Category Archives: decorating

The Pay-as-You Go Remodel

Posted on November 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

SOMETIMES not having enough money to renovate right away can be a blessing in disguise.

At least that’s how Nina Johnson-Milewski, an art dealer and the owner of Gallery Diet, and her husband, Dan Milewski, an artist who owns a cafe and wine bar, have come to regard it.

In 2006, they bought a 1939 bungalow here for $230,000, but they couldn’t afford to make the changes they envisioned before moving in. So they spent the next six years living in the one-story house while they gradually renovated it, putting in thousands of hours of their own labor, as well as $75,000 — in bits and pieces, whenever they could.

The advantages of slow renovation quickly became obvious. “You only see what you need once you’re living in the space,” said Ms. Johnson-Milewski, 27. That’s when “you see how you want the house to function.”

So it was first by necessity, and later by choice, that the couple, who met in 2004 as students at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, let the design of their 2,100-square-foot house evolve room by room and chair by chair.

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Are Stainless Steel Appliances Passe?

Posted on September 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

Major manufacturers are placing bets on different potential successors to the shiny, upscale appliance finish, which surprised everyone with its resilience.

It is a pivotal moment in kitchen design: While stainless steel is still the dominant look, there are clear signals it has outworn its welcome, even with no clear successor in place.

Do upgraded appliances add value to your home? Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com for your value questions.

“Black is the new stainless steel,” Wolf Appliance says in a news release for black glass ovens introduced this spring.

Last weekend, General Electric introduced refrigerators, ovens, microwaves and dishwashers in a muted gray called “slate.” Miele says it will roll out new high-gloss finishes for the U.S. in the near future, refusing to divulge details.

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DIY Basics

Posted on August 31, 2012 | Leave a comment

There are some tasks that even the most unmotivated DIYer should feel embarrassed to pay hard-earned money for. A friend recently had a painter around to paint one door and a window frame. Another called in a handyman to put up pictures – at $80 an hour thanks.

Yet another replaced their lovely sweep of aged timber benchtops with brand new ones because they gave up finding someone to give the originals a sand and new lick of oil. It’s sad to realise there’s a whole graveyard of perfectly useable items out there, needlessly dumped, because someone didn’t have the time or wherewithal to make straightforward repairs.

Arm yourself with a basic tool kit and some simple know-how, and you’ll easily be able to tackle small jobs around the home – especially if you consult your obliging hardware store specialist about the specific hardware you’ll need for the job. Build up your knowledge and eventually you’ll fly solo.