Don’t let home projects get the better of you
Do you ever get the feeling that your home is a money pit?
Of course, we love our homes. They are our private sanctuaries, our fabulous abodes, our cozy nests.
But let’s get real. If you’ve seen the ’80s movie “The Money Pit,” you know what I’m talking about. Sometimes our homes put us through the ringer with their needy, erratic behavior.
Picture these scenarios:
Your water heater has approached 10 years old and has given an ill-timed resignation, just when the New Year’s ball drops in Times Square. Thank goodness the leaking tank is confined to the garage, and only a handful of your belongings were damaged. Cheers.
The long overdue kitchen remodel has been mocking you for the last five years but has really become nasty these last few weeks. Cabinet door hinges break, cracks appear in the backsplash and the refrigerator is making an odd crackling noise. That can’t be good.
And let’s not even get started on the shingled roof that needs to be replaced with composite, the fences being held up by bushes and trees, the drapery your mom helped you pick out a few years ago (say, 1984) and the decorative entry lighting you thought was cool in 2000.
It’s safe to say that we’re all continually working on our homes to some degree – from general cleaning to a major remodel and everything in between. Most of us have a to-do list that never truly goes away.
Our homes are extremely high maintenance. They need constant attention to ensure that they remain functional and aesthetically pleasing. And we are enablers. We pamper our homes like we have money growing on trees in the backyard. A new washer and dryer this month, an exterior facelift the next.
We all have our methods of approaching home projects. Determining how to jump into all the fun really boils down to two concepts: How much money can you allocate to home projects and what is the priority of your projects?
Maybe the priority of the project dictates the budget, or maybe you have a specific amount in mind with hopes that it will cover as many items on the to-do list as possible.
As with any design plan, take your time to formulate a strategy. Then find the right contractors to help you forge ahead, or create a DIY plan of attack.
Keeping our homes up to date, with all parts and pieces functioning at 100 percent, takes time and determination. And a fairytale money tree planted in the backyard … or just a really well thought out plan.
Jennifer Leischer is the owner of J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton. Contact her with questions, comments and suggestions at jenna@j-designs.com.