Our Home Improvement List....keeps growing

and growing and growing but somehow the budget hasn't grown. Each spring we get "the itch" to spruce up our house and usually that means work outdoors because we are pretty happy with the indoors. First it started with doing some landscaping in the front yard. Then by designer friend came over to see the landscaping plans (thanks Peg!) and recognized right away that the landscaping was only a means for covering up the front porch/steps that are simply hideous. The landscaping project then became a hardscaping project with the front steps and porch. I've always dreamed of being able to sit in the front of the house on a porch in the summer under the shade of our gigantic tree. We got the plans and it was a tad more than we were planning on spending but I think it would be a great investment to the curb appeal of the home when we eventually want to sell. I keep visiting http://www.hgtv.com/ to get some ideas and I can't stop thinking about that darn porch that would be so inviting. It's not out of the question but we really need to think this one through.

In the meantime there is nothing like a Sunday morning with the newspaper in hand and the DIY channel on TV. After a few hours of all of these DIY shows, I think my husband got the itch and next thing I know he's tearing off the boards on the side of our deck. Holy %$#& is what I thought at first. The previous owners invested in a Trex deck but they never finished it properly and the warped boards on the sides are just such an eyesore. In addition we need to add railings for safety - so far we have only had 1 visitor fall off but it's something we really need to do. David has been working on the design all day and they actually have lots of cool options....if you have a hefty budget! We are trying to find a good compromise and David is working on getting quotes this week while I'm away.

Then next thing I know we are at Home Depot getting quotes on a screen door for the front door. We did some research ahead of time and knew we didn't want one that we had to change out the screen and glass every season but one that was part of the door and fullview. Once I found the one's at HD with the lead glass it was love...I know but there are so many finishes and little details you can incorporate into the standard door. I'm really excited about finally having a nice breeze coming through that door in the spring, summer, and fall. They are coming to measure and place the order this week and since it's a custome order it'll take 7-10 days but we should be enjoying it by mid to late May. We also will get up to a 30% tax credit to boot, I like that alot too!

These are just a few things on the list but it seems like it keeps growing and growing. Anyone else working on their home improvment list as the weather warms up?