Making a House into a Home
Whether you’re building a new home or buying a house, there are always plenty of do-it-yourself projects that seem to turn up. My husband, Steven, and I bought an “almost-new” house in 2007, and since then have been hard at work turning our house into a home.
After getting our stuff into our house, it was then time to tackle decorating. Well, kind of. We found a number of issues needing fixing, so we haven’t quite finished picking paint colors yet. Did you know that you can get a custom paint color made from your favorite blanket, picture, or decoration? With today’s technology, your paint supplier can “read” the color makeup of almost anything, and translate that into a paint color. It’s pretty neat. Then, of course, there are the magnetic paints and chalkboard paints – perfect for any kid’s room.
Before doing any major renovations, check your home’s floorplan. We started putting up shelves in our pantry, only to realize one of the walls contained our plumbing wall. Thankfully, none of the screws we drilled punched through the protective cover behind the wall, and we were able to develop an “alternative” pantry shelf-hanging method. But, as a word from the wise, do your research beforehand… it will save you trouble in the long run!
If you must DIY, ask the experts! Even though there are a lot of things you can do yourself, make sure to take the time to ask someone who knows what they’re doing. We’ve run ideas past the lumberyard staff, stockroom employees, and even consulted those flashy “how-to” books. A little bit of knowledge can be dangerous; make sure to research the whole scope of your project beforehand so that you don’t get in over your head.
Another tip? Always allow extra time for your projects. We have started a few “weekend” projects that dragged out over several weeks, either due to a supply shortage, or just because the job went more slowly than we expected. While it’s ok to start “last-minute” projects, just make sure to give yourself a cushion of time so you don’t start stressing out as your deadline approaches.
When you’re ready to start decorating your walls, feel free to give me a call. I would be happy to create some wonderful portraits of you and your family! Happy homemaking!
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