tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post3435467137325514362..comments2024-03-22T05:18:29.555-04:00Comments on Romance Bandits: Cabinet EnvyLoucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217492654108300014noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-5743480075560397662011-05-21T22:06:11.640-04:002011-05-21T22:06:11.640-04:00Thanks for all the good vibes...I hope for a quick...Thanks for all the good vibes...I hope for a quick answer too...fingers crossed :0)<br />As for a discount...Hubby will still be working for the same company so if the new house's kitchen sucks...I'm so not waiting to fixed it!!! Cause I've lived with this one for far to long....Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03260077997044896776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-25321930376623842462011-05-21T22:00:46.672-04:002011-05-21T22:00:46.672-04:00Beth, we did exactly the same thing. When our son ...Beth, we did exactly the same thing. When our son had been gone a couple of years, we repainted (and put down Pergo) in his old room for our older daughter, then did the same for our younger daughter in the girls' old room. We never quite got around to painting OUR bedroom, which badly needs it! I wanted to rip out the carpet and put in Pergo in the other 4 rooms, but now it's kind of a moot point. We won't be able to sell the house unless we at least change the carpet, though!!Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-12615913294924636952011-05-21T21:29:44.894-04:002011-05-21T21:29:44.894-04:00Caren, we're currently in the middle of painti...Caren, we're currently in the middle of painting our son's old room for our older daughter. We have the base coat done but still need to put in stripes on one wall. Next is the other daughter's room and hopefully our bedroom by the end of the summer.<br /><br />So not so much remodeling as redecorating a bit *g* But I dream of the day I can rip up the only carpet in the house and put down hardwood floors in the living room!Beth Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01204356784898045866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-47778692548887486112011-05-21T20:28:21.614-04:002011-05-21T20:28:21.614-04:00Louisa, we certainly have enough rocks to start a ...Louisa, we certainly have enough rocks to start a rock garden! My husband went through a Rock Hound stage and he dragged Heaven knows how many hundreds of rocks (all sizes) home with him. We have used some around the walkways to the kitchen door and others in the pool area, but we still have tons!<br /><br />They are lovely and interesting-looking, with crystals and gorgeous colors and bands and whatnot, but most of them are piled on the side of my garage, looking junky and gathering pinestraw and leaves. *sigh* I've tried to get him to do something artistic with them, but that hasn't happened yet (and probably won't). <br /><br />I may end up putting them out at the Moving Sale and selling them for 25 cents a box! Need any rocks for your yard? :)Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-6084563832666338692011-05-21T20:19:49.194-04:002011-05-21T20:19:49.194-04:00Suzanne, my mother had the same galley kitchen dil...Suzanne, my mother had the same galley kitchen dilemma. What she ended up doing was taking out the stacked ovens and separate rangetop. She put cabinets in where the double ovens were and took out the cabinets under the old rangetop and the exhaust fan. She moved the refrigerator where the rangetop had been and put a full-size oven where the fridge had been, plus had my brother install an exhaust fan that vented OUTSIDE (as exhaust fans should!). <br /><br />She gave her enormous china cabinet to my brother and SIL and moved the kitchen table to the end wall where it had been, only more in the bottom of the L. She had my brother install a cabinet with a nice granite top and storage cabinet above on the bottom wall of the L closer to the long wall. She kept the other cabinets and simply painted them and changed the pulls. She put in granite counters and a deeper double sink. She also put in an island with a granite top that's on wheels, so she can move it to clean or if she needs to reconfigure the space for some reason. It all worked out really well and made for a much more usable space. <br /><br />I hope you have the time, energy and resources to redo the kitchen and both bathrooms one of these days! I'll expect to see before and after pictures, naturally. :)Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-19560692027200708312011-05-21T20:12:29.949-04:002011-05-21T20:12:29.949-04:00Anna, I feel your pain on the fencing. We had to p...Anna, I feel your pain on the fencing. We had to put a fence with a locked gate around our pool. We ordered really nice fencing online, then my husband and my sister's husband dug postholes and set the fence up. They did a great job and it looks fabulous. So, we have a nice fence going for us, anyway. I hope yours is relatively painless!<br /><br />Oh, the Rapture didn't want me either. We just ate pizza and segued right to reading and watching 'Moulin Rouge'. I'm sure the people who were warning us all are quite disappointed.Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-48500689569264297682011-05-21T20:09:36.208-04:002011-05-21T20:09:36.208-04:00Christine, I can't imagine how different your ...Christine, I can't imagine how different your house will look. It will be like a totally new house, just like Pat's son and DIL! Grins on the bilious pink in your temporary abode, too. It must have been someone's favorite happy color or something. There is no other explanation, unless pink paint was on sale really cheap. :)<br /><br />When we're readying to sell, I don't plan to replace any appliances or anything in the kitchen - hey, they all work fine - but we will HAVE to replace the flooring. Something inexpensive but new. Really, we couldn't unload it as-is now. There are TONS of houses for sale, because the economy is still so bad and people are trying to get out from under their mortgages. We'll have to spiff it up.<br /><br />The good news is, the house is worth more than twice what we bought it for simply because of the location, size and size of the lot. "Good enough" will be the mantra of the renovations! Whenever those start...Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-38834240672717369802011-05-21T20:04:03.179-04:002011-05-21T20:04:03.179-04:00Nancy, I know just what you mean! I sometimes hesi...Nancy, I know just what you mean! I sometimes hesitate about repainting rooms when I know I can't change the carpet (or whatever else needs done). The new often makes the old look older. Happily, I will be able to get shed of some furniture and things when we sell the house. If we play our cards right, we can hopefully get new stuff in the house we buy! :) I feel you on the tuition payments, as well. We will be much better off in 5 years!Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-52826865739418960612011-05-21T19:29:36.396-04:002011-05-21T19:29:36.396-04:00Oh Landra, don't speak Spanish to the GR. He L...Oh Landra, don't speak Spanish to the GR. He LOVES foreign languages. He can pretend not to hear you tell him "NO!" in several languages!<br /><br />Ah, Caren, I understand your case of cabinet envy. My trailer was built in 1984 !! I ripped out all of the shag carpet years ago and actually stained the wooden floors beneath the beaten down ancient carpet. What I would really love to do is renovate this whole tenement on wheels into a lovely little English style cottage. <br /><br />I own the five acres on which I live and I only manage to keep the acre around the house tamed. The rest of the property has me surrounded, but its rather nice as I love the woods.... so long as they don't try to creep into the house! <br /><br />For your large yard you might want to try turning it into a rock garden. I am working on mine a little bit at the time and eventually I hope to have this entire acre free of a lawn to mow!Louisa Cornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12971924594129471055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-29026006390465184292011-05-21T18:35:21.492-04:002011-05-21T18:35:21.492-04:00Hey Caren!
OOOOOOOOOOOOh what I love to do to my ...Hey Caren!<br /><br />OOOOOOOOOOOOh what I love to do to my house. I love where my house is situated. I love the neighborhood. I love my pool. I love my office and my dining room and guest bedroom, all of which I did about 3 years ago. <br /><br />What I hate?<br /><br />The galley kitchen circa 1970 and both bathrooms!!<br /><br />Sigh. Would need a boatload of money to actually fix it and update it. IF I wanted to sell it, I couldn't do it without remodeling all 3. IF I remodel all 3, no way in hell am I selling it!!Suzanne Ferrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05761579189372602292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-26593479491752030372011-05-21T18:31:56.642-04:002011-05-21T18:31:56.642-04:00Caren, my first big job is replacing the fence aro...Caren, my first big job is replacing the fence around the back garden. I've got a pool and it's a statutory requirement. Anything more cosmetic will just have to wait. <br /><br />Yup, clearly the Rapture didn't want me!Anna Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06695579361323275316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-60012984739667360532011-05-21T18:12:22.394-04:002011-05-21T18:12:22.394-04:00Hi Caren! What a fun post! Oh, I share your envy:)...Hi Caren! What a fun post! Oh, I share your envy:) I always liked my kitchen with it's Tasmanian oak trim and country-style look until some kind soul pointed out that it was very outdated. Then a cupboard door got chipped, a crack in the surface of a bench started driving me crazy. The oven seemed too small for dinner parties (yes, I have so many of those!) and so on.<br /><br />I've been envying steamer ovens and coffee machines (though I'll get neither in the new kitchen) We're renovating our house now and moving the kitchen to a different location so it's entirely gutted at the moment. <br /><br />The kitchen I have in our temporary abode is a bilious shade of pink. Pink! For a kitchen! I just do my best to ignore it.<br /><br />They do say the only things worth doing any work on when you sell are the kitchen and bathroom, don't they? But it would break my heart to put in a new kitchen, only to sell the place! If you leave it as is, at least the new owner can do it up the way they want.<br /><br />Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide. I hope you end up with a house you love.Christine Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14260589566405262159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-66753258662647762532011-05-21T17:30:45.753-04:002011-05-21T17:30:45.753-04:00Landra, congrats on the bird!
Caren, we have an o...Landra, congrats on the bird!<br /><br />Caren, we have an older house and updated much of it during the first years of our marriage. However, some of those updates were not done well (we had no money) and need to be re-done.<br /><br />When we see how our upcoming tuition payments shake out, we may be able to do some of that. We hope.<br /><br />At the very least, we can paint and get new drapes. That's a mixed blessing, though, seeing as how one upgrade in a room makes the rest of the room look kind of sad. *sigh*Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13705259501965011703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-37702156818249785022011-05-21T17:02:59.008-04:002011-05-21T17:02:59.008-04:00Jeanne M, those are wise words! I figure we'll...Jeanne M, those are wise words! I figure we'll go with some updates that are more attractive than what we have and less costly than what is in all the new construction. <br /><br />I agree with you on the "house with good bones" thing, too. When we bought this house, we knew it needed work and updates (Lordy did it need updates!), but it was in a beautiful neighborhood with mature landscaping and the house was built before the "booms" around here, where they were throwing up houses practically overnight.<br /><br />We're also in a very quiet area, just outside Cary, which is always on those "best places to live" lists and has the taxes to prove it. So, we just pay county taxes but have the proximity and the good schools. It really is a great area - just too much yard! Some young, energetic people (like we were 18 years ago) need to buy it. :)Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-86194902912617120302011-05-21T16:48:21.553-04:002011-05-21T16:48:21.553-04:00Karen -
I think that all are friends have remodel...Karen -<br /><br />I think that all are friends have remodeled but they also took out mortgages to do so. Fortunately with economy we didn't make that mistake and the mortgage was paid off in 1999. We planned to save but since we got the boys thru college with no student loans the one thing we lacked was any savings. Remodeling got put off indefinately when th economy hit bottom so yes we still have harvest gold fomica countertops!<br /><br />Do we envy our friends with marble countertops and refrigerators that don't have masking tape holding the trays on the door? Not in the least! My husband and I have both had our hours at work cut back but we live in the state with the 4th highest unemployment in the country and don't have a mortgage to pay. We'd love tgo move to South Carolina to be near our grandchildren but since we can't even think of selling right now with the real estate market here we had a family vacation in Myrtle Beach that we were able to pay for with cash and had a great week together.<br /><br />When we get ready to sell we are planning on only doing the bare minimum needed so we can keep the selling price reasonable. Remember to keep in mind what the economy is doing when remodeling and how soon you want to sell. Think of what benefits your neighborhood has for a young family that would rather pay less and put in the sweat equity to live there and be able to buy a house with great "bones" that is in a terrific neighborhood (in our case we are a block from a lake with a private beach and 2 miles from a great ocean beach) with great schools)and get that home at a price they can afford.<br /><br />We plan on moving to SC where houses and the cost of living is less and since we built the house and my husband moved us in only July 4th, 1974 (the day after my younger son was born) we aren't going to "loss" money - just make less than we would have a few years ago. <br /><br />Good luck which withever choice you decide. Me, I'd rather put the money we don't spend into the next house we buy!Jeanne Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05111451097520221555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-16552425434775990082011-05-21T16:47:55.222-04:002011-05-21T16:47:55.222-04:00Anna, you are still there! Does that mean that the...Anna, you are still there! Does that mean that the Rapture didn't actually happen or that you were Left Behind? :) <br /><br />Too true about the 20-year mark. Our house was 14 years old when we bought it and it needed quite a bit of work in the first ten years we were here. It's been 18 years now, so it's time for a major overhaul!Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-73653234298327822332011-05-21T16:45:18.375-04:002011-05-21T16:45:18.375-04:00Hey, Landra! Have you had the rooster before? Now ...Hey, Landra! Have you had the rooster before? Now there's someone who needs remodelling! Not that he'll sit still long enough for you to work on him!<br /><br />Caren, isn't it ironic that we fix up our houses just before we sell them and never get to enjoy living in a house that's right? Although having said that, my place is just over 20 years old and a lot of stuff just seems to be ready to be fixed or replaced. Definitely needs a paint! Sigh.Anna Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06695579361323275316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-66522092660364395752011-05-21T16:41:40.292-04:002011-05-21T16:41:40.292-04:00Trish, I share your dream of a screened-in porch! ...Trish, I share your dream of a screened-in porch! I'm going to save that dream, though, for the smaller home with no yard to speak of. :)<br /><br />Yes, updated fixtures are a lovely change. We replaced the toilet in our downstairs bath and it is still like a miracle! I swear, we're all in love with that toilet, as odd as that sounds. <br /><br />I have no desire, though for marble or granite counters. Everyone I know who has them (including my mother) curses them daily. Whenever you drop something, it shatters. Plus the surface is much more porous than you'd think. Also, they are so heavy that you often need to shore up the supports under your house to handle the weight. I think I'll just go with a nice Corian! :)Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-59363271975261976682011-05-21T16:37:55.692-04:002011-05-21T16:37:55.692-04:00Pat, too funny that it all started with a leaky pi...Pat, too funny that it all started with a leaky pipe. That's generally the way, though. I'm so glad they're getting to the end. It really IS like a new house now, isn't it? <br /><br />I'm sorely afraid that once we have new flooring and counters and sinks and whatnot, we'll be tempted to stay. <br /><br />Nah. The swimming pool is the straw that's breaking this camel's back. The house must go, no matter how lovely it becomes! :)Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-21680307651424357172011-05-21T16:35:43.769-04:002011-05-21T16:35:43.769-04:00Kate, it was SO GREAT to see you! I'm still in...Kate, it was SO GREAT to see you! I'm still in shock that you, Hannah and Catherine were here in NC - like the best sort of present! <br /><br />I'm dead jealous of your kitchen remodel. My co-worker had his kitchen revamped this spring and I had to listen to two months of excruciating detail about backsplashes and sinks and countertops and flooring. I smiled and made sympathetic noises, while my pea-green eyes (like Scarlett's!) burned holes in him. If I had any money, I would totally spend it on new floors and work from there. <br /><br />Hurray on the new kitchen and the new window. There is nothing like a new window to open up a room! <br /><br />Now get back in that cave so we'll have more Kate Carlisle books to read. *snaps whip*Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-37509670802450762112011-05-21T16:32:36.450-04:002011-05-21T16:32:36.450-04:00The rooms I'd really like to re-do in our hous...The rooms I'd really like to re-do in our house are the baths. They could really use some updating. Would like to do the kitchen too and get some marble countertops and a metal sink. We have white sinks that are part of the countertops, and they are so easily scratched and scuffed. I think the think I want most though is a screened-in back porch where I can sit outside without being eaten alive by mosquitoes or dive bombed by wasps.Trish Milburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812010789617982102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-500799929908313782011-05-21T16:30:19.646-04:002011-05-21T16:30:19.646-04:00Jo, I think Killz is the answer for all highly-pig...Jo, I think Killz is the answer for all highly-pigmented paints. A couple of coats of white Killz will cover anything. When we were painting the fake wood paneling in our den (it was very 70s!!), we had to sand it with the belt sander first, then apply 2 or 3 coats of Killz. It covered both the color and made the surface into one that would accept paint. I'm so glad we only had to do that once!Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-3650096987197203232011-05-21T16:28:35.559-04:002011-05-21T16:28:35.559-04:00Jo, Home Depot is a dangerous place. You start thi...Jo, Home Depot is a dangerous place. You start thinking about all the things you <i>could</i> do and, before you know it, there's $300 worth of stuff in your cart that you'll haul home and glare at for months until finally, in a fit of pique, you begin The Project. I try to avoid all home improvement centers! :)Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-21509695262062089772011-05-21T16:26:30.515-04:002011-05-21T16:26:30.515-04:00Jo, are you addicted to your Kindle, too? The dang...Jo, are you addicted to your Kindle, too? The dangerous thing is, when I finish a book, I can get the sequel or next book almost instantly and just keep reading! I was a bit shocked to see how many books I had purchased since I got it two weeks ago...Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-38085977569835787532011-05-21T16:24:45.212-04:002011-05-21T16:24:45.212-04:00Jo, I think travel solves many of these pesky &quo...Jo, I think travel solves many of these pesky "Should I clean the garage/attic/pool house?" issues for us. <br /><br />Too funny that you still have the detritus of all 7 kids hanging around. My mother made noises about getting rid of our stuff that's still in her attic years ago when she was getting her house ready to sell. Well, she did such a lovely job getting it ready to sell, she decided to keep it. So my stuff is still in her attic. I have no idea what's there, either! I hope it's fun stuff from my childhood...Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.com