Oct
20

Question of the Week: What Would You Change About Your Home if Money Were No Object?

It’s all doom and financial gloom in the news lately, and I gotta say, it doesn’t help my dream of one day renovating, a dream I forever hold close to my heart.  

My family is currently making do in a 100-year old house (NOT the one pictured above), that, don’t get me wrong, we are VERY happy to have, but it hasn’t exactly materialized into that dream home I saw before me when I stood on the threshold, ready to sign back the final offer. 

We painted, changed the hardware on the 60s kitchen cupboards and refinished the paper-thin hardwood one final time, and thought, hey, we only need this place to hold up for a year or so, until we rip it all out. Well, that was three years ago, and it's not looking good.

I’m feeling that renovation dream slip further and further away from me, and to bring it back, I’d like to take this moment to speak as if money were no object. So here goes; if money were no object, I would dig out the basement, blow out the back of the first floor to make a nice, large family kitchen, I would put in a powder room on the first floor, make a nice family bathroom out of our second-floor depression loo, turn the attic into a master suite with a spacious ensuite bath and finally, if money really were no object, I would install reclaimed oak hardwood flooring, in a French chevron pattern – I have always wanted those gorgeous Parisian floors…

Let's dream a little -- what would you change in your home if money were no object? 

 

Comments:

If money were no object my rented home would finally be decorated.  I guess if money was really no object, i would be living in my dream home.  In the home i live in now every room needs to updated and decorated, from the entrance, bathroom, spare room, master room, kitchen, dining room and living room.  downstairs my 15 year old daughter would love to have her room finished.  i would also like to incorporate some gym equipment down there because i am a stroke survivor and not only will i benefit from it, but so will the rest of my family.

October 20, 2008 6:35 PM

 

Well...where to start...I have always wanted to have a sunroom and an updated state of the art bathroom with marble and the works!   Material roman shades on all my windows would also be nice. Oh and of course...crown molding throughout.  I love the open concept of my home but with a few updates and a bit of pop...it would just finish it off !

October 20, 2008 8:35 PM

 

First I would start by removing the exisitng Stucco from the entire house and remove the domacona, and repalce it with proper plywood, new windows, add an large bay window to front living room, and new entry front doors, remove all the earth arounf the foundation of the home and redress the issue of earth contacting wood, combine two bedrooms into one bigger one with proper closet, new carpet and flooring thur out the house, to many others to mention(  rebuild it from scratch the right way )

October 21, 2008 2:18 AM

 

If money was no object- HUMMMMMM. I would be able to change the kitchen in this house .The bathrooms would get a major overhaul. This house is indeed very comfortable but not our taste for sure. WE have a lot of reno's we are trying to do and have moved very carefully on each thing we tackle. As we can afford the work to be done ,we will have it professionally finished i hope?I have put many a hour into painting as that seems to be the easiest and fastest solution to some of the decorating .

Thanks for letting me vent  .

October 21, 2008 7:54 AM

 

if MONEY was no object...in a perfect world, I would do my bedroom, I hate going in there its 22 years old and its from my first marriage, but kids come first before any reno so I guess I still need to sleep in there and dream that one day it will be done.

October 21, 2008 9:33 AM

 

Two things:  

I would tear off the existing kitchen (already an addition) and rebuild bigger & a better design ... more cupboards & more counters.

On top of the new kitchen, I would build a big bathroom on the same level as the bedrooms.

Dream, dream, dream

October 21, 2008 10:17 AM

 

I would build a balcony outside my living room.  Nothing better than an evening with the NYC skyline...

October 21, 2008 10:24 AM

 

The very first thing I would do is build a top notch mini gym in my spare room.  I’d get all the fancy machines, as well as a jumbo plasma... Then there would be no excuse for missing a workout.  I guess money being no object would be beneficial to my health :)

October 21, 2008 11:02 AM

 

I would knock down a wall in my apartment to make the bedroom bigger and set up a sitting area in there. With such small living quarters in NYC, the only way to spend time in my bedroom is to sit on the bed, which is not always on the top of my list mid-day.  It would be so nice to sit in a big comfy chair, with a floor lamp next to me, reading a book...one day!

October 21, 2008 1:51 PM

 

I'd actually change something outside...the backyard.  Right now, we have a boring deck and a big yard, but it's in need of better grass, better leveling, and some sort of landscaping!

October 21, 2008 2:24 PM

 

So, have been thinking about this all day...with money NO object:

New Windows/Doors (perhaps a skylight or two)

New floors/fixures in the bathrooms (moss green anyone?)

Resurface the front step and deck over the patio (with perhaps a perogola sp?).

Then of course we'd need some new furniture but it's been 14 years now...I'm patient.

October 21, 2008 3:08 PM

 

First, the bathrooms would have to go..........new tubs,marble,heated floors etc...

Second, full-on landscaping, maybe an uber-modern lap pool.

Entrance way and front door brought back to their original 1960's all-glass glory(removed by the previous owner and replaced with a metal door!!!)

Finally,the kitchen........new cabinets,windows,fixtures, the works!

Bring on the new furniture to go with my new house!!!!

October 21, 2008 3:27 PM

 

I WOULD GUT MY WHOLE HOUSE AND REDO EVERYTHING, IF MONEY WERE NO OBJECT. I'D PROBABLY JUST TEAR IT DOWN AND BUILD A BRAND NEW HOUSE IF I COULD.

October 21, 2008 5:44 PM

 

Id hire Justin and Colin and get them to redo everything!  Mind you I aint gonna win lotto so Ill buy their Home Heist book nd do it all myself! I love them! Cant wait to tonights show.  10pm seems so far away!xxxxxxxxxxx

October 21, 2008 6:24 PM

 

If money were no object my whole home would be redecorated.  While my family was growing up my husband and I spent what extra money we had on camping trips and things like that.  We wanted to give our children memories. They wouldn't remember if the kitchen was painted, but they would remember a wonderful camping trip to Riding Mountain.  Needless to say we now need to redo our entire home, insidel and out.

October 22, 2008 10:36 AM

 

Replace my 40 year old kitchen cabinets to include a built in dish washer - replace fridge

October 22, 2008 10:51 AM

 

If money were no object I would gut the inside of my house and have Colin and Justin remodel and redesign it.  Although I did write to their show but no word yet.  Wish me luck.  It would be a dream come true to live in a designers paridise home both inside and outside.

October 22, 2008 11:51 AM

 

If money were no object, I would redo my very dated kitchen and rebuild the bathroom and Laundry room which are actually built in an old woodshed which is falling away from the rest of the house.  The rest of the house isn't bad, just needs some redocorating which we are working away at slowly, but if money wasn't a problem, it would get done a lot quicker.

October 22, 2008 7:21 PM

 

If no money were no object.  I would redo the kitchen and bathrooms

October 22, 2008 8:26 PM

 

If money were no object. I would redo my bathroom and kitchen, when we purchased this house it was in a bad stat of repair but thur the years we have don't work with it but it's still not what I would like to have.  My husband has put alot of blood and sweat in this house to make it what it is today.  I would never be able to sell it and start over....but I would love to have a beautiful kitchen ..not cupboards that are falling off the wall and door not fitting right.  But I still my house because of my husbands hard work

October 23, 2008 4:00 PM

 

i would change the furniture in my bedroom  and my tv room it is a mess of thing that i just don't fell confortable in. i'd made my bedroom into a hotel suit and my tvroom  in the same line. i would isolate my attick properly and put an air exchange system in the house isolate the garage and finish it fix my stairs couple are broken and redo my roof and fix the original problem it leaks.

October 24, 2008 6:41 AM

 

Oh boy, I know exactly what I'd do.

I'd rip up all the wall to wall broadloom and put in hardwood (mahogany)

flooring, and replace all my windows.

October 24, 2008 8:47 AM

 

if money was not a problem, i would gladly change the whole exterior of the house including windows, turn the deck into a three season room and renovate the kitchen/bathroom on the mainfloor as well as the bathroom downstairs, its getting a little messed up

October 24, 2008 10:22 AM

 

As a Senior Citizen with approximately sixteen interior spaces to give a face-lift to,   this question for me is a no-brainer?   I would commission either Sarah Richardson or Peter Fallico (of HGTV-Canada);  so they could tackle the job.....smiles.    All I'd do is just hand them the keys and stroke the cheques.  Heck, I wud  even sign a waiver for them so they cud use the material for one of their Season Series.  

October 24, 2008 3:31 PM

 

As a Senior Citizen with approximately sixteen interior spaces to give a face-lift to,   this question for me is a no-brainer?   I would commission either Sarah Richardson or Peter Fallico (of HGTV-Canada);  so they could tackle the job.....smiles.    All I'd do is just hand them the keys and stroke the cheques.  Heck, I wud  even sign a waiver for them so they cud use the material for one of their Season Series.   (I hope this comment hasn't gone thru twice.)

October 24, 2008 3:32 PM

 

I'd redo my front door-when we added on to the house 40 yrs ago we hired a friend who was good at carpentry-who gave us 2 front doors.  Everyone who comes wonders which door to go to.  

October 29, 2008 11:33 AM

 

if i had the money i need to fix my bathroom floor and redo my kitich a new bathroom'

i've been trying so hard to get a grant and each time i have failed

i ask for so little.

this is in my dreams and in my heart

November 14, 2008 4:42 PM

 

Trying to redo our 100+ old Vic. bathroom to almost original is daunting but necessary and I shudder at what the floor supports are like. Welcome to the world of a house abused by to many handymen. This house has good bones and is a retirement challenge,then the stock market hit everybody. To see our home in a restored state would warm my heart. Then the next owners would just have to maintain her. It is like planting a tree the next generation will also enjoy and care for.Our triplet grand children are now old enough (8) to be pressed into labour like painting,clean up etc. We will feed and water them for their efforts, that goes with without saying. They hid their piggy banks the last time we came we came to visit them. Can't talk with them around any more.

February 2, 2009 12:22 PM

 

IF I COULD CHANGE OUR HOME I WOULD REDEORATE OUR WHOLE HOME  I WOULD ALSO HAVE A DOWNSTAIRS W-C SO MY MUM COULD COME AND SPEND WHAT LITTLE TIME SHE HAS WITH US AND HOPEFULLY SEE HER GREAT GRANDCHILD BE BORN I WOULD ALSO HAVE A BOXROOM EXSTENED INTO OUR BACK GARDEN  FOR MY MUM OR VISTERS TO SLEEP AND I WOULD HAVE BUILT IN CUBOREDS FOR THE 3 BEDROOMS SO MY GIRLS ROOMS WOULD BE TIDY  AND HAVE A BIT OF ROOM TO MOVE AROUND IN.

March 8, 2009 4:44 PM

 

If money were no object, I would one of the two:

1.  Move or

2.  Level it to the ground.  

While mowing the grass I leaned down to pick up some sticks on the ground, plased my hand on the wall, and my hand went through it, I pushed another place on the wall my hand went through it and on and on. Another day I walked out into deck in the the autrium and fell through.

I have no money so I canot do any more repairs after the siding replaced on the outside of my house.  I see where people spend $60-70,000 fixing up their kitchen.  Boy with that amount of money, I could repair my entire house.

BELIEVE ME IT CAN'T GET ANY WORSE.

September 27, 2009 2:51 PM

 
Comments for this entry are now closed.

Back to Top