Home Projects

I'm back from my last trip, and getting caught up on all the little jobs that a homeowner has to do. I love owning my house, but don't let anyone fool you that it's all relaxation and enjoyment! Aside from all the regular maintenance - dishes, lawn, cleaning, weeding, etc. - I have plenty of small projects and grand plans for this house. Since I moved in a year ago, here are some of the improvements I have made:

• Replaced all lightswitch covers to silver ones that match
  
• Installed door stops for all doors
• Removed hideous shower door from master bathroom
  
• Painted all rooms (including the dark purple bedroom!)
  
• Sheetrocked, plastered, painted, and installed shelves in kitchen nook (unfinished previously)
  
• Replaced all windows in the house to energy efficient ones with screens (from Window World)
  
• Installed curtain rods (and curtains!) in bedrooms
• Planted two trees (satsuma and fig)
  
• Replaced shelving in one bedroom closet

But despite this impressive-looking list, there are still many, larger more expensive projects that I want. Here are a few:

• Create carport area from concrete parking spot next to garage
• Install wood floor in living room
• Extend deck to full length of house (which requires moving the outdoor AC unit as well)
  
• Create gravel walkway and flower beds along the side of the house
• Remodel master bathroom to create tiled, walk-in shower
• Replace all closet shelving
  
• Enclose part of garage area create a pantry and a laundry area
• Build a fence to go along one side of my yard (the neighbors just built a fence on the other side)
• Replace all outlet covers and door knobs
• Install crown molding in bedrooms and living room
• Install tile backsplash in kitchen
  

Some of them are relatively easy, and are only incomplete due to lack of time. But others will require outside help, significant amounts of money, and some inconvience to me. Part of the hurdle to some of these projects is locating a good contractor/fencebuilder/AC repairman/handyman. It's difficult down here to locate good workers, because of all the construction still going on post-Katrina.

But when I look out at my backyard right now - freshly mowed, trees mulched, everything in order - I happily think that it's all worth it. To struggle through learning the skills to take care of this house makes me appreciate and proudly show off my little piece of land, humble though it may be.