Dream home

By JENNIFER GISH, Staff writer
If money and time were no object, what would you do for your house? Readers share.

You replaced the kitchen floor in the spring, and repainted the dining room slate blue in July. But, oh, if money and time were not an issue, the things that you would do for the house you love. You look at home improvement catalogs and imagine it, and you have a file of paint samples and cabinet finishes that you cling to hoping that someday you'll get the chance.
In these days of holiday wishes, we asked Times Union readers to share their home improvement dreams. Here's what some readers had to say on our On the Edge blog (http://blog.timesunion.com/kristi). Comments have been edited for style and space.
After having a second child this past year, I'd love to turn our basement into the ultimate playroom for my children. They share a bedroom, so a playroom would be a great escape, especially during the long winter months of the Northeast. Then again, maybe I should wish for a third bedroom.
— Comment by S. Marie
I'd love to have our basement finished, complete with playroom for the kids, bar area with a pool table for the adults and a workout area for my New Year's resolutions!
— Comment by CMF
I love our house. However, there is always room for improvement.
I would love to do a huge master suite and blow out over the garage.
However, if I was just being minimalistic, I would do the following:
1. Put hardwood floors in upstairs and rip out the carpet.
2. Make our master shower all tile — (flooring and walls) and add a glass door and a rainfall shower faucet.
3. Replace our chandelier hallway light in our two-story foyer and the chandelier over our dining room table.
4. Replace all the door knobs in the house so they were silver instead of brass.
5. Install a lantern on our front lawn and some really cute lights on either side of our garage.
Sigh, the dreams I have.
— Comment by Bridget
My dream would involve landscaping and exterior restoration of the facade of the house. My house was built in 1820, and I have a picture of it from the late 19th century. I would love to restore the facade and the landscaping and fencing to make it look like it did at that time. This would include a stone walkway to the front door, a new fence, clearing of some trees, etc. The inside of the house looks great. Now I want the outside to look just as great.
— Comment by DanCF
My boyfriend purchased a house right before we started dating — literally. He had his loan approved the night of our first date. The house was his grandmother's, and let's just say there is no hiding that an 85-year-old woman lived in this house. Every surface was carpeted (including the front and back porches) or wallpapered (three different kinds in the half bath alone). We've painted half of the four bedrooms, the living room, the half bath (sayonara wallpaper!), the foyer and Venetian plastered the dining room. This leaves the upstairs bathroom, two more bedrooms, a sunroom and the kitchen. Out of all of these rooms, the kitchen is my personal nightmare. Not only is it carpeted (duh), but it's wood-paneled with outdated appliances, cabinetry and countertops. The other rooms have their own eccentricities, but this room has gots-ta go. I even went so far as to promise that if everyone chips in and helps renovate and update, I'll host the next Thanksgiving (for 60 people!)
— Comment by Robin
No. 1 would have to be a kitchen makeover. I've lived in my house for 21 years and haven't gotten to it yet. Seriously, I have a section of cabinets that is another color as the last owner died, yes died, before finishing the paint job. Don't even get me started on the linoleum flooring. No. 2 would have to be the bathroom. Our only bathroom, which still sports a pink tub and sink. Most of the other rooms have been redone, but it's just these two that I never seem to have the time or money to tackle properly. It has been a happy home to my family for all these years though, so I can't really complain.
1 2 Next