream

And I wouldn't mind a place to set up a movie outside too:

via Sweet Home Style

What are your must-haves for backyards, porches, and patios?

My Dream House: Theater/Game Room

If Trey knew I had some ideas of what I would like this room to look like he would be pretty annoyed.  We have a deal that I get to decorate the entire house how I like, but he gets full reign on the game room :)  I thought it was a pretty good idea...until he started talking about hanging sports blankets on the walls.  Lucky for me he never notices when I add a picture here, a rug there, so I think I might get away with a little decorating in the game room...and lucky for me he doesn't read my blog :)

How awesome is this pool table?  Totally something I would love but Trey would hate :)

I think he would go for darker colors like these following pictures:

 point click home

I would much rather see his jerseys in nice frames like this than on him (especially when he insists on wearing them on the airplane to "represent" his team :)

I also love how this football picture is incorporated into the room and printed on canvas rather than a piece of paper tacked to the wall:

Cool way to do a projector screen:

Trey would love to have his theater room in the basement.  If so, I would love to have stairs with storage like these:

So, what so you think?  Can I get away with adding some of these feminine touches to a man cave???

Dream House: Boys Room

My poor boys (if I have any) are going to have a boring room if I get my way. 

  Lonny Magazine

I am a HUGE fan of old/cool-looking maps displayed in boys rooms.  Here are all sorts of ways they look AWESOME:

I also like nautical and patriotic themes for boys rooms.

Pottery Barn

Katie Ridder

 Elle Decor

Elle Decor

One last thing: there HAS to be an airplane like this one hanging from the ceiling :)

 Elle Decor


How cool is that?!

Dream House: Girls Room

I am not sure why I don't just decorate Allie's room this way, since I already know what I like...I guess when you are on a strict budget you take whatever you can get :)  Maybe I will do some redecorating in the next place we live.

I love all the accessories in this image.  Sometimes I think the small things really make a room.

 via Bloomingville

I am a huge fan of thick stripes for the kids rooms, as you can see from my last post.  I also love the color combo in these images:

 via Oliveaux

 I am so mad that I can't remember where I found this gorgeous baby's room, but I love everything in it.

 I love simple photography as artwork, and I plan on using photos of my kids in their rooms.

And, of course, for Allie, horses.

 Lonny Magazine

I have seen this little girl's room in a number of places and I love it:

 via Just Beachy

I am also a huge fan of bunk beds and I loved these:

So, what do you love for a girl's room?

Dream House: Kitchen

My dream kitchen is a little bit hazy right now...I am not much of a cook (AT ALL) and so I don't have any strong opinions on appliances and layout.  I like little nooks with a bench seat like in these pictures:

via www.aroomsomewhere.net

I love the stone on the walls of this kitchen and the way it ties in the oven area.  Not really sure where the sink is in this kitchen...that could be a problem.

This is the kind of island I want.  I also love the tall ceilings and windows:

I love thick, rustic tables like this next one:

I love the big island with the sink in this one:

Arden Stephenson Designer

I have a husband that hates white/cream cabinetry so that is something we are going to have to compromise on.  I was thinking something like this next image where the bottom cabinets are dark and top are light.  I also like kitchens with the island being a different color cabinetry than the rest of the kitchen.

via Bloom

Vinewood Kitchen

LOVE the windows in this kitchen.  Also that table, although it is a little bit too big...

via Inspired Design & Charolette Romance

via mydreamplace

via House and Home Canada

I love photo collages on the shelf like the image below.  I also love white chair covers around the dining table:

Yoldanda Sanchez Designer

There are generally Macys coupons available for all kinds of dining room sets.

Victoria Pearson Photography

I definitely would love my appliances to either be stainless steel or look like the cabinetry in my kitchen (the more expensive option.)  So, those of you who ARE cooks; what things does your dream kitchen HAVE to have?