Everybody appreciates beauty. Beauty and function still are a very part of American life. Is it better to finish a project or spread the wealth?
Renovation in 2012.
Money is tight. Remodeling and renovation is changing but it has not stopped. Essential things like, insulation, windows and doors are of primary importance. Kitchens and baths are the most lived in rooms of a home and need to function properly. Mostly construction is driven by needs and some wants.
Deciding how and where to spend your renovation dollars can be challenging. My advice to you would be to choose a project like a kitchen and begin and finish that project before you look at the next one. Why? It is better to have a gorgeous, functional, finished room that is obvious to anyone that sees it, than multitudes of projects that are started and do not make a strong statement in your home. You could take $40,000.00 and create a gorgeous kitchen to die for, or you could paint the whole house, add a closet organizer, and fix a shower, add some crown molding to the bedroom, and have to explain where the money went.
It is more important to finish something before you start something new. Real estate agents could represent a home much easier that has a couple of awesome features, compared to an average but otherwise functional home. People are still looking for the WOW factor and no one is going to go WOW over something average and unremarkable.
Find a contractor that is artistic and creative and not limited in their capabilities. Contractors that are sound in construction methods as well as creative are hard to find. Contractors that can draw blueprints, and can illustrate renderings, would be a good place to start. Making awesome living spaces come from creativity, and vision, and do not necessarily have to be costly. Lighting is a big factor in enhancing any room and often is totally forgotten.
We may not be able to afford everything but we can still afford something. Decide which project you are excited about and make it awesome and you and everyone else that sees it will love it for years. Beauty and function are still a major part of the American way of life.
