In the new economy, it’s all about choosing home improvements with the best return on investment.
Upgrading a leaky roof and old single-pane windows is money well spent and will obviously pay off, however, cosmetic upgrades can pay off as well.
Crown Molding
Crown molding absolutely puts on the best show for the money! Crown molding not only looks very high end, crown molding will showcase interesting paint colors, similar to how art is enhanced by the frame.
If budget allows, replacing outdated casing and baseboard is definitely a worth while investment.
Add Color
By far, the best decorating bargain is fresh paint! For the color phobic, greens, taupes, or mochas, are safe palettes. One of my favorite light mocha colors is Benjamin Moore Sierra Hills 1053.
Neutrals have their place but if the entire house is painted in neutrals, it becomes more of a challenge to get an updated look because you have to make up for the lack of color somewhere else like upholstery which is more costly.
For the brave, red dining rooms are still a hot trend, or try color blocking one wall in a deep or bold color such as aubergine or turquoise.
For the color extravert, consider a slightly quieter version of Pantone's color of the year Tangerine Tango for a Mod dining room.
Refacing an outdated Fireplace
Even if a home has been updated with a new kitchen, baths, doors and windows, if the fireplace isn’t updated the home will scream the era it was built. Refacing a fireplace may sound like a big deal, but in many cases it can be pretty straight forward with the help of a good tile setter.
There are a couple of ways to approach refacing a fireplace.
One option would be to remove all the existing facade material, (leaving the firebox masonry intact.) This process can be messy.
As an alternative to save a little money, and a lot of dusting time, if the existing material is fairly flat, a limestone or marble can be floated right over the top.
The hottest trend today is practicality. Homeowners want to be assured that their money is well spent yet they still want certain luxuries, such as pro chef quality appliances and custom built-in TV cabinets.
The days of colored whirlpool tub mood lights are no longer top on the consumer's home improvement wish lists.
