That will add quality to your life & value to your home
These are the Top 5 Home Improvements that I have personally witnessed in the last year. Two exterior updates, one at the front of a house and one at the back. As well as three different types of kitchen updates. All three options were affordable and all three looked fantastic, but none were replaced with brand new kitchen cabinets.
These improvements were all in different homes, but they all have a lot in common. All of these projects:
• Were done on a budget and were done with the advice of professionals. However, the homeowners did the hard work.
• Were inspired by Pinterest and their favourite HGTV shows.
• They all took into consideration what a future owner may appreciate, which, in turn, appreciates the value of the home on a more rapid scale.
• Have helped the homeowners to sell for top dollar.
Paint the Front Door a Fun Colour
This home in the East Ward is a real Charmer. If you’re thinking of painting your front door, make sure to choose something that complements the brick or siding. This particular choice is Caribbean Blue Water 2055-30 by Benjamin Moore. It also helped to take the storm door off to uncover the natural beauty of the original door behind it. What a great first impression this front door makes!
Reface the Kitchen Cabinets
If you’re happy with the overall layout and want to save about 40%, you can reface the cabinets. This means that you work with the layout, use the current cabinet boxes and drawers simply replace the old doors and drawer fronts with new ones. For less than $3,000, this kitchen looks much more up-to-date. Notice that the narrow upper cabinet to the left of the sink is now a wine cabinet. The previous cabinet was not very functional anyways, so this was a smart change. The homeowners decided to leave the countertop and paint the backsplash. Sometimes just a few updates that brighten things up change the whole look and feel of the kitchen.
Paint the Kitchen Cabinets
I have to admit that this looks like much more of an extensive (and expensive) renovation than it was. But, these are the same cabinets with a few coats of white cabinet paint. Most of the homeowner’s budget was spent on new Quartz countertops. New stainless steel appliances were purchased to replace the old black ones, and a new backsplash was added. The tile flooring looks brand new against the white cabinets but they’re actually the same as the tiles on the left.
Replace the Kitchen Cabinets
This 1970’s kitchen in a Semi-Detached home in Waterloo was an original and was ready for a revamp. It looks like they got a new kitchen, right? Not officially, but it was new for them. They purchased new counter tops, flooring, lighting and appliances. The only thing they needed to hire a professional for is to add a few touches (i.e., trim at the top and bottom of the cabinets, open shelves and the bar top). All of the wooden touches really warmed up the space.
Replace the Old Deck
Replacing an old deck would not have been a high budget item pre-COVID before the lumber prices sky-rocketed but there’s always ways to try and keep the costs down. Shop for sales, make choices that are not quite as expensive (such as the skirting around the bottom rather than choosing solid cedar. Another great idea is if you live in a Semi or Townhouse, you could ask your neighbour if they are interested in doing a project together and share the cost and work on it together. Dress it up with seasonal flowers, patio furniture (perhaps a second-hand metal piece that can be freshly spray painted), and consider this exterior space an extension of your Living Room in the warmer months. When there’s a lot in your home that need attention, don’t fear. Just get inspired and do one project at a time. You’ll be thankful at how your house will be transformed into a home over time. It’s a very rewarding process seeing it all come together.
