Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
When architect Sarah Susanka remodeled her kitchen, she didn't use pricey granite or edgy concrete for her countertops. She used laminate. Her cabinets: Ikea.
"You can save thousands of dollars" by using simple materials in a well-designed space, says Susanka, author of the best-selling 1998 book The Not So Big House.
She has been pushing this for a long time. A couple years ago the local Parade of homes required homes based on her prinicples, well... as a designer I found it to be a "not so big parade" the homes had major problems with flow. It was more the designers issue.
The thing is, those laminate countertops are going to wear out way before the cabinets. At least the granite or concrete would last awhile.
My house's kitchen was done in 1985 (we just bought it). While the wood cabinets could use refinishing, they are sturdy-but the white laminate countertop is a total mess, burned, stained, cracked and peeling. I'm not doing granite at the moment, but perhaps granite tile over it-at least that would last longer than the formica did.
Anyhow, I have always lived in smaller houses, and our new house is the largest I'd ever have-five bedrooms (we have five kids) but two baths is fine, we're not adding more. It's a split level that was added on to. We did look at McMansions and were not interested. Too much wasted space typically. Who needs a bathroom the size of a bedroom? Who needs a bedroom the size of a studio apt? Sheesh. And you have to heat all that. And cool it if you have AC, which it seems they do. My new house doesn't, it has an attic fan which is supposed to be great. I'll find out in summer.
I've done the same. I've retired and have downsized everything it seems. I always dreamed of the 8 bedroom 7 bathroom 2 kitchen home on the golf resort...... moved from there!
The condo in Vegas...moved from there.
I'm one of those tired of the tax man reaching into my pockets constantly. I want to live a nice lifestyle w/ a comfortable and pretty home. No intentions of ever selling AND it's not up to me to provide long lasting top of the line anything for my kids.
Nope, I'm hand building my cabinets and doing my floors myself.
When the economy gets really bad, I'll be safer. I own my home outright and can pay living expenses AND taxes w/ my retirement pay.
One thing though, space....I'm used to alot of space so I've found myself extending the flow of the house outside...as in living area on the patio.
I had smaller house... they have to have a good design or you will have poor flow and no storage space.
I bought a small "McMansion". For the first time, I have a foyer, hall closet, linen closet, closet for my bedrooms, and a pantry. Give me a "McMansion" any day.
As far as heating and cooling... yes, the smaller house was probably easier to heat but since it was an older house it was drafty (leaky windows, no insulation) so I think the McMansion and older smaller home is in a "dead heat" on energy bills
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
