Shopping spree fantasy
 

Imagine you won a $10,000 shopping spree at a home furnishings store: furniture, appliances, flooring, lighting, etc.

What would you buy with it? One or two big things? Lots of smaller things? Paint? Carpeting? Renovate the bathroom? What?

Landscaping!

I'd like to look at our yard and not feel overwhelmed.

Ummm, could I have $20,000? Its a large yard, lol!

Oh, woops! I just re-read its a Furniture store. Ummm, can't it be a furniture and Garden store? ;)

Sure, why not? Let's just say "$10,000 to spend on your home"

Kids are at college - I want a new sofa without stains and wear and tear.

Dog chewed legs of oak dining room table (he was a puppy)- I need a replacement.

So far my priorities would be a new electric range (mine is 22 years old and only three burners work), a walk in shower with a seat, and a new recliner. What am I up to, about $3000?

A new hot water heater (also 22 years old) and maybe a TV. Ours is only 12 years old, but it's just a matter of time. (And no, it doesn't have tubes)

New kitchen counter, back splash and cabinets. I watch too much HGTV.:rolleyes:

Oh my, where to start. First off, $10,000 wouldn't cover it. We had our house built in 1978 so guess what color my kitchen is! Yep, the appliances and counter tops are all avacodo! No granite for me. So there is the whole kitchen re-do. Our master bath is a smal shower stall, small vanity and commode. I don't think that sells for a master bath these days. Shoot, our other bath wouldn't even satisfy most people for a master bath. I want a new deck. One that is built by a professional. Not one that is contracted by a handshake for double your money if something goes wrong and then he goes to prison! Codes, do things have to built by codes? Do bedrooms built by DH and father in law have to have closet doors on them. Do storage rooms need to have regular doors instead of old front doors from old house that has windows removed?

I would like a stair lift so my Mom can come over. Yes I don't need it yet but maybe I can convince Medicare that someday I might need it!!!!!!

OK, Sorry. I hijacked your thread

I want a new bathtub! Mine has a couple of hair line cracks in it, and I have had it repaired 3x. When the house was new and had a warrenty on it, they said "oh its fixable" let the warrenty expire and they said "oh, it needs replacing." I would replace it with a jetted tub.

I would use the extra to buy a pellet stove, and get new counter tops. Mine are dark and ugly. not bad shape, just ugly.

I spent that kinda quick. :o

My home is 21 years old and needs upgrades, new flooring. I do intend to sell it though, so a debate, upgrade or sell as is?

I wouldnt go whole hog, but a few well placed upgrades or updates can net you a lot more money for your place. Scubby clean, even in the most run down of places covers a multitude of sin. A lick of paint is cheap and goes far. I have sold several places above what was expected simply because they were clean and bright. Many folks who looked at the homes commented about all the cluttered places on the market. Cant see the rooms or their size for the mess in um. I say you should spent a little bit of money and reap that big return.

I think I'd buy a new refrigerator (double door on top with freezer on the bottom), new washer and dryer, and some new lamps for the living room. And maybe a few 5 X 8 rugs for the sunroom and dining room.

new floors
 

I'd get as much hardwood floors as possible and a Jacuzzi tub in my bathroom. If I had any money left I would add to it and get granite countertops in my kitchen. I think that would pretty much take up the $10,000. Although I would try to do the floors myself or have someone help to save on the labor. I watch wayy too much HGTV & DIY.:)

Me, too! Makes me wonder how on earth I can survive another day without granite countertops and stainless steel appliances! :rolleyes: How do we live like we do?? :p

Granite counters are AWFUL! they stain, they are porous and they let in alot of bacteria. This is why the black or dark ones are so popular, they stain less. Speaking of stainless, those appliances are the exact same as the white/black/ivory ones that we are using, just a different wrapper at twice the price. I wouldnt waste my money on them. Like the green and yellow ones of days gone by they are going to go out of fashion soon. I think we should start of trend of being thrifty and not wasteful.

I'd like to have a kitchen with the retro appliances. I just love those. They look old on the outside but are new and updated on the inside.

I like the countertops my Mom had in her kitchen. Not sure what they were made of. Not granite and not marble. But they aren't like what I have now. They were easy to clean. I also liked the pine cabinets with the black iron fixtures.

Stainless is a pain!
 

I have stainless steel appliances and they are a pain to keep clean. I have been in my house almost 4 years and I am on my 3rd stainless refridgerator. First was Kenmore and it started as defective. After 2 weeks it starting freezing my food. It froze a gallon of milk in about 2 hours. Next was GE. It lasted all of 3 years. I woke up one morning and there was a puddle of water in my kitchen from the fridge burning out while I slept. Now I have Whirlpool Gold, which I spent way too much money on and purchased extended warranty. Sears gave me all my money back and even paid for spoiled food. GE gave some money back after I contacted BBB and hopefully Whirlpool will last until 10 years or they come out with a new style. I already have french door. Maybe I will wait on the Granite and find something more economical. I am all for being thrifty.;)

I love this website!
 

I just discovered a website that has hundreds of inspirational photos of real rooms! www.houzz.com

You can even save your favorites in a portfolio.

COOL!!:cool: