[Shop-talk] Home remodeling when you suck at interior design?

[Chris Kantarjiev]

cornerexit wrote:
> I will be starting on a progressive remodeling of our home, which is an
> older, simple 3 bedroom rambler. I have the skills and tools to do all of
> the physical work myself, and I'm looking to do a budget remodel that will
> simply modernize the look a bit, and strengthen marketability for the
> future. This house may eventually end up as rental, or it may end up on the
> market as a "starter home". I am starting with the master bathroom which is
> a fairly small space in this older house. Pretty much a complete re-do is
> needed. New tub and tub-surround, new ceiling and floor (currently faded,
> dated tile on both), new vanity, sink, counter-top (currently a built-in
> counter-top due to the shape of the room), faucets, mirror, lights, towel
> bars etc.
> 
> While it's nice that I can do the work myself, my hang-up is I suck at
> interior design in terms of choosing colors, accessories etc. I am your
> typical knuckle dragging Neanderthal male who would not know a bathroom that
> was "in-style", or "coordinated" if it hit me upside the head. To make
> matters more frustrating, I am a visual learner and my eyes glaze over when
> an interior decorator type starts telling me what needs done with no
> pictures to help explain.
> 
> While I don't want to over-complicate this project, I'd like to have some
> sort of plan of attack other than going down to home depot and throwing a
> bunch of stuff in a cart, and hope it looks right when installed (which is
> what I usually do...).
> 
> Any websites that have a bunch of bathroom design pictures? Any free or
> relatively inexpensive 3D design software that might be helpful in a home
> redesign? The bathroom is just the first room, so I will be faced with this
> same problem on all the other areas of the house as well.

Google bought SketchUp, so it's free now. It's a pretty nice tool once 
you figure out some of its oddities.

> Know of any websites where home owners may have documented their
> do-it-yourself journey while remodeling their homes? I'd be particularly
> interested in any refurb techniques that could update the look of the area
> without spending a ton of money, like techniques to refinish old style
> cabinets vs. replacing them etc.

For color choices, there are a bunch of tools on the web that might help 
you pick good color palettes. Try the Sherwin Williams site.