Ours was pretty great, partly because we bought appliances for the flip last night and spent about $1,300 less than we had budgeted.  Score!!

Like Lauren, we discovered long ago that you just can’t beat Sears for great appliances at great prices – definitely key considerations for any flip.  (In fact, Sears has been our go-to appliance store for years and is where we got the goods for both our house and the last flip.)

We actually picked out the appliances a few weeks ago but waited until last night to purchase them – the salesman we’ve worked with over the past few years let us know that we could get an extra 10% off if we put off the purchase until Friends and Family Night, which just so happened to be last night.  The 10% discount covered tax and then some, and we’ve found that it always pays to chat up the salesman because they’ll often give you little tips on when the store will be offering deals and discounts.

We’ve been really happy with our own Kenmore Elite appliances, and decided to go with Kenmore for the kitchen at the flip.  Here’s what the kitchen will be outfitted with:

(wine fridge, slide-in gas range, range hood, dishwasher)

From checking out our appliances you may have noticed a few things:

1. We got a slide-in range instead of double ovens and a stovetop (which is what the kitchen has now).  Yup, the layout of this kitchen is changing.

2. We got a gas range even though the existing stovetop in the kitchen is electric (which totally bummed us out, BTW).  That’s because we made an exciting discovery when meeting with the plumber the other day – the stove area is equipped with electricity and gas.  Double woohoo to that one!

3. We didn’t buy a fridge or a microwave.  In our market, it’s common for people to provide their own fridge so we felt like it would have been an unnecessary expense – and same thing with the microwave.  We could always change our minds in the future, but that’s what we did with the last flip and everything worked out great.

4. We opted to go for a range hood rather than an over-the-range microwave like we have at our house.  Simple reason for that – we just thought it would be fun to do a range hood and switch things up a bit from what we’re used to.

We arranged for the appliances to be delivered in early November so that we don’t have to worry about storing them while the construction is being completed – I can’t wait to see how they look when they’re installed!

So there’s your first peek into some of the changes that will be made to the kitchen!  And while we’re on the subject of kitchen remodels, what’s one thing you would splurge on if you were remodeling your kitchen?  Jason wants our dream kitchen to have a really fancy range, but I think an over-sized fridge/freezer might be on my list . . . what about you?

UPDATE: Demo got pushed back and is now starting tomorrow.  Boo!  Oh well, these things are to be expected during renovations, right?

Anyhoo, we are now very close to having our ducks in a row and we’ve got our eyes on a few little gems.  Here’s the kitchen from one of the front-runners:

Ick, right?  That being said, this baby has a lot of potential – I mean, just look at the floor plan!

I think this kitchen has the potential to be a true entertainer’s kitchen – it’s right off the dining room, can be opened up to the den, has double ovens and a gas cooktop, a bar for seating and setting out food . . . all in all, great bones.  And it makes my heart go pitter pat to think that we wouldn’t have to move any gas or plumbing lines!!

That being said, this is one ugly kitchen.  There are a few options as to how to approach it:

1.  Demo the whole thing and start from scratch with new cabinets, etc.  Pros – cabinets would be much, much cuter, there would be more vertical storage, we could rework the existing storage, add a wine fridge.  Cons – could be an unnecessary cost since the cabinets are in good shape and the layout is essentially staying the same.

2.  Paint the existing cabinetry and just spruce everything up a bit with new countertops, appliances, etc. Maybe give the cabinets a similar treatment to what Kristin did?  Pros – costs would definitely be lower.  Cons – I know that we wouldn’t get the look that we want (like getting rid of the curved detailing on the doors), storage would not be maximized.

3.  Mixture between 1 & 2 by refacing the doors. Pros – still not as expensive as new cabinets.  Cons – still not as cheap as keeping the cabinet doors, and storage still isn’t maximized.

And once the choice is made between 1, 2 and 3, there’s the fun of deciding on the finishes!!  I’ve been wanting to do a remodel with somewhat modern finishes, but I don’t think this is the house for that – the rest of the house (and if the kitchen cabinets stayed) is fairly traditional.

So here’s my question – what would you do with this kitchen? Which option would you pick, and how would you finish it out?  Subway tile or glass tile, wood floors or tile, pendants or recessed lighting . . . there are so many things to think about!!  I would love your input, I know you guys have great ideas – let the brainstorming begin!

During the past year, tons of things have changed.  I left my job as an attorney, started a new career in real estate, flipped my first house, started working from home instead of driving 45 minutes to an office, began sprucing up the homes of strangers over the web . . . and it has been such a delight to get to share all of these changes with you, even the little ones like making our backyard a little less ugly and sewing some new pillows for the den.  Who new that there was a whole community of awesome people that are into the same things that I am?  Let me tell you, it’s been awesome to get to hang out with you guys.

Since it’s IGTBH’s first blogiversary, I thought it was only appropriate to share a video with you guys that we shot the day we bought our house – the house that started it all, way before this blog was even a twinkle in my eye.  Want to take a tour of our home and see how it looked before we renovated the heck out of it?

If you weren’t busy getting seasick from Jason’s camera skills (sorry babe!!), here are some things you may  have picked up on from the video:

~ This was during my brief stint as a blonde – so weird to see myself like that!!

~ Our house had the most hideous collection of drapes ever known to mankind.

~ We pretty much stuck to our entire renovation plan!!

~ I say “Alright” at least 30 times.

~ Our breakfast room used to look like a circus tent.

~ I really think that was a gun cabinet in the laundry room – it had locks and everything!

~ I clearly had no idea that the “craft room” would ultimately turn into my office.

~ I’m hoping you weren’t blinded by the original fireplace – sorry about that.

~ Can you believe how dark our den used to be?  And that was with all the lights on!

~ Did you recognize those bookcases in the den that turned into my salvaged craft cabinet?

~ I’m pretty sure Jason’s closet is bigger than mine – don’t know how that happened!

~ Burglar bars were apparently “in” in 1968 when our house was built.

~ After watching this video, I’m going to burn those pants I was wearing.

Anyhoo, thanks for hanging in there with me this past year – I’ve loved every minute of it!!  Here’s to another great year!

If you want to see how our house turned out after the big renovation, be sure to check out the Home Tour page of IGTBH.

I’ve admired her interior design work for some time, but I’ve only recently seen one (yes, she has more than one!) of her television series – Sarah’s House, which is now airing in the US.

Have you had a chance to watch Sarah’s House on HGTV?

Truly, Sarah’s House is a show after my own heart – now in Season 2, the series follows the Canadian designer as she chooses a home and then flips it – complete with unbelievable staging.  As a Realtor, fellow flipper and lover of design, I don’t think a TV show could get any better than that!!  It’s really inspiring to follow Sarah through her thought process, from how to renovate each room to sourcing furniture and accessories to the big reveal.  And I think you’ll find that the spaces Sarah designs are completely liveable and approachable while avoiding an overly “designed” look.

This is the Toronto home that Sarah chose to conquer in Season 2 – which she purchased for almost $700,000!

In the episodes that have aired thus far, Sarah and her design sidekick, Tommy, have completely swankified the second level:

The boring nursery . . .

. . . soon became this darling nursery (and I don’t use the word “darling” very often).  Ikea drapes paired with a snuggly chair upholstered in cheerful polka dots provide a fun, gender-neutral color palette for this space.

I think it’s particularly smart that Sarah chose to install a picture rail in line with the top of the window frames (with sky blue paint above) to bring the vaulted ceiling down to a more kid-friendly and cozy height.

And, of course, the whimsical alphabet is an affordable and easily-replicated design element that adds tons of character (and an opportunity for learning) to the room.

The home office began just as bland as the nursery . . .

. . . but is now a modern, upbeat space with a hint of femininity brought in through the floral fabric on the bulletin board.

I find that the still shots of these rooms simply don’t do the spaces justice – you should check out these episodes to see the rooms in their full glory.

The master bedroom definitely benefited from Sarah’s decision to steal 27 inches of space (on the left-hand side) from the neighboring nursery.

And I bet you never saw this gorgeous space coming, did you?  I certainly didn’t.

The entire color scheme for this master bedroom was pulled from those fabulous floral curtains in cream and gray.  The headboard was positioned below the low point of the vaulted ceiling so that one would have a feeling of space and height while lying in bed.

While I don’t know that I could ever be disciplined enough to commit to such a tight and subdued palette, it really is divine, isn’t it?

I always love the look of chandeliers in bedrooms, particularly master bedrooms, but I just don’t think I could take the plunge and part with my ceiling fan – even so, I’m totally tempted to nix my fan after seeing this room!

I am curious, though – does Sarah sell her homes furnished?  If not, it seems odd to devote such a large portion of the budget to furniture (some of it custom) and accessories that will, ultimately, need to find new homes.  Does anybody know?  Have you had a chance to check out the show and, if so, what do you think of it?

* There’s more to come for this series but, since most of the episodes haven’t aired in the US yet, I don’t want to spoil it for you!

Sarah’s House airs on HGTV at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Saturday nights.  Images courtesy of HGTV Canada.

Here’s what our flip looked like when we first saw it way back in April.  Dreary, dated, and totally hidden are a few of the descriptors that come to mind.  The drab peachy brick and the baby blue shutters were doing absolutely nothing for this diamond in the rough – not that you could even see the house due to the low-hanging magnolias that blocked out so much sun that grass refused to grow over most of the yard.

And here’s how the flip greets you today!!  As you can see, new landscaping (more on that soon!) and a snazzy paint job instantly yanked this house out of the 1960s and into this century.  We also removed the outdoor carpeting, ripped out the old ironwork on the porch and replaced it with a simple wood pillar, which immediately shaved about 3 decades off the appearance of the house.  Now, the light cream paint really pops against the lush lawn, and the cheery red door welcomes you right in.  The simple black accents on the shutters and pillar ground the color scheme, while the nickel finishes on the hardware, mailbox and lighting add a much-needed update to the front porch.

Through the front door, you walk immediately into the entryway.  From that point, you can turn left down a hallway to reach three of the bedrooms and the jack ‘n jill bath, you could go to the right to enter the formal living and dining rooms, or you could continue straight into the den (which leads to the study, kitchen, and guest bedroom and bath).

Forgive me for these next few pictures – I know they leave a little something to be desired!  Here’s how the entryway used to look.  The tacky wallpaper and elaborately swagged crystal chandelier just weren’t working for me.  The standard doorway into the den also left a little something to be desired, as it made the entryway feel cramped and closed off.

By simply removing the dated elements and expanding the doorways to the den and the formal living/dining, the entryway became a light, airy and beautiful way to welcome visitors into the home.  (And do you recognize that capiz ceiling light from the hallway in our home??)

Immediately to the right of the entryway was the dingy formal living and dining rooms, complete with a metallic focal wall – what’s not to love, right?

By replacing the dirty carpeting with gleaming hardwoods, switching out the chandelier, and ripping down the curtains to let in the sunlight, the living and dining rooms now feel current and rich, just as they should.

Through those double doors at the end of the dining room, you immediately walk into what used to be a dark relic from the 60s:

With clean new custom cabinetry, granite countertops, hardwood floors and a functional new layout, the new kitchen is practically unrecognizable:

Like most homes built in the 60s, our flip used to have a closed-in galley kitchen that removed the kitchen from the rest of the house.

By removing half of the wall between the kitchen and the den, the kitchen is instantly open and airy, perfect for entertaining or feeding the kids meals at the new breakfast bar.  And best of all, now that stunning glass and marble backsplash can be seen throughout the house!

A great feature of this house is the breakfast nook at the end of the kitchen – who couldn’t use another place to hang out and enjoy a meal?  Unfortunately, the original breakfast nook was . . . um . . . a bit dated.

We simply removed the floral chandelier and replaced the existing hutch with a floor-to-ceiling custom pantry, which added ridiculous amounts of storage and upped the attractiveness factor of this little nook.  And check out that snazzy hardware!!

And I can’t resist pointing out a few fun features of the new kitchen – check out the trash pullout, the recess for an undercounter microwave, and the vertical base cabinet (on the far right) for cookie sheets!  Ooh, and here’s a little tip for those of you that are having new countertops installed – ask the fabricator to make you a custom cutting board out of the countertop remnants, like the portions cut out for the stove and sink.  You’ll have a gorgeous (and indestructible) cutting board that will blend in so perfectly with your countertops that you can leave it out all the time!

So you may be wondering what was on the other side of that galley kitchen.  Well, here it is.

Kind of a letdown, right?  I mean, I love that it has a fireplace, but the room just looked sad – dark paneling, a peachy-pink fireplace, scalloped bookcases and dingy carpeting just weren’t awesome enough.

So we changed it.  A bunch.  New bookcases and hardwood floors, drywall instead of paneling, recessed lighting and a fresh coat of white paint on the fireplace suddenly transformed the cave-like den into a family room just begging for a family.

And it has a rockin’ view of the kitchen, so nobody gets left out.

Past the breakfast nook (on the way to the garage), is a bathroom and a fourth bedroom.  The bathroom originally housed a toilet, sink . . . and the washer and dryer.

The first step was 2009′ing the bathroom with all the fixins from a new toilet to a classic pedestal sink.

And then we desperately needed to address the laundry area.  It was just sad.

So we got rid of it.  Or moved it, actually – more about that later.  In its place, we added a gorgeous tiled shower/bath – I think the glass diamond accents are my fave!  And it’s awesome that this is now a full bath because . . . the fourth bedroom is right across the hall!!  Now it’s the perfect little guest wing, and guests won’t have to trek across the entire house in their bathrobe – definitely a necessary change (and one that adds value to boot!).

So now onto that fourth bedroom.  The built-in desk is a great feature, but the whole room just looked a little dated.

A fresh coat of white paint on the built-ins and some new carpet instantly freshened this room into a space perfect for guests, a workspace, or whatev.

Through the doorway to the right of the den was this sad little enclosed patio.  Luckily, it was heated and cooled so it added some awesome square footage to the home.  But it was kinda gross, with the original brick walls (and random paneling), creaky sliding doors, and funky blue carpeting.

By floating a new floor over the existing slab, we were able to continue the gorgeous hardwoods straight into the study (formerly enclosed patio) for a seamless transition to the rest of the house, which totally increased the open feeling of the entire home.  We also drywalled over the brick walls, added recessed lighting, and replaced the sliding doors with updated French doors to take in the beautiful new view.

But the view wasn’t always so lovely.  The slab patio used to be confined and depressing, with a plastic sheeting roof, tired outdoor carpeting, and a brick wall that closed off the patio from the rest of the backyard.

So we tore it all down, all the way to the concrete slab.  Then we added a rustic flagstone patio (to match the new pool coping that you’ll see in a minute), and topped it off with a fun and functional cedar pergola that defines the space and adds a little shade from that Texas sun (and the new homeowners can easily increase the amount of shade if they want by adding canvas right over the top of the pergola, or weaving it in between the cedar slats for a unique effect).

The backyard used to be completely overrun by the swampy pool and cracked concrete decking.  And that lone palm tree was just weird.

We totally revamped the pool by adding new 3M quartz plaster in an island blue, fun mosaic tiles in a cobalt blue and earthy brown, and awesome flagstone coping that perfectly coordinates with the new tile.  Chipping up the old concrete decking allowed us to add tropical plantings and lay a grassy lawn that gives the pool a pond-like effect, and will also give the new homeowners a place to play with their kids and pets.

Back inside, a jack ‘n jill bath is down a short hallway to the left of the entryway.  This bathroom is shared with the second bedroom, and was also intended to be used by guests.  While it was big and spacious with lots of storage and double sinks, in its original condition guests were sure to run screaming for the hills.

We were able to totally transform the bathroom by simply switching out the flooring and adding a new countertop and fixtures.  The existing cabinetry looks amazing with a new coat of crisp white paint, and the new travertine flooring, laid in a brick pattern, is totally gorgeous and makes the bathroom feel even more spacious.

Even though the second bedroom just off the jack ‘n jill bath was spacious, it was a little dingy.

With new carpeting and paint, an efficient ceiling fan and lovely crown molding, the second bedroom is now totally inviting.

The third bedroom was almost as spacious, but the bright blue carpeting was a huge distraction from its potential.

It got the same treatment as the second bedroom, and was spiffed up in a jiffy.

This house was simply brimming with storage, like the two large closets on the right-hand side of this hallway that connects three of the bedrooms.

Turns out those two closets were the perfect place to add a laundry area for a full-size washer and dryer (and with room left over for a separate linen closet!).  Now the new homeowners will be able to easily wash and dry their clothes without hauling their dirty laundry across the entire house – score!

Just past the new laundry area is the master bedroom.  But there was nothing masterful about it in the beginning.

So we swanked it up by continuing the beautiful hardwood floors right into the master bedroom.  And as an added bonus, it has a killer view of the pool and all of the gorgeous landscaping.

Perhaps the biggest eyesore in the entire house was the master bathroom.  It had blinding wallpaper, scallops, paneling, formica, and just about the worst shower I’ve ever seen.  It was going to be a huge challenge.

Luckily, we conquered it!!  We ripped out the old cabinets to make room for dual sinks, doubled the visual space of the room with a fab beveled mirror, and added custom cabinets with tons of storage.

Like I said before, the shower was pitiful – I’ll spare you a view of the inside, but it felt cramped and was definitely not a place that you’d want to stand around in naked.  I’m just saying.

But with the addition of a frameless glass shower enclosure and oodles of marble tile, the shower is now the showpiece of the master bathroom!  Bright and airy, the glass enclosure adds to the spacious feeling of this gorgeous shower.

So there you have it!!  How’d you like poking around our flip?  Got any questions about what we did or how we did it?  Ask away!!

For even more behind-the-scenes peeks into our flip, just click here.

This post is shared with Hooked on Houses.

Woohoo!!  I think it’s kinda cool that our very first open house is exactly two months to the day after we closed on this baby.

Just click here to find our flip on the map.  We hope to see you on Sunday!!  I’ll be in “realtor mode,” but if I know me I won’t be able to resist a little squealing over meeting a reader!

When Maria and her husband bought their home a few years back, they were greeted by this lovely bathroom – from a faux marbled countertop to baby blue tiled walls, their bathroom was just begging to be brought into the 21st century:

With their own two hands (and the help of some willing family members), Maria and her hubby wasted no time giving their outdated bath a total overhaul:

After some seriously hard work, the result is awesome – fresh, clean, and completely updated.  And once a really snazzy window treatment is added, this fully renovated bathroom will be sure to knock anybody’s socks off:

Here’s what they did, and how they did it:

1.  Out with the old.  While the old bathroom functioned just fine, all of the finishings were a serious flashback to another era.  With a hammer, chisel and a little elbow grease, those tiles came off the walls, the sink and cabinet were ripped out, and the tub bid farewell.

2.  In with the new.  Removing the tile from the walls left unsightly patches, so the walls were retextured and given a fresh coat of paint for an instant update.  New rustic tiles from Home Depot replaced the outdated mosaic on the floor and provide a pretty contrast to the new toilet and fab pedestal sink.  With a beveled mirror, new baseboards and an added electrical outlet for much-needed functionality, this bathroom now has classic features that will stand the test of time.

Great job, right??  I have a weakness for pedestal sinks, and I’m totally jealous of that huge window.  For more details about Maria’s fabulous makeover, head on over to her blog, Ranch Dressings.

Want to see your own “before and after” transformation featured on It’s Great To Be Home?  Go ahead and send it in to itsgreattobehome@yahoo.com – you know you want to!

In our house, we make sure to use CFLs in every light fixture, we’ve reused old carpet and salvaged materials from the renovation – we even made it easier to recycle by having a special trash pull-out installed in our kitchen during the remodel so that we could separate our trash from our recyclables in a snap:

(I know, totally not necessary, but one of those things that’s really fun to include when you’re designing a kitchen!!)

Even though it’s easy to recycle, it’s sometimes pretty darn confusing to figure out what’s recyclable and what’s not.  Real Simple has a handy-dandy article that can walk you through how to recycle (or reuse) anything.

Here’s the skinny for my peeps that don’t feel like clicking on the link:

Got any recycling tips of your own?

All images courtesy of Real Simple.  Click here for your own printable version of Real Simple’s A-Z recycling guide.

Take Gord and Laura, for instance – they took their cramped and dated kitchen:

and turned it into this show-stopping, ridiculously functional and family-oriented kitchen – almost entirely by themselves:

Amazing, right?  Here’s what they did and how they did it:

1.  Made the kitchen twice as big.  One thing that you can’t miss about Gord and Laura’s new kitchen is that it looks ginormous – and no, that’s not an optical illusion.  By knocking down the wall between the kitchen and dining room, they were able to create this huge space that is perfect for all of their needs – cooking, entertaining, having meals, and reading the morning newspaper.

2.  Took advantage of vertical space.  Do you see how the cabinets in the “before” picture don’t go all the way to the ceiling?  Talk about wasted space!  By ripping out those furrdowns, Gord and Laura were able to install ceiling-height cabinets to take advantage of vertical storage space that would otherwise have been completely lost.

3.  Created a functional layout. Once they ripped out that dining room wall and combined the two spaces, Gord and Laura were no longer tied to that U-shaped kitchen design – that meant that they could rearrange the appliances, move a door, place a new window, and throw in a breakfast bar in a design that feels airy, spacious and welcoming.

4.  Let there be light. Gord and Laura’s newly renovated kitchen could not be further from the dark and dreary kitchen that they started out with.  Recessed lighting, crisp white cabinetry, a huge new window and striking rattan pendant fixtures over the island and sink work together to make this space bright and cheery.

5.  Prettied it up. What’s not to love about this new kitchen?  Shaker-style cabinets, sleek appliances, a gorgeous subway tile backsplash, ebony granite, a contrasting dark-stained island, natural maple floors . . . could it get any prettier?

So, whatcha think?  Did Gord and Laura hit this one out of the park?  I think so, but I can’t wait to hear what you guys think – and I bet Gord and Laura can’t either!!

Craving more details about Gord and Laura’s amazing kitchen renovation?  Be sure to check out their blog, The Evolving Renovation.

Want to see your own “before and after” transformation featured on It’s Great To Be Home?  Go ahead and send it in to itsgreattobehome@yahoo.com – you know you want to!

Clearly, we knew that incorporating a microwave into the kitchen was going to be a must during our renovation.  What we didn’t know what where we wanted to put it.

Should we install the microwave above the stove?  Pro – we wouldn’t be giving up counter space or cabinet space.  Con – we couldn’t have one of those fancy vent-a-hoods.  But those vent-a-hoods are so pretty!!  We looked at pictures like these and contemplated our options:

(Can you tell that I like white kitchens?  Um, yeah.)

While we were temporarily wooed by these beautiful images, reality soon caused us to become a little more practical – if we had a vent-a-hood and a microwave, our kitchen that was already tight on cabinet space definitely wouldn’t give us enough storage.  So, we kissed the idea of a vent-a-hood goodbye and fell in love with our above-the-range microwave (a total steal from Sears).  She works like a charm and fits our lifestyle and space requirements to a “T”.

Where do you guys have the microwave in your kitchen?  Think we made the right choice to go with the above-the-range microwave?

Images courtesy of PointClickHome.