Blogger of All Trades (Part I)

I've been recently Pinterest inspired and because we're currently on the hunt for a home in Scotland I thought I'd share some of our past remodel projects. (Also, we're still waiting on MRI results--this keeps me occupied in the meantime.)

As I've made very clear I'm blessed to have a husband who can do just about anything I ask of him (see previous post). Reinventing our last home, a fixer-upper in the country, was all about us learning what works and doesn't. 

We'll start with the exterior of the house:

Our primary objective has always been the aesthetic (ok, MY primary objective), functionality follows closely but those both are overshadowed by the question: "How cheaply can we do this?"

The final project in redoing our home in Missouri before selling it was the main bathroom of the house. (that'll be my next post) And while we had landscaped the entire front garden after moving in, it needed a quick revamp prior to placing our home on the market.

BEFORE

AFTER

Here's how we made this happen: 

1. took the black metal eagle OFF the garage. This was the very first thing I did when handed the keys! (cost: FREE)
2. Power washing! Borrow or rent a machine if you don't have one, the results are worth it! We did the entire deck and before putting the house on the market, the sidewalks. (cost: FREE, we borrowed)
3. Trim your hedges and plants! It makes a HUGE difference! (cost: FREE!)

BEFORE

AFTER

1. PLANTS! I buy plants that are 1/2 off and revive them with a green thumb (kinda) and Miracle-Gro. I fill window boxes and planters with cheap annuals. When making an investment in perennials it's beneficial to know what plants can be separated to increase your yield annually for free. (cost: $15 for the bedding plants in window boxes and next to nothing for the rest as I dug up many of my bulbs and plants and moved them with us!)
2. Remove the dated and ratty lattice work off the deck. Note: we did leave it below the deck as it is beneath eye-level and keeps animals (in Missouri this included, skunks, possums, feral cats, etc.) out. We replaced it with 2x4's Mark ripped in half to make 2x2 posts that he then cut to length and attached at even intervals. (cost: $20+/- for lumber)
3. Mulch. It's amazing even the difference between mulched and newly mulched! Buy as many bags as you need to cover nicely--don't skimp! (cost: $45)
4. Edging. It keeps the mulch in line and makes for pretty lines around flower beds. (cost $20)
5. Ok, this one isn't in the total and isn't cheap, but a new front door does wonders for the curb appeal of a house. We didn't put ours in until we'd been in the house a while but when we found a discontinued display model for a song we bought it right up. (cost: $250) If purchasing a new door simply isn't in your budget consider painting your current door to a new, gorgeous colour. We also didn't get around to it but would have loved to install a full-glass storm door to replace the old black screen door. Definitely do this if your budget allows--it'll show off your new door!

TOTAL Cost: $100

Thanks for taking time to look through my newest creative outlet! I love being able to share these things with all our dear friends and family!