Please Nick make a video on storing books. I have aplenty and I'm totally clueless how to store them stylishly. Open bookshelves or closed bookcase? I don't want to hide them but neither want my home to look untidy and too busy just because I love to read!
Nick - it may be worth pulling your stove out and double checking that they installed your outlet/receptacle correctly. When the stove was sticking out in one of my projects it was because the contractor didn't recess the outlet. It might be an easy-ish fix!
omg i've been eyeing gold flatware and speckled plates from fable for a while. i didn't even know they had sales. welp, guess i'm the only one getting gifts in my house this christmas (lmao!) but no, seriously.
Everyone needs to *listen* when Nick says "If it bugs you on Day One, it will continue to bug you." Best decision I ever made with our current house was to move the 1970s kitchen to the other side of the room where it could be as modern, spacious, and efficient as I needed it to be. Cost the earth, but every time I walk into that kitchen I smile. #nickknows
I have had the opposite experience. We decided to live with out house for awhile before renovating. It turned out that what I thought would be problems turned out not to be. Our largely untouched 1940s home has stood the test of time.
I have a similar rule for clothes. "If you don't love it in the store, you're not going to love it when you get it home." So regardless of what it is if it doesn't sit right with you now, it likely won't suddently change.
@@evemaybs I agree that something you don't initially like will suddenly change or that you will suddenly love it. What I found is that something I thought would be a problem, like the vintage tile or closed off kitchen, turned out to be features I realized the advantages of after living with them. I'm so glad that I didn't act on my initial thought to demo and replace before living with it for a while. There are pluses and minuses in everything. New is not always better.
In my experience, when a contractor has a screaming deal, its when he’s gotten stuck with something that another client has rejected or didn’t pay for or whatever that they couldn’t return and they are trying to get rid of it.
Regarding the sub with jets: here's some wise advice I got out of a Wall Street Journal editorial decades ago. The author said, simply, put time into making a decision that's proportional to the difficulty of undoing it. Which color bath towels to buy? Blue or gray? Pick one - it will cost you but you can easily switch. Paint the bathroom blue or gray? That decision deserves a little more time. Jetted tub versus plain tub? White grout versus black grout: think long and hard.
Oh man. I had a jetted tub once, and it was miserable - the whole pumping system stayed damp inside, so unless you used (and cleaned) the jet system CONSTANTLY, you'd get all kinds of funky stuff growing in it. I will never do a jetted tub again!
THIS!!! And ppl are on my comment telling me how to clean it. I KNOW HOW TO CLEAN IT!😂the jet system may be clean but it doesnt dry out so water is still sitting somewhere in it.
@@LythaWausW Oh my gosh! I was offered a jetted tub as an option in my new build master bath, but I turned it down because of the cost. I always wanted one tho. Reading these comments, now I'm glad I'm not getting one.
My husband redid both bathrooms in our last house. He wanted (and absolutely loves and uses) a jetted tub for his, and wanted to put one in mine as well. I refused and insisted on a deep soaker tub. I was 10000% happier with my tub. I tried his and the jets felt like I was being sandblasted.
When I think of Renos I also think “how will I clean this?” The jetted tub takes more time and effort to clean so if you’re not using it, it’s not worth it from that perspective alone. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
that's the question i ask myself for everything, down to furniture and decor purchases. will i have to wipe down this glass often? how dusty will this get?
I absolutely agree. Friends of mine renovated their entire house. The wall colors very bright. A few years later they changed them, but I always told them that the kitchen, bathroom, floor where done - by themselves- so well, so thought through. So what the wall color were an experiment, at least they played with colors. All good.
As the wife of someone who does custom tile work on high end homes, (and at times helps him), I think your subway tile with the gray grout is spot on. It's classic with the brick pattern. Otherwise, you don't get the definition - it just ends up being a white wall. And if that's what you want, go with marble.
I think the classic pattern works well anywhere but the bathroom. Because idk, it just might look like mouldy grout to other people when it's in the bathroom
Great great advice, especially "If it bugs you on day one, it'll bug you even more on day 1400". Also I'm really loving the new no-firetrucks-given sass!!
My aunt once said that about people one dates. If there is something that bugs you about them, it will bug you exponentially more once they are your spouse.
I love that you haven't framed these as "decorating mistakes" but rather as things that YOU personally regret in YOUR own home. Just bc it's a regret for you doesn't necessarily mean it will be for everyone. Design is as unique as you are! ❤ Edit: Except the bit about closet lighting, that's for everyone lol 😅
My biggest kitchen regret was falling for the hype and the appearance of a stainless steel gas range with iron grates that go all the way across the stovetop. It's awful. I hate it. I used to simply lift off burner grates & scrub them in the sink. Impossible with huge heavy grates. The center oval burner was a big selling point....but it has no flame on the back part; only the sides & front, so it doesn't heat a griddle evenly--you can only use the front of the griddle, so what's the point? The open spaces in the grates that are over the burners are too large for small pots. They tilt & even fall over. Huge & expensive regret. Hoping this will be useful info for anyone range-shopping.
My mama said there’s no perfect house and she was right. I regret that I let imperfections get under my skin, but it’s so helpful to share what we learn.
I have a two person jacuzzi and use it at the worst times, when I have over done a daily activity, you know we all push ourselves and I certainly do. When I jump into my jacuzzi, ready to drop dead, you can hear the sigh of relieve for the next 2-3 hours. A good book, a beer and those jets are life invigorating. The I slide into bed a happy human.
I bought a house that has a huge walk in shower, no lip. It was designed for wheelchair bound people before us. I tell people it’s my favorite thing ever! Thanks for your video. Great advice!
We had our custom home built with the walk in shower with no lip and now that I've lived with it for 5 years, I think maybe I'd rather have a lip because water does come out of the shower from time to time. But since we're both senior citizens, I'd probably regret having that lip in a few more years. 😂
I had a shower like that when I got my puppy. She would follow me into the bathroom everytime I went. Sometimes she would pee on the floor so I told her she was a good dog and washed it down the shower drain with clorox. She was super good about housebreaking but a few times we were out later than planned and we'd go into the bathroom to find she had used it. She never had an "accident" in another part of the house.
Same for me. I could never bring myself to tear out something new. You can only salvage so much to sell or donate and the rest becomes wasted. We're taking a break on looking for a place but I want something that needs cosmetic updates so I can pick everything out.
Nick, Nick, NICK ! i was hysterical with you describing what your fears of the neighbors were thinking with your "Jet" bath tube running. Ok, i have to admit, i was picturing you on Sue Ann's vibrating bed in The Mary Tyler Moore Show....which is why i was crying 😂
Oh my, my family is dealing with the size of appliances right now. Dish washer died and they need replacement. The problem? They have beautiful, custom-made kitchen. However, they chose dishwasher that is a few centimetres more narrow than 99.5% of dishwashers on the market and they didn't know, because they don't deal with there kind of things often enough and no one told them. Which wouldn't be a problem if whoever designed and created the kitchen warn them or at least made the dishwasher cupboard normal sized instead of smaller and covered that odd two centimetre gap, which would be easy enough. But now, they need new dishwasher and they can't find any that fits in that damn custom made kitchen. So very valid point where I would add - that kitchen will probably last you x times longer than any of the appliances you put in it. So double check you are choosing appliances that have some sort of uniform sizes, so when you need to replace them, you can actually find appliances that fit.
The best corner cabinet solution I’ve had in a house is a “lazy-Susan” garbage. Three garbage containers, one for garbage, one for recycling, and one for bottle return. I don’t know that any cabinet manufacturer makes them anymore.
As someone who just bought a new home that is a huge project house, and has been binging your videos like crazy for the past several weeks, this video came at the perfect time. Thanks as always for the inspo!
I am replacing my jetting tub next week! I love taking baths but no matter how much I clean it… the tubes or whatever cant ever get clean… when you drain the tub there still had to be some water in the tubes. It grossed me out…
Doesn't it have a cleaning function? Mine did, with a little reservoir for the cleaning agent. Fill the tub, run the program and it would clean out and disinfect the pipes and pump.
@@kaasmeester5903: it pays to read the manual. Replacing what is probably a perfectly functioning bath is like throwing away a pair of shoes because they got wet in the rain.
Same here. I am totally disgusted by them. I've used every kind of tub jet cleaner out there and they're still foul beyond belief. I wish I could afford to rip mine out and replace with a regular garden tub that I could actually use!
One thing I will do again is use large wall tiles with very little grout in my shower. Just squeegee walls after showering and it’s done. Something I won’t do again is use a nonslip white tile on the bathroom floor -dirt is hard to scrub off. Also, I used pebble tile for the shower floor and I love it. Oh, the things we learn.
Oh, I feel you. I have non slip white tiles that resemble rough stone in my balcony (re done from the bottom up by the owners' association because my neighbor had water falling) and I can't wait to re done it with the terrazzo floor it had before. No matter how much elbow I put, it's disgustingly dirty.
My husband was in the electrical supply business when we built our house, so we had regular lights in every closet, dimmers in the kitchen and living room, hard-wired smoke detectors, and 2-way switches in the living room so you could turn on lamps when you walked into the room.
For stain resistant grout, use the synthetic grouts, often called "epoxy grout" even though it's not really epoxy. It's not porous like old style group and stains can't get into it.
I can vouch for Mapei Ultracolor Plus FA epoxy grout. It's a really outstanding product. I've done 5 floors and 2 walls with it. It does not need sealer and cleans easily. You have to be careful when using it because it is epoxy and when it kicks it becomes very hard. But the finished product is totally worth it.
I bought a house with a small kitchen that had 3 corner cabinets, when I redid the space I made it a galley kitchen and got rid of all of them. I put the taller items at the rear, fridge one side and pantry and wall oven the other, and that really opened up the space looking into the kitchen and made it look twice the size.
As someone who has worked in home sales and styling for years, I cannot emphasize enough that everyone needs to take proper and thorough measurements before purchasing large items, especially appliances. Measurements of everything, not just the unit and space, but doorways, stairways and any objects that cannot be moved. The amount of times I had annoyed clients complaining that I asked for more information about their space and just demanded the order be placed, only for them to call months later yelling about how the purchase couldn't be installed or placed because it didn't fit through a doorway or up stairwells. 😅
I made the mistake of buying a fridge/freezer that was too big. We had to stand it at a jaunty angle so you could reach the light switch that was down the side of it and still open the door that was to the other side. We've since renovated the kitchen, so we've moved it to a different spot where it is no longer causing problems. I hope it lives forever because finding another one of similar dimensions to sit in its new spot would be tricky.
This! When I started to work from home, I bought a beautiful vintage school teachers desk. That didn't fit up the stairs into my office. Hence, I'm STILL working in the corner of my living room - just on a beautiful desk now LOL. When I retire, I'll sell it on, but with a sad heart. I do love this thing......
When I was a teen I got my parents to buy an enormous wardrobe. It was great and I knew it would hold all my stuff. Unfortunately, it was so long, it couldn't turn the corner to get into my room. Thankfully, we had an unfurnished in-law apartment that it could have slid right in. But lesson learned. Get 2 small wardrobes instead. LOL.
I dunno Nick.... something tells me Home Depot isn't going to let me strip down and test drive a jet tub in the middle of the store. Those MFs are so uptight 🙄
Yeah, but they do have jetted tubs in hotels sometimes. Even a moderate priced place like a Comfort Inn sometimes has a room with a jetted tub is you ask. Probably could have tried it at a hotel, although it would not have been the exact brand, they are all super loud in my experience. By the way: I LOVE LOVE LOVE my jetted tub.
I believe with renovation/new builds, knowing when you have "decision fatigue" is key. Take a moment to NOT think, rest, tune out everything, and reset your brains before making choices--- like a jetted tub when you generally dislike baths. :P When it came time to chose the freaking socket and switch placements (of all things), I was faklempt. I had to excuse myself to go scream into a pillow, viciously hit my vape, do some jumping jacks, then come back a whole new person to make the right choices. Socket and switch location is wayy more important than I could handle at that moment so I asked for help from the contractor by telling him my daily routine and where things would go once we moved in. He nailed it. Decision fatigue made me make some bad choices like "no, we don't have to finish the hall closet, we can do that later.." because I was outta juice.. instead of the smarter "I'll think on it and get back to you" which would have been soo much better than the 20+ yr old IKEA cube shelving units I stuffed in there >
When I was designing my home I asked the builder to put a window in my walk in pantry. They looked at me a little funny but I absolutely LOVE it. It lets in so much light and if something ever goes off (let’s face it, it happens) I can air out the room pretty quickly
As nearly everybody I really like buying furniture at Ikea. But when I last bought a Pax for my summerhouse, I was shocked about the low quality - the cover is only a plastic foil, it only takes a little bump to make a hole in the cover. Generally I think its very troublesome, how much Ikea decreased the quality of its goods during the last years and maybe we customers should adress this topic.
The number 1 thing I tell people when I am training them is that making mistakes is the best way to learn something. Am I a weirdo - I think your bathroom looks awesome. Not a fan of the jetted tub, but I love the grout.
I installed a jetted tub in my last place, and it was all kinds of awesome. I did like taking baths from time to time, with a good book and a generous glass of brandy. But it certainly is worth thinking about how often you will use it. In my current home the bathroom is on the small side, and rather than cram in a bathtub we opted for a large walk-in shower, and never regretted it. Oh, my last bathroom also had subway tiles :) I used white grout though, and it looked decent.
I did the same thing in my current home. I am not a person who enjoys baths; I had the tub removed and put in a large glass shower. I don't regret it, six years on.
@@peztopher7297 That’s why you want the special cleaner. It needs to be a degreaser as well as a disinfectant, since you’re dealing with gross stuff: soap residue, skin, dirt, bacteria and fungi, all at a temperature they love. The cleaner works if you use it regularly, I took the pump apart once for servicing and it was completely clean. Oh, it also helps if you build the bath in such a way that you can access the equipment for servicing.
I put a jetted tub in my last house also (I also made the space a foot longer so I could stretch out). I love taking baths and the extra foot was amazing. I only turned on the jets a couple of times but then had to make sure to clean them periodically to prevent mold build up. Would go with a soaking tub next time. (My current house has a tiny 1950s bathroom so removing the tub and putting in a walk in shower was the choice there).
Jetted tub, I don’t understand life without one. My partners aunt came to visit, she saw the jetted tub in the master bath, we slept in the guest room for the remainder of her visit. 😂❤
I love seeing this side of you. Also it’s very helpful advice because I do see a lot of makeovers with doors on pax wardrobes and it never occurred to me that they could be dark and problematic. The same with grout, typically when it comes to tile we focus on the tile itself but aren’t aware of the effects of grout and its visual effect
It really helps me to hear from someone like you, with al lot of experience en knowledge of interior, that you also made mistakes and you aren't happy and satisfied with every part of your home. Takes a lot of pressure away to have everything perfect ❤❤
My regret with remodeling the master bather in our last house was the tub. We were looking for a good deal on a standard size soaking depth tub. It wasn't until we used it did we realize why it was a good deal. It was too thin and you could feel the bottom move despite that it was stable & properly installed. My suggestion when looking for a tub online that is not metal is to compare the weight! Often the showrooms will only have the latest and greatest on display. We learned our lesson from the mistake we made in our old house. This time when we replaced the bathtub in the kids' bathroom, I looked at weight in addition to reviews. Did this Kohler cost more than the previous tub? Oh yeah but considering how cheap the first tub was 😅 the basic soaking tub by Kohler wasn't outrageous. Was the price difference worth it? Most definitely! If you plan on living with for many years to come, then make sure you pay that extra amount to get a solid tub that will last. Also, talk to the professionals you are working with. The plumber we hired agreed with how we picked out the lasted tub. Learn from my mistake 😅 if the material is not metal, then make sure to check the weight of the product in addition to the reviews!
I can relate to this so much! I was on an extremely tight budget and the previous tub was completely unusable. I chose a standard enameled metal tub that was a price I could afford. 4 years later it's destroyed in the area just in front of the drain. Who knew there was a massive difference in enamel quality and thickness?! It is scratched and stained by my awful water and often has a small bit of standing water there too. Changing it out feels like it's going to be a massive job as it's tiled in there all around the rim and down the sides of the front panel.
@arizonashopper5095 Many cheaper non-metal tubs are so thin that you can feel the movement when you apply an uneven amount of weight, like when taking a shower. The movement wasn't noticeable if you were taking a bath because weight was more evenly distributed. Think the best comparison would be to compare to the difference in squeezing an empty plastic bottle and then squeezing a plastic bottle full of liquid. The movement is obviously extremely mild in the bathtub compared to a plastic bottle, but it kind of gives a similar feeling of movement under pressure points where you are standing 🤔.
@lyndaboonstra5605 Unfortunately, poor water quality can really do a number to your wet area and appliances (dishwasher & washing machine) 😓 thus shortening the life span of those areas & items. I have issues with hard water to the point that I won't even start on the master bathroom until we get a decent home water filter. That doesn't seem like that will happen any time soon 😓 after we had to shell out 16k for a new a/c sooner than expected. I have to run tub cleaning cycles on our washing machine & dish washer more frequently to account for the hard water. Home repairs are so expensive even when you do them yourself 😓. I am just glad we bought that we knew needed work rather than spending way more on a newer home with loads of issues & poor quality, all hidden behind fresh drywall & paint. If money is tight you can always try the lipstick on a pig approach to delay major work & expenses by getting a diy bathtub coating kit. Those kits are only for the short term, but it could allow you enough time that the expenses won't hurt your budget as badly. My father inlaw used a diy bathtub coating system in both the full bathrooms in our house, and it did buy us some time.
Not sure if this applies to your situation, but the lighter weight tubs are supposed to be installed on top of a freshly mudded bed of concrete, which will mold to the shape of the tub, and when the concrete cures and becomes rock solid, will support the bottom of the tub.
I’mr made the mistake of getting a jetted tub too! Mine also has bubble jets on the base, which are really uncomfortable to sit on (tips - sit in the tub for 5+ minutes before you decide to buy it, likewise sit on the toilet (even if you’re in the middle of the showroom) and make sure this is installed at the right height for you). As I was choosing everything for a new build, I even went to the expense of having the sound proofing done so the neighbors wouldn’t be inconvenienced $$$. I think I used it twice before realizing I get bored sitting in a tub, I feel bad about the amount of water it uses vs a shower, and it’s so loud that it’s not even relaxing!
From someone who’s job is cabinetry, I’ve seen a LOT of products made for those awkward corners. Rev-A-Shelf has good products and I’d say are the only ones I’ve seen that do it right. So long as your space properly accommodates the system they just work and they’re built well. They have lots of other great stuff like pull out trash cans, spice racks and even entire pantries
I love Rev-A-Shelves! I used them for my pull-out waste bins and as pull out shelves in a pantry. They are so well-built and designed and are worth the money.
I also made the mistake of getting a jetted tub. Another thing about those things other than the noise is how filthy they get. Whenever you clean the jets and run detergent through it, the most horrifying glob comes out. It's terrible. As for PAX, I also regret putting on doors... but in my case, I regret doors that pull open. We have 4 sets of PAX in the house. They are all are in the middle of bedrooms, so as you said, I have to use doors to cover clutter. The first 2 PAX have annoying pull open doors, which bump into adjacent walls and doors. Later on, I got smart and put in the sliding opaque glass doors. MUCH better.
Your Protruding Stove Regret got me thinking: maybe you should talk to us sometime about "counter-depth" fridges vs. great big fridges that stick out into the room and where things shoved way in the back are lost and forgotten until they go bad and have to be thrown away.
Just got a small, counterdepth fridge and LOVE it. When I finally redo my kitchen, I will either keep this one or get a slightly wider counterdepth one.
I wish I knew about "counter depth" appliances. I had no idea until I Googled about it after paying a "'screamin' good deal" price for a huge fridge. Thankfully, I"m not done with my kitchen - that beast is going.
The fridge that came with my house sticks out 8 inches past the counter! To make matters worse, it's located in the corner next to the back door, which can only open 3/4 of the way. Ridiculous. The fridge is 20 years old, so when it dies I'll get a smaller one.
This is an age old problem. I like to cook. I’m very good at cooking. For me, the function of my kitchen is all that matters. The shape of a proper kitchen is wide galley or bust, and I don’t care what the colors and finishes and figment are, as long as each decision makes it easier to convert raw ingredients into plated food or convert dirty dishes and utensils into clean clean, put away dishes and utensils. So a counter depth fridge is really nice because it Eliminates the “back of the fridge” problem and opens up some workflow space. But it also creates the problem of a dinky little fridge for the same linear footprint. So if you want to match storage space you need to take up more linear space. Maybe an extra foot or 18” of what could have otherwise been countertops. So it really comes down to how much space you have and where you have space. Of course, if how it looks is the most important thing to you then you should just get a counter depth paneled fridge.
If you have a family and cook from home three meals a day, you best be getting the normal sized fridge and without any of that silly water filter and ice maker in it taking up space where food should be. 🥰 It's nice there are options since everyone lives so differently.
But Nick! You’re never wrong… and your advice is so on point! So how could you have possibly made a mistake when it comes to designing your own home!! 😊
As someone who loves to make customized wooden things to fit the oddities of my home. I immediately looked at your odd empty space in the kitchen & saw a small wooden cabinet spot w/a butcher block top for extra counter space & storage on wheels. Can't wait to see what you do with your new space :) I love your videos thank you for always being you on the tube ;)
Oh goodness…..you’re speaking to me on this one. I have a *corner* jetted tub (that is a monstrosity, as I’m sure you can imagine), that I cannot wait to take out and replace. I love taking baths, and it is so cumbersome to get in and out of, and the tile surround is annoying, as well. Also, my closet lighting is horrific. I just want to burn the whole thing to the ground most days. I told my husband that when we remodel the master suite, we’re going to have to wear sunglasses in the closet with all of the lighting that will go in. 😎🫣 Great video, Nick! Thanks for sharing your insights.
Jetted tub. Yes try before you buy is a lesson. The other lesson is if you wouldn’t buy it at full price, don’t buy it. So glad you mentioned that grout. It’s a pet peeve of mine. Dark grout by and large always looks dirty to me, plus the contrast effect you mentioned is tough for those of us with sensory stimulation and visual tracking issues. Wow that’s how I found you. The Pax wardrobe video. I searched for pax and you came up.
Thank you so much Nick for addressing these problems. I too don’t like jetted tubs as the noise and vibration runs counter to relaxation for me so never use them. Those lighting strips in closets and under cabinets, even when plugged in, never stay on or are bright enough that’s so true…not just ikea brand. All your points are valid and spot on. ❤️
I’ve made both the grout color mistake and the oversized appliance mistake. Good lighting is getting more and more important as I age. Thanks for the tips.
Looking at this early in the morning brought chuckles. Even when we plan, build ourselves, there's always something that ends up not working as we'd hoped. Closet lighting, kitchen cabinets, things most can identify with. Looking forward to what you do in your next space
stay with white grout, my old house they went with black, and didn't seal it properly, it was like 60's mascara even when I tried to seal them years after
I absolutely agree with you, Nick, on the awkward placement of the pull-out draws under the counter. How cumbersome having to get down on your knees to retrieve an item. Seeing those three carts lined up together creates the ambiance of a hair salon. No fault of yours, of course. Cheers! Darryl
When we renovated our home, I purchased the jetted tub of my dreams. I bathe all the time. And I hate it. I just use it as a soaker. The jets are so loud, and not relaxing at all
Noise is a good example for sure. Jets are for the jet stream. A tub with quiet air bubbles makes for happy limbs and neighbors. Made that mistake more than once. Thanks Nick. Spot on as always.
Great video Nick! Even a professional like yourself there are times when you have to deal with the unknown, and just have to go for it. We can only think things through for so long, and then just need to act on them, one way or the other. Like the old saying- "When there is a decision to be made, make it, then forget it, for the moment of absolute certainty never arrives."
I discovered your channel a month ago and am binging on all the content. This one is so helpful because we can learn from firsthand experience. thank you!!
The grout was not worn down. I used a latex paint and then a razor sharp edge to clean the latex paint off the tile. It was a bit of a mess cleaning up the dried paint off the tile but the result was so lovely. However, the painted grout was not in an area where the tile would be wet from a shower or bath. It made the grout more pronounced but it just looked so lovely when I was finished. @@pamcornelius9122
ARRRRGGGGHHH you fell for the JETTED TUB faux pas and displayed your human imperfection!! seriously enjoyed this vid :) too bad you don't have more design regrets to share, Nick. you're an excellent critical humorist!
We upgraded our small house bathroom tub to a slightly larger and deeper tub. That’s all! I love love love it! My neighbor did jets and he regrets it. The cleaning alone… also, you can always get a temporary insert that does jets and bubbles… like a foot bath, but for your back/body.
We did carrerra marble, rectangular, tiles on the floor with regular arctic white, sanded grout. No regrets. Will age darker. Ok also, basic, square, white tiles on the tub surround. With decorative strips of glass tile border. Again not regretting it. Often less IS more.
Still “getting to” the cabinets in the kitchen. One lower corner. Will do a simple blind base.i don’t mind reaching in for rarely used appliances. No big deal. I am loving all the validation in this video!!! It affirms the experience I gained from my 30+ years raising 6 children in this small house.
I’ve had so many diff living situations, even though I have owned this one house for over 30 years. I visit my children’s families for months at a time. The simple, good-quality, side-by-side fridge is my favorite. Don’t want French doors. The larger, yet rounded inside corners sink is my go to. Not the huge, square, farmhouse sink that you have to literally push the food into the drain! No thank you! I want the one that naturally rinses everything down the drain for you. As a rule of thumb, the not best and not worst is the best choice. Above average, but not crazy.
Jetted tub cleaning: ALWAYS POINT THE JETS DOWN AFTER BATH. Fill tub with water over the jets, put 1-2 cups bleach in the water and run it for 20 minutes to clean about once a month if you use the tub regularly. Never had mold in ours after 5 years use in the existing home we bought. Ours was not a jet engine and we lived in a single family residence with tub on main floor
In my first home I got a jetted tub and I rarely used it. Then when I finally used it, I was wiping down the tub and a spider crawled out of it, I never used my tub again. I was so happy to move and get a soaking tub in my new home 😊
Omgosh, I love this!!! You just crack me up. I have been watching your videos because you give such great advice but mostly because you are so "YOu" which keeps me watching and this video just made my day. Thanks for being so candid and smart! Keep up the great work!!
I've renovated my house over the last three years. There are definitely some things I regret. But not enough to spend the time money and effort to correct them. It's just something I will have to live with. No place is perfect. I think I made the right decisions most of the time. Hindsight is 2020 that's for sure.
You can regrout the bathroom tiles. I believe it involves using a tool that is like a drill with an abrasive disc attachment and lightly grind out the grout down to make room for the new grout. That's what I would do. And once the grout is dry, apply first a penetrating sealer and then a top sealer, to make cleaning easy and prevent any dirt from sinking into the grout
I did find the listing for your apartment out of curiosity, and that was the first time I really saw the kitchen in its entirety. It was surprising to me how odd and funky the kitchen was in terms of space planning and design. It makes a lot of sense to me that the kitchen was new when you bought the place, and you didn't really design it. I've always been bothered by the choices the landlords and builders have made in my rentals, so it really makes me hesitant if I ever buy a place, to pay a premium for nearly new renovations that I'll never really be happy with. I just wouldn't have the heart or likely even the budget to wastefully renovate. I'd much rather live with something dated, but livable that I could eventually renovate in the future rather than a somewhat nice, but bothersome design choice someone else made that is too nice to change. The dark grout in this case doesn't bother me as much. After having white grout in a rental tub/shower, it looked stained and uneven immediately even with constant cleaning. If the contrast between tile and grout is too much, I would likely pick a darker tile rather than a lighter grout.
My stove has the same issue. Reason is hard line for the gas fitting comes out from the floor at a certain point clashes with a structural part of the GE Cafe stove. It's annoying but I've learned to not let it bother me.
I did the battery lighting in a closet to take the easy road, once. I learned it was a waste of time and money not to mention highly cumbersome. If we live long enough we learn. I am just finishing a complete reno of a 1996 house. I have yet to regret one choice but we will see. But I have lived long, hopefully enough! Also, I have the funky corner cabinet. I have learned to put items in there that I do not use frequently. And, I took a page from one of your earlier videos and put a nice lamp in my kitchen. It is lovely and provides awesome ambiance. Thank you!
I guess I'm the odd person out (as usual 🙂 ) I love corner cabinets. We installed a lazy Suzanne lower (with separate rotating shelves) on 1 side of the kitchen with a standard adjustable shelf corner cabinet above. The other side is a corner sink base with a standard adjustable shelf corner cabinet above. In an 800 sq ft house these are awesome to store stand alone appliances and large cook pots and the upper cabinets allowed me to store as much packaged, canned food as some pantries.
@@superthevibe We put a couple large not-often-used appliance in the sink base. A child could crawl in there and nap, it was so deep. The blender, food processor and couple other things are in one upper cabinet after we took one shelf out. the bottom 2 shelves were for food. Oh and we had the top cupboards go all the way to the ceiling. I think they ended up being 42" or 45" tall (I forget).
@@superthevibeI'm 5 ft tall and have to get on a stool or ladder to reach the back of the 2nd shelf in any kitchen. I have a 3 step ladder to get to the top of the upper cabinets and above the fridge. I'm also not adverse to standing on the counter if I need to... Actually I do stand on the counter to clean the cupboards and the ceiling fan.
I work in Flooring and we also do wall tile. With grout, if you don't like how the color turns out, then you can have it sealed almost any color. Even if you match the grout color I always recommend sealing it to prevent stains and ickies from seeping in. Grout is porous and gets gross and germy over time. There's only so much that can be done to "clean and sterilize" it.
11:57 about your stove... ever thought about moving it to the end of the cabinets? Another is to change out the tabletops on both sides of the stove... bring the capinets from the wall and get a new deeper tabletop. Should not cost that much... And you get to chose a new look for your kitchen... and the working place beside the stove...
Totally agree on the jet tub. I have one , I used it exactly ONCE. Every day I curse myself for wasting that kind of money .I’m about to build my forever house … there will be no tubs in my bathroom, nor will there be any corner cabinets upper or lower.
Where are we buying “counter depth” slide in freestanding ranges? Just did a reno and needed an electric range and the depth is what it is. You have to offset the cabinetry from to accommodate, but the oven doors will, by design, not be flush.
Some decor mistakes are more difficult to "fix" than others. Changing a stove is costly but easy! More difficult for the bathroom tiles, so I would emphasize them by bringing a more graphic wall paper or a dark grey paint....I rented once an appartment with a pink bathroom set: tub, sink and toilet. Not my colour of choice but I chose to make it the focal point as if it was intentional!😊
In his set of idea cards, Oblique Strategies, Brian has one that says "emphasise the fault". Unless you can do a very good job of hiding something, make it a feature and design around it. Good thinking.
I have a great solution on the blind corners in my kitchen, the one near my stove has 2 great pull outs, that pull out fully, it's on a steel post with maple shelves that pull all the way out and holds all my pots pans and lids...the other blind corner has a door and drawers at the corner on the opposite side of my peninsula...I used the same maple panels on that side of the peninsula so you don't notice the cabinet and drawer, and it's the perfect spot to house all my baking needs, and the cabinet has 2 pull out drawers so it's easy to get at my "stuff"...on the kitchen side of the peninsula, I have a narrow cabinet and a drawer that contains all my cutco knives and the cabinet with pull out houses all my cutting boards and pizza pans and stones...next to this is 2 very deep drawers that houses all my wraps, kitchen tools, bowls and linens, and over top of the drawers is a pull out butcher block table on wheels with brakes and legs that match the stain on the cabinets...it goes under the peninsula and over top of the drawers and is fully concealed when put away...I spent a lot of time designing my kitchen...it's very custom, cost a fortune, but is designed to my culinary needs...I only wish I could send you photos
I really enjoyed this one!! I have been in this predicament more times than I care to admit. I get decision paralysis when it comes to design sometimes and it drives me nuts!
The bathroom is pulling too many different elements for a small space. As a plumber / installer I would have advised against small format tiles in a bath / shower area. But that said, my last 3 have chosen exactly what i advised against. 😂
I’m glad I had the opportunity to try a jetted tub in a rental before owning my own place. I had the same experience as you with the unrelaxing nature of it. I knew I would never get one in the future. Funnily, I ended up buying a place with an older hot tub on the second floor! I’ve never used it due to fears of leakage and it will have to be cut out and removed some day as it is just taking up space.
I purchased new appliances two years ago and according to my handyman's measurements (which were correct) the stove would fit flush with the counter like the old one but when it arrived it had a weird plug set up that required it to extend past the countertop! 🙄🤔
Yup! This! The back of the new stove is covered not open so the plug makes it stick out from the wall. And I measured everything perfectly to ensure the right fit but nothing includes the depth from the wall with the stove plugged in. Even the distributor who installs these stoves didn't know about it when I called hoping for a fix. I hired an electrician to recess the plug outlet as far into the wall as he could the stove still sticks out about a half inch.
Just finished my 3rd kitchen Reno and I decided no corner cabinet. There are no good corners solutions so I just killed the whole corner. No more being a contortionist to clean inside or get at something that fell into the depths. I love not having corner cabinets. Thanks for sharing your mistakes. It’s a good reminder we all make them.
OMG, what a fun video!This was one of my favorites. I also have a range that sticks out. But it’s on purpose so I can fit a whole sheet pan in there. Also, I love my corner cabinet solution. It’s the Rev-A-Shelf magic corner and its quite functional.
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Shop Fable's Black Friday deals and my holiday gift guide here! glnk.io/4y0x/nicktalksdesign
Please Nick make a video on storing books. I have aplenty and I'm totally clueless how to store them stylishly. Open bookshelves or closed bookcase? I don't want to hide them but neither want my home to look untidy and too busy just because I love to read!
😂 100% agree about the spa bath! I did exactly the same thing. 17 years used maybe twice!
I can see now why you've never done a tour of your kitchen, even though we all begged 😂
Nick - it may be worth pulling your stove out and double checking that they installed your outlet/receptacle correctly. When the stove was sticking out in one of my projects it was because the contractor didn't recess the outlet. It might be an easy-ish fix!
omg i've been eyeing gold flatware and speckled plates from fable for a while. i didn't even know they had sales. welp, guess i'm the only one getting gifts in my house this christmas (lmao!) but no, seriously.
My husband always says,”2 elephants for a quarter sounds like a good deal, but only if you need elephants and you have a quarter.”
I love that! 😂😂
I told that to my husband, and now I kinda wish I hadn't. 😅
Oh I’m going to use this one!!!!
He sounds Scottish. The frugal Scots have lots of those sayings. 😆
I love this!
Everyone needs to *listen* when Nick says "If it bugs you on Day One, it will continue to bug you." Best decision I ever made with our current house was to move the 1970s kitchen to the other side of the room where it could be as modern, spacious, and efficient as I needed it to be. Cost the earth, but every time I walk into that kitchen I smile. #nickknows
#nickknows -- love that!
I have had the opposite experience. We decided to live with out house for awhile before renovating. It turned out that what I thought would be problems turned out not to be. Our largely untouched 1940s home has stood the test of time.
I have a similar rule for clothes. "If you don't love it in the store, you're not going to love it when you get it home." So regardless of what it is if it doesn't sit right with you now, it likely won't suddently change.
@@evemaybs I agree that something you don't initially like will suddenly change or that you will suddenly love it. What I found is that something I thought would be a problem, like the vintage tile or closed off kitchen, turned out to be features I realized the advantages of after living with them. I'm so glad that I didn't act on my initial thought to demo and replace before living with it for a while. There are pluses and minuses in everything. New is not always better.
@@evemaybsI say the same for shoes. If they’re not comfortable when you get them, they likely never will be.
In my experience, when a contractor has a screaming deal, its when he’s gotten stuck with something that another client has rejected or didn’t pay for or whatever that they couldn’t return and they are trying to get rid of it.
As a high rise manager, NO JETTED TUB in a shared walls/floor building.
Truth! A jetted tub caused a major flood in our building. 😖
Also for high rises:
Jet Engine 🚫
Jet Ski 🚫
CNC Water Jet 🚫
Jet Li ✅️
That's funny 😂
Regarding the sub with jets: here's some wise advice I got out of a Wall Street Journal editorial decades ago. The author said, simply, put time into making a decision that's proportional to the difficulty of undoing it. Which color bath towels to buy? Blue or gray? Pick one - it will cost you but you can easily switch. Paint the bathroom blue or gray? That decision deserves a little more time. Jetted tub versus plain tub? White grout versus black grout: think long and hard.
Great advice
I'm wondering if he had the jet tub uninstalled, he could probably sell it and put the money towards buying a plain tub and paying the plumber.
They are a pain to clean also!
No grout 😂
Oh man. I had a jetted tub once, and it was miserable - the whole pumping system stayed damp inside, so unless you used (and cleaned) the jet system CONSTANTLY, you'd get all kinds of funky stuff growing in it. I will never do a jetted tub again!
THIS!!! And ppl are on my comment telling me how to clean it. I KNOW HOW TO CLEAN IT!😂the jet system may be clean but it doesnt dry out so water is still sitting somewhere in it.
@@beaubeauknows3620 And spiders can hide in there, I think.
@@LythaWausW Oh my gosh! I was offered a jetted tub as an option in my new build master bath, but I turned it down because of the cost. I always wanted one tho. Reading these comments, now I'm glad I'm not getting one.
My jetted tub throws me around! A miserable experience.
My husband redid both bathrooms in our last house. He wanted (and absolutely loves and uses) a jetted tub for his, and wanted to put one in mine as well. I refused and insisted on a deep soaker tub. I was 10000% happier with my tub. I tried his and the jets felt like I was being sandblasted.
I always prefer to learn from OTHER people’s mistakes. Much cheaper that way. Thanks for sharing. 😇
Yep! 😁
The home tour we’ve all been waiting for…
Nick - “here are the worst things in my apartment” 😂😂😂
Absolute love your videos! 🫶🏼
When I think of Renos I also think “how will I clean this?” The jetted tub takes more time and effort to clean so if you’re not using it, it’s not worth it from that perspective alone. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
That's totally where my mind went too!
that's the question i ask myself for everything, down to furniture and decor purchases. will i have to wipe down this glass often? how dusty will this get?
If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. Life's too short to hold on to regrets. Keep making fabulous videos!
I absolutely agree. Friends of mine renovated their entire house. The wall colors very bright.
A few years later they changed them, but I always told them that the kitchen, bathroom, floor where done - by themselves- so well, so thought through.
So what the wall color were an experiment, at least they played with colors. All good.
As the wife of someone who does custom tile work on high end homes, (and at times helps him), I think your subway tile with the gray grout is spot on. It's classic with the brick pattern. Otherwise, you don't get the definition - it just ends up being a white wall. And if that's what you want, go with marble.
Yes I think his busy wall paper pattern clutters the room not the nice subway tile and mild contrast.
I think the classic pattern works well anywhere but the bathroom. Because idk, it just might look like mouldy grout to other people when it's in the bathroom
@@бронза.вафля.конус, not if you use a very pale grey grout. Then it will look timeless and not dirty.
Totally agree.
@@joywebster2678I love his wall paper!
Great great advice, especially "If it bugs you on day one, it'll bug you even more on day 1400". Also I'm really loving the new no-firetrucks-given sass!!
Day 1400 😂🤣😂🤣 Loved that line! Nick’s humor is always on point!
My aunt once said that about people one dates. If there is something that bugs you about them, it will bug you exponentially more once they are your spouse.
I love that you haven't framed these as "decorating mistakes" but rather as things that YOU personally regret in YOUR own home. Just bc it's a regret for you doesn't necessarily mean it will be for everyone. Design is as unique as you are! ❤
Edit: Except the bit about closet lighting, that's for everyone lol 😅
My biggest kitchen regret was falling for the hype and the appearance of a stainless steel gas range with iron grates that go all the way across the stovetop.
It's awful. I hate it.
I used to simply lift off burner grates & scrub them in the sink. Impossible with huge heavy grates.
The center oval burner was a big selling point....but it has no flame on the back part; only the sides & front, so it doesn't heat a griddle evenly--you can only use the front of the griddle, so what's the point?
The open spaces in the grates that are over the burners are too large for small pots. They tilt & even fall over.
Huge & expensive regret. Hoping this will be useful info for anyone range-shopping.
👍
My mama said there’s no perfect house and she was right. I regret that I let imperfections get under my skin, but it’s so helpful to share what we learn.
I have a two person jacuzzi and use it at the worst times, when I have over done a daily activity, you know we all push ourselves and I certainly do. When I jump into my jacuzzi, ready to drop dead, you can hear the sigh of relieve for the next 2-3 hours. A good book, a beer and those jets are life invigorating. The I slide into bed a happy human.
I bought a house that has a huge walk in shower, no lip. It was designed for wheelchair bound people before us. I tell people it’s my favorite thing ever! Thanks for your video. Great advice!
We had our custom home built with the walk in shower with no lip and now that I've lived with it for 5 years, I think maybe I'd rather have a lip because water does come out of the shower from time to time. But since we're both senior citizens, I'd probably regret having that lip in a few more years. 😂
I had a shower like that when I got my puppy. She would follow me into the bathroom everytime I went. Sometimes she would pee on the floor so I told her she was a good dog and washed it down the shower drain with clorox. She was super good about housebreaking but a few times we were out later than planned and we'd go into the bathroom to find she had used it. She never had an "accident" in another part of the house.
Nick’s stove story is exactly why we wanted a fixer upper. I didn’t want to put up with something I didn’t like only because it was new.
Same for me. I could never bring myself to tear out something new. You can only salvage so much to sell or donate and the rest becomes wasted. We're taking a break on looking for a place but I want something that needs cosmetic updates so I can pick everything out.
Nick, Nick, NICK ! i was hysterical with you describing what your fears of the neighbors were thinking with your "Jet" bath tube running. Ok, i have to admit, i was picturing you on Sue Ann's vibrating bed in The Mary Tyler Moore Show....which is why i was crying 😂
Oh my, my family is dealing with the size of appliances right now. Dish washer died and they need replacement. The problem? They have beautiful, custom-made kitchen. However, they chose dishwasher that is a few centimetres more narrow than 99.5% of dishwashers on the market and they didn't know, because they don't deal with there kind of things often enough and no one told them. Which wouldn't be a problem if whoever designed and created the kitchen warn them or at least made the dishwasher cupboard normal sized instead of smaller and covered that odd two centimetre gap, which would be easy enough. But now, they need new dishwasher and they can't find any that fits in that damn custom made kitchen. So very valid point where I would add - that kitchen will probably last you x times longer than any of the appliances you put in it. So double check you are choosing appliances that have some sort of uniform sizes, so when you need to replace them, you can actually find appliances that fit.
🤕
The best solution for corner cabinets is to design a kitchen without corner cabinets from the start, i.e. the gallery kitchen patern is my fav.
The best corner cabinet solution I’ve had in a house is a “lazy-Susan” garbage. Three garbage containers, one for garbage, one for recycling, and one for bottle return. I don’t know that any cabinet manufacturer makes them anymore.
"It beeps at me, unnecessarily" 😅 So relatable, especially at this time of year with holiday baking.
Don't be so hard on yourself. Your bathroom is gorgeous!
As someone who just bought a new home that is a huge project house, and has been binging your videos like crazy for the past several weeks, this video came at the perfect time. Thanks as always for the inspo!
Taking a moment mid binge of your videos to express my absolute love of your personality. The dog hair comment and bad closet lighting, brilliant. ❤
Me too. I love this guy! I wish I could share coffees with him, but I live exactly at the other side of the world. 😁
I am replacing my jetting tub next week! I love taking baths but no matter how much I clean it… the tubes or whatever cant ever get clean… when you drain the tub there still had to be some water in the tubes. It grossed me out…
Doesn't it have a cleaning function? Mine did, with a little reservoir for the cleaning agent. Fill the tub, run the program and it would clean out and disinfect the pipes and pump.
@@kaasmeester5903: it pays to read the manual. Replacing what is probably a perfectly functioning bath is like throwing away a pair of shoes because they got wet in the rain.
Fill tub with water and add dishwasher detergent powder and run jets. I just cut into cascade pod and release powder. Works great.
Mine kind of grosses me out, too. I'm going to try this dishwasher detergent tip!
Same here. I am totally disgusted by them. I've used every kind of tub jet cleaner out there and they're still foul beyond belief. I wish I could afford to rip mine out and replace with a regular garden tub that I could actually use!
One thing I will do again is use large wall tiles with very little grout in my shower. Just squeegee walls after showering and it’s done. Something I won’t do again is use a nonslip white tile on the bathroom floor -dirt is hard to scrub off. Also, I used pebble tile for the shower floor and I love it. Oh, the things we learn.
Oh, I feel you. I have non slip white tiles that resemble rough stone in my balcony (re done from the bottom up by the owners' association because my neighbor had water falling) and I can't wait to re done it with the terrazzo floor it had before. No matter how much elbow I put, it's disgustingly dirty.
My husband was in the electrical supply business when we built our house, so we had regular lights in every closet, dimmers in the kitchen and living room, hard-wired smoke detectors, and 2-way switches in the living room so you could turn on lamps when you walked into the room.
I love dimmers.
Put dimmers in all my bathrooms…love it! Early morning showers are no longer a shock to the system
For stain resistant grout, use the synthetic grouts, often called "epoxy grout" even though it's not really epoxy. It's not porous like old style group and stains can't get into it.
Thanks! We are re-doing our bathroom and I HATE trying to clean grout! 😩
@@EH23831 seal your grout with first penetrating sealer and then a top sealer
We talked to tile guy and he said it was not ideal in some applications.
I can vouch for Mapei Ultracolor Plus FA epoxy grout. It's a really outstanding product. I've done 5 floors and 2 walls with it. It does not need sealer and cleans easily. You have to be careful when using it because it is epoxy and when it kicks it becomes very hard. But the finished product is totally worth it.
Yes, agree. Tile guys tend to give pushback on it, but it is awesome.
“First of all, I appreciate that. You’re sweet to me” 😂😂🤣. Come for the decor advice, stay for the comedy. 😊
I don’t regret the jetted tub I paid for in our new build last year. I’m older with osteoarthritis and and oh it feels so good😜
I bought a house with a small kitchen that had 3 corner cabinets, when I redid the space I made it a galley kitchen and got rid of all of them. I put the taller items at the rear, fridge one side and pantry and wall oven the other, and that really opened up the space looking into the kitchen and made it look twice the size.
As someone who has worked in home sales and styling for years, I cannot emphasize enough that everyone needs to take proper and thorough measurements before purchasing large items, especially appliances. Measurements of everything, not just the unit and space, but doorways, stairways and any objects that cannot be moved. The amount of times I had annoyed clients complaining that I asked for more information about their space and just demanded the order be placed, only for them to call months later yelling about how the purchase couldn't be installed or placed because it didn't fit through a doorway or up stairwells. 😅
I made the mistake of buying a fridge/freezer that was too big. We had to stand it at a jaunty angle so you could reach the light switch that was down the side of it and still open the door that was to the other side. We've since renovated the kitchen, so we've moved it to a different spot where it is no longer causing problems. I hope it lives forever because finding another one of similar dimensions to sit in its new spot would be tricky.
This! When I started to work from home, I bought a beautiful vintage school teachers desk. That didn't fit up the stairs into my office. Hence, I'm STILL working in the corner of my living room - just on a beautiful desk now LOL. When I retire, I'll sell it on, but with a sad heart. I do love this thing......
When I was a teen I got my parents to buy an enormous wardrobe. It was great and I knew it would hold all my stuff. Unfortunately, it was so long, it couldn't turn the corner to get into my room. Thankfully, we had an unfurnished in-law apartment that it could have slid right in. But lesson learned. Get 2 small wardrobes instead. LOL.
Light tiles surrounded by dark grout is a pet peeve of mine. It always looks so dirty.
He said grout darkens with age, which doesn't improve it for me. :)
I’ve never liked the subway tile/dark grout combo. Makes the space feel too harsh imo.
Omg me too! I love white tiles with white or almost white grout 😍
I just feel like grout shouldn’t be an accent and so I prefer the grout match the tiles as much as possible.
@@michele1491good luck with royal or navy blue, almost any color!
I dunno Nick.... something tells me Home Depot isn't going to let me strip down and test drive a jet tub in the middle of the store. Those MFs are so uptight 🙄
😂
That was my thought too. 😂
Yeah, but they do have jetted tubs in hotels sometimes. Even a moderate priced place like a Comfort Inn sometimes has a room with a jetted tub is you ask. Probably could have tried it at a hotel, although it would not have been the exact brand, they are all super loud in my experience. By the way: I LOVE LOVE LOVE my jetted tub.
😂😂😂
I believe with renovation/new builds, knowing when you have "decision fatigue" is key.
Take a moment to NOT think, rest, tune out everything, and reset your brains before making choices--- like a jetted tub when you generally dislike baths.
:P
When it came time to chose the freaking socket and switch placements (of all things), I was faklempt.
I had to excuse myself to go scream into a pillow, viciously hit my vape, do some jumping jacks, then come back a whole new person to make the right choices.
Socket and switch location is wayy more important than I could handle at that moment so I asked for help from the contractor by telling him my daily routine and where things would go once we moved in.
He nailed it.
Decision fatigue made me make some bad choices
like "no, we don't have to finish the hall closet, we can do that later.." because I was outta juice.. instead of the smarter
"I'll think on it and get back to you" which would have been soo much better than the 20+ yr old IKEA cube shelving units I stuffed in there >
I had them put a window in my walk-in and have the BEST lighting in there because of your advice. Thank you
When I was designing my home I asked the builder to put a window in my walk in pantry. They looked at me a little funny but I absolutely LOVE it. It lets in so much light and if something ever goes off (let’s face it, it happens) I can air out the room pretty quickly
@@aileencrane7700 BRILLIANTTT.
As nearly everybody I really like buying furniture at Ikea. But when I last bought a Pax for my summerhouse, I was shocked about the low quality - the cover is only a plastic foil, it only takes a little bump to make a hole in the cover. Generally I think its very troublesome, how much Ikea decreased the quality of its goods during the last years and maybe we customers should adress this topic.
Mine is not of foil. Would it really be that we in Europe get different quality furniture of Ikea :/ That would be horrible
The number 1 thing I tell people when I am training them is that making mistakes is the best way to learn something. Am I a weirdo - I think your bathroom looks awesome. Not a fan of the jetted tub, but I love the grout.
I totally understand the feeling of “it’s new so why bother changing it!” Glad I’m not alone!
I installed a jetted tub in my last place, and it was all kinds of awesome. I did like taking baths from time to time, with a good book and a generous glass of brandy. But it certainly is worth thinking about how often you will use it. In my current home the bathroom is on the small side, and rather than cram in a bathtub we opted for a large walk-in shower, and never regretted it.
Oh, my last bathroom also had subway tiles :) I used white grout though, and it looked decent.
I did the same thing in my current home. I am not a person who enjoys baths; I had the tub removed and put in a large glass shower. I don't regret it, six years on.
It seems like it would be hard to keep the jets clean, too. I'd worry about mildew.
@@peztopher7297 That’s why you want the special cleaner. It needs to be a degreaser as well as a disinfectant, since you’re dealing with gross stuff: soap residue, skin, dirt, bacteria and fungi, all at a temperature they love. The cleaner works if you use it regularly, I took the pump apart once for servicing and it was completely clean. Oh, it also helps if you build the bath in such a way that you can access the equipment for servicing.
I put a jetted tub in my last house also (I also made the space a foot longer so I could stretch out). I love taking baths and the extra foot was amazing. I only turned on the jets a couple of times but then had to make sure to clean them periodically to prevent mold build up. Would go with a soaking tub next time. (My current house has a tiny 1950s bathroom so removing the tub and putting in a walk in shower was the choice there).
Jetted tub, I don’t understand life without one. My partners aunt came to visit, she saw the jetted tub in the master bath, we slept in the guest room for the remainder of her visit. 😂❤
“I don’t even know what clothes I’m wearing anymore…” 😅 It was at that moment that I hit the Subscribe button.
I love seeing this side of you. Also it’s very helpful advice because I do see a lot of makeovers with doors on pax wardrobes and it never occurred to me that they could be dark and problematic. The same with grout, typically when it comes to tile we focus on the tile itself but aren’t aware of the effects of grout and its visual effect
It really helps me to hear from someone like you, with al lot of experience en knowledge of interior, that you also made mistakes and you aren't happy and satisfied with every part of your home. Takes a lot of pressure away to have everything perfect ❤❤
My regret with remodeling the master bather in our last house was the tub. We were looking for a good deal on a standard size soaking depth tub. It wasn't until we used it did we realize why it was a good deal. It was too thin and you could feel the bottom move despite that it was stable & properly installed. My suggestion when looking for a tub online that is not metal is to compare the weight! Often the showrooms will only have the latest and greatest on display. We learned our lesson from the mistake we made in our old house. This time when we replaced the bathtub in the kids' bathroom, I looked at weight in addition to reviews. Did this Kohler cost more than the previous tub? Oh yeah but considering how cheap the first tub was 😅 the basic soaking tub by Kohler wasn't outrageous. Was the price difference worth it? Most definitely! If you plan on living with for many years to come, then make sure you pay that extra amount to get a solid tub that will last. Also, talk to the professionals you are working with. The plumber we hired agreed with how we picked out the lasted tub. Learn from my mistake 😅 if the material is not metal, then make sure to check the weight of the product in addition to the reviews!
I can relate to this so much! I was on an extremely tight budget and the previous tub was completely unusable. I chose a standard enameled metal tub that was a price I could afford. 4 years later it's destroyed in the area just in front of the drain. Who knew there was a massive difference in enamel quality and thickness?! It is scratched and stained by my awful water and often has a small bit of standing water there too. Changing it out feels like it's going to be a massive job as it's tiled in there all around the rim and down the sides of the front panel.
What do you mean you could feel the bottom move? Like it shifted when you are getting in and out?
@arizonashopper5095 Many cheaper non-metal tubs are so thin that you can feel the movement when you apply an uneven amount of weight, like when taking a shower. The movement wasn't noticeable if you were taking a bath because weight was more evenly distributed. Think the best comparison would be to compare to the difference in squeezing an empty plastic bottle and then squeezing a plastic bottle full of liquid. The movement is obviously extremely mild in the bathtub compared to a plastic bottle, but it kind of gives a similar feeling of movement under pressure points where you are standing 🤔.
@lyndaboonstra5605 Unfortunately, poor water quality can really do a number to your wet area and appliances (dishwasher & washing machine) 😓 thus shortening the life span of those areas & items. I have issues with hard water to the point that I won't even start on the master bathroom until we get a decent home water filter. That doesn't seem like that will happen any time soon 😓 after we had to shell out 16k for a new a/c sooner than expected. I have to run tub cleaning cycles on our washing machine & dish washer more frequently to account for the hard water. Home repairs are so expensive even when you do them yourself 😓. I am just glad we bought that we knew needed work rather than spending way more on a newer home with loads of issues & poor quality, all hidden behind fresh drywall & paint. If money is tight you can always try the lipstick on a pig approach to delay major work & expenses by getting a diy bathtub coating kit. Those kits are only for the short term, but it could allow you enough time that the expenses won't hurt your budget as badly. My father inlaw used a diy bathtub coating system in both the full bathrooms in our house, and it did buy us some time.
Not sure if this applies to your situation, but the lighter weight tubs are supposed to be installed on top of a freshly mudded bed of concrete, which will mold to the shape of the tub, and when the concrete cures and becomes rock solid, will support the bottom of the tub.
I’mr made the mistake of getting a jetted tub too! Mine also has bubble jets on the base, which are really uncomfortable to sit on (tips - sit in the tub for 5+ minutes before you decide to buy it, likewise sit on the toilet (even if you’re in the middle of the showroom) and make sure this is installed at the right height for you).
As I was choosing everything for a new build, I even went to the expense of having the sound proofing done so the neighbors wouldn’t be inconvenienced $$$.
I think I used it twice before realizing I get bored sitting in a tub, I feel bad about the amount of water it uses vs a shower, and it’s so loud that it’s not even relaxing!
Best grout color for white subway tile is the shade “hemp”. A true medium greige
Love your honesty and turning it around to a teaching moment for us. Your sense of humor is quite stellar.
From someone who’s job is cabinetry, I’ve seen a LOT of products made for those awkward corners. Rev-A-Shelf has good products and I’d say are the only ones I’ve seen that do it right. So long as your space properly accommodates the system they just work and they’re built well. They have lots of other great stuff like pull out trash cans, spice racks and even entire pantries
I love Rev-A-Shelves! I used them for my pull-out waste bins and as pull out shelves in a pantry. They are so well-built and designed and are worth the money.
I also made the mistake of getting a jetted tub. Another thing about those things other than the noise is how filthy they get. Whenever you clean the jets and run detergent through it, the most horrifying glob comes out. It's terrible.
As for PAX, I also regret putting on doors... but in my case, I regret doors that pull open. We have 4 sets of PAX in the house. They are all are in the middle of bedrooms, so as you said, I have to use doors to cover clutter. The first 2 PAX have annoying pull open doors, which bump into adjacent walls and doors. Later on, I got smart and put in the sliding opaque glass doors. MUCH better.
Your Protruding Stove Regret got me thinking: maybe you should talk to us sometime about "counter-depth" fridges vs. great big fridges that stick out into the room and where things shoved way in the back are lost and forgotten until they go bad and have to be thrown away.
Just got a small, counterdepth fridge and LOVE it. When I finally redo my kitchen, I will either keep this one or get a slightly wider counterdepth one.
I wish I knew about "counter depth" appliances. I had no idea until I Googled about it after paying a "'screamin' good deal" price for a huge fridge. Thankfully, I"m not done with my kitchen - that beast is going.
The fridge that came with my house sticks out 8 inches past the counter! To make matters worse, it's located in the corner next to the back door, which can only open 3/4 of the way. Ridiculous. The fridge is 20 years old, so when it dies I'll get a smaller one.
This is an age old problem.
I like to cook. I’m very good at cooking. For me, the function of my kitchen is all that matters. The shape of a proper kitchen is wide galley or bust, and I don’t care what the colors and finishes and figment are, as long as each decision makes it easier to convert raw ingredients into plated food or convert dirty dishes and utensils into clean clean, put away dishes and utensils.
So a counter depth fridge is really nice because it Eliminates the “back of the fridge” problem and opens up some workflow space.
But it also creates the problem of a dinky little fridge for the same linear footprint. So if you want to match storage space you need to take up more linear space. Maybe an extra foot or 18” of what could have otherwise been countertops.
So it really comes down to how much space you have and where you have space. Of course, if how it looks is the most important thing to you then you should just get a counter depth paneled fridge.
If you have a family and cook from home three meals a day, you best be getting the normal sized fridge and without any of that silly water filter and ice maker in it taking up space where food should be. 🥰 It's nice there are options since everyone lives so differently.
I love that you're publicly dragging your apartment that's for sale. Mad respect for the dedication to saving others from making design mistakes.
But Nick! You’re never wrong… and your advice is so on point! So how could you have possibly made a mistake when it comes to designing your own home!! 😊
As someone who loves to make customized wooden things to fit the oddities of my home.
I immediately looked at your odd empty space in the kitchen & saw a small wooden cabinet spot w/a butcher block top for extra counter space & storage on wheels.
Can't wait to see what you do with your new space :)
I love your videos thank you for always being you on the tube ;)
Oh goodness…..you’re speaking to me on this one. I have a *corner* jetted tub (that is a monstrosity, as I’m sure you can imagine), that I cannot wait to take out and replace. I love taking baths, and it is so cumbersome to get in and out of, and the tile surround is annoying, as well.
Also, my closet lighting is horrific. I just want to burn the whole thing to the ground most days. I told my husband that when we remodel the master suite, we’re going to have to wear sunglasses in the closet with all of the lighting that will go in. 😎🫣
Great video, Nick! Thanks for sharing your insights.
We had a corner jetted tub in a previous house. It was so large we couldn’t fill it up. The hot water would run out first.
Jetted tub. Yes try before you buy is a lesson. The other lesson is if you wouldn’t buy it at full price, don’t buy it.
So glad you mentioned that grout. It’s a pet peeve of mine. Dark grout by and large always looks dirty to me, plus the contrast effect you mentioned is tough for those of us with sensory stimulation and visual tracking issues.
Wow that’s how I found you. The Pax wardrobe video. I searched for pax and you came up.
Thank you so much Nick for addressing these problems. I too don’t like jetted tubs as the noise and vibration runs counter to relaxation for me so never use them. Those lighting strips in closets and under cabinets, even when plugged in, never stay on or are bright enough that’s so true…not just ikea brand. All your points are valid and spot on. ❤️
I changed the bulbs in my master closet to daylight and it’s like daylight in there. So good to see proper colors on my clothes.
I’ve made both the grout color mistake and the oversized appliance mistake. Good lighting is getting more and more important as I age. Thanks for the tips.
The jetted tub was the best decision I've ever made in my home. I use it A LOT. Well worth the money for me and the maintenance associated with it.
Looking at this early in the morning brought chuckles. Even when we plan, build ourselves, there's always something that ends up not working as we'd hoped. Closet lighting, kitchen cabinets, things most can identify with. Looking forward to what you do in your next space
stay with white grout, my old house they went with black, and didn't seal it properly, it was like 60's mascara even when I tried to seal them years after
I absolutely agree with you, Nick, on the awkward placement of the pull-out draws under the counter. How cumbersome having to get down on your knees to retrieve an item.
Seeing those three carts lined up together creates the ambiance of a hair salon. No fault of yours, of course. Cheers!
Darryl
When we renovated our home, I purchased the jetted tub of my dreams. I bathe all the time. And I hate it. I just use it as a soaker. The jets are so loud, and not relaxing at all
Your honesty about mistakes is refreshing.
I doubt his husband would agree.
Noise is a good example for sure. Jets are for the jet stream. A tub with quiet air bubbles makes for happy limbs and neighbors. Made that mistake more than once. Thanks Nick. Spot on as always.
Great video Nick! Even a professional like yourself there are times when you have to deal with the unknown, and just have to go for it.
We can only think things through for so long, and then just need to act on them, one way or the other.
Like the old saying- "When there is a decision to be made, make it, then forget it, for the moment of absolute certainty never arrives."
I discovered your channel a month ago and am binging on all the content. This one is so helpful because we can learn from firsthand experience. thank you!!
Corner cabinets! The IKEA pull out system is FANTASTIC! I love mine. It’s like a full pantry that swings out. I can easily access everything 😊
My 80 year old home had white grout that looked grimy. I painted the grout white and it turned out so lovely. It has stayed lovely for 20 years.
Was the grout worn down? What type of paint did you use?
The grout was not worn down. I used a latex paint and then a razor sharp edge to clean the latex paint off the tile. It was a bit of a mess cleaning up the dried paint off the tile but the result was so lovely. However, the painted grout was not in an area where the tile would be wet from a shower or bath. It made the grout more pronounced but it just looked so lovely when I was finished. @@pamcornelius9122
ARRRRGGGGHHH you fell for the JETTED TUB faux pas and displayed your human imperfection!!
seriously enjoyed this vid :) too bad you don't have more design regrets to share, Nick. you're an excellent critical humorist!
I agree 100% with all your assessments! This is the voice of experience. Listen up people!!!
We upgraded our small house bathroom tub to a slightly larger and deeper tub. That’s all! I love love love it! My neighbor did jets and he regrets it. The cleaning alone… also, you can always get a temporary insert that does jets and bubbles… like a foot bath, but for your back/body.
We did carrerra marble, rectangular, tiles on the floor with regular arctic white, sanded grout. No regrets. Will age darker. Ok also, basic, square, white tiles on the tub surround. With decorative strips of glass tile border. Again not regretting it. Often less IS more.
Still “getting to” the cabinets in the kitchen. One lower corner. Will do a simple blind base.i don’t mind reaching in for rarely used appliances. No big deal. I am loving all the validation in this video!!! It affirms the experience I gained from my 30+ years raising 6 children in this small house.
Lighting! Yes yes yes. I hate batteries. Give me some hard wired tools, lights, appliances… idc call me boomer. I want dependable power!!!
I’ve had so many diff living situations, even though I have owned this one house for over 30 years. I visit my children’s families for months at a time. The simple, good-quality, side-by-side fridge is my favorite. Don’t want French doors. The larger, yet rounded inside corners sink is my go to. Not the huge, square, farmhouse sink that you have to literally push the food into the drain! No thank you! I want the one that naturally rinses everything down the drain for you. As a rule of thumb, the not best and not worst is the best choice. Above average, but not crazy.
Paint your grout! I've done it and it works great! I bought it at Home Depot on line.
Jetted tub cleaning: ALWAYS POINT THE JETS DOWN AFTER BATH. Fill tub with water over the jets, put 1-2 cups bleach in the water and run it for 20 minutes to clean about once a month if you use the tub regularly. Never had mold in ours after 5 years use in the existing home we bought. Ours was not a jet engine and we lived in a single family residence with tub on main floor
Thanks for the tips and all your videos, they are really useful. And funny :D. Here is a thought about the Pax - why not take the door off (and sell)?
In my first home I got a jetted tub and I rarely used it. Then when I finally used it, I was wiping down the tub and a spider crawled out of it, I never used my tub again. I was so happy to move and get a soaking tub in my new home 😊
Omgosh, I love this!!! You just crack me up. I have been watching your videos because you give such great advice but mostly because you are so "YOu" which keeps me watching and this video just made my day. Thanks for being so candid and smart! Keep up the great work!!
A great solution for that kitchen corner is a corner pantry. I love them, they're so practical and fully utilizes a (usually) underused space.
I've renovated my house over the last three years. There are definitely some things I regret. But not enough to spend the time money and effort to correct them. It's just something I will have to live with. No place is perfect. I think I made the right decisions most of the time. Hindsight is 2020 that's for sure.
“I always choose differently than everyone else bc I’m high maintenance” - I’ve never felt more seen. 😂😂❤
You can regrout the bathroom tiles. I believe it involves using a tool that is like a drill with an abrasive disc attachment and lightly grind out the grout down to make room for the new grout. That's what I would do. And once the grout is dry, apply first a penetrating sealer and then a top sealer, to make cleaning easy and prevent any dirt from sinking into the grout
Great suggestion!
I had some tile floors regrouted and I want to say here, do NOT do that!!! It's Very easy to slip and break a tile!
You can use grout paint
@@maryanng8241 That’s what we’re doing, since our contractor sort of failed. I hope it holds up.
I did find the listing for your apartment out of curiosity, and that was the first time I really saw the kitchen in its entirety. It was surprising to me how odd and funky the kitchen was in terms of space planning and design. It makes a lot of sense to me that the kitchen was new when you bought the place, and you didn't really design it. I've always been bothered by the choices the landlords and builders have made in my rentals, so it really makes me hesitant if I ever buy a place, to pay a premium for nearly new renovations that I'll never really be happy with. I just wouldn't have the heart or likely even the budget to wastefully renovate. I'd much rather live with something dated, but livable that I could eventually renovate in the future rather than a somewhat nice, but bothersome design choice someone else made that is too nice to change. The dark grout in this case doesn't bother me as much. After having white grout in a rental tub/shower, it looked stained and uneven immediately even with constant cleaning. If the contrast between tile and grout is too much, I would likely pick a darker tile rather than a lighter grout.
My stove has the same issue. Reason is hard line for the gas fitting comes out from the floor at a certain point clashes with a structural part of the GE Cafe stove. It's annoying but I've learned to not let it bother me.
Same
I did the battery lighting in a closet to take the easy road, once. I learned it was a waste of time and money not to mention highly cumbersome. If we live long enough we learn. I am just finishing a complete reno of a 1996 house. I have yet to regret one choice but we will see. But I have lived long, hopefully enough! Also, I have the funky corner cabinet. I have learned to put items in there that I do not use frequently. And, I took a page from one of your earlier videos and put a nice lamp in my kitchen. It is lovely and provides awesome ambiance. Thank you!
I guess I'm the odd person out (as usual 🙂 ) I love corner cabinets. We installed a lazy Suzanne lower (with separate rotating shelves) on 1 side of the kitchen with a standard adjustable shelf corner cabinet above. The other side is a corner sink base with a standard adjustable shelf corner cabinet above. In an 800 sq ft house these are awesome to store stand alone appliances and large cook pots and the upper cabinets allowed me to store as much packaged, canned food as some pantries.
@@superthevibe We put a couple large not-often-used appliance in the sink base. A child could crawl in there and nap, it was so deep. The blender, food processor and couple other things are in one upper cabinet after we took one shelf out. the bottom 2 shelves were for food. Oh and we had the top cupboards go all the way to the ceiling. I think they ended up being 42" or 45" tall (I forget).
@@superthevibeI'm 5 ft tall and have to get on a stool or ladder to reach the back of the 2nd shelf in any kitchen. I have a 3 step ladder to get to the top of the upper cabinets and above the fridge. I'm also not adverse to standing on the counter if I need to... Actually I do stand on the counter to clean the cupboards and the ceiling fan.
I work in Flooring and we also do wall tile. With grout, if you don't like how the color turns out, then you can have it sealed almost any color. Even if you match the grout color I always recommend sealing it to prevent stains and ickies from seeping in. Grout is porous and gets gross and germy over time. There's only so much that can be done to "clean and sterilize" it.
We like the lazy Susan answer to corner cabinets. We light stuff (bowls mostly) there!😊
11:57 about your stove... ever thought about moving it to the end of the cabinets? Another is to change out the tabletops on both sides of the stove... bring the capinets from the wall and get a new deeper tabletop. Should not cost that much... And you get to chose a new look for your kitchen... and the working place beside the stove...
Totally agree on the jet tub. I have one , I used it exactly ONCE. Every day I curse myself for wasting that kind of money .I’m about to build my forever house … there will be no tubs in my bathroom, nor will there be any corner cabinets upper or lower.
Where are we buying “counter depth” slide in freestanding ranges? Just did a reno and needed an electric range and the depth is what it is. You have to offset the cabinetry from to accommodate, but the oven doors will, by design, not be flush.
Some decor mistakes are more difficult to "fix" than others. Changing a stove is costly but easy! More difficult for the bathroom tiles, so I would emphasize them by bringing a more graphic wall paper or a dark grey paint....I rented once an appartment with a pink bathroom set: tub, sink and toilet. Not my colour of choice but I chose to make it the focal point as if it was intentional!😊
In his set of idea cards, Oblique Strategies, Brian has one that says "emphasise the fault".
Unless you can do a very good job of hiding something, make it a feature and design around it.
Good thinking.
Intentionality!!!!!!!!!!!
@@maryjanecollins8091 a great Scrabble word, for sure.
Otherwise, intentionality if more inferred than known.
I have a great solution on the blind corners in my kitchen, the one near my stove has 2 great pull outs, that pull out fully, it's on a steel post with maple shelves that pull all the way out and holds all my pots pans and lids...the other blind corner has a door and drawers at the corner on the opposite side of my peninsula...I used the same maple panels on that side of the peninsula so you don't notice the cabinet and drawer, and it's the perfect spot to house all my baking needs, and the cabinet has 2 pull out drawers so it's easy to get at my "stuff"...on the kitchen side of the peninsula, I have a narrow cabinet and a drawer that contains all my cutco knives and the cabinet with pull out houses all my cutting boards and pizza pans and stones...next to this is 2 very deep drawers that houses all my wraps, kitchen tools, bowls and linens, and over top of the drawers is a pull out butcher block table on wheels with brakes and legs that match the stain on the cabinets...it goes under the peninsula and over top of the drawers and is fully concealed when put away...I spent a lot of time designing my kitchen...it's very custom, cost a fortune, but is designed to my culinary needs...I only wish I could send you photos
I really enjoyed this one!! I have been in this predicament more times than I care to admit. I get decision paralysis when it comes to design sometimes and it drives me nuts!
The bathroom is pulling too many different elements for a small space. As a plumber / installer I would have advised against small format tiles in a bath / shower area.
But that said, my last 3 have chosen exactly what i advised against. 😂
This was great, Nick! We got to see more of your home, learn some lessons, and enjoy your humor. Thanks for sharing these regrets with us.
I’m glad I had the opportunity to try a jetted tub in a rental before owning my own place. I had the same experience as you with the unrelaxing nature of it. I knew I would never get one in the future. Funnily, I ended up buying a place with an older hot tub on the second floor! I’ve never used it due to fears of leakage and it will have to be cut out and removed some day as it is just taking up space.
I purchased new appliances two years ago and according to my handyman's measurements (which were correct) the stove would fit flush with the counter like the old one but when it arrived it had a weird plug set up that required it to extend past the countertop! 🙄🤔
Yup! This! The back of the new stove is covered not open so the plug makes it stick out from the wall. And I measured everything perfectly to ensure the right fit but nothing includes the depth from the wall with the stove plugged in. Even the distributor who installs these stoves didn't know about it when I called hoping for a fix. I hired an electrician to recess the plug outlet as far into the wall as he could the stove still sticks out about a half inch.
Just finished my 3rd kitchen Reno and I decided no corner cabinet. There are no good corners solutions so I just killed the whole corner. No more being a contortionist to clean inside or get at something that fell into the depths. I love not having corner cabinets.
Thanks for sharing your mistakes. It’s a good reminder we all make them.
OMG, what a fun video!This was one of my favorites. I also have a range that sticks out. But it’s on purpose so I can fit a whole sheet pan in there. Also, I love my corner cabinet solution. It’s the Rev-A-Shelf magic corner and its quite functional.