When Jenn first sent in her home for my Decorate or Renovate!? series, I declined her application.
Her living room had a 20-year-old fireplace, pink-beige carpet, partial wainscoting, and a collection of finishes that didn’t relate to the kitchen renovation beside it. I looked at the photos and thought: I can’t decorate my way out of this. The envelope needed work first.
But then I thought about it: this show is called Decorate OR Renovate!? Why was I only choosing homes I knew I could transform with decorating?
So I emailed Jenn back and told her I’d come, but this time, instead of arriving as the decorating fairy, I was going to show her what I thought she needed to renovate first. And once we added up the fireplace, flooring and other changes, we were looking at roughly $30,000.
Then, while I was there, Jenn took me into a spare bedroom and showed me a pile of art she wasn’t using. And suddenly I saw something I hadn’t seen in her application photos. Maybe I could decorate around that dated fireplace after all.
This is where the story gets interesting, because I was about to prove myself wrong.
At the end I asked Jenn how she felt about renovating now. Her answer? “I don’t think we have to, I like a thrifty deal :)”
And THAT is the magic of knowing the difference between what actually needs renovating, and what just needs decorating.
Tuesday, August 25, I’m teaching a free live workshop: Decorate or Renovate: The Magic is Knowing the Difference
If you’re staring at a room that feels dated and assuming the answer is renovation, come to this first. I’ll show you how to tell what actually needs replacing, what simply needs decorating, and where to spend your money so you get the biggest transformation without ripping out perfectly good finishes you could have worked with.
Because the expensive mistake is renovating before you know what actually needs to change. Register here.
Want Your Home Featured?
I’m looking for homeowners in the Fraser Valley or Lower Mainland who are willing to appear on camera for an episode of Decorate or Renovate!? Maybe your room feels unfinished, your furniture layout isn’t working, or you’re stuck wondering whether you need to renovate or simply decorate differently. Submit your home for consideration and tell me what isn’t working, what you’ve already tried, and what you’d love the room to become.
And if your home is chosen for a renovate episode, the consultation and design direction won’t cost you anything—just like you’ll see in today’s video. Apply here.
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The best part of this episode is that everything you bought to bridge the gap until the renovation can happen (which is now has a plan and a scope), is that it will all work AFTER the renovation as well. There is little to no waste. Bravo!
What a huge transformation and so well done. I would love for you to show us more of the touches that you did in the dining room and kitchen. Those unexplained details pull all three room together . Love these videos!!
I actually have that same picture of Bessie the cow! I have had it for several years and I like the color it brings in to my white walls, white sofas and a white rug with blue, red and gold in it. I kinda think there was too much art on the walls also. Too busy and not relaxing. I love the blue rug. I would have painted the fireplace simply because I do not like dark objects that are that large. The two lamps were a wee bit too large and hid the painting behind them. But I would have chosen decorate over renovate for sure.
This is a total transformation! I loooove the former cow art wall with the buffet, large art, and pair of lamps. Did you scoot the seating in toward the middle? The room feels inviting where it didn’t before. I’d remove a good third of the small random art pieces – I think the walls need more negative space to bring the focus to the focal groupings instead of bouncing all around. I agree that there is no hurry to renovate anymore!