Within these Walls

Spring is in full swing!

Spring is in full swing! And I am bursting with projects and ideas. As a bit of background, we moved into our house in the fall of 2022. And we are of the mindset that you need to live somewhere before you understand how to best utilize the space. We also have two small children so we want to keep disruptions to a minimum. When we consider a project we want to maximize ROI (return on investment). What can do that? Well according to the resale gurus there is a list. And no, we do not want to sell our house. In fact, this will hopefully be our forever home which is another level to consider when deciding what and when projects get done. So lets dive into it!

OK! I am ready to renovate!

Awesome! Let’s look as what is driving your renovation list.

• I want to sell

• I want to upgrade the aesthetic to match mine

• I need more functionality

• I need to fix it because it is broken

These four reasons cover the vast majority of renovations. If you have other reasons that do not boil down to one of these, I would love to hear more about what is driving your renovation.

Urgency

Unless there is a safety issue or something critical is broken. Timeline can work in your favor. There is no need to rush. A lot of times people look a a project and say I want to get this done now. But what is the rush? Take your time and plan. Really fall in love with your plan and make sure you are maximizing your budget to get the most out of your space. Ideally the renovation will solve two or more issues from our list above. If it needs to get fixed, ideally it also increases the value of the house so therefore you could sell the house for more, furthermore it should update the aesthetic and functionality at the same time.

ROI on DIY

I love renovating, and you will find that we spend a lot of time both in our Within These Walls and on Longtail Lane’s other media outlets (Instagram & Pinterest etc.) focusing on renovations. Why? I enjoy both the planning and the execution. And hopefully you will too!

We end up tackling a lot of projects ourselves. And that further increases the ROI on any project as long as you know your limits. Here are some of the best projects you can do yourself as a beginner and get a good ROI:

• Exterior Improvements

  • Landscaping

  • Power Washing

  • Painting the front door

• Interior Improvements

  • Painting walls and cabinets (or refinishing)

  • Updating Cabinet hardware

  • Replacing vanity mirrors

  • Cleaning or regrouting tile

All of these are are fairly doable and can be done in a weekend(s) with some patience and the right tools. If you are following along on Instagram, you will see that I have spent a lot of time on landscaping. Mature landscaping is a huge selling point, because to get large trees and plants it can be costly (from a monetary and time perspective). So focus on simple designs that you like and start small. And always read the plant requirements and match them to the desired space.

As a good segway from landscaping and keeping with items that enhance curb appeal, I just got a power washer and am excited to clean up the driveway and the walkways around the garden. We have gotten all our larger yard power tools as battery operated and by Greenworks so that the batteries are interchangeable. I have them showcased in ShopMy.

I am starting to (outside of the kid’s rooms we have not painted anything) contemplate paint colors around the house. I have been using design tools and gathering inspiration and feel I am ready to purchase samples for at least two other rooms. Last month I showed you a preview of my idea for my office. I have also been working on a playroom/library. The two projects are located next to each other and I am hoping to work on them simultaneously.

My inspiration for the playroom is a bookstore in NYC called Albertine. It has this magical ceiling.

They are both going to involve wallpaper and paint and some fun details like IKEA hacks and sound panels. But enough of those details, let’s get back to your projects and how best to get a return on your investment.

Now, if you feel as though you can handle more, the next set of DIY is really going to upgrade your house.

• Exterior Improvements

  • New Front Door

  • New Garage Doors

  • Creating a deck or patio space

• Interior Improvements

  • Refinishing hardwood floors

  • Replacing faucets & light fixtures

  • Tiling a backsplash

  • Replacing bathroom vanity

While this list is a larger investment from both a time and financial point of view it does take your house to the next level. As for our project list, we will work on a couple of these items. Mainly enhancing the outdoor patios. We have some ideas for garage doors but none for a front door. I will be adding all of my favorites to the Pinterest page.

I am starting to investigate a facelift to our bathrooms. They are all dated and need some new fixtures and vanities. But the tile is in good shape and I hesitate to get a bathroom that functions well.

That exhaustive list is just the max impact ROI. Tackling things that need to be fixed is something we are doing as well. From electrical upgrades, to upsizing the gutters, and installing a fence.

Their are no shortage of projects as a home owner. But insisting on maximizing your investment on each project will help keep you on the right track.

Make sure to follow @longtaillane on Instagram and share anything you find helpful! You never know who needs a tip!

Until next month,