Kitchen Countertop Decor

... Microwave Oven, 700W Solo Manual Countertop Microwave with 5 Power Levels.... The stylish exterior enhances any kitchen decor while allowing you to monitor... microwave fits perfectly on any countertop. 【Easy Manual Operation】Enjoy straightforward...

... Midea 0.7 cu. ft. Countertop Microwave delivers 700 watts of... Midea 0.7 cu. ft. Countertop Microwave today to enjoy effortless... alarm to help keep your kitchen peaceful Black Finish: Features a... to blend seamlessly into your kitchen decor 1-Year Warranty: 1-Year limited manufacturer...

... £17.10, is a versatile kitchen appliance designed to cater to... feet ensure stability on the countertop, reducing the risk of spills. ... BELLA waffle maker complements any kitchen decor. Its compact size and folding ... highly in the Home & Kitchen category on Amazon. Customer Reviews...

... to your countertop. Its modern aesthetic blends seamlessly with any kitchen decor, making... it a stylish kitchen appliances. SHAKE REMINDER...

... on Amazon, is a versatile kitchen accessory designed for both style... suitable for a variety of kitchen tasks, from slicing meats to... kitchen. Additional features include a built-in groove to catch juices, keeping your countertop... natural brown colour, complementing any kitchen decor. As part of the package...

Amazon has STWWO Stainless Steel Countertop Paper Towel Holder with Weighted ... to match modern or traditional kitchen decor. Compact freestanding profile preserves valuable...

... then half pretty shabby chic decor. Shes bought a lovely bread... next to tons rubbish. That countertop is prob used most, it... and look like a homesense decor shop. Get rid of those... filled to the brim that kitchen. Im back omg shes covered ...

Description Enhance your kitchen aesthetics with this exquisite set. ... functionality and style for your kitchen. Each canister is crafted with... to your countertop. The pristine white finish complements any decor, while the...

..., is a compact yet efficient kitchen appliance designed for residential use..., it fits comfortably on any countertop, making it ideal for small... a modern touch to any kitchen decor. One of the standout features...

... microwave as part of the kitchen decor. Percy Spencer, while conducting research ..., in 1967 a smaller 100-volt countertop version was introduced at a ...

... you to maintain a tidy kitchen effortlessly by sliding out the... storage underneath helps keep your countertop organised when the toaster is... and eye-catching element to your kitchen decor. Part of the Argyle Collection..., allowing you to personalise your kitchen space. Constructed from durable plastic...

... with built-in hooks—keeping your kitchen sink area clutter-free. No more... cleaning essentials Fit for Kitchen Sink & Countertop: Designed specifically for kitchen sink surroundings, this... compact caddy fits snugly next to your sink or on the countertop..., it blends seamlessly with modern kitchen decor while keeping your space tidy ...

.... This aesthetic not only enhances kitchen decor but also provides a tactile... that optimises space on the countertop. The appliance measures 26.5D ... yet substantial addition to any kitchen. Operating at 220 volts, it ... Swan, a trusted name in kitchen appliances, and is ranked as ...

... fit seamlessly into your countertop space, leaving your kitchen looking clean and... will look great with any decor. It's also an ideal gift...

... not a fan of gray decor; IMO it’s a current trend .... Even our timeshare used gray decor in their last remodel. But ... like that countertop with the maple wood. Mahogany is too dark for my small kitchen and I... definitely don't want white cabinets. The gray cabinets matched my chosen countertop better... because what works in the kitchen will not work throughout the ...

... artisanal decor over mass-produced items. Waterfall island - a kitchen design feature where the countertop... in multiples or rows over kitchen islands or dining tables, they ...

... that fits seamlessly into any kitchen decor. The illuminated controls enhance usability... feature helps maintain a tidy countertop. This model, identified as VKT223... the needs of a busy kitchen environment. Customer Reviews

Hello group! I just returned from Homegoods. How does this look? I feel decent about it but would love some constructive criticism, if any, as I’m not an expert in decorating. I just get my inspirations from watching countless TikTok videos. submitted by /u/rlhglm18 to r/interiordecorating [link] [comments]

Hello! I decided to make this post because the last one, honestly, blew up way more than I ever expected. I wasn’t physically able to respond to everyone in the last thread, but want to address some commonly brought up topics and answer some questions. There are also new and better quality pictures which, hopefully, will give some more context and perspective - I know the single picture was a bit confusing, especially when it comes to the ‚mmm’ light fixture placement. Today OP delivers, so here we go! Q: Why do it? A: We bought this apartment and we will very likely stay here for a long time. We never had a space that was made for us, with our ideas, so this was our only shot in the foreseeable future. Why do it like that? We wanted a space that feels like ours. The previous kitchen was functional, but very neutral, and it looked a bit depressing when it was gray outside. We intentionally went for color and contrast to make the space feel brighter and more alive year-round. There’s way too many gray days in Poland during autumn/winter to also have a gray interior. This new kitchen is great to look at when it’s cloudy and dark outside and really brightens our mornings then (well, it does so at all times, but also then). And when it’s sunny, the colors just pop and look amazing. The waves pattern that you see in the kitchen (handles, light fixture) is repeated in other places in our home (I'm showing the dining table today, and you’ll see the rest one day, too). The color palette (green, pink, blue accents) also repeats outside of the kitchen to varying degrees. You can hate the colors, but we love them, and as multiple people pointed out, that’s what matters at the end of the day. Q: Did you design this all by yourself? A: It hasn’t been asked by anyone, but I have to give credit where credit is due - the design is the result of our collaboration with a Polish design studio called Faro (if you like this kitchen, you might want to check out their instagram profile). With the last post, I woke up to a million views and hundreds of comments, so it was too late to give a proper shoutout - I want to do it now, because it’s well deserved. The story is that we had an idea for a colorful kitchen with a playful twist, strong blue accents, an island and the Oblure light fixture (‚mmm’), and hired Faro to consolidate these ideas - they came up with lot of options for us to choose from and prepared something really unique in the end. We were so happy with them, in fact, that we contracted them to design our bedroom, too. And it also turned out awesome - I will post it soon, as it nears completion. Q: Why is the sink so small? None of my cookware would fit! A: This was the #1 criticism, however - it’s not too small for us, and our largest dutch oven easily fit inside this sink with room to spare: https://imgur.com/a/ucSuw0o We are used to a sink of that size, there is a big and efficient dishwasher in the kitchen that we use a lot, and in our case, having a larger sink would only be an invitation to have it filled with dirty dishes. I understand that many of you are used to huge sinks, but we seriously don’t need one. I know this is unusual for some, especially when compared to some of your sinks that I saw pictures of, but it works really well for our habits. The kitchen is not that big, too, so it also gives us more countertop space. If we wanted a larger sink, we would need to get a much thicker countertop, which was very expensive. I did get criticized for having an expensive light fixture rather than a thicker countertop, however, for us, a larger sink was simply unnecessary. What’s more, we have a flexible tap, so there’s no need to put pots inside the sink - the water can go where it’s needed instead. I will say, though, that most of my friends and family do have larger (sometimes much larger) sinks than this one. Q: mmmm, boing boing boing? A: mmmm, boing boing boing! Q: Where is … from? Light fixture: Oblure Arch Outlets: Katy Paty Handles: Desiva Cloud / Desiva Frill Cabinets: custom Appliances: Electrolux/SMEG and a Siemens dishwasher. The hob is an induction one. (plugged into a dedicated 400V, 3 phase outlet, boils a pot of water in a breeze!) Sink: Franke (not that anyone asked lol) Q: Color palette? What is ... made out of? A: Upper cabinets: NCS S 1030-R10B Lower cabinets: NCS S 5020-G70Y Countertop: quartz Cabinet doors: lacquered MDF Oven stack: engineered wood Q: Why did you devalue your property? A: Short answer: I'm not optimizing for resale, but for enjoying my home. Long answer: We did not even consider or discuss this topic during the renovation - not once. This is a space to live in and enjoy. We are living in our home, not in the home of some future potential buyer of this place. We want to feel good here and we would not feel good in a gray kitchen. It’s worth the money for us. I am quite surprised this topic came out so often, considering this is a house decorating subreddit, not a house flipping one. Q: Why did you ruin natural wood? A: None of what you saw in the original kitchen was made out of wood. It was laminated chipboard and lacquered MDF. Q: Environmental concerns, why did you trash a perfectly good kitchen? A: I can assure you that almost nothing went to trash. Someone we know needed a new kitchen, so everything that no longer of use to us was disassembled and donated to them, including the appliances. The missing cabinets were rebuilt to match the doors. I honestly would feel quite bad if the old kitchen went to the landfill, I admit, and I’m glad it didn’t. Q: Why not simply repaint the cabinets? A: That’s what we wanted to do at first, but it quickly turned out unfeasible. The doors were lacquered MDF, chipped in many places, too. The countertop and backsplash were glued to everything. The hood was terribly loud and very old, and it could not be replaced without replacing the upper cabinets. We also hated the white brick and wanted it gone. So it quickly turned out that the best thing to do will be to tear almost the whole thing down. We only reused a few lower cabinets and the dishwasher, which was almost new. Here's a picture of the disassembled kitchen: https://imgur.com/a/50lC8sv Q: How do you not bang your head on the huge light fixture? A: I hope it’s clear from the new images - it’s above an island. Q: How much did it cost? A: Recalculated to USD, it would be 15-17k, including contractors and appliances. Mind you, I am in Poland, so take that into account. Also, a lot of people assumed the new kitchen is made out of wood, which is not the case, and is quite unusual in Poland. It would probably cost twice as much or more if it was wooden. Q: What is wrong with the power cord of the light fixture? Why is it not straight? A: It’s supposed to be like that. The mounting point of this power cord is offset from the top of the „wave”, and if you look at the Oblure website, nearly all implementations they show feature a wavy power cord. It also fits the „wave” theme of the home - it was a deliberate decision to leave it like that. Q: Is the rest of the house like this? A: More or less, yes. Other spaces are also being transformed from gray to colorful/playful. I hope to post some more in the upcoming months, but it’s still work in progress. A special thank you to all the people who appreciated the space or the design choices, even if they didn’t like it. And, of course, to all the ones who have similar taste to ours and shared so many kind words about the new kitchen. Again, I could not reply to everyone, but I have read almost all of the comments, and it was really, really nice. I knew this design wouldn’t be for everyone, but I’m really happy it sparked so many reactions and discussions. submitted by /u/Vatonee to r/HomeDecorating [link] [comments]

I’d love guidance on how to best decorate this kitchen / dining space to make it feel cozy and bright. My biggest pain point is that it feels dark. It’s east facing so in the morning it’s warm and gets light, but past 12 the kitchen side gets dark and feels depressing. Some things I’ve done: - added light-reflecting backsplash - added a mirror towards the hallway side so it bounces back light - under cabinet lighting - added 3000k can lights I can’t add an island in the middle because of the limited space, it’s about 6ft of floor space. I also will eventually change the floor and countertops. submitted by /u/meowchita to r/interiordecorating [link] [comments]

Many weeks ago I crowd sourced this group regarding our kitchen. I was torn between quartz (convenience) and quartzite (my whole heart) and was swayed by someone who said they never regretted the finishes they upgraded and if we could afford to, we should. We fell in love with the Fantasy White Macaubus slab our fabricator / installer showed us. We used a slab and a remnant from another job to install a waterfall island with mitred edges and countertops abutting our range. He did a wonderful job aligning the movement of the stone as it flowed from top to legs. He finished them perfectly and we are DELIGHTED. Our floors are white oak and our cabinets Shinnoki milk oak which we love BUT our island and our countertops bring us such joy. THANK YOU to all the folks who told us go with your heart, quartzite is worth it, care for it and it will reward you. We can’t wait to move in (later this week!) to our new place. Your comments and suggestions proved invaluable. Edit (since many have asked) to include some key components: Fabricator / installer / stone from Chicago Countertop Co. Can't recommend enough. Backsplash: Villa Artisan Frost ceramic tile (Floor & Decor) Cabinets: Shinnoki milk oak under the island and on the inner ring (plywood capsules) and AGT Supramat in Bitter for the darker outside ringed cabinets submitted by /u/nycreba to r/CounterTops [link] [comments]

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2970-Fairmount-Blvd-Cleveland-Heights-OH-44118/33660853_zpid/ Hello All, I was delighted to see the house I personally renovated, 2970 Fairmount Blvd. Cleveland Heights, OH 44118, on your page four months ago. (although my wife just found it yesterday!) After reading through all the comments I wanted to provide many more photographs to you, as I'm very proud of my work, and was thrilled to see mostly positive feedback on the renovations! A huge thank you goes out to Cambria Countertops, as they believed in the revitalization of this home and donated many of the hard surfaces. The countertop end panel on the island was a Cambria first with this home, the detail is now being replicated across the country. Quick story about me, I'm a professional GC, I focus on historic renovations, or historically sensitive renovations, and build new homes. At the time I performed this renovation, I was working for another company. My position there was terminated, largely due to the performance of this project. A major change in the scope of work mid project, wrote my termination on the wall. As with many houses, the deeper we got, the more problems I found. The more areas we added to scope, the longer the list of undisclosed conditions we found became. I'm not the type to leave something unbuttoned and I do not cut the corners, so those problems were fixed...meanwhile the budget was...well...blown...and then blown again. I don't feel comfortable disclosing the amount spent publicly, instead I'll tell you want we did to the house. Since losing my job, I've launched my own company (Ad Astra Homes & Renovations) and am doing well for myself. I have a great relationship with the investors of this project and there are no hard feelings! This house was a delight and the future owner is getting a gem! There are details I would handle differently if it were my home, I would have chosen bolder colors and tile selections. However, I think what was selected was tasteful, authentic to the house, and was installed with beautiful craftsmanship. Here's a list of the work I managed: Starting with the big money, working down to the design decisions and thought process. The utility work and mechanical: New sanitary and storm line from house to street. Upgrade electrical service Cleaning and replacement of the footer tile and drain, then the basement flooded. I went nuclear and put in a B Dry system as back up for the whole house. No problems since! Ripped out whole basement slab under the living room and replaced as it was heaving in the middle. Likely just natural settling, and the existing slab was only 2 inches thick. Full asbestos removal, clean air certificate Replacement of all plumbing, drains and supply lines. New water main from the street, new water supply box. Replacement of all electrical and panels Replaced the radiators with a forced air system, removing radiators, but keeping the nooks to keep the house authentic. These were closed in to keep the benches and create paneled details in place of the screens. Removal of the fountain in the backyard, it was 40k to repair. Stabilization of the decorative pillars in the backyard. We heard a tragedy occurred down the road when two young girls strung a hammock between posts like ours, they fell in. We built a sun shade on top to stabilize them and hopefully prevent a tragedy. Insulated the whole structure, mineral wool, foam, and Fiberglass. The mixture reflected the specific needs of the building. Brickwork and Masonry: Full rebuilt of three chimneys, using identical brick, per original selection sheets. They were photographed, taken down and rebuilt identically. Tuck pointed the whole structure. Rebuilt 3 staircases Repaired slumped patio in rear saving existing sandstone and reusing. Pulled front entry walk up, poured 4 inch concrete and rebedded existing sandstone, including the flower petal detail. Rebuilt of 2 stone retention wall. Rebuilt of 3 window wells. Brand new sidewalk Major structural work at the kitchen to allow the massive new windows. Exterior: Over 20 new windows, mainly due to the existing kitchen having "servant high" windows that started at my forehead and ran up. Servants were not to be seen or heard more than required. All new basement windows in the wells with Azek trim. Restoration by RBX Cleveland Rebuilders Exchange of 2 sets of leaded glass French doors in the Dining Room. New brass banding on existing wood/lead glass windows as required. We kept every window that was able to be restored as the glass was not replaceable. Painting in traditional European Tudor colors New roof deck and Camelot 2 Shingles, which are designed to look like slate. The original roof was cedar shake, but the estimate was a quarter of a million to replace identically. The roof had actual holes when we bought the house, we had to move quickly the water was pouring in. Raised flower beds and landscaping, including the removal of 14 dead trees. Moving to the interior: I fought a war with a designer on the project who wanted to paint all the woodwork. The wood is what makes these houses special! I brought the realtor into the conversation and won the battle to restore all the existing woodwork. To be clear, if it was stained wood when we bought the house, it remained stained wood. I did not instruct nor was anything painted that was not previously. All the existing hardwood floors were restored and refinished. I regret to inform the sub, the floors were previously refinished at least twice, once poorly... There are three areas that are new, but identical in species and width to the original. The kitchen, upstairs back hallway with the built ins, and entry to the former servants quarters. The kitchen had three walls removed, the electrical was under a fur in the floor and so it all had to go. Upstairs hallway was rotted due to active water damage. The servants area previously had pine, I wanted uniformity throughout. We had custom cutter heads made for every piece of trim, so all the trim is identical to the original house. I kept the same species, and as mentioned, kept the same finish, stain or paint. In addition, every fixture, light, door, or piece of trim that was not put back into this house was donated to RBX. If it could live another life, I made sure it had a shot. In fact, another client bought the teal door from the breakfast nook and it is now on a she shed I built for them! Four other doors went to south Ohio, as the same architect designed their house and the doors were identical. The house was stripped to studs in over 90%, we replaced everything short of the foundation, the framing, and reused every material possible. All the plaster details were restored and remain in the house today, as does all of the lead glass. I could go on at great length, but you get the idea. The painting of the boy was claimed by the prior owner, as were all pieces of furniture. The house is not haunted to my knowledge (I gave it the same flair as before!), but one never knows! If this renovation wasn't too your taste, that's OK, if I could do it all again with the knowledge I have today, I would handle a few details differently. Overall, I'm very proud of my work here and hope to restore many more over my career. Thanks for looking at my project! Photos by Aaron Knight Photography - The photos are being degraded by Reddit to fit the max file size. They're quite lovely and clear! submitted by /u/Vegetable-Visual-439 to r/zillowgonewild [link] [comments]

Wanted to share my little pink kitchen now that I'm happy with all the little details! 3rd and 4th pictures are what the kitchen originally looked like, and the last few pictures are just some closeups. I tried to do as much as could by myself! The painting/tiling/murals/etc, I did myself with advice from the lovely workers at my local hardware store, YouTube videos, and Reddit posts. The only things that a professional did were installing the wallpaper in the niche above the fridge, and replacing the appliances/sink/countertops. (Side note: I had wallpapered the niche myself with a cheap peel-and-stick when I first moved in. Took 4 hours, I somehow got cut, and it looked like shit. Vowed to never wallpaper it myself again lol.) As for the decor, many things in my kitchen are finds over the last few years from thrift stores and antique markets (even some of the cookbooks)! Everything else is from a big box store, or lovely artists that I follow on Instagram/Etsy! Took a lot of work and time to get it here, but it was so worth it 😊 submitted by /u/Princess_Carolyn_II to r/femalelivingspace [link] [comments]

This is the most permanent decision in your kitchen. You can change cabinets, repaint walls, swap lights — but your countertop is there for 15-20 years. Choose wrong and you'll hate it daily. 🪨 Granite (₹80-250/sqft installed) The OG Indian countertop. And honestly? Still the best value. Pros: Heat-resistant (put hot kadhai directly — no damage), extremely durable, huge variety in Indian quarries Cons: Porous — absorbs haldi/oil stains over time unless sealed. Seams visible on large counters. Best pick: Black Galaxy (₹130-180/sqft) — hides stains, looks premium, available everywhere Avoid: Light-colored granites in Indian kitchens. Turmeric will haunt you. 💎 Quartz (₹250-600/sqft installed) Engineered stone. The "Instagram kitchen" material. Pros: Non-porous (NO staining from haldi, oil, or turmeric — huge for Indian cooking), uniform pattern, low maintenance Cons: NOT heat-resistant. One hot tawa directly on quartz = permanent white mark. Always use a trivet. Best pick: Calacatta-look quartz in white/grey. Looks like Italian marble, performs like a tank. Real talk: For Indian kitchens where heavy cooking happens daily, quartz edges out granite purely because of stain resistance. 🤍 Marble (₹150-800/sqft depending on origin) Beautiful. Impractical. The truth nobody tells you. Pros: Nothing looks as luxurious. Natural veining is art. Cons: Soft stone — scratches from steel utensils. Etches from lemon/vinegar. Stains from haldi. Requires repolishing every 2-3 years. Honest verdict: Save marble for bathroom vanities, pooja room, or decorative surfaces. It's not built for Indian cooking. If you insist: Italian Statuario (₹500-800/sqft) is stunning. Indian Makrana White (₹200-400) is more affordable but less consistent. 🔵 Corian / Solid Surface (₹400-900/sqft installed) The seamless dream. Pros: No visible joints. Can integrate sink seamlessly. Repairable — scratches can be buffed out. Cons: Burns from hot vessels. Expensive. Limited "natural stone" looks. Best for: Modern minimalist kitchens where you don't do heavy tadka-level cooking. My pick for 80% of Indian homes: Quartz. The stain resistance alone justifies the extra cost over granite. Your future self will thank you every time turmeric wipes clean. What's on your countertop right now? Happy or regret? submitted by /u/Different_Expert_819 to r/houspire [link] [comments]

Do you have a 10g tank setup in a kitchen countertop? I want to see how it looks at the front and back. I would add small, mid and tall plants on the left side of the tank but I will leave open the middle space with some foreground plants in the middle and on the right side. submitted by /u/Chocodelights to r/bettafish [link] [comments]

We recently completed our kitchen remodel that included removing a wall between the kitchen and dining room to combine them, removing an extra door to the sun room, replacing the old tile in the kitchen with hardwood, and a nearly full gut of the kitchen itself. We're very happy with how it turned out! We found that with our old kitchen, counter space and food storage were lacking so that was our priority. My one desire was a geologically-interesting countertop, while my wife wanted quartz. As a geologist, I am morally opposed to the idea. We ended up finding the most amazing quartzite that happened to match perfectly with our cabinet colors, which I sealed with Akemi Pearl impregnator (which has worked perfectly so far). Our tiles were a different story, we couldn't find anything. Ultimately, after a dozen visits to tile stores, we ended up with the first one we picked. There were a few suggested here that would have been amazing, but after going over budget on the counters we were playing it safe with the tiles! Cabinets are Slim Shaker-style Fabuwood in Pistachio and Dove. Countertop is Blue Mediterraneo quartzite. Knobs and pulls are from Top Knob. Backsplash tiles are Villa Zellige in Oat, from Floor and Decor. submitted by /u/Alert-Delivery7845 to r/kitchenremodel [link] [comments]

Introduction Updating your kitchen doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars. In fact, some of the most stylish kitchens in 2026 are created on a tight budget. If you’re searching for budget kitchen decor under $100, you’re in the right place. From farmhouse-style sinks to open shelving and affordable backsplash tiles, this guide shows you how to refresh your kitchen without breaking the bank. Whether you live in an apartment, a small home, or a rental, these ideas are practical, trendy, and budget-friendly. This article is fully optimized for people searching for: Cheap kitchen decor ideas Budget kitchen makeover Affordable kitchen upgrades DIY kitchen decor under $100 Why Budget Kitchen Decor Is Trending in 2026 Rising living costs have made homeowners more budget-conscious. Instead of full renovations, people are turning to low-cost kitchen decor upgrades that deliver high visual impact. In 2026, the focus is on: DIY kitchen improvements Affordable materials Minimal but stylish design The good news? You don’t need a big budget to get a modern, farmhouse, or cozy kitchen look. Farmhouse Kitchen Decor on a Budget Farmhouse kitchens are still one of the most searched kitchen styles online. The warm, rustic, and cozy vibe makes them timeless. Can You Really Get a Farmhouse Sink Under $100? A traditional farmhouse sink can be expensive, but there are budget-friendly alternatives: Farmhouse sink covers Sink-front panels Sink decals and wraps These options give the farmhouse sink look without replacing your existing sink. SEO keyword tip: budget farmhouse kitchen decor and cheap farmhouse sink ideas are high-ranking search terms. Open Shelving: Affordable and Stylish One of the cheapest ways to upgrade your kitchen is installing open shelving. Why Open Shelving Is Perfect for Budget Kitchens Costs less than cabinets Makes small kitchens look bigger Easy DIY installation Budget Open Shelving Ideas Under $100 Floating shelves Reclaimed wood shelves Metal bracket shelves You can find shelves at budget stores or online marketplaces and install them yourself in a few hours. Affordable Backsplash Tiles That Look Expensive A backsplash can completely transform a kitchen. Luckily, you don’t need expensive tiles. Best Budget Backsplash Options Peel-and-stick backsplash tiles Vinyl tile panels Removable tile sheets These options are renter-friendly and cost-effective, making them perfect for budget kitchen decor under $100. Popular Backsplash Styles in 2026 Subway tiles White marble-look tiles Neutral geometric patterns DIY Kitchen Decor Projects Under $100 DIY projects are the secret weapon of budget decorating. Easy DIY Kitchen Ideas Paint old cabinets Replace cabinet handles Add under-cabinet lighting Small changes can create a huge difference in how your kitchen looks and feels. Budget-Friendly Kitchen Accessories That Elevate Style Sometimes, decor is all about the details. Affordable Kitchen Decor Items Decorative jars Wooden cutting boards Minimalist utensil holders Small indoor plants These items are cheap, stylish, and perfect for open shelving displays. How to Create a Farmhouse Look with Open Shelving Combining farmhouse decor with open shelving is a winning strategy. Styling Tips Use neutral colors Mix wood and ceramic textures Display everyday items neatly This makes your kitchen look intentional and Instagram-worthy. Backsplash + Open Shelving: The Perfect Budget Combo Pairing open shelves with a stylish backsplash gives your kitchen a designer look. Why This Works Adds depth and texture Makes walls more interesting Keeps costs low This combo is one of the most searched budget kitchen makeover ideas in 2026. Smart Ways to Stay Under $100 Sticking to a budget requires planning. Budget Tips Set a strict spending limit Shop sales and clearance Compare online prices DIY whenever possible With smart shopping, you can decorate your kitchen beautifully for less than $100. These keywords are naturally used throughout the article: Budget kitchen decor under $100 Cheap kitchen decor ideas Farmhouse kitchen on a budget Open shelving kitchen ideas Affordable backsplash tiles DIY kitchen decor Budget kitchen makeover Small kitchen decor ideas Common Mistakes to Avoid When Decorating on a Budget Buying too many decor items Ignoring measurements Choosing low-quality materials Overcrowding open shelves Keeping things simple always works better in small kitchens. Final Styling Tips for a Budget Kitchen Stick to one decor theme Use light colors Keep countertops clean Focus on functionality A well-styled kitchen looks expensive—even when it’s not. Conclusion Creating a beautiful kitchen doesn’t require a big budget. With budget kitchen decor under $100, smart choices like open shelving, farmhouse-style details, and affordable backsplash tiles can completely transform your space. By focusing on affordable upgrades and DIY projects, you can achieve a stylish kitchen that looks modern, cozy, and high-end—without overspending. This guide is designed to help readers and rank well in search engines, making it perfect for blogs, affiliate sites, and content creators in 2026. submitted by /u/Popular-Act5253 to r/decorinspire [link] [comments]

When it comes to giving your bathroom or kitchen a makeover, most people think about tiles, countertops, or lighting. But one detail that often gets overlooked—and can completely transform a space—is plumbing. Yes, plumbing! We're talking about the visible parts: faucets, handles, spouts, and drains. With a few decorative plumbing upgrades, you can turn a bland bathroom or kitchen into a stunning space that feels upscale and thoughtfully designed. Here are some decorative plumbing ideas that instantly elevate any kitchen or bathroom: Go Bold with Finishes Brushed gold, matte black, and polished nickel are trending—and for good reason. They add an instant pop of style and sophistication. Matching the faucet finish with cabinet hardware or towel bars can tie the room together in a subtle but powerful way. Choose Sculptural Faucet Designs A faucet isn’t just a faucet—it can be a statement piece. Look for ones with graceful curves, sharp lines, or even waterfall spouts. These eye-catching designs create a focal point, turning a utilitarian object into functional art. Upgrade Sink Drains and Traps Don't stop at faucets. Swap out old, dull sink drains and P-traps with modern, sleek ones in matching finishes. It’s a small touch that makes a big difference, especially in pedestal or open-style vanities. Install Wall-Mounted Faucets These look high-end and free up countertop space. Whether you're going for a minimal modern vibe or an elegant vintage aesthetic, wall-mounted fixtures add character and give your room a more custom look. Add Pot Fillers in the Kitchen Beyond their convenience, pot fillers add a professional chef’s touch. Install one above your stove, and it’ll make your kitchen feel luxe while making pasta night a breeze. Use Exposed Plumbing as Design Elements In industrial or farmhouse-style spaces, exposed decorative plumbing can be both practical and stylish. Copper or black-finished pipes under a sink or along a wall can enhance the room's character rather than detract from it. Decorative plumbing isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating harmony between function and style. It helps your space feel complete, refined, and well-designed down to the last detail. With just a few upgrades, your bathroom or kitchen can go from basic to beautiful. Why settle for plain when you can have plumbing that adds personality, charm, and elegance? submitted by /u/theonlineforyou to r/ThePureContent [link] [comments]

Choosing the right kitchen surface can feel overwhelming, especially with so many materials, colors, and finishes available today. If you’re planning a kitchen upgrade in South Florida, it helps to think beyond looks and focus on how your countertops will actually fit your lifestyle. Here’s a friendly breakdown to help you make a confident decision. Why countertops matter so much Your kitchen countertop isn’t just decoration. It’s where meals are prepped, homework gets done, and friends gather during parties. The right surface can: Handle daily wear and tear Be easy to clean and maintain Match your kitchen’s overall vibe Add long-term value to your home In a warm, humid climate, durability and low maintenance become even more important. Popular surface qualities to look for Instead of focusing on names, focus on performance. When comparing options, think about: Durability: Can it resist scratches, chips, and stains? Heat resistance: Will it hold up to hot pots and pans? Maintenance: Does it need sealing or special cleaners? Appearance: Do you prefer a natural look or a sleek, modern finish? Some surfaces are tougher and more forgiving, while others shine with unique patterns and textures. Lifestyle should guide your choice Every household uses the kitchen differently. Ask yourself: Do you cook daily or only occasionally? Are there kids who might spill or bang things around? Do you entertain guests often? If your kitchen sees heavy traffic, a low-maintenance, stain-resistant surface can save you time and stress. If aesthetics are your priority, you might lean toward a surface with bold veining or a polished finish. Climate and color considerations In sunny areas, lighter tones can help keep the kitchen feeling bright and cool. They also make smaller kitchens look more spacious. Darker surfaces can be dramatic and stylish but may show dust or fingerprints more easily. Countertops fort Lauderdale homeowners often balance style with practicality, choosing surfaces that stand up well to humidity while still looking great year-round. Thinking long term helps ensure your choice still feels right years down the road. Final thoughts There’s no single “best” countertop for everyone. The best choice is the one that fits your cooking habits, maintenance tolerance, and personal taste. Take your time, compare options, and imagine how your kitchen will function day to day. A well-chosen countertop can completely transform how your kitchen looks and feels—making it a space you genuinely enjoy using every day. submitted by /u/theonlineforyou to r/InfiniteContent [link] [comments]

Hello! My partner and myself are moving into a new apartment, and we're trying to figure out what we want to do with the kitchen. We both agree we want it to feel more cozy and warm. We're a bit stuck on what paint to choose, and possibly what to do with the countertops/backsplash. We've tried some AI renders (I've included them in the photos), and swatches some colors, but now are leaning towards having it a white/eggshell and using accessory/decor for most the warmth as we don't want it to feel too yellow. Im pretty handy, so we're planning to change out the grey laminate of the counter top. Right now we're leaning towards wood, or a laminate wood. For the backsplash (which is also grey currently) we're thinking of doing a peel and stick, or I a semipermanent setup placed over top of the current tile, as we don't want to rip it out. Likely attaching some plexi or moisture resistant board (maybe cement) over the top of current and tile that. I've included some photos of the kitchen, unfortunately I don't seem to have one of the wall the fridge is one, but it's mainly white cabinets and the fridge/freezer. Things we're open to changing: laminate countertop, paint (open to all colors, or just keep it white), tile. Things we can't change: cabinet color, fridge/freezer Tldr: need suggestions on paint, tile color, and countertops. submitted by /u/Dr_Newt to r/interiordecorating [link] [comments]

The original kitchen was circa 1991. The cabinets were MDF with fake wood grain vinyl coatings, the space utilization was awful, and I hated the old electric stove in the island. I pushed into the garage slightly to recess the fridge, which really opened things up. The best part is I was able to do the whole thing for just over $50k, appliances included. (The stove is a used Wolf, and the fridge & dishwasher are scratch and dent). I did everything except the countertops and the cabinet doors/faces/drawers. Appliances: Monogram 42" fridge. Wolf 48" dual fuel stove. Bosch 800 series DW. KitchenAid oven-style microwave. Cabinets: Cabinetjoint/Conestoga "Madison" doors, faceframes/doors/drawers/hardware. I built the carcasses, vent hood, shelves, and painted all with a Graco X5 sprayer (Sherwin Williams Gallery in Greek Villa, Morning at Sea). Countertops: Quartzite "Bellagio" (natural stone similar to granite, but looks more like marble). Faucets: Moen Weymouth and Meena. Pot-filler was a cheap Amazon model. Hardware: The Brass Addict Lacquered brass "Amble" pulls. Lights: Eloise collection from Monulo. Tile: Floor & Decor subway - Zellige Pearl(white), Adessi La Jolla (blue). Centerpiece above stove: Topcu Georgia Main sink: Mondawe 36" workstation. Side sink: Orlando 13" undermount. submitted by /u/digitalis303 to r/kitchenremodel [link] [comments]

The color palette is dark stained wood, emerald green, various blues, and unlacquered brass. I refinished the butcher block countertops, stripped the window frame, added a green tile backsplash, replaced all the hardware with unlacquered brass and antique crystal drawer pulls, built a spice shelf with an antique brass chess set tipping rail, completely re-wired and rebuilt a chandelier, painted the un-tiled walls, added a washable rug, and decorated with more antique details. Now I have a dedicated baking area with a Victorian glass rolling pin that I’m in love with, an Art Deco cocktail area, an Art Nouveau cooking area, and Arts & Crafts details throughout. The new brass details and faucet really sing against the dark green, and it’s all period-appropriate. I know that most people prefer white kitchens, but this is the aesthetic that really speaks to me and fits with my house, and I’m in love. At the very least, I want to show what a difference you can make will less than $2k, since so many posts on here are 5-digit remodels. Happy to answer questions if you have any! submitted by /u/Blood_sweat_and_beer to r/kitchenremodel [link] [comments]

Hello all, my first time posting here, as I cannot figure out how to organise my coffee station, decor and appliances! I am renting and the space is small and awkward, my microwave is massive and I don’t think it will fit anywhere but the corner it’s currently in. Any help or advice as to where things can go in a tidy, accessible fashion would be greatly appreciated submitted by

We started in January and finished mid March for the whole home renovation, this is just the kitchen portion. We did plan on renovating the home but we didn’t expect to tear down as we peel back the layers. Everything was done on a budget so all the floor and tiles is from floor&decor, every appliance is from a scratch and dent store. Most of the aesthetics are chosen based on what’s available and the right price at the moment. We got the cabinets from a personal connection just under $3300. The countertops were about the same but installation included. We lost track of accounting but I would estimate this was all completed under 10k for the kitchen alone. Mistakes made: During the design we wanted a spice pull cabinet more than another corner lazy Susan which resulted in a dead corner on the right side of the stove. We added a beverage fridge on the opposite side considering that side of the peninsula isn’t all that useful anyways. The cabinet pulls is a regretful choice but we will change it once indecisiveness wears off. The cabinets came in before the floors were decided on so we had to adjust for height. Under cabinets lights are overrated and more for resale than usefulness. We should have considered wiring two switches for the main kitchen lighting. We would have loved it if the lip over the peninsula was more than 6 inches but we wanted it to be flush with the adjacent wall. submitted by /u/Dangerous_Fail_3395 to r/kitchenremodel [link] [comments]

Fellow designer here who struggles with their personal home design. I’m experimenting with layout arrangement on my countertop, and attempting to simplify utilitarian items until I can no longer simplify. I’m not a fan of my scrubber brushes interrupting the space, though I do enjoy cookbooks, flowers, and the candle for display. Critique? What can be rearranged or removed? Do any decor items give you the ick? My cabinets are a muted slate blue, brushed nickel hardware, stainless steel sink, and smoky weathered smoky oak flooring. Thank you in advance!! 🙌✨ submitted by /u/andthatsmyphilosophy to r/DesignMyRoom [link] [comments]

Hey ! It's 4am rn and I finished this just one hour ago but I'm very proud of myself 😁 I'm a university student and I live with my dad and we are not very good to keep our place nice, clean and organized. Usually the normal state of this part of the kitchen is worse that the first pic. It took me around 4 hours but with breaks and doing other things so it may be ≈ 2hours ! I put food/condiment (pasta, beans, dried flowers and plants ...)that were in brown bags into glass jars. It's been some years since we moved in here with my father but we hardly decorated at all because he is not really into that but I try things sometimes. The kitchen is only gray : on the walls, the ground, a lamp and the countertop ! 👎 To make it more welcoming and warm I switched the lamp with another one more on the warm side (it's not visible on the pictures) and today I putted a wood peel and stick stickers on the countertop as you can see and I really love thz result ! It is not so difficult and it really makes a difference (and it's renter friendly, epecially if you put paint tape below it 🤓). I know it's not a decoration sub but I felt It can inspire some people as it's verry easy and efficient and I think that having a better looking kitchen can motivate me to take care of this space more often ! 🕺💪 (I dont know how long will the storage stay like this, especially since my father is coming back from vacation soon haha) We will see ;) submitted by /u/wlwsnail to r/ufyh [link] [comments]

[MN, USA] I rent a house with an attached garage that has a door that connects to the inside of the house. When I first looked at the property the manager at the time made it a selling point that the garage is great for storage and can be used as such. I would not have signed a lease if that was not the case. I've signed a 15 month lease, and paid everything up front. I dont have to worry about any rent other than utilities till summer of 2024. This is a single-family home I rent in MN, USA. Recently a new manager has taken over and they seem to have come from managing a multi-family apartment complex according to LinkedIn. I was notified of a city inspection and prepped the house for said city officials. Unbeknownst to me, this manager decided to also do a rental inspection at the same time. I admit I didn't deep clean the house for this. Its lived in with a 5 year old running amok, but by no means filthy. They nitpicked EVERYTHING. Some of the things they pointed out: - Too much clutter on kitchen countertops, needs to be removed. (Coffe maker, Microwave, toaster, electric can opener, bag of chips, box of cereal, stack of kid cups for kiddo to help themselves to water, and a section of a dish drying rack from the dishes i did that morning. All together thats 1/3 of the counter space.) - Too many boxes. All boxes are to be removed. I can rent a dumpster at my cost to remove them from property. (Boxes are stacked neatly, out of the way of foot traffic and also in closets. Manager doesn't want any boxes all. I have not unpacked everything since I've moved. Some things I do not intend to ever unpack such as keepsakes etc.) - Stairs need vacuuming. (A piece of a small leaf fell off my kids coat and landed on the stairs at some point and I didn't notice 🤷‍♀️) And my biggest issue: - Garage is not to be used for storage, all personal items are to be removed and discarded. --THIS i have a huge problem with-- My stuff takes up approx a 3' x 4' space in the garage. A small corner compared to the entire garage. This garage is massive and is deep as it is flush with the front and back of the 4 bedroom 2 bath house. Think the garage has something like 700 square feet give it take. It's about the size of a studio apartment. Was a big sell for me in renting here. This manager has threatened me with a lease violation for the garage. Only problem is, not one place in my lease does it state I cannot use the garage for personal property storage. The only garage section refers to vehicles and property material storage. Word for word this is the section under Use Restrictions- "Garage/Vehicles: The use of the garage shall be nonexclusive. Landlord reserves the right to stire items in the garage that are used for the maintenence and operation of the property. No inoperable vehicles, vehicles on blocks, non-licensed vehicles, or commercial vehicles or equipment may be located at the property." When I asked for clarity of this section before signing the lease, the prior manager said this relates to vehicles only and that if the Landlord needs something stored for the property that I'm responsible for making spacial accommodations to share that soace with whatever that may be. She said theyd give me a notice if that were to happen and allow me to make room in the garage for X thing(s). This manager is coming back in just shy of 2 weeks to make sure I am compliang on all of their stated issues. They've also stated that if I am not compliant that I may incur a fee that will need to be paid along with my rent through their rent portal by next rent period (November)? They seem...unhinged to say the least. I feel as if the new landlord is bringing in Apartment rules when it comes to the single-family home I rent. Both are fruit, but they are managing apples and oranges. Not to mention the crazy demands of treating common areas of my home as if they are actual common areas. There are no roommates. I solo rent the property in its entirety including the front and backyard. I'm just very confused by this person's demands. I have never in 10 years of renting had a manager as odd as this one. And I've had some scummy managers/landlords. Does this manager actually have a leg to stand on or can I kindly tell them to kick rocks in a professional manner? They can bug off with dictating how I run the inside of my home and decorate. Its not a crime in MN to have boxed items in a rental. Obviously this has rubbed me the wrong way clearly. My email on planning to send is as follows: "Good morning New Manager, Disregarding the attempts to manage how I decorate and use my kitchen counter tops, I believe there seems to be a mistake in reference to garage use, and just want to get some clarity on it. You stated that the garage is not to be used for storage at all and all my personal effects nedd to be removed. When I first viewed the house, storage was a key sell on this property and was the deciding factor on signing the lease. On the ad it was advertised as well that there is lots of storage space with the large garage. I've gone over my lease multiple times and nowhere within does it state this rule. Just want to make sure we are all on the same page and I understand if there has been miscommunication from either party. If it is on my end I apologize and need to be shown where the lease states specifically that my personal effects are not allowed in the garage attached to the house I rent. Thank you for the help in looking into this issue, Me" Honestly, I have no idea how to respind to their demands in a more civil manner. I've been racking my brain over this for 2 days and everything I come up with has some level of salt in it no matter how much I scrub lol Advice and help is much appreciated, thank you! submitted by /u/RaccoonSaloon to r/Tenant [link] [comments]

My husband and I bought our first home in August of 2020. We moved from southern California, where we had been renting a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment. Our total ~monthly bills (read: average) at that apartment were: Rent: $1645 Internet (we had no options, we had to use the one carrier they provided): $85 Utilities: $80 Gas: $20 Electric: $150 Total: $1980 Edit: At someone's suggestion, I went back and my old apartment is renting for $2,550 right now**.** In September of 2019, we moved to Utah. We moved into my husband’s parents basement, where we paid them a minimal amount of rent and then aggressively padded our savings (32K at the time) to save for a 20% down payment while we house hunted. We started looking at homes in February of 2020, and we toured over 30 homes before putting an offer on ours (we had had an offer accepted on a home prior to this, but that one fell through when the sellers promised to replace the roof before closing and then didn’t). We bought our house (5 bedroom/2ba, split level) in August of 2020, with a move-in date at the end of August. The house was priced at $310,000. We offered 315K. The appraisal came in at 313K, so the price was dropped to that. We paid $63,000 as our down payment on the home (20%), leaving us with $5000 to do some renovations and $10,000 of an e-fund. Just to cut to the short of it and for the sake of comparison, here are the current ~monthly (read: average) bills: Mortgage payment (including insurance and stuff): $1266 Internet: $50 Utilities: $100 Gas: $50 Electric: $150 Total: $1616 I will say that we now also put $300 into a “home improvement” savings, to cover things like roof/AC/furnace/etc. type of stuff. With that factored in, the total would be $1916. We spent a solid week before moving in going in a doing some renovations – we repainted the whole house, we knocked out a wall separating the living room and the kitchen, and we removed a closet in one of the downstairs bedrooms. Then we moved in in September of 2020! So it’s now been about two years of us living here. Here are all of the expenses we’ve had, since I often see posts/comments/questions about what kind of expenses come up when you’re a homeowner. A disclaimer\ that when we moved here 3 years ago, my husband started learning how to do handy work. 18 or so months ago, he got a job as a warranty specialist, so now he does a lot of handy work for a living. That also means that he tends to have a lot of tools that not everyone would have lying around. This is all relatively new, though – within the last 3 years. I’ve also learned how to do a lot of handy stuff as well! Unless noted otherwise below, all labor was done by us.* \I added this disclaimer, so if you want to be like "well not EVERYONE can do XYZ," you can rest easy. I know. That's why I put it in here.* I’m pretty frugal by nature, and I track every penny that we spend on a budgeting spreadsheet. So I happen to have all of our expenses saved in a handy dandy excel dating back for the last like 8 years. Here are all the ones related to our home since we have bought it. I have bolded ones I believe to be necessities, as most of these are just things we really wanted to do. August 2020: $1,132: Repainted the house. This includes all of the paint and rollers. We painted the house ourselves, going over every night after our kids went to bed and painting for like 5+ hours for a solid week. The house when we purchased it had seafoam green, blood red, baby pink, baby blue, and checkerboard walls. They had let the kids pick out colors and let the kids paint. Sooo this was necessary for us. I bolded it because I truly believe anyone would have found it to be necessary. $289: removed a wall between the kitchen and the living room, opening up the upstairs, and removed a closet from a downstairs bedroom. We demo’d everything ourselves and then patched with drywall and mud and repainted. We left spots in the flooring that we covered with patches of carpet we found in the shed, because we were planning to redo all the floors eventually. So we had some random carpeted spots in the floor for a while where those walls used to be lol $507: Fridge. Moved all our stuff in and realized our fridge didn’t fit through the front door. So I sold our fridge for $800, and we went to a used appliance store (where we got the fridge we just sold) and spent $507 on a different fridge. Technically, this was actually a positive $$ for us, but I’m including it anyway. $416: new router. There already was one, but I wanted a really good one. The internet we have is fiber utopia, which is apparently super good. With me working from home a lot, I wanted a good router. So we invested in this super nice hawk something or other. It’s been really great. $424: new bed frame, we had been wanting a new one for a long time but decided to wait until we bought a house to make the plunge. $52: our house came with a hot tub that had no water in it, so my husband researched how to balance the whatever and got some product to refill the hot tub $0: lawnmower. We got one from a buy nothing group. $300: got a used washer and dryer off FB marketplace. They’re super nice. $30: Got a free new BBQ off fb buy nothing group, and got a propane tank to put in it. November 2020: $1016: we have a big backyard, and we also have two little kids and two dogs. I wanted a dog run type deal, so my husband got poles and fencing stuff and cement and, with the help of youtube, put up a fence with a gate to block off the dogs from going into the larger area of the yard when we’re not back there. We also got a bunch of wood to block off under the deck, so that we can store bikes and things under the deck with less weather damage. $50: dryer stopped working. I YouTube’d it and took the whole thing apart and spent $50 on a reader that let me know if the heating element wasn’t working, only to find out that a small piece had come unplugged inside the dryer behind the barrel lol so I didn’t even need to spend the $50 but here we are. January 2021: $126: we needed specific clasps for the fence gate, so we finally got them and completed the fence in January. February 2021: $682: new dishwasher. One Sunday morning, our dishwasher randomly stopped working. It was suuuuuper old. Normally, I’d be of the mind to get one at a used appliance store, but I was not in the mood this day and we had the budget so my husband went to buy a new one. March 2021: $75: our backyard slider didn’t have a screen door and it was annoying. So we got one and installed it. April 2021: Some BIG renovations incoming! $285: we got a fake fireplace entertainment unit for our TV $367: we got a murphy bar to hang in our kitchen $225: we replaced the blinds in the kitchen window and also got a new blind for our slider since it didn’t have one $0: we replaced all the blinds in the house with cordless ones, there was a blind company running a promo for households with kids under the age of 6 to get one free cordless blind. All our local friends with kids didn’t want only one blind so I asked if I could have theirs, and with that we were able to replace the blinds in all 6 of the windows in our house that had old ones $5207: we recarpeted 4/5 bedrooms in the house. We removed all of the flooring ourselves and took it to the dump ourselves, they charged $2/sq ft for removal so we just figured we would do that. This covered materials and installation for all the carpet, the laminate, and the damn stairs. The stairs cost almost as much as all the carpet combined. We did laminate throughout the house outside of the bedrooms. We went to flooring liquidator for all the flooring, and picked a laminate that had been discontinued. $4080: we redid our kitchen. We completely gutted it (again, demoing ourselves to save on $$) and restructured the room. Because we had removed the wall when we moved in, we had more room to work with and got to put an island in! This was the cost + installation of the cabinetry. We got a 5% discount for being a referral. $2085: the cost + installation of the marble countertops $152: the sink $234: above-range microwave, which we had to install ourselves and was quite a bitch to do. (I am marking this as a necessity because the microwave that came with the house NEEDED to be replaced). $170: kitchen faucet $474: the other odds & ends that came with demo-ing the whole kitchen and all of the flooring in the house, as well as dumping all the materials $300: after the flooring was installed, we redid all the baseboard and casing (having ripped it off during demo). We got the baseboard from the flooring liquidator and then painted and installed it ourselves May 2021: $300: we had to get an extra case of flooring to finish the landing where our split stairs meet. $382: we replaced our front door $101: we replaced the casing on all of our doors when we did baseboards, but some doors needed specifically small casing. $538: an accumulation of other hardware store costs, including paint and brushes for the casing, caulk, film for the front door window, etc. September 2021: $500: we removed all of the shrubbery from in front of our house, leveled the dirt, and then covered it with white marble rock. $616: we removed the ugly brown stair banister in our house and then replaced it with a half-wall. October 2021: $4448: we replaced our furnace, since it was super old. It was due. November 2021: $216: we started a subscription with a company who comes out annually to do routine maintenance on the furnace, water cooler, AC unit, and the air ducts. This is the annual cost. $65: we got a trampoline off FB marketplace for the backyard April 2022: $1447: we replaced 11 internal doors inside the house. We purchased the doors and then painted them, cut doorknob holes and hung them ourselves. This cost includes the doors and the paint and the new knobs. September 2022: $3500: new roof. Our roof was 22 years old, so it was time. There was an interesting loophole that allowed us to get the room on the cheap – the base cost of the roof ($7100) was given to our homeowners insurance. We paid for the upgrades – which was choosing the better shingles and adding a ridge vent. Because we had a windstorm knock off some shingles, we were able to process a claim to our insurance. Insurance was going to cover replacement of the shingles, but the shingles were discontinued, so they had to replace the whole roof. The roofing company duked it out with the insurance company, so we didn’t really manage any of that. $450: we removed all the red tanbark that lined the edge of our property, leveled the dirt, and covered it with the same white marble chips we did the front of the house with October 2022-November 2022: $5042: we are currently in the process of redoing both bathrooms. This is the cost so far of the downstairs bathroom. This cost includes demo (we removed a small wall with built-in shelving to expand the room), vanity, toilet, tiling, bathtub+walls, paint, baseboard and casing, faucet, and electrical reworking. The bathroom is 90% done, only thing left to do is get a mirror and hang it up! Then we will work on the upstairs bathroom. So, more to come! Total of all of the above: $35,601 Total of necessary costs: $9,937 (Dividing this up over the 25 months we have lived here comes out to $397/month, so a little more than we are currently saving for the big necessary purchases) That (necessities) comes out to about $4,769/year: 1.5% of the house's original purchase price. Upcoming: $600: Water heater replacement: we plan to replace this once the downstairs bathroom is done. This is the cost of the heater itself, we will be replacing it. ~$5000: redoing the upstairs bathroom. We will be hiring someone to rough-install the walk-in shower because of the marbling around the window - my husband wants nothing to do with it lol ~$??? we have a messed up chunk of driveway we ultimately want to fix As of today, the house is worth $439K on Redfin (a $126K increase), not accounting for any of the renovations we have done. We did get a blind offer of about 430K several months ago from someone who I think was just trying to buy a home in the area. I think it is worth noting that I absolutely fucking love living in a house and being a homeowner. We have a big backyard and live on a nice street where our kids can ride bikes up and down while we chill in the driveway, we don't have to worry about noisy neighbors or landlords or anything. When something breaks we can just fix it without waiting for maintenance. We can change what the house looks like, paint, decorate, etc. I really really enjoy it. I moved like 22 times before we bought this house. I hope we can be here a long time! So there you have it! Those have been our home-related expenses for the last two years. ​ EDIT: I tried to edit this yesterday, but the post got removed and then put back. So a lot of people seem to be like...upset? about our kitchen renovation? Lol. We got quotes from several places and ended up going with the one we got recommended from a friend and picked cabinets that were on sale. We demo'd the kitchen and took down all the cabinets/counters/flooring/etc. ourselves and disposed of it before they came to install the other stuff, which saved $$. Our kitchen also isn't huge, and flooring for the kitchen is under the flooring cost because we did those things at the same thing. I have the invoice for the cabinets + install (and also the counters, the floors, etc) but hopefully this will be enough to get people off my back about it haha. The second page has the taxes added and the $200 delivery fee, which got it to that 4K number. https://i.imgur.com/F7qJwR2.jpg Also, the roof was 10K total. Insurance covered 7,100, which is the cost of just the regular roof replacement. We paid the 3K for upgrades. If insurance hadn't covered the roof, we wouldn't have gotten the upgrades, we just did that because insurance paid for the replacement. And yes, wind damage is common in utah - this is the second claim we have had to file for wind damage. submitted by /u/ran0ma to r/personalfinance [link] [comments]

I was fresh out of college and desperately looking to start a career that didn’t involve serving burgers, wiping down storefront shelves, or bringing stuffy old businessmen their coffee. On average, I was applying to six jobs a week and going to maybe half as many interviews. I knew my major in English wasn’t likely to be met with high demand, but I honestly thought my options would prove more promising. Still, I remained optimistic, persevered, and only applied to comfortable office jobs with benefits. It wasn’t good for my bank account, but it nourished what little pride I had left. About three weeks ago, I had a phone interview with an internet security company. Proficient Technologies had offices all over the country and were looking for a new customer support specialist for their international department. Requirements were a pleasant voice, good spoken and written grammar, some tech-knowledge, and the ability to work day and night shifts. The office was only two subway stations from my apartment, and they offered health insurance. I applied despite having very vague notions about computer sciences. The phone interview went well and after two more meetings with HR and management, they sent me a very generous offer (considering I was entirely inexperienced). During my first week, I had to work the regular 9-5 shift so I could be online at the same time as my manager, who was working from a different city. Afterward, I would work on the regular support schedule - a four-day cycle of one day shift, one night shift, two days off (9 am - 9 pm and 9 pm - 9 am respectively). On my first day, I dressed smartly in a loose sweater and long skirt. Perceptively aware that IT departments are mostly male, I didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention by dressing provocatively or inappropriately. The guy at the front desk seemed regular enough. He introduced himself as Tom before helping me fill out some paperwork and guiding me to a desk in the large open-plan workspace. I stared at the countless desks as we walked, finding it difficult to meet the eyes of the men that sat behind them. I saw no other girls in the workspace, which was unusual and somewhat unsettling. Tom’s relaxed demeanor could not make up for the immediate hostility aimed at my presence. The air seemed to seep out of the room as I felt my new coworkers chant ‘you don’t belong here’ in silent unison. It surprised me when Tom stopped at a desk that was extensively decorated with printed memes, bright pink floral stickers, and a small tattered teddy keychain that lay behind the monitor. Apart from these artifacts, there was a thick layer of dust coating the keyboard, monitor, and desk space. ‘Oh, what the actual...’, Tom muttered angrily. ‘I’m so sorry,’ he said, chancing a quick glance down at my papers. ‘...Gemma. This desk was supposed to have been cleared ages ago. I’ll have to have a word with the custodian.’ ‘Oh, that’s all right,’ I answered. ‘I could just wipe it down myself, no problem.’ Tom was skeptical, but a sweeping glance around the room confirmed that there were no other free desks for me to occupy. The rest of the day went by in a haze. I learned about my tasks, which were to answer support related phone calls and create new tickets in the system. I had to monitor all incoming chats and written tickets and sort them by level of urgency and type. I wouldn’t be required to offer any technical advice, but I had to become well acquainted with the product software. Since I wasn’t answering any calls yet, I immersed myself in the manual. I didn’t understand a lot of it and spent most of my time googling networks, black and white box testing, database security, and other things. My manager checked in just before lunch and seemed slightly disappointed by my overall grasp of the material. Feeling like a failure, I took a break to clean the desk. I got up to find Tom and ask him for a cloth for my countertop. I instantly regretted my decision. Every eye in the room was upon me the moment I rose. I couldn’t stare back to confirm, but there was a surreal hush as I made my way back down the workspace. The familiar clatter of keyboards had noticeably diminished, as my face grew warm and self-conscious. I noticed myself hunching forward slightly as I walked, a weak attempt at becoming less visible. Before turning off to the passage that led to the front desk area, I dared to meet the eyes of one of the shameless gawkers. I don’t know what I was expecting, but the sight of a sneering hooded programmer sent a chill down my spine. He was around my age but didn’t seem the least bit ashamed or uncomfortable by my confrontation. There was a cruel smile playing on his thin lips as he eyed my exposed ankles before turning his attention back to the screens in front of him. I wondered how he would feel if I eyed his long, pimpled neck in the same manner. It was the same as I walked back to my chair with a box of computer wipes. There was some good to come of that day. While I was cleaning the desk drawers, I found a half-used notebook from the previous occupant. She never wrote her first name, only an initial followed by a last name: S. Brooks. However, based on the desk decor, I was sure she was a girl like me. Her discarded belongings provided some comfort, but it was her notebook which proved to be a true treasure. In it, my predecessor had summarized and simplified the entire manual, using easy-to-understand terms and explanations for the daunting terminology and complicated instructions in the manual. With her help, I was able to surprise my manager with my product knowledge at the end of the shift. After a good day’s work, I braved the workspace once more to explore the kitchen before heading home. Tom had advertised a top-notch coffee machine and snacks, and I was starving after such an emotionally and intellectually taxing day. Besides, all my credit cards were in the red, and I wanted to fill up on cookies. As I approached, I heard eager chatter coming from the kitchen area and even some laughter. Foolishly, I hoped that my kitchen-dwelling coworkers would be warmer, more welcoming, or, at the very least civil. Instead, the small kitchen space fell perfectly silent upon my entrance. There were five men of different ages and sizes seated around a cheap-looking cafeteria table, and they were all looking directly at me. ‘Rough first day?’ inquired a sardonic, medium-pitched voice. I lifted my gaze from the floor tiles and scanned the crowd for my addresser. It wasn’t difficult to recognize the self-assured hooded figure that had stared me down earlier. ‘You must be very experienced,’ he continued snarkily, waving a strand of greasy black hair from his eyes. ‘To get such a comfortable job. You must be quite the whiz.’ ‘What is this, high school?’ I blurted out. Now, I’m not usually a confrontational person, but this was honestly too much. Hostility is one thing, social awkwardness another, but this was beginning to feel like a cheesy 80s high school drama with thirty-year-old actors playing teenagers. ‘I’m just here to grab some coffee and if you doubt my candidacy for this job, you can take your concerns to HR directly.’ I continued, enjoying the shocked and somewhat nervous faces of my offender’s gang. Good, I wanted them to feel a fraction of the discomfort I had been dealing with all day. Opting to enjoy my snack far away from my coworkers, I walked back to my desk with my head held high and a mug of coffee. Right as I was about to sit and enjoy my frothy treat, I saw I had a text message from a withheld number: You have quite an attitude, don’t you? I froze, hovering over my desk with the mug in one hand and my phone in the other. As I was attempting to process this grave breach of boundaries, I received two more messages within the same chat window. One was a naked photograph that I had sent my first serious college boyfriend. The second read: Why don’t you take that photo to HR? Obviously, I was deeply unsettled by this invasion of my privacy. The shame crept in, and I felt angry about drawing so much unwanted attention to myself. This was all my fault. I had come to work in an office full of ethical hackers with a very common dog name as a password. No doubt the photograph had made the rounds thanks to my gross coworker, and I was now the silent laughingstock of the office. Leaving my coffee untouched, I signed off and headed home, holding off the waterworks until I reached the safety of the subway. I couldn’t stop crying for most of that night, turning the day's events over in my mind, feeling sick every time I imagined my coworkers leering at my naked body. At around 3 am, however, I realized that there was no sense in continuing the pity party. I had to come up with a plan of action if I was going to survive this workplace. Quitting was not an option because the pay they were offering me was far too good to pass up. Besides, I was literally living off scarcely more than a slice of pizza a day. My second option was going to HR, but there was no way I was going to open that can of worms. I couldn’t prove who had sent me those messages. Last option? Stick with it, keep my head down, do the job they hired me for, and ignore all further harassment attempts. So that’s what I did. Throughout my week of training, I came in to work on time, never leaving my desk except to go to the bathroom. I avoided contact with everyone and kept my eyes drawn to inanimate objects only. Thanks to S. Brooks, I kept on top of my training. For every new task from my manager, there was a corresponding entry in her notebook. There were no more horrible texts or face-to-face confrontations, but there was something else that stirred my anxieties afresh. Last Friday was my final day of training, which brought me to the last entry in the notebook. Night Shift Survival Guide - sleep during the day before shift and don’t fall asleep - don’t let anyone in - keep pepper spray near - check every aisle, meeting room. don’t forget to check under desks, balcony, kitchen tables, behind cooler - have skype open with credit for emergencies in case of disabled mobile service - check-in with friend/family/lover every hour The list made little sense. Firstly, HR made it clear that I was allowed to sleep between 2-5 am, provided I kept the office smartphone nearby. They even had a pullout couch in one of the conference rooms for this purpose. Secondly, the entire job was answering calls, so there would always be a way to call from the office phone, right? Lastly, the measures outlined in the ‘guide’ seemed excessive and paranoid. Perhaps the list was satirical? Maybe this Brooks girl felt just as awkward as I did with all the silent, leering male coworkers? Though my brain worked hard to rationalize this list of precautions, a nagging feeling in my gut told me I was missing something crucial. It came to me as I was leaving work on Friday, my last day of training. ‘Tom,’ I approached him timidly. ‘Could I ask you a question?’ ‘Sure thing,’ he responded, smiling warmly; his pleasant features a far cry from those of the sullen men in the main room. ‘I was just wondering why I haven’t seen any of the other customer support agents. I mean, there should be at least another three people to cover the four-day rotation cycle?’ ‘You have to ask your manager about that. Most likely they’re scattered across the country. Pretty normal for that to be the case,’ he replied, already dismissing me as he went back to his final tasks of the week. ‘Was there an agent who worked here before me?’ I continued, eager to learn more about the girl that filled the notebook I’d been using all week. ‘Yes, another girl held your position for a short while,’ Tom said, still looking at his screen, though I noticed he had stopped typing or moving his mouse. He was staring pointedly at a single spot behind his monitor. ‘Tom,’ I narrowed my eyes. ‘Who is the guy who works at the desk that’s just at the turnoff into the main working space? Pale complexion, skinny, dark curly hair,’ I said, waving a finger at my temple, poorly imitating curly locks. ‘Ah, that’s Sam,’ Tom replied, noticeably attentive to my line of inquiry. ‘Any reason you’re asking? Has he been bothering you?’ ‘No,’ I said, rather more dismissively than I felt. ‘Have a good weekend, Tom.’ ‘See ya,’ he said, watching me questioningly as I left. All weekend I mulled over the events of my first week at work. It felt as though Tom wasn’t telling me something important. There was no reason for him to grow so tense at the mention of the girl who had worked there before me. Could someone have complained about Sam before? Could it have been S. Brooks? Was Sam the reason for the survival guide in the notebook? Why did she quit? A million theories disturbed my weekend lounging. Before I knew it, it was time to go back to work. This is where we’ve almost caught up to present events. Yesterday was Monday, the first regular day shift. It passed in a blur, as I frantically answered the phone, recording, sorting, and assigning dozens of customer complaints in our system. It took getting used to, and by the end of the day, I was absolutely exhausted. Just as I was signing off, I received another ominous text from an unknown number. You’re such a hard worker. Can’t wait to see you take on night shift. Now, this was the first text to fill me with true fear. I quickly looked around to see if Sam was still at work so I could confront him for sending the message, but he had already left for the day. After calming myself down, I headed home and tried to find S. Brooks online. My best bet was LinkedIn, and I looked through all the women that had Proficient Technologies listed on their profiles (they were suspiciously few). Finding nothing, I looked through Tom’s list of friends and finally found what I was looking for. There was a girl by the name of Sierra Brooks listed as unemployed. I sent a friend request with a message introducing myself and asking her if she had ever been harassed by one of her previous coworkers. Finally, feeling like I was getting somewhere, I went to bed and braced myself for the next day’s events. I decided there were some upsides to the irregular work schedule when I got to sleep in on Tuesday. I checked my LinkedIn soon after waking up at around 1 pm. There were no signs of activity from Sierra, so I went about getting ready for my first night shift at the office. I was a little nervous, but mostly excited to get to know my place of work more intimately. Without the day crowd, I was free to walk around the space, binge on cookies, spit in Sam’s mug, whatever! There were still a few late workers when I arrived for my shift, but I didn’t pay much attention to them as I had a lot of calls and chats to deal with. Two hours in, however, the stream of calls, chats, and incoming tickets began to wind down, until they stopped altogether at around 11 pm. I leaned back in my chair and surveyed the workspace. There was no one left at the office as far as I could see. All the lights were on, but as I took off my headphones, I heard a low jingling melody playing from somewhere. It sounded like a Christmas carol, but it was hard to tell where it was coming from. There was no reason for this to scare me, but I felt the hairs on my arms prick up in alarm. As I got up from my chair, the melody ceased. Now, I’ve freaked out over less in the past. I once thought a man was following me at night until he walked right past me to the corner store ahead. Although I lived alone, I’d always double and triple check my locks before bed. I had to admit that my fears were probably unwarranted. Someone had left their headphones connected to their computer with the music turned up. Or maybe there was an office party for a different company downstairs. Hearing music is only scary in strategically written horror flicks, right? Right? Rationalizing aside, I checked the office to make sure I was actually alone. Walking through the aisles of connected desks, I realized how lucky I was to have my secluded corner spot. I might not have been able to handle such close quarters with any of my unpleasant coworkers. Checking all the rows, I went back to the front desk area, lingering over Tom’s desk, inspecting his belongings in search of clues. Finding nothing of interest, I went back through the main room to the kitchen. My nerves were already easing up, and I found myself spending more time taste-testing cookies rather than looking for potential fiends behind curtains. I had to stop indulging mid-cookie, however, because the sound of the melody came back while I was in the kitchen, louder this time. At the same time, my work smartphone (which we had to carry around us if we left our post) buzzed with a text message from a random number. Finally got to the cookies, huh? My entire body stiffened as I processed the implications. It was probable that Sam had not left the office and was now screwing with me. I pricked up my ears and listened carefully. There was no one in the kitchen as far as I could see or hear. Also, if Sam was in the main workspace, it wouldn’t be difficult to guess that I was eating cookies. Breathing out slowly, I ignored the melody to see if I could hear anything else. Nothing. Slowly, I walked to the kitchen drawers and found a large knife. Did I know how to use a knife? No. Would my wild jabs ward off an unarmed opponent? Definitely. I was about to head into the workspace when a call came in on the work phone. I positioned myself safely against a kitchen wall, knife in hand, before answering with the standard customer support greeting. There was static on the other end, some clanking noises, followed by complete silence. Glancing at the phone, I saw that it had switched off. I tried to start it up again, but it wouldn’t turn on. Great, now I had to make it back to my computer in case any more calls came in. I remembered Sierra’s guide as I was slipping the dead device back in my pocket. - have skype open with credit for emergencies in case of disabled mobile service Had this happened to her as well? The instructions in the notebook made a lot more sense, and I cursed myself out loud for being so ill-prepared. As soon as the words escaped my mouth, there was another ominous bing from the phone. I pulled it out and tried to unlock it, but the regular home screen didn’t come up. All that came up was a white screen with a short bit of text on it. Tut tut. Ladies really shouldn’t use that sort of language. As soon as I read it, the screen cleared and more text appeared. Why don’t you come out and play?Don’t bother taking that knife with you.It won’t do much against my gun. I threw the phone across the room and dashed to my computer. The melody grew louder as I approached my desk, finding a pink stuffed pig toy. There was a fabric button on its left hoof with a music note on it. This was the source of the music and proved without a shadow of a doubt that there was someone else in the office. What’s more, they were watching my every move and actively trying to scare me with children's toys. Panic coursed through my body, gearing up for fight or flight. I took a deep breath, attempting to lull my nervous system. So far I had heard no signs of anyone moving around the office. There were some background city noises coming from outside and the rhythmic hum of computers that someone forgot to shut off. If my stalker was moving around, I would need to pinpoint their location to plan my escape. Also, I had to get help. Fast. Moving the toy aside, I sat down in my chair and pulled up the Skype for Business application. I quickly dialed 911, putting the stationary phone on speaker. The dial tone was brief, and there was a live operator on the other end within moments. I was about to give a very hasty account of events when someone grabbed my ankle from underneath the desk. I screamed hellfire, jerking my leg away and running as fast as my legs could take me. I heard some commotion close behind me, followed by a loud bang, which I interpreted as my assailant giving chase after me. Before I knew it, I was descending the three flights of stairs and rushing out the doors past the startled night guard. The freezing air prickled my skin through my thin sweater as I approached a nearby pedestrian for help. They called 911, and the police were at the office space within the hour. As I awaited with the guard for their arrival, I kept thinking of Sierra’s written warnings, and how stupid I had been to dismiss them. - check every aisle, meeting room. don’t forget to check under desks, balcony, kitchen tables, behind cooler The police quickly took down my account of events and, leaving me in the care of a young officer, went upstairs to inspect the office. There had been no one coming or going from the building since I ran out, so it was possible that the culprit was still hiding out somewhere inside. The thought made me nauseous, and I shifted closer to my armed companion. Not long after the cops left us, the young officer’s radio crackled and several voices spoke one over the other, asking for backup and naming codes I couldn’t understand. Things escalated quickly from there. Instead of going home, I was taken to a police station and held in an interrogation room for hours before someone finally came to speak to me. I was tired, miserable, and confused at the way the events of the night were unfolding. I wanted to go home but spent several more hours recounting my story to two detectives. ‘So, you had the knife with you when running from the kitchen to your desk? Are you sure?’ asked the older detective, who had introduced himself as Senior Investigator Barnshaw. ‘I... Yes,’ I stammered nervously. ‘I believe I did. I was panicking, so it’s hard to say. Then there was the pig toy,’ I said, losing my train of thought. ‘And you believe the person who was harassing you was Samuel Guilford?’ said the other detective, whose name I couldn’t remember. He wore no badge. ‘I don’t know his full name, but I can’t imagine anyone else is responsible.’ ‘And one more time, just for the record, what happened when you dialed 911?’ asked Barnshaw for the third time that night. ‘Someone grabbed my leg. My ankle, actually. This happened before I had the chance to explain the situation to the operator. I screamed and ran until I found a stranger outside who let me call for help,’ I responded, growing weary of the cyclical questioning. ‘Samuel Guilford was found lying dead not far from your desk when our officers came on the scene. Did you see his body when you were running out of the office?’ asked the other detective, feigning an air of innocence while dropping this bombshell. My jaw fell open, and I stared at the interrogators in naked shock and terror. ‘No,’ I croaked, ‘I don’t understand.’ ‘He was stabbed to death with a large kitchen knife. His body was covered in twenty-three stab wounds,’ Barnshaw explained. ‘And we found the knife wedged in his mouth, pinning him to the floor through his throat.’ ‘We have reason to suspect it was the knife you’ve described to us in your statement,’ added the second detective. I eyed both detectives mutely, straining to focus when my mind seemed to have lost all clarity. ‘Your story checks out for the most part. We found his phone riddled with amateur hacking apps,’ continued the senior detective. ‘We found several naked photographs of you and all the texts you’ve mentioned. He had a gun in his hand and we found the bullet he fired as you fled.’ ‘What we don’t understand is how he died,’ added the second detective, keenly gauging my reaction. ‘It’s okay if you killed him in self-defense, Gemma. The guy was a creep.’ ‘I didn’t,’ I stammered. ‘I swear, I had no idea... Oh, oh God,’ I cried out helplessly. ‘I mean, just a month ago a report was filed against him by another coworker,’ said Barnshaw. ‘Sierra,’ I murmured. ‘You knew Miss. Brooks?’ asked the second detective, suspicion flaring in his eyes. ‘No,’ I insisted. ‘I got her desk and her notebook. I should have mentioned it before. What did the report say?’ Barnshaw scrutinized my face before meeting his partner’s eye. Some sort of unspoken exchange took place before they decided to disclose the terrible things that had happened to Sierra. Things that had so nearly happened to me. Sierra Brooks had come straight to a nearby hospital from her first night shift three months ago. She was badly beaten and bruised, wanting to register an anonymous rape kit. The damage to her reproductive organs was severe, and she had to get stitches. She filed a police report two months later when she failed her probationary period at Proficient Technologies, losing her job (her only way to pay off her medical debt). It was her word against Sam Guilford’s, who had expensive legal counsel as well as countless coworkers to vouch for his respectable character. ‘It was just yesterday that Miss. Brooks came by to drop all charges against Samuel,’ said the younger detective. ‘We are currently attempting to track her down and bring her in for questioning. I’m sure you can see how your knowledge of her name gives us cause for concern.’ The police kept up their line of questioning until someone brought Barnshaw a note. Forensics had drawn up a report on the fingerprints found on the knife, as well as the blood-spatter patterns. I was asked to submit some DNA samples to aid the investigation and finally released to go home. At home, exhausted as I was, I couldn’t sleep. I had none of my belongings back. My handbag, phone, and even coat were all submitted as evidence. So I turned to my old trusty laptop, hoping that some aimless browsing could help soothe my nerves. My browser was still on LinkedIn from the day before, and I refreshed the page out of habit. A small red icon showed that I had a new message. Sierra had replied to me. Don’t worry, sis. I took care of it submitted by