Tag: home improvement
Fixer-Upper TV Shows and the Unrealistic Expectations They’ve Created
Chances are you’ve seen, and may be a fan of, Property Brothers, Fixer Upper, Flip or Flop and a host of other fix-up shows classified as “reality TV.” And like the Bachelor, Pawn Stars, Hell’s Kitchen and so many other iterations of reality television, very little “reality” is included in these highly scripted and edited […]
What We Wished We’d Known
You’re buying a house for the first time. Everything seems like a dream: the crown molding, the old floors, the large yard. You can’t believe that someone will help you by lending money to make this your home. If you choose wisely, your home will make you happy every day. You can drink coffee in […]
My Latest Adventure in Home Ownership
A couple of years ago my very talented Texas brother came to Montgomery and crafted gorgeous bookcases for my dining room. They have allowed me to get far more use of the otherwise-empty formal space; and they make me smile every time I see them! While here, the poor thing said — probably just as […]
Progress on Our List
Last month, we wrote about our plan to go ahead and fix up our house the way we would if we were selling it. We aren’t selling our Cloverdale-Idlewild home (built in 1930), but it was just kind of a fun exercise. The idea was to go ahead and make repairs, repaint, etc., so that […]
Old Houses: Looking and Fixing
Two things to consider today. First, the Old House Expo was a big success. Second, a new home improvement show might be just the thing you need to fix up your own old home! Fleming Pruett and his family have lived in Midtown Montgomery “forever.” And as Midtowners, they were well aware of Old House […]
To Move or Improve?
Recently, Stephen and Kate emailed me that they were considering trying to buy the house to the rear of theirs. Why would they do it? Because they wanted to make their backyard deep enough to add a pool, basketball court or studio. (Editor’s note: or horseshoe pit, or shuffleboard, or …) My responses to them […]
Home Improvements: K-I-S-S (Part 1)
As 10 p.m. approached last Saturday, I was putting the finishing touches on the fresh paint in our back offices. (Yes, I do our painting. That’s the subject for another post!) As I spotted “misses” and covered them, I found myself wondering how many others in Midtown might be similarly engaged. After all, ‘tis the […]
Installing a New Ceiling Fan
I don’t have to tell you that the last few weeks have been incredibly hot. My AC has been running constantly on full blast. I swore that my electric and gas bills would not reach the same heights that they did last year, so I have been trying to keep the thermostat at 78. The […]
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