#budget-renovation

#budget-renovation

Having a separated entryway or mudroom area is nice, but in many homes, the front door opens straight into the living area. That was the way Erika Ver's (@ peonyandhoney) home is set up, and for a long time, the first view anyone got when coming in was a blank wall. "I put a console table there and put my TV above it, but it just never had that "wow" factor," Erika says. "It's the first thing you see when you walk into our home, so I wanted this wall to have an impact!"

They picked up an adjustable workbench, which allowed them to customize its height, and then they placed a 30-inch by 72-inch butcher block slab on top. Next, the couple wrapped the island with matte charcoal contact paper. They decided to continue this project onto the cabinets so there was a consistent flow in the room. They also added a white subway tile peel-and-stick backsplash to the wall.

Although I'm an architect with a care for historic fabric, the function just didn't work for us. We're tall people, and the sink was so low and had a small leaking issue. The toilet, while amazing in its pink glory, used so much water. And the shower head was at about shoulder height on my husband - not a desirable shower experience.

Depending on the wood you choose, installing wood cabinets can set you back anywhere from $6,000 to $12,000. If you don't have the budget to replace your existing cabinetry, Napier shares a budget-friendly DIY trick makes any kitchen cabinets look like real wood. Simply paint the existing cabinets in your kitchen in shades of orange or brown to mimic the look of natural wood.

I'm no stranger to pushing the envelope a bit when it comes to my home, from adding a hot tub to my "too-small" yard to putting up a gold Christmas tree. But choosing a white shag rug for my bathroom might be the most controversial thing I've ever done in my home - and it's made my bathroom so much better. Here's why I highly recommend it.