DIY Life

Four years of waiting (and saving) are finally over. My brand new bathtub was installed today. I'm overjoyed! At least, I will be when all the remaining work is done. I'm talking the tiling, painting, and those small yet oh-so crucial decorative touches.

Because my master bathroom is tiny and very narrow (58 in.), I expected my bathtub choices to be fairly limited. Wrong! There are tons of awesome, reasonably-priced tubs out there to choose from – including deep soaking tubs, which is what I'd had my heart set on.

Since my exhaustive search for the perfect tub is now behind me, I'd like to share what I've learned. Are you renovating a tiny BR? Today I'm going to run through a few shopping tips to help you make your selection. Next week, I'll expand on the theme with a list of quality, yet modestly priced, tubs ideal for small rooms.

Planning a bathroom renovation? Me, too. Right now, I'm shopping for the perfect bathtub.

Now, I knew right off the bat my budget wouldn't stretch to one of those luxe clawfoot models. But I also can't settle for a cheapo standard-issue (read: shallow, uncomfortable) tub. I'm looking for a bath that's comfortable and deep enough for soaking ... yet won't break the piggy bank.

If you're shopping for a tub, choose carefully. The cost of installation can easily dwarf that of the tub itself, so make sure the finished result is exactly what you wanted! You've probably already narrowed it down by size, shape and color. But wait: You still must choose the type of material your new tub will be made from. Let's take a look at the choices.

Not all home improvements are created equal. I have already written about which improvements you should avoid completely, as some renovations give you a much larger return on your investment (ROI) than others. If you are trying to decide between adding on an office or doing a full remodel of your outdated kitchen, you probably want to consider which one will be worth the most in the long run.

1) Kitchen: Whether large or small in scope, renovating your kitchen is always money well spent. In recent years the trend has moved away from formal living areas to the kitchen really being the focus of the home. Entertaining has become more casual and many people are not even bothering with formal dining and living rooms anymore. With that, there has become and increased focus on the kitchen not just being functional but also attractive and decorated.

Kitchen renovations can be as large as tearing everything out and replacing it all, to just replacing old appliances, from refacing cabinets to simply replacing cabinet hardware.

ROI at resale: 75-80% according to the 2008 annual survey by Remodeling Magazine

Look: I'm completely addicted to those glossy Before and After-type home renovation magazines. But I often scoff at the money spent on those gorgeous refits. There's no way I can sink that kind of money into my, er, sinks. That is, while I can afford one nice (alas, not luxe) renovation job, I can't swing it for both bathrooms. What's a girl to do?

After four years (yes, really) of on-and-off agonizing, I've decided on what I hope is a winning strategy: A fairly major renovation of our master bathroom -- which has the world's tiniest shower stall -- with only minor upgrades to our hall bath. I'll be doing the easier repairs and all the cosmetic stuff myself, but hiring in experts for the bigger tasks.

In the coming weeks, I'll be blogging about my progress. First stop is this new photo gallery on how to repair small holes in a bathtub. Please come back often to see how I'm doing! And don't forget: We love feedback. Post your thoughts and/or suggestions in Comments below.

You will need: a canvas drop cloth, upholstery fabric for the appliqué designs, and some other decorative fabric for the trim. You will also need a few sewing essentials: fusible web, iron, sewing machine, and scissors. Interested? Check out the step-by-step instructions here.

I have to admit the finished product looks amazing, atlhough I don't think it would work well in high-traffic areas of the house. A piece of non-slip foam backing underneath would be a must for safety's sake.

For more rug-related advice, check out Debbie's post on rug flipping.

It's been so long since we started our kitchen remodeling project, I almost forgot to post its completion. Though it's been functionally complete for several weeks, we were waiting on what turned out to be one of those "unexpected expenses" -- a new floor. The old one, much to our dismay, could not be patched.

Though we hired out the big work -- cabinet and counter top installation -- we did a lot of the grunt work ourselves. I wish I had kept a running total on the money we saved, because it was a lot. (Enough to cover the cost of the new floor? I don't know.) After the break, I'll share a summary of the work we put in to save ourselves money on the whole project.

Bring a bit of vintage style into your bathroom with Julie Reed's crocheted bath rug. The doily pattern that she used is from 1918: authentic and classic. The full tutorial will give you everything you need to recreate this bath mat in your own home.

Julie doesn't just list supplies and steps, but walks us through what works and what doesn't, as she chooses the right yarn and tries to minimize the ruffled edge.

I love her color choice. The juniper and charcoal heather compliment each other beautifully. This is the kind of inspired piece you could build your whole bathroom around. After the break, I'll discuss some DIY ways to finish off your vintage style bathroom.

How many days are we into our kitchen renovation now? I've lost count, and it feels like 100. Living without a kitchen is hard. Living without a kitchen when you're a SAHM to two small children is even harder. Luckily, in the scheme of things, this project has gone really quickly.

Last weekend we were able to move most of our stuff back in, including our stove and microwave. In about 10 days our counter tops and sink will be in, making the kitchen fully functional again. We thought we were going to move right into a bathroom renovation after this, but I think I need a break.

For the most part, things have gone smoothly. The falling plaster was too much to patch, so we ended up covering it with a birch wallboard. We'll seal and paint it the same color as the walls. To the casual observer, it shouldn't look any different than if we had plastered it.

Sometimes we choose DIY for the love of DIY, but other times it's for the monetary savings. Doing a project yourself, getting exactly what you want, and not paying through the roof makes DIY projects appealing to so many of us. Labor costs account for half (sometimes more) of construction costs. Doing work yourself can be your biggest savings, but only if you really know what you're doing, or have the time to learn. First, go through this quick checklist and figure out if you should do it yourself or not. If you do decide to take it on, this list of money saving tips will help you get the most for your dollar and the best end result.

The article suggests setting priorities and re-evaluating the scale of improvements. They offer tips on choosing which improvement will yield the greatest return, and suggest ways to obtain moderately priced materials instead of higher end expensive ones. They also warn what corners not to cut. Saving money is great, but not at the expense of safety, or quality. There are ways to do it well without re-mortgaging your home. With 10 tips in all, finishing with the DIY option, you'll find great pointers on how to save money on your home improvement projects. Check them out and let me know what you think is missing. How else do you save money with home improvement projects?

Yearning to renovate? Yearning to break free of a cumbersome renovation project? You need inspiration, my friend! In ye olden days, people in need of such inspiration turned to sources like books, radio or TV. Today, bloggers have been added to that list. One renovation-related blog that caught my eye recently is New York Renovator.

Billed as "a blog about home life and the challenges of renovating an 1855 home in Upstate, NY," New York Renovator is an enjoyable romp through all the ins and outs of home renovation. What's coolest is the blogger, who goes by the name Mrs. Mecomber, and freely admits she has a lot on her mind and a lot to say. She sure does cover a lot of ground here. I'm also liking Mrs. M's free and chatty manner, not to mention the fact that she doesn't mince words -- This Old House is "too big for its britches," she opines.

Put down the crowbar, honey. Instead, let's renovate that tacky old bathroom with...stickers? No joke. Check it out: Tile Tattoos, as profiled in Cookie magazine. (Thanks to reader Rachel, for putting us on to these.)

I'm in the midst of planning a bathroom renovation. I'm also painfully aware that one of priciest aspects will be getting professional tiling installed around my new tub. (No, there's no way I'll be attempting that myself.) Do you have outdated kitchen or bathroom tile? Loathe it but can't afford to replace it? Tile Tattoos look like an easy temporary fix even for the non-handy. Why? They are self-adhesive (so no glue required) yet leave no sticky residue when removed. The tiles come in several designs. They are sold in packs of six and are priced at around $16 per set.

Interestingly, the "tiles" are produced by Mibo, a Brit design company founded by a former tv and film art director. Mibo got its start selling spiffy lamp shades, but has since branched out quite a bit, hence these little tile decals. No word if they plan to branch out even further into the exciting world of toilet tattoos.

Oh, happy day! We are finally going to renovate one of our nasty, outdated bathrooms. This is great news, although I can't help but dwell on the niggling problems. Problem 1: I will have to undertake the nightmarish task of finding good, pleasant, honest contractors who are actually available to do the work sometime this century. Although my hope is that this should be easier given the downturn in the housing market. (Hey, gotta make lemonade from lemons...) Problem 2: the room is very small and narrow. It also has an odd, sloping roof with no crawl space above the ceiling, so replacing the ancient light fixture could be tricky.

Can my dream tub fit within this weird little room? That is the question. Okay, the answer is probably a big fat "No" -- at least to the big bathtub of my dreams. However, I'm willing to compromise on a smaller, narrower tub. So last night I spent a little time surfing around on the Web looking for inspiration. First up: I continue to be shocked at the lack of practical planning advice on manufacturer web sites. I'm looking at you American Standard and Kohler. You both need to send your Web design monkeys back to the drawing board 'cause although your sites are stylish, they aren't much help to the confused homeowner!

Now, in the olden days of, say, the 1980s, we thought a La-Z-Boy recliner was the height of indulgent relaxation. No longer. Now you've got your specialty home theater seating, meaning super-adjustable, huge, comfortable theater-style loungers complete with cup holders. Mmm. Comfort. And a mere $1,499.99 for a three-seat set of leather loungers. Yikes! Oh, and check this out for the ultimate in lavish living. At the other end of the spectrum, though, are budget-conscious DIY makeovers like this one for under $500, proving you don't have to be super-wealthy like Tony Soprano to theater-it-up. (Remember those episodes where he installed a home theater in the downstairs den, complete with an old-timey popcorn machine?)

Thinking of taking the plunge? The home improvement website Home Time has a really useful feature on home theater planning. It covers everything you'll need to consider, like the space you'll need and even suggested room layouts, to maximize your viewing pleasure. Need inspiration? Visit Projector Central for tons of makeover pics.

Just yesterday I was moaning and groaning over HGTV's 2008 Dream Home. Yes, I was singing a song of envy that goes something like this (and you can let your dog howl along with me): Why, oh why, does my house need so much stuff done to it? Why, oh why, do these beautiful dream homes have to be out there taunting me? Etc. etc. Today, however, I discovered a site that shows I'm in good company: Broke Homeowners.

Who are Broke Homeowners? Well, seems they are a couple somewhere out there with a house they've been working on a lot. Hence that "broke" feeling. Check out pics of their indoor and outdoor renovations, including putting in a stone patio, landscaping with trees, renovating the basement, and building a folding staircase for attic access. The Broke Homeowners are selling gear with their logo on it, too. (T-shirts say "Broke Homeowners. You're not alone. We understand.) They even have a blog. Er, a blog that hasn't been updated for quite a while. C'mon guys! I need moral support!

Yoo hoo, DIY'ers! Over here! Wanna feel some real pain? Check out the HGTV 2008 Dream Home. I'm talking about envy and a sliding feeling in your stomach also known as Renovation Depression. Well...that part I made up. But Renovation Depression could be a real condition. So many people pouring their hard-earned dollars and all their free time into endless home repairs and upgrades. Then along comes stuff like this to burst your achievement bubble, when you realize you'll never have anything half as impressive. Sigh.

You know, I don't necessarily want a house as pricey or perfect as this Florida palace. But when you dream of having a house that you love, where everything is arranged how you want it, where all the walls are finally painted exactly the right shades... Well, I don't know about you, but to me it can be painful seeing such housing perfection. Outdoor shower? Fishing closet? Yeesh. Even the family dog has its own cabana.

Visit HGTV to see photos of the interior and exterior of the Dream Home. Visit HGTV sister site, HGTVpro to view photos of the house's construction.