Building and renovating a home can be shockingly expensive. While individual items may not seem too expensive, every little doorknob, cabinet hinge, and floor tile add up to one costly and time-consuming project. It’s tempting to want to save money however you can on your building renovation, but how can you cut costs without cutting corners? One solution is to shop at local secondhand stores, such as a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, where you can donate and purchase gently used building materials, lumber, cabinets, doors, windows, and more. While it can take a little more time to find what you need, secondhand shops often have better quality materials at a better price than new retail stores, and you’ll find items that are more special to you and your home. In short, shopping secondhand for renovation materials can help you save money, create a unique home, and protect
Tag: house renovations ideas
The iconic “Brady Bunch” home where Mike, Carol, Greg, Marcia, Peter, Jan, Bobby and Cindy Brady cemented their status as a beloved American ’70s sitcom family is up for sale.
“The possibilities are endless” for a lucky homebuyer — who will be able to ascend from the famous staircase, hang out in the groovy attic, cook on bright orange Formica kitchen counters and sleep in pink twin beds, according to the listing. Curated furnishings and accessories are also included in the sale.
The five-bedroom, five-bathroom Los Angeles suburbs home was listed for $5.5 million by HGTV, which bought the property in 2018. In 2019, the network launched its series, “A Very Brady Renovation,” to show the home’s transformation.
“As part of the massive renovation, HGTV invested $1.9 million and added 2,000 square feet to the property’s original footprint, including a full second story,” a statement from HGTV said.
Danny Brown,
PRESS RELEASE
Published May 26, 2023

BC Renos, a leading provider of top-quality home renovation services, is pleased to announce the expansion of its offerings to include a wide range of exceptional finishing, painting, drywall, flooring, tiling, and other renovation services. With a team of highly skilled professionals and a commitment to customer satisfaction, BC Renos aims to transform houses into dream homes for residents across the region.
Homeowners often desire a fresh look or functional upgrades to their living spaces, and BC Renos understands the importance of delivering exceptional craftsmanship to meet these needs. By expanding their service portfolio, BC Renos ensures that customers have access to a comprehensive range of renovation solutions under one roof, simplifying the process and saving time.
BC Renos prides itself on its attention to detail, using only the finest materials and employing skilled tradespeople to ensure that each project is executed to the
Heidi Klum’s housekeeper of 17 years has always had her back. Now the model and TV host is showing appreciation for her housekeeper in a big way: She surprised her with a life-changing home renovation.
During a new episode of HGTV’s Celebrity IOUs, Klum teamed up with Drew and Jonathan Scott to completely transform her housekeeper Lucia’s home in Westchester, California. Since working for Klum, Lucia has become like a second mom to her kids. “She’s been there for me, always, through everything,” Klum says in the episode. “She’s become part of our family. She really is someone in my house that I can’t live without.”
With a timeline of three to four weeks, Klum and the Property Brothers stars got to work to make the multigenerational home—which Lucia shares with her daughter Lorena, son-in-law, and grandchildren—stylish
What is a Whirligig Toy?
The word whirligig derives from two Middle English words: whirlen (to whirl) and gigg (top), or literally “to whirl a top”. So the gist of the whirligig toy then is basically to use a scientific force (in our case we create it) to get the thing whirling and then we seek to keep it going.
That’s all pretty fancy to say a disc on a string. This simple pleasure of both making and playing with whirligigs provided hours of entertainment for the children of early America and still does today.
Native American whirligig toy
Whirligigs are documented as early as the 1400’s in Europe but there is also evidence of whirligigs being here in America some say as early as 500 BC! (For you scientific types, it refers to the Fourche Maline Culture) There is evidence that the whirligig was used in the ceremony to
For the first time in three years, Ontarians are spending less money on home improvements after reaching all-time highs during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC).
Officials with MPAC told CTV News that home renovations are down across the province, but note that doesn’t appear to be the case in Windsor-Essex.
“Although we’re seeing about a 12 per cent decrease in residential permit activity overall in Ontario, [in the] Windsor-Essex area, what we’re really seeing there is a decline of about 6 per cent,” said Carmelo Lipsi, MPAC vice president and chief operating officer.
Lipsi said the decrease across the province could be credited to an increase in the cost of financing, with higher interest rates making things more expensive.
Also, homeowners are now spending renovation money on travel experiences instead of their homes.
“The cost of any renovations or permits now has gone up,”
Ever wanted to pack your bags, move to a remote island, and dive head-first into a home renovation project? Ireland’s making your dream a reality—well, sort of.
The Irish government recently revealed its Our Living Lands pledge, a 10-year national policy to revitalize the islands off their western coast. Per the initiative, Ireland will give individuals €84,000 (approximately $92,000) to refurbish vacant or run-down homes on 30 of the country’s islands. The goal, according to the Irish government is to strengthen the islands’ communities and increase their population.
For many, this seems like a great opportunity to spend time in Ireland—which, don’t get us wrong, it is. However, in this corner of the internet, we’re seeing it as an opportunity to live out our dreams as professional home renovators. (Do you hear that HGTV? We’re ready for our closeup!)
More From House Beautiful

©Shutterstock.com
It’s no secret that home renovations involve a lot of time — and a lot of money. Whether you’re dreaming of a new kitchen or want to remodel your bathroom, experts agree you will need to conduct thorough research on the extent of the project and the cost, as it will probably take a good chunk of money out of your savings.
Indeed, homeowners are spending a lot on home maintenance. A new GOBankingRates survey found that almost 20% of respondents spent more than $7,000 last year on home renovations, with 12% spending $7,001 to $10,000 and 8% spending more than $10,000.
“That’s not the answer most people want to hear, but you have to really do a comprehensive and realistic research, including not just the cost to do the work and the materials but also any permits, inspections and other administrative costs that can get very pricey, ”
Home improvement is practically an American pastime, with millions of homeowners completing projects each year. while renovations will generally improve your quality of life, many don’t actually provide a financial return.
“In most cases, only home projects that add additional functionality or livable square footage add to the home’s value,” says David Steckel, home expert at home services marketplace Thumbtack.
The exceptions are kitchen and bathroom upgrades, as well as extensive enhancements to the exterior such as a new roof, windows or landscaping because these projects can elevate the home’s feel.
To identify projects that can increase your property value when you sell—or at least save you money while you live there—we spoke to home improvement experts and shifted through return-on-investment data. Below, a look at five popular home improvements and tips to make sure they pay off.
Do solar panels increase home value?
Interest in solar has been growing

