JoAnn's New "Design Your Decor" Offering

I love JoAnn's stores... it's one of those places where I could spend hours getting lost in all the cool new sewing and crafting gadgets. That's why I was so excited when they launched a new program called "Design Your Decor." What a great concept! You can use their online tool to create pretty much any kind of furniture or decor you want. Pick what you want to design (sofa, window coverings, etc), pick the fabric (best feature: large selection offered), pick the finishings, and voila! you have a custom-made item! So I went online to investigate this new program, and went through the steps to design a small ottoman for my living room. I loved the program! It was super easy and intuitive. But of course, there were drawbacks... first of all, I will not buy a piece of furniture or decor before I see the fabric sample in person, and this program did not have an easy "order samples" button. And when I got to the end and saw my beautiful new ottoman I had designed, I was sadly shocked by the price. What a dream killer! The program never listed base pricing when showing the various options, so I had no idea how much this would cost me until the pricing summary at the very end. They wanted to charge me $600 for a small foot ottoman! I couldn't believe the outrageous price. Even with the promotional 50% off fabric, it was still way more than I wanted to pay for any piece of furniture, especially an ottoman. I realize this is much cheaper than a truly "custom-made" ottoman, but it is significantly more than comparable items at other retailers. One great option is Home Decorators Collection, which allows you to choose from a variety of fabrics in order to customize your furniture. Until JoAnn's gets their pricing in line with their true competition, I don't see this program being successful.

Home & Garden Deals.

From Groupon:

$15 for $30 Worth of Paint and Supplies at Frazee Paint

$10 for $20 Worth of Dining and Entertaining Items at Marigold Houseware

From Home Decorators Collection:

Free Shipping on Select Rugs

20% Off All Dining Furniture

The many (confusing) options of closet organization systems.

For my closet organization system, I chose the Martha Stewart collection at Home Depot. I chose this particular system based solely on how it looks; after extensive research, I realized that the majority of these install-yourself kits are the same in terms of quality, features, and price, and the only differentiating factor is appearance.


The install-yourself kits from the big home improvement stores are the cheapest option out there, but they are not the only option. Depending on your budget and desire to do the work yourself, there are many possibilities. The most expensive but easiest and highest quality option would be companies like California Closets, where they design and install the closet system for you. Another great option that I just found out about is the Elfa organizing system from The Container Store. It is more expensive than the install-yourself kits, but The Container Store has a yearly 30% off sale on all Elfa items every January-February. If you decide on going with this option, I would wait for the sale. The staff are great and will design the closet for you, which is a great relief since the Elfa system can be really complicated. You do have to install this system yourself, however. Ikea has a system similar to Elfa, and they will also design it for you (but not install it). Last but not least, there is EasyClosets.com, an option that is only slightly more expensive than the install-yourself kits. EasyClosets.com designs the system for you, which is a great time-saver, but like the Elfa system and the home improvement store systems, you have to install it yourself.

If you decide to go with the install-yourself kits from the home improvement stores, I have one suggestion: use EasyClosets.com online closet designer. It will make your life much easier! Designing your own closet system is like a jigsaw puzzle with endless possibilities, but this online program simplifies it tremendously. The program does have some short-comings, however, so you may need to resort to old-fashioned Excel or graph paper to map out your plan. See my Excel-generated floor plan below.



Have you installed a closet organization system in your house? If yes, what system did you use?

What to do when the money runs out.

By August of 2010, I had completed the majority of the items on my to-do list. There were still a few key items I wanted to get done, however:

1. Install closet organizing system in walk-in closet.
2. Build wooden structure to create privacy on my small patio.

But I had a major dilemma... I had run out of money. This is the consequence of not creating an itemized budget before I started, and not carefully watching my expenses throughout the project.  So I had to re-evaluate my priorities. I had already bought the organizing system for the closet, so it would be fairly stupid not to go ahead and install it. But I had not invested any money into the wooden structure on my patio, so that was an easy item to scratch off the list (at least temporarily). Like I had learned with my earlier flooring experience, renovations are all about compromise.

Since I was definitely going to install my closet organization system, but was definitely out of money, I decided to do what I had tried to avoid from the very start... get my hands dirty and do the hard work myself. I recruited my family to pitch in, and I am so glad I did because it turned into a very big undertaking. With 3 of us working on it, it took approximately 20 hours to build and install my closet organization system (for a walk-in closet space of about 6' by 6')!

My advice if you ever install a closet organization system: have at least 2 to 3 people installing it, otherwise it is too difficult.

More great deals for Home & Garden.

If you have not yet checked out Home Decorators Collection yet, I highly recommend you do so this week. They are an online and catalogue based home and garden retailer owned by Home Depot, and carry great products at reasonable prices. I have ordered several items from them and have been very happy with the product I received. Follow this link to receive 20% off your purchase - hurry, offer ends 4/29!

New Groupon Home & Garden Deals:

$50 for $150 Worth of Contemporary Furniture and Accessories at Modani West Hollywood

$25 for $50 Worth of Custom Products from The Personalized Doormats Company Online

Acoustic-Ceiling Removal from Neptune Construction & Remodeling. Two Options Available.

$69 for a Whole-House Carpet Cleaning and Disinfecting Fog, 50 Square Feet of Bona Hardwood Floor Care, and a Mattress Steam Clean from Air Comfort Green Seal 212

JoAnn's Home Decor Sale

There are many retail and online stores where you can always find great prices on home furniture and decorations. One of them is JoAnn's; if you are just patient, the item you want will go on sale in the near future. Right now home decor fabrics, tassels and trims, window treatment hardware, and many other items are on sale. So if you are thinking about changing your window treatments or adding privacy to your outdoor patio by hanging canvas curtains, I highly recommend shopping JoAnn's before the sale ends!

50% Off Entire Stock of 54" Home Decor Fabrics, 40% Off Entire Stock of Home Decor Trims & Tassels, & Many More Great Deals at JoAnn's!

Groupon now offers discounts for home & garden.

I love Groupon; in fact, it may be verging on an addiction. And to make this addiction worse, Groupon has recently launched deals aimed specifically at home and garden. If you haven't checked out these deals, follow this link to their webpage.

And if you have not yet signed up, do so immediately! Don't waste another second missing out on these great deals.

Some great deals currently available (hurry before they expire!):

$20 for $40 Worth of Designer Home Furnishings from BurkeDecor.com

Custom Home Furnishings, Window Treatments, and More at Ferrufino Interiors in Culver City. Two Options Available.

$50 for $100 Worth of Fabric, Pillows, and Gifts at Silk Trading Co.

$35 for $70 Worth of Plants and Accessories at The Plant Stand in Costa Mesa.

$20 for $40 Worth of Gifts, Jewelry, Fashion, and Home Decor at Bear Essentials Gift Shoppe in Arcadia.

Photos of lighting fixtures I purchased from LampsPlus and moldings I chose.

Chandelier over dining room table:


Light fixture in kitchen and closet (and crown molding treatment in the kitchen):


Light fixture in hallways:


Light fixture over bathroom vanity:


Table lamp with black lamp shade:



Floor lamp with black lamp shade:



Large 10" crown molding lining interior of old light box in the kitchen:



4" crown and 3" window and door molding:

Creative inspiration can come from almost anywhere.

Just like I had to choose paint colors, wallpaper and lighting fixtures before my handyman could get started, I also had to choose the type and size of the crown and base moldings I wanted before the contractor could get started on installation. The contractor provided me with a catalogue, and I ended up choosing their most popular style and size (4 inch crown, 5 inch base molding, 3 inch moldings to frame the windows and doors). I also decided that I wanted them to remove the ugly 1990’s lighting box in my kitchen and replace it with the fixture I had found at Lamps Plus. I got the idea of how to finish out the box from a local hotel (the Doubletree in Torrance, CA). Instead of installing the typical 4 inch molding on the inside edges of the box, I had them install large 10 inch molding that reached all the way from the top of the box to the bottom edge. I was so happy with the result! Hotels can be a great place for design inspiration, and I highly recommend walking through a few if you come to a mental road block while decorating your home.

What techniques or tricks do you use to find design inspiration and overcome mental road blocks?

Recommended Contractor:
South County Drywall
208 Technology Drive, Suite M
Irvine, CA 92618

(949) 679-4411
www.southcountydrywall.com

Bouncing ideas off friends and family helps in the design decision process.

Before my handyman could begin his work, I had to decide on paint colors, wallpaper, and lighting fixtures. This was actually a lot harder than I thought it would be, and I brought in a lot of family and friends to give me their opinions and help me make the decision. I ended up choosing a pretty Tiffany blue for one wall of the living room (I did not want to overwhelm the room), a neutral cream for the other walls (chosen to complement the wallpaper in the master bedroom), and pure white for the ceiling, crown-molding and fireplace. I chose the same neutral cream (but in a glossy finish) for the cabinets in the kitchen, hallway, and bathroom. I also used this neutral cream on the walls in the bathroom, hallway, and in my bedroom. I chose a flower-print wallpaper to hang on one wall in my bedroom (again, so I did not overwhelm the room).

As for lighting, I looked at Home Depot and Lowe’s, but was disappointed with their selection. So I ended up buying all of my fixtures from Lamps Plus, who have a huge selection in store (it’s imperative to see the fixture in person before making a decision), really great staff, and a fair return policy. I chose a beautiful crystal chandelier in a modern, almost disco-ball shape (not your typical chandelier) to be hung over the dining room table, simple white cloth fixtures for the hallways and bathroom, and elegant, over-sized cloth fixtures for the kitchen and walk-in closet (since these are such small places, I wanted to make a statement by installing over-sized fixtures). I also purchased a floor lamp and table lamp for the living room, and replaced the included white lamp shades with elegant black ones to contrast against the light blue and creams of the room.

What are your favorite suppliers for lighting fixtures?

Recommended Supplier:
Lamps Plus
18989 Hawthorne Blvd
Torrance, CA 90504
(310) 542-8682
*other locations in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Texas and Colorado.
www.lampsplus.com

Sometimes renovations require multiple contractors and/or handymen to complete the job.

Once I hired my handyman, he met me at the condo to go over what work I would like done. I rattled off my list, and then he suggested what he could do well and what he recommended I contract out. I knew I had made the right choice when he was honest enough to tell me to give work (and money) to another contractor. He also suggested things to change or fix that I hadn’t thought of: for instance, he suggested I change the current 3 inch base molding to a larger 5 inch molding because it would make the small rooms look larger. He also suggested I have molding installed around the windows and doors to create an elegant frame. Again, I knew I had made the right choice when we started working on this renovation together as a team. We decided he would paint the walls and cabinets (kitchen, hallway, bathroom), hang wallpaper in the master bedroom, replace the lighting fixtures, change all doorknobs to match the cabinet pulls, and hang cedar paneling in the walk-in closet. I would find another contractor to scrape the ceilings and paint them, install can lights in the living room and bedroom, and install crown and base molding. After my handyman left for the day, I went over my notes I had made earlier regarding the different contractors I had interviewed. I decided to use one of these contractors (South County Drywall) to finish the rest of my wish list. I called South County Drywall and set up a work schedule. My handyman suggested that I have the ceilings scraped and painted and the can lights installed first, then he would come in and paint the walls, hang the wallpaper, and install the cedar paneling, and then I could have the other contractor install the moldings. It took about one month to complete all of this work.

Have you used multiple handymen/contractors while renovating your home?

Research and references are the key to finding a good handyman or contractor.

After deciding not to install wood laminate flooring, I moved onto the next items on my (now shorter) wish list: paint walls and cabinets throughout, scrape the popcorn ceilings, and install crown molding in every room. Like I said, I have painted walls before and absolutely despise it, so I again asked around for someone who could do this for me. A friend from church has been using the same handyman for years and loves him, so I decided to give him a call. He came over to the condo and gave me an estimate, but I decided this time that I wanted more than one estimate (always a good idea!). So I found some coupon advertisements for some companies that scrape popcorn ceilings. I had 3 different contractors come out and give me estimates, and all said they could also paint the walls for me, install crown molding, and install can lights if I wanted. After looking at all the bids, and also listening to my instincts (who did I trust? Who did I feel comfortable with having in my home?), I decided to use the handyman that my friend from church had recommended. He was not the cheapest option, but I knew I could trust him. If there is one thing that I have learned from my year-long renovating/decorating project (other than keeping an itemized budget), it is to always use professionals and contractors you trust. If they do a poor job, you will be the one stuck finding and paying for someone who can fix it. If they steal something from your house, again you will be the one paying for it. So it is worth it to pay a little more now in order to save a lot of heartache and expense later.

What resources have you used to find a trustworthy handyman or contractor?

Photos from my first day of home-ownership!

My first home!

The living room before I started renovating. The beautiful ladies are my mom (top right) and my grandma (in the wheel chair).

The dining room, with a window into the kitchen. Again, before I started renovating.

Do you have photos of your home prior to renovation you would like to share?


Rest In Peace Grandma.

Sticking to a budget isn't always fun.

Back to my wish list - I knew I didn’t want to do any of the renovating myself (I had painted walls before and found it to not be worth the hassle), so I asked my family and friends for referrals on handymen and contractors who could do it for me. My mom recommended a local company that she had used a few years back to redo the flooring in our rental property (Greg’s Carpet One Floor & Home in Redondo Beach CA, in case you live in the area), so I went down to their show room to look at wood laminate samples. Once I selected the type I wanted (in this case, the cheapest laminate he had at only $1 per square foot), the owner sent me a work estimate within a few days. My condo is under 700 square feet, so I thought I wouldn’t be paying more than $2,000 for labor plus supplies… but boy was I wrong! The supplies only cost about $700, but labor was so expensive that it brought the total up to $5,000! I asked around, however, and it seems this is a fair price on laminate installation for this size condo. I looked at my budget, did a cost-benefit analysis, and decided that the benefit of having nice, pretty wood laminate floors would not outweigh the cost. So in the end I did not get my floors redone, and now have to live with the old tile (which I realized isn’t all that bad). Trade-offs are a necessary part of staying under budget while renovating or decorating your home, and a cost-benefit analysis is helpful when deciding what to keep and what to drop off the wish list.

Do you have a vendor in your area that you would recommend for flooring?

Recommended Supplier:
Flooring: Greg’s Carpet One Floor & Home
213 S. Pacific Coast Hwy
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 803-9904
www.gregscarpetoneredondobeach.com

The importance of an itemized budget.

Once I had the condo keys in my hands, I made a list of what renovating I would like to do:
1. Redo floors (currently off-white 18” tiles).
2. Paint walls and cabinets throughout.
3. Scrape ceilings smooth (popcorn ceilings are sooo 1990).
4. Install crown molding in all rooms.
5. Install closet organizing system in walk-in closet (the main selling feature of the house for me!).
6. Install cedar planks in closet.
7. Build wooden structure to create privacy on my small patio.

With my wish list in hand, I wrote up a budget based on what funds I had available (in this case, both saved and borrowed). I did not make a line-item budget (detailing exactly how much money was available to spend on each project), and now I wish I had. I spent significantly more than I had budgeted (think twice as much), and I know if I had an itemized budget and had been more conscious of where I was spending my money, I would not have spent so much. So please learn from my mistake, and create an ITEMIZED BUDGET before you begin any home improvement project! And not only that, but please document every expense incurred during the renovation/decoration so that you can stay on budget from start to finish.

Have you ever blown your budget? What did you learn from the experience?

A Four Month Decorating Adventure

I bought my very first home in April 2010, but didn’t actually move in until 4 months later. The condo was in move-in condition, but I wanted to really make it my home. Over the next few blog entries, I will detail how I renovated and decorated my condo, including the research and preparation, what I did myself and what I hired out, as well as where I bought my supplies and furniture, and what I like about my approach and what I now wish I had done differently (it’s always more fun to learn from other’s mistakes!). I hope this information is helpful, and please feel free to reach out to me with questions or comments!

What things do you wish someone had told you before renovating or decorating your home?