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How to Add International Flair to Your Home Without Looking Themed
A home can feel inspired by places around the world without looking overly styled or forced. The best rooms usually don’t copy one place exactly. Instead, they borrow what makes a space feel special — the color, texture, materials, artistry, and mood — and mix those elements in a way that feels personal. That’s what makes internationally inspired decorating so beautiful. It feels layered, warm, and collected over time. Styles like Japandi, Scandinavian, Mediterranean, and Mor
Thelma
3 days ago4 min read
Done with phase one!
My cousin knew a cabinets/handyman. He installed the kitchen cabinets, and master bathroom shower door. I hired another handyman to complete some exterior work. He did a great job! I did some trim painting, caulking in the bathrooms, and grout patching to finish the remodel. The county did their final building inspection and we passed! It's going to be awhile for phase two the exterior.
Thelma
Oct 23, 20251 min read
Small Budget, Big Ideas
Due to the issues and budget overruns of the remodel, I will need to be creative. I have a 1064 sq. ft house. This house now has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room, dining room, and a family/kitchen combo. At a minimum I estimated the décor would be $1,500 to $3,000 per room.; which is $12,000-$24,000. Well…that’s no longer a realistic budget. ☹ The first thing I did was to see what I had in the house I could use. There was a queen size bed, a cedar Armoire, a coffee
Thelma
Oct 23, 20251 min read
Real Talk – Real money - Lessons Learned
My first renovation wasn't glamorous and didn't quite go as imagined. There were delays and unproductive and less-than-honest contractors who took advantage of my lack of knowledge and being an absentee homeowner. Here are the lessons I learned during the renovation process. Hopefully, my mistakes will help you from wasting your time and money. Ensure you have written plans, i.e., budget, designs, and permits. Sometimes you will need professional plans from structural enginee
Thelma
Oct 23, 20253 min read
Oh No! - Contractor Two
I’m just going to highlight the issues I had with the other contractor. He really didn’t complete the job, but he finished enough that I could do the work. · We signed a contract with the work he would perform. He would be paid once a week a fixed price amount. I started noticing through my Ring camera he wasn’t working every day and most days he wasn’t working 8 hours, but he was getting a full week’s pay. He was notified what I was noticing. I explained to him, the contract
Thelma
Oct 23, 20253 min read
Report Bad Contractors
I’ve posted a Yelp and Angie's List review to warn people. I filed a complaint with the DPOR ( http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/File-Complaint/ ) and Better Business Bureau (BBB.org) in Dec 2019. Note: Complaints to governmental agencies have time limits, so don’t miss the deadlines. DPOR within 3 years. BBB within 1 year. I hired a new contractor my cousin recommended. I didn’t do the vetting process, because he was a recommendation from family. This contractor was better, b
Thelma
Oct 23, 20251 min read
Stressed Contractor
My cousin and the plumber I had to hire kept pointing out issues and I kept asking the contractor questions until the contractor couldn’t take it anymore. He said, he felt stressed and he had too many bosses, even though I was the only person contacting him. So, he quit. He pulled his men off of the site that day. We agreed he would send me receipts for the work he had done, and he would refund the rest.
Thelma
Oct 23, 20251 min read
He said, she said - Demo
Work finally started Monday January 21st. The following Saturday I went to check on the progress. They had gotten pretty far with the demo and the had framed and he had added the drainage to the bathroom. One big problem this bathroom was to be an on-suite bathroom. The doorway was in the wrong place. Contacted contractor and he said his team went over several design options and thought this would be the best one. He spoke to everyone except the customer, me. He once again ma
Thelma
Oct 23, 20251 min read
Delays, Delays, Delays
he construction delays begin. The project was to start after Thanksgiving. Thanksgivings holiday is over and still no revised kitchen designed. I asked when they were going to get started and where’s the kitchen design and the floor plan for the new bathroom for me to approve. I was told, now instead of starting after Thanksgiving he will start after Christmas. I’m not sure if I mentioned this is a rental property with a mortgage. I was wondering why I was still waiting for
Thelma
Oct 23, 20251 min read
Kitchen Cabinets - You ordered what...
I was told it was time to order the cabinets, so I went to his showroom. It was a nice showroom with a lot of tile, cabinet, and countertops displays. I picked out the cabinets I wanted. A blue grey shaker, but we didn’t go over the kitchen layout for me to approve. After a few weeks I requested to see the kitchen design with the cabinets. He said he had ordered the cabinets, because it took a long time to get. He ordered them without me deciding on any of the configuration.
Thelma
Oct 23, 20251 min read
Contract -termination of Convenience clause
Needless to say, I had more issues with this contractor. I no longer trusted him, so when I had meetings with him, I brought witnesses, because he would say one thing and do another. I really wanted him to go but based on my research in the internet you can’t easily fire a contractor. Unless, the contract has the provision—the termination for convenience clause—that will allow the general contractor or owner to terminate the contract at any time without cause. The contract
Thelma
Oct 23, 20251 min read
Trust your gut - Think hard, Think wrong
I like this guy and I thought we could work together. He sent me the estimate and we negotiated on the price. After receiving the estimate. I asked for references. He provided a long list. I prepared the list of questions. I emailed and called several of them. I reached two. One reference said Contractor finished on time and on budget. However, they sometimes did not stick to the daily schedule. But she was happy with the end result. **Hindsight -Red Flag** The company not s
Thelma
Oct 23, 20251 min read
Picking a contractor
Well I finally picked a general contractor. It took me several months. I checked the company’s license. I made sure they were a class “A” contractor. In Virginia the website is http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/LicenseLookup/ to validate a contractor’s license. I also called and emailed a few of the references the company provided. There are three types of Virginia contractor’s licenses: Class A, Class B, and Class C. The licenses are generally based on the monetary limits of
Thelma
Oct 23, 20252 min read
Sharing the journey
I want to share my journey, because I haven’t seen what happens when someone inherits a property. People inherit property all the time and too many of us see a money pit and sell it. I was fortunate. My sibling and I agreed as to how the property would be divided. As you can see I got the house. Isn’t it a beauty. We were blessed to be given this home. Remember the house you were given probably came from a family member. A family member that sacrificed a lot to purchase that
Thelma
Oct 23, 20251 min read
Sticker Shock - Exterior Cost
I requested an estimate from the same box store for the updating the exterior my home to look like the inspiration home. I also wanted to add a deck in the back. Estimate over $92,000. Requested a revision to the estimate using less expensive materials. Never did receive the revision. I’m going to have to be creative. My exterior wish list – New windows and doors Siding Stack stone Fencing I was told could save over $7,000 if took the stack stone off the list. But I really
Thelma
Oct 23, 20251 min read
Holy Ghost House
I have family in the area and during the demo process my cousin happened by. Now, I hadn’t seen this cousin in years, and he doesn’t live in the area. I still believe my late mother sent him. That's why we call it the Holy Ghost House. This would be an invaluable reunion, because he is a licensed electrician. He has worked on many job sites and he noticed issues. One, where was the building permit. He said, it should be displayed in the window, house, tree, somewhere it coul
Thelma
Oct 23, 20252 min read
Another Change in Plans
During a conversation about the relocation of the water heater, the contractor mentioned another un-discussed design change. Now instead of a laundry closet where the washer and dryer were going to be stacked; the units will be side by side with a counter on top. I told him had an issue with the design, because I didn’t want people in the living room staring at a washer and dryer. He said, the units will be in a cabinet. Requested to see cabinets and countertops, so I can sen
Thelma
Oct 23, 20251 min read
The mortgage
This old house needs a lot of repairs and updates, so I needed to mortgage the house. I would like to give a shout out to Quicken Loans and Rocket mortgage. I’m not a paid spokesperson. I just found this company to be courteous and professional. They use the latest technology to gather your paperwork and to keep you updated on your loan process. And they are just like their name, “quick.” I would highly recommend them if you need a mortgage.
Thelma
Oct 23, 20251 min read
My First Renovation
This is my childhood home that I’m going to renovate. I’m a big fan of HGTV, so I feel like I’ve been training for this for years. I don’t have HGTV’s big budget, so I need to be a little creative. I want to share my journey, because I haven’t seen what happens when someone inherits a property. People inherit property all the time and too many of us see a money pit and sell it. I was fortunate. My sibling and I agreed as to how the property would be divided. As you can see I
Thelma
Oct 23, 20251 min read
5 Easy Ways to Elevate Your Living Room
1. Layer Your Lighting Lighting sets the mood and defines the atmosphere. Instead of relying on a single overhead fixture, mix it up with layers of light. Combine a statement chandelier or ceiling light with table lamps, floor lamps, and even candles for a cozy glow. Choose warm bulbs and dimmers to create ambiance that adjusts to your mood and time of day. Add Texture and Depth A well-designed room isn’t just about color — it’s about how it feels. Introduce a mix of texture
Thelma
Oct 23, 20252 min read
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