Is the facade of your house architecturally boring? You may not want to go to this extreme, but here's what I did on my last renovation. The wonderful 1950's contemporary house sits on what, in Ann Arbor, we call a hill. Approaching it you saw a flat concrete block wall that offered no hint of the exciting interior. I've always wanted an adobe home so a very talented artist created this trompe l'oeil! While we lived in the house, the most fun was watching kids drag their parents up the hill to see if the door was - or was not - real! The only "real" thing is the pot of geraniums to the right of the door. It was great fun and has become an Ann Arbor landmark.

There are a multitude of options for enhancing the exterior of a home - many very simple and inexpensive. Creating a courtyard entrance in front of an uninviting '50's ranch is dynamite! The second photograph illustrates this beautifully. Oddly enough, it's only a block away from our trompe l'oeil!

Additions do not always have to be in the backyard. If you've a boring ranch with space in front, putting the new room there, creating an L entry, can add immeasurably to the architectural appeal. Friends had a situation where the only possible way to add a room was to attach a new garage in front of the original (attached) garage. They turned the old garage into a great studio and lost none of their backyard. Had their lot been wider they could have come forward from the other side of the house - at greater expense, however.

A modest update of kitchen and bathroom can make a huge difference when it's time to sell. New countertops, hardware, maybe paint those vintage cupboards? An architect client who purchased a rather decrepit condo put in new kitchen cabinets and then had them painted persimmon! It's drop dead gorgeous.

If you're thinking of moving because you need more space, look at how you're using what you have. Read "The Not So Big House" by Sarah Susanka. The subtitle is "A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live". Having been in many homes where the living room was never used and the dining room seldom I think she's right on. (we're preparing to knock out all the walls between the kitchen, dining and formal living room in our new house!)

If you're going to stay in your home for a couple more years and would love to make some changes, what should you do? How much might you expect to recoup? A recent survey in Remodeling magazine indicated that if you live in Charlotte, N.C. you'll recoup 144% of the standard bathroom remodeling job. The same project would recover only 47% in Cleveland. Ann Arbor wasn't on the list, but I've a pretty good idea. Do it and enjoy!

For more information, Contact Jackie! For resources in the Ann Arbor area go to "Resource List".