I was a little frustrated with our home remodeling project today. Mostly because I was watching the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway special. What a beautiful home, I couldn’t imagine living there. I wouldn’t mind winning it though and will be entering to win daily! So, I’m not jealous of that home.
It is just that remodeling an entire home is a huge undertaking, especially when you do it yourself (even with the help of my awesome in-laws) and when you don’t have unlimited funds and time to remodel it.
Sometimes a girl just has to whine a little, it’s not that I am ungrateful for my home because I am. It’s not that I feel entitled to a beautiful, flawless home like the HGTV Dream Home but nobody really is. I know that I should be thankful for what I have and I am. Still, I feel frustrated with home remodeling today.
What do you think about my floor plan?
After watching this HGTV special part way through, I began to question our floor plan. It has not changed since I posted it in my review of the Chief Architect Software review. I am just second guessing our choice to have the foyer open up into the dining room instead of the living room. Plus, the best view to backyard is in what will be the kitchen and dining room, not the living room. This is the best selling feature of the house – the view. Should the best view be from the kitchen or living room?
Plus, there is no real back door, just two side doors, which will be located in the kitchen and living room. So, now I am complaining about the aspects of the house that I dislike or don’t know what to do with it. What I need is an architect to come in and give us direction.
My husband went right to work…
So, my husband went right to work, not on a home remodeling project. He decided to go upstairs, get out our decorating items out of storage. He hung up mirrors, our wedding needle point print that my mother-in-law made, photos, and a few other decorative items in the upstairs hallway and a few in our bedroom. We’ve been waiting to do this until the house is done so we would know what fits best in each room. Our kids bedrooms are remodeled, so their rooms are decorated but that’s about it for the house until tonight. I’m so glad that he went ahead and hung these items. It really made the upstairs feel like “home” and not so much just a house.Thanks, Matt! Funny how he knows how to make me happy even if he won’t argue with me about our floor plan. lol
So, now that the holidays are over, we will get back into home remodeling mode. I’m sure I’ll feel better about our progress once we start tackling a new project. Hopefully I’ll find out this week if I won the Pillsbury Crescent Cook contest so we can put that prize money toward the kitchen remodel. Keeping my fingers crossed. 🙂
Are you remodeling your home?
How do you deal with down days when it seems like nothing is getting done and it will never be finished?
I love the floor plan, and how open it is. And yes that HGTV home is amazing!!!
There sure is a difference between a house and a home-enjoy your new HOME 🙂
Oh, wow…what a house! Eventually we hope to build a house…it sounds like fun…to pick out everything, but I think it will be very stressful as well! Ahhhhh!!!
I really feel for u because remodeling is so time consuming, frustrating & u feel so out of sorts for so long! But hang in there because it’ll be worth it in the end!
Wow! I can’t imagine taking this on. How is it coming?? My husband and I have discussed doing a small remodel of our home. Only because we can’t sell in the current market, and we’re not sure that we don’t want a third baby. But we’re out of room!! So very frustrating. When we bought, we only planned on being here a couple of years and then moving on. But the way things are, we may be stuck in this little house forever!
We have been slowly remodeling our century old home and it does get frustrating at times. It is hard to work all day and then work on the house and still have time for one another. I think you guys are doing a wonderful job. It will be a place you can be proud of.
Hang in there Cindy, the finished project is worth the wait and hard work.
I agree with you Pam, I can’t keep things the same either. I try to get variety by moving around furniture in a room, been doing this since I was a kid! If the furniture moving isn’t enough, then a fresh coat of paint can really change the entire look and feel of a room with little expense or time. Unfortunately, I am not at that point. I feel like I’m still at the beginning point of our huge total home remodel project although we have come a long way in the past 10 months. It can be frustrating at times but I need to look at the big picture, not just with the house progress but also the big picture of life.
My father remodeled houses for extra money when “flipping” houses was not heard of. He taught me many skills. My homes were always bought from HUD and I fixed those up. Now my daughters are learning how to lay floors, repair drywall, all sorts of plumbing, you name it, they are learning. Like you my funds were always limited, it was just one room at a time.
My homes were never finished because after a few years, I would want to change it again. But that is the enjoyment I always received from remodeling.
MY BIGGEST ISSUE IS CLEANING. USUALLY I’M CONTENT FOR QUITE A WHILE WHEN I FIRST BUY A HOUSE. IF I EVER REMODEL MYSELF, IT’S BECAUSE SOMETHING IS FALLING APART & NEEDS IT. OTHERWISE A FRESH PAINT JOB HERE & THERE IS TOO DIFFICULT MOVING THE FURNITURE AROUND. IF I HAD SOMEONE I COULD AFFORD TO DO IT, I WOULD kytah00@yahoo.com
ps I WANT TO WIN THE HGTV DREAM HOME EVERY TIME, JUST HAVEN’T HAD ANY LUCK
Thanks Bhav. You are right, people do hang out in the kitchen more than anywhere else, especially for parties. You said exactly what my husband said. It’s hard to know what is the “right” thing to do when you’ve never done anything like this before! I’m so thankful for my husband’s hard work and my father-in-law. If it wasn’t for my father-in-law, Bernie Orley, we wouldn’t be able to remodel our home. He gives us a LOT of direction and a LOT of help!
I think most people hang out in the kitchen a lot more…it is the heart of the home. I personally would love the view from the kitchen I think.
I am amazed that you are doing this on your own! Best of luck!!
It’s hard enough just to keep a hope clean and tidy,,,I can’t imagine going through a remodel. hang in there.
Hi April, people do make money, even in today’s economy flipping houses. You just need to be sure it is a location that is selling well! We fixed up our first house like we are this one and sold it for double what we paid. It’s a lot of work but wroth it to get ahead. We don’t plan to flip this house, but settle down here. It was just such a great deal in the location we wanted right in the middle of the national park, so we couldn’t pass it up. I’m posting more on our kids bathroom project today, stay tuned. 🙂 I’ll also let you know if I win the Pillsbury contest, keeping my fingers and toes crossed! 🙂
What a project!
I say congrats on jumping in with both feet. My husband and I have actually been discussing getting into the business of flipping houses. I love the interior design aspect and he loves the handy work. It’s something we’ve wanted to do for so long!
I’m now following your blog. Can’t wait to see how it all turns out.
Good luck on winning the Pillsbury contest! Fingers crossed for you.
As many horror stories as there are out there, there are probably even more stories of satisfaction of creating a space that is truly your own by remodeling yourself. It has its ups and downs for sure!
I have never remodeled a home but have heard horror stories.
Thank you, Pamela. Sometimes it just gets to be too much and it just feels better to whine about it. lol You are right, it is very hard to live in a home during remodeling!
You’re allowed to whine!! We’ve never done anything near as massive as you’re undertaking, but I know it’s hard to live in a home in the midst of remodeling.