Opening up your kitchen

This is like that crazy kitchen on Seinfeld, where it got so awkward leaning over and talking under the cabinets that they stopped hanging out at Jerry's. Taking out the middle suspended cabinets really opened up the space between the kitchen and dinning room. This made the kitchen less awkward and better for entertaining.

Kitchens have gotten a lot bigger in the last few years. That means for the older houses something relatively dramatic has to be done to open up the space. This can sometimes be done without tearing out and redoing a lot of cabinets, however, this is a great time to rearrange and do new cabinets. Don't let this intimidate you, cabinets really don't have to be that expensive. I'm not talking about those cheap Home Depot cabinets with the doors that never seem to sit straight, you can get solid alder or maple cabinets installed for about the same price. Also, you'd be amazed at what $.20 tile for a backsplash and under cabinet lights do.

The Vances:

The Wards:

Trim; So Underrated

One of the biggest and most noticeable differences between a track/starter home and a custom home are their trims and moldings. I find this is the last thing homeowners want to upgrade. I don't blame them since many builders charge a lot for this upgrade. Many homeowners end up repainting with colors, faux textures, and glazing to upgrade their home. While all these do wonders to a house finished in the standard builder's color (beige) they look tons better next to more dramatic moldings.

Before: Living Room/Dinning Room

After:

Before: Baby's Room


After: