More than a coat of paint

By Gale

If you are contemplating buying your first home, with all the enthusiasm and nervousness that comes with that decision, then you can better appreciate the challenges of my friends who are upgrading from a tiny condo to their first “real” house.  The price was right, the neighborhood older and established with good schools nearby - perfect for a couple expecting their first child.

When they fell in love with the house, they did not clearly see all of its flaws.  It was indeed a surprise to discover the cabinet doors that would not close, the chipped kitchen sink and the badly worn countertop.  They relegated the other rooms to a “coat of paint change”, while the kitchen needed real help.

I gave them advice about how to fix the non-closing doors without too much effort and focused their attention on the sink and countertop. The dreams of granite vanished when they priced it out. We discussed how to get the best deal for their tiny budget. And the answer is a new high definition laminate countertop and an integral sink. Both are meant for hard wear and tear, a factor of life with a small child and even busier schedules.

A visit from the countertop fabricator gave them the confidence that this could be done in a short time, while they were handling the painted facelift in another room. Within two weeks, they have a new kitchen without the agony of tearing everything out. The countertop gives them a whole new look and there is a little leftover to buy those bar stools that they saw on sale.

The moral of this story is to shop wisely, understand what your budget will give you, and then find the best person to help you accomplish this change.

Remodeling when time's not on your side

By Gale

Meet my dear friends, The Procrastinators (most of us know who they are and sometimes we are all just like them). They are filled with good intentions and great plans, but they never seem to find the time to actually move ahead with their objectives. As a consequence, things look a little worn out at their home. The cabinet doors do not shut; some of the hardware is non-functional, two burners of the cooktop stopped working some time ago. Let’s not even talk about the countertop, which looks like it has been through a war and then some.

Their biggest problem is simply finding time to get these projects done. They want to fix up the kitchen, for example, but are afraid that any disruption will mean they cannot continue to use the room. We had a heart-to-heart talk recently, and I point out that if they focus on the parts of the kitchen that need to be upgraded (or replaced altogether), then the actual process of remodeling will move along smoothly.

If you are simply replacing appliances or cabinets without moving them around, then the inconvenience time is reduced to just a few days (not weeks or months as they imagined), that is, assuming you have a contractor who can come when you plan. But surprisingly, even a countertop replacement takes only a day of inconvenience. The fabricator measures the space and then brings the new countertop two weeks later. In the meantime, you have use of the kitchen.

They were relieved and headed off to look at all their choices. I gave them a new mantra:

“To make it work easily and quickly, simply find products that will fit into the same size space in your existing room."

The second piece of advice is even less complicated: Always have a tape measure available, along with a little notebook with your measurements written down. When in doubt, measure and remeasure.

The Urban Pioneer: Oh the List

By Andrea

My place was built in 1911, it has been kept in decent to good shape but when a condo reaches 100, it has some fixin’ up to do. Before I even start the decorating process, I have to conquer ‘the list’ and get the bones of my condo in good condition. It’s a given that everything will get a fresh coat of paint…but here’s the rest of the to do’s and a few pictures of the work ahead.

1. Front Door
a. New Lock to cover all the holes

b. New Numbers, I want to make a great 1st impression
c. Re-varnished, it looks like someone took a power sander to the door.

2. Living Room
a. Ceiling fans
b. Crown Molding
c. New Windows
d. Refinish woodwork

3. Dining Room
a. Replace Light
b. Level floor


4. Kitchen
a. Too many to list, I'll tell all about this mess next week.

5. Porch...I'll let the picture speak for its self.

As you can see, I have a project or a million projects on my hands!

The Urban Pioneer: My Place In the Heart of Minneapolis

By Andrea, The Urban Pioneer

My little corner in the city was the first place I looked at during the house hunt. I fell in love with the character, the location and the fact that it has a garage...tough to come by and much needed in Minneapolis. This little urban condo has original craftsman style doors, a dining room built-in cabinet, high ceilings, crown molding, hard-wood floors and an awesome screened in front porch. I'm looking for a way to combine the old character charm and a new urban feel, like this place.

I put an offer in after one quick walk through never thinking they would take my bid. I was told I was 4th on the list. Well, two days later I find out I am now the proud owner of a 1911 condo in the heart of Minneapolis!

With keys in hand, I opened the door to my new home and realized I was looking through what I'll call 'light pink, not rose, colored glasses' during my initial visit. While the place still has it charm...and garage, it also has a major list of fix ups. With a little elbow grease, a lot of idea hunting and the help of family and friends, I know I can take this urban condos potential and turn it into reality. Now it's time to get to work!