Earlier this year, my husband and I bought a house.  But it wasn’t just any house; it was the home his grandfather had built back in the 1940s.  It was the home where his father, aunt, and uncles had grown up.  It was the home where he’d spent countless holidays and birthdays.

We were so very excited to take on all those happy memories.  We were not so excited about the blaze orange countertops, the 1960’s paneling, or the dingy wall-to-wall carpeting. Being first time homeowners, it was fun to dream about renovations but more than a little intimidating to get the ball rolling.  Where to start? Which codes to follow?  Which tools and materials are the best? When will we have time to work on projects? And, most importantly, how much will everything cost?

I did what any good librarian would do and started my research at the library!  We found amazing DVDs on repairing the damage caused by removing the old paneling.  We also used the online Consumer Reports access to compare and evaluate flooring options, tools, and appliances.  We streamed Freegal music from our cell phones when all of our stereo equipment was packed away, safe from the sanding dust. And finally, after all of the hard work was done, I checked out books on paint palettes and interior decorating to tie everything together.

Although the kitchen may be finished (for now!), there are still plenty of other projects to tackle.  What
kind of projects do you have coming up?