My dad owned a home construction company. He saw so many people who never used their spa tub, he would counsel his clients to not put them in. I lived in another state and bought a home with the spa tub in the primary bath. A few years later, I removed the tub and installed a luxury shower in its place. LOVE my shower!
I guess I’m showing my age. I grew up with laminate countertops, so you did not put hot pans on it, you did not cut on the surface of it. I have laminate countertops now and I use cutting boards or or just plain take care of it.
I have already done the first mistake, although I completely removed the mante, boarded the hole and plastered it over, and then I put a wall mural to make it a feature wall with my TV in the middle. It was not a real fireplace, as in it was just a cheapy mantel nailed to the wall with a hole and an electric fire, but no actually chimney or anything. So it would not add value as such as it and if it did, it would be minimal. I turned my box room into a walk in, although there was already a built in wardrobe as the previous people used it as a kids bedroom. I didn't do anything other than obviously not put a bed, and shoved my clothes in the wardrobe. I didn't renovate it or remove the built in wardrobe, as it's too much effort/work and I just had the room painted and refloored anyway.
The LG range I bought was nothing but trouble. 2 of the 4 burners never did work right, and the middle (griddle) burner could barely cook a grilled cheese or french toast. And then ... The oven glass blew out and disintegrated all over my kitchen! The repair on that took 2 months, by then I was disgusted, said NOPE, and bought a Whirlpool. I'm happy with that one so far.
re: garages - we toured a house that appeared to have a two car garage. It had been converted to a partially finished rec room that would have required quite a bit of work to turn it back into a garage. We passed.
I made the most expensive pool mistake. My youngest son has extreme psoriasis and I was told by one of his doctors that a pool with a salt system would greatly benefit my son. I installed the pool with the salt system, spa, solar heat, the works. My son was unable to use the pool because it severely irritated his skin and was extremely painful for him. He was about 12, now 31. The pool has very little use until my grandchildren came along. It’s used once or twice a week when it’s warm enough. We do live in Florida, so we’re able to have the pool open for the majority of the year. Expenses for the pool can be brutal when repairs are needed. The salt system needed to be replaced to continue as a saltwater pool, but it was almost $5000. I opted to go with the standard chlorine pool and haven’t regretted it. If I had it to do all over again, absolutely not. Too much money for very little use over a 20 year period.
Another design choice that I’ve heard doesn’t always stand the test of time is open shelving in the kitchen. It can be beautiful, but adds to the regular cleaning workload because over time the shelves and everything on it gets grimy unless cleaned regularly. Love the look…hate the added workload!
Our last house had laminate and we replaced it with a different color laminate. It was warmer when you leaned on it, and quieter when you set things down on it. I liked it.
I have 4 bedrooms house. I use one of my bedrooms as a walk-in closet. I bought a store closet system, a 4 way clothing rack, and kept the original closet. I did not remove any walls or changed the room in any way. It meets my needs and will be a bedroom again if and when I sell my house.
Had concrete countertops in an outdoor kitchen- I do NOT recommend. The sealant can flake off and just looks awful. Hairline cracks developed after a few years. Not a fan.
We saw a beautiful house that we wanted to buy, but it had a swimming pool, we didn’t buy it. A neighbor of mine had a swimming pool that was leaking and he broke up the sides and filled it in. What I think is worth it when you replace your roof go with something other than asphalt. We went with polymer slate, and the curb appeal is awesome
Re: brick, I've seen Erin & another HGTV host do the "German schmear" on bricks. I think it looked better than painting them (and easier to remove in future, I think). Re: concrete countertop, I've seen the guys on Bargain Block use that for one of their projects. I think they chose concrete for budget reasons. It was cheap & they DIY'd it. One can put a sealer then coat with epoxy paint to prevent water damage and stains, I think.
I agree with laminate counters or granite if you can afford it. As far as appliances i stick to whirlpool, LG or Frigidaire. Those brands will work fine and be easier to repair or replace. Those getted tubs and even the big soaking tubs people just want but in the end dont use much. We knew several people that bought double wide manufactured homes that had them in the master bathroom. They just became a place to keep plants or extra paper towels and toilet paper. I would rather spend that money and space on a nicer shower.
I don’t understand the fascination with expensive, fancy bathtubs in primary bathrooms. Do people really take that many baths? We have a jetted tub in ours. No one has taken a bath in it for at least 12 years. Last bath was my grandson when he was a toddler. I run the tub and jets a couple times a year and now it just is the place for the litter box to sit. The oval type bathtubs, no thanks. Seems like a hassle to clean behind.
When it comes down to it, it is all about what others wanna impress others with. Just be happy , Stop the one upping. People are putting way to much importance on material crap. Your feeding the retail beast cycle.
so many miss guided opinions in this vlog .... pool maintenance is nothing buy a robot rechargable cleaner it's a 3 minute job 3-4 times a week ... and as far a cheap to middle cost Ranges go ...1-2 years warranty spend double get 5-10 year warranty better build quality ... high end appliances are worth every penny just buy them on sale at the right time ... most of the things talked about make no sense high end bathrooms sell houses for top dollar not cheap shower bath combos she's advocating ... but there's a lot of truth in garage conversions and a lot of the other topics they r a waste of time and money ... but never be cheap with bathroom tiles and fixtures then you will have major regrets... same goes for kitchens if can't do reasonably high quality keep what U have
When we built our new home 4 years ago, we decided to install Subzero fridge columns, a 48” Viking gas range and electric wall french-door oven, Wolf warming drawer and 1500 cfm exhaust fan, and 2 Miele dishwashers. Yes, ours is an upper end build, but I disagree with your advice to choose mid to lower end appliances (your choices are, in my opinion, in the lower of the upper end, not “mid range”). I am a cook. I have had GE, Kitchenaid, Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, Thermador, Dacor, Frigidaire, and Jennair appliances. None could hold a candle to Subzero, Wolf, Viking or Miele. My last Miele dishwasher lasted 20 years. As for your comment about obsolescence, a gas stove never need become obsolete. It is a simple appliance. Automatic ignitions and sealed burners have been its greatest advances, and they are decades old. My Viking all-gas range has a no clock, timer, or computerized-anything. It is a beautiful piece of machinery fit for purpose. My fridge columns do not have ice makers. I can’t turn anything on from my phone. My advice is, forget the bells and whistles and buy the best, basic appliance you can find, preferably on sale. Buy 2 or more and get an even better deal.
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My dad owned a home construction company. He saw so many people who never used their spa tub, he would counsel his clients to not put them in. I lived in another state and bought a home with the spa tub in the primary bath. A few years later, I removed the tub and installed a luxury shower in its place. LOVE my shower!
I guess I’m showing my age. I grew up with laminate countertops, so you did not put hot pans on it, you did not cut on the surface of it. I have laminate countertops now and I use cutting boards or or just plain take care of it.
I have already done the first mistake, although I completely removed the mante, boarded the hole and plastered it over, and then I put a wall mural to make it a feature wall with my TV in the middle. It was not a real fireplace, as in it was just a cheapy mantel nailed to the wall with a hole and an electric fire, but no actually chimney or anything. So it would not add value as such as it and if it did, it would be minimal. I turned my box room into a walk in, although there was already a built in wardrobe as the previous people used it as a kids bedroom. I didn't do anything other than obviously not put a bed, and shoved my clothes in the wardrobe. I didn't renovate it or remove the built in wardrobe, as it's too much effort/work and I just had the room painted and refloored anyway.
The LG range I bought was nothing but trouble. 2 of the 4 burners never did work right, and the middle (griddle) burner could barely cook a grilled cheese or french toast. And then ... The oven glass blew out and disintegrated all over my kitchen! The repair on that took 2 months, by then I was disgusted, said NOPE, and bought a Whirlpool. I'm happy with that one so far.
re: garages - we toured a house that appeared to have a two car garage. It had been converted to a partially finished rec room that would have required quite a bit of work to turn it back into a garage. We passed.
I made the most expensive pool mistake.
My youngest son has extreme psoriasis and I was told by one of his doctors that a pool with a salt system would greatly benefit my son.
I installed the pool with the salt system, spa, solar heat, the works.
My son was unable to use the pool because it severely irritated his skin and was extremely painful for him. He was about 12, now 31.
The pool has very little use until my grandchildren came along. It’s used once or twice a week when it’s warm enough. We do live in Florida, so we’re able to have the pool open for the majority of the year.
Expenses for the pool can be brutal when repairs are needed. The salt system needed to be replaced to continue as a saltwater pool, but it was almost $5000. I opted to go with the standard chlorine pool and haven’t regretted it.
If I had it to do all over again, absolutely not. Too much money for very little use over a 20 year period.
Another design choice that I’ve heard doesn’t always stand the test of time is open shelving in the kitchen. It can be beautiful, but adds to the regular cleaning workload because over time the shelves and everything on it gets grimy unless cleaned regularly. Love the look…hate the added workload!
I have granite countertops, and if I didn't do that, I would do laminate, which I had for years and I really enjoyed.
I wanted granite or quartz countertops, but I could not afford it. So I got laminate countertops and I like them just fine.
Our last house had laminate and we replaced it with a different color laminate. It was warmer when you leaned on it, and quieter when you set things down on it. I liked it.
I have 4 bedrooms house. I use one of my bedrooms as a walk-in closet. I bought a store closet system, a 4 way clothing rack, and kept the original closet. I did not remove any walls or changed the room in any way. It meets my needs and will be a bedroom again if and when I sell my house.
Had concrete countertops in an outdoor kitchen- I do NOT recommend. The sealant can flake off and just looks awful. Hairline cracks developed after a few years. Not a fan.
My daughter did a fireplace brick wash, and it came out really beautiful
We saw a beautiful house that we wanted to buy, but it had a swimming pool, we didn’t buy it. A neighbor of mine had a swimming pool that was leaking and he broke up the sides and filled it in. What I think is worth it when you replace your roof go with something other than asphalt. We went with polymer slate, and the curb appeal is awesome
Re: brick, I've seen Erin & another HGTV host do the "German schmear" on bricks. I think it looked better than painting them (and easier to remove in future, I think).
Re: concrete countertop, I've seen the guys on Bargain Block use that for one of their projects. I think they chose concrete for budget reasons. It was cheap & they DIY'd it. One can put a sealer then coat with epoxy paint to prevent water damage and stains, I think.
Surprised by LG suggestion; not good ratings by appliance service people.
They don't make reliable mid grade 36inch ranges, at least that I have found in my area. I hoped for an LG, but no luck so am going with a SKS
My stone counter top is the shiny look and you can see the streaks. I would prefer a matter stone counter top.
We live in Canada so we really need a garage for car and other stuff 😂
I agree with laminate counters or granite if you can afford it. As far as appliances i stick to whirlpool, LG or Frigidaire. Those brands will work fine and be easier to repair or replace.
Those getted tubs and even the big soaking tubs people just want but in the end dont use much. We knew several people that bought double wide manufactured homes that had them in the master bathroom. They just became a place to keep plants or extra paper towels and toilet paper. I would rather spend that money and space on a nicer shower.
No to concrete. Yes to laminate.
Thanks for providing the insight! I agree concrete looks "cool" on some floors, but it's not a great place for countertops!
There are quartz countertops that look a lot like concrete, but are not porous. Not DIY, of course.
❤❤❤
I don’t understand the fascination with expensive, fancy bathtubs in primary bathrooms. Do people really take that many baths?
We have a jetted tub in ours. No one has taken a bath in it for at least 12 years. Last bath was my grandson when he was a toddler.
I run the tub and jets a couple times a year and now it just is the place for the litter box to sit.
The oval type bathtubs, no thanks. Seems like a hassle to clean behind.
Epsom salt soaks are a fav health hack for me…we use our tub often.
When it comes down to it, it is all about what others wanna impress others with. Just be happy , Stop the one upping. People are putting way to much importance on material crap. Your feeding the retail beast cycle.
Beauty and order in day to day life is God’s Way of Thinking….creativity is from The Creator.
so many miss guided opinions in this vlog .... pool maintenance is nothing buy a robot rechargable cleaner it's a 3 minute job 3-4 times a week ... and as far a cheap to middle cost Ranges go ...1-2 years warranty spend double get 5-10 year warranty better build quality ... high end appliances are worth every penny just buy them on sale at the right time ... most of the things talked about make no sense high end bathrooms sell houses for top dollar not cheap shower bath combos she's advocating ... but there's a lot of truth in garage conversions and a lot of the other topics they r a waste of time and money ... but never be cheap with bathroom tiles and fixtures then you will have major regrets... same goes for kitchens if can't do reasonably high quality keep what U have
you must have never owned a pool.
When we built our new home 4 years ago, we decided to install Subzero fridge columns, a 48” Viking gas range and electric wall french-door oven, Wolf warming drawer and 1500 cfm exhaust fan, and 2 Miele dishwashers. Yes, ours is an upper end build, but I disagree with your advice to choose mid to lower end appliances (your choices are, in my opinion, in the lower of the upper end, not “mid range”). I am a cook. I have had GE, Kitchenaid, Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, Thermador, Dacor, Frigidaire, and Jennair appliances. None could hold a candle to Subzero, Wolf, Viking or Miele. My last Miele dishwasher lasted 20 years. As for your comment about obsolescence, a gas stove never need become obsolete. It is a simple appliance. Automatic ignitions and sealed burners have been its greatest advances, and they are decades old. My Viking all-gas range has a no clock, timer, or computerized-anything. It is a beautiful piece of machinery fit for purpose. My fridge columns do not have ice makers. I can’t turn anything on from my phone. My advice is, forget the bells and whistles and buy the best, basic appliance you can find, preferably on sale. Buy 2 or more and get an even better deal.