EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HOME RENOVATION IN ON HANDY VOLUME! Renovating your home has never been so easy -- thanks to Sharon Hanby-Robie's helpful advice. The author of the hugely popular My Name Isn't Martha, But I Can Decorate My Home assists you in renovating your house to perfection in this professional, no-nonsense book that will help you achieve Martha Stewart's results without spending a fortune. From simply adding new accessories to your kitchen or bath to gutting the entire first floor, interior designer Hanby-Robie will show you how to create a living space that complements your personal style. You'll learn: How to assess the resale value of your renovation What the difference is between an architect, a builder, and a designer Now to visualize each room to maximize its appeal What you MUST know about building codes How to create an exterior style to match your new rooms Divided into three sections -- EVALUATION AND PLANNING, INTERIOR RENOVATIONS, and EXTERIOR RENOVATION -- this invaluable guide tackles every room in your house, including windows, floors, heating and cooling systems, landscaping, and even garages. In her witty and accessible style, Hanby-Robie offers words of wisdom, trade secrets, and cost-saving tips, whether you're making a few small changes or starting from ground zero. And she shows you how to do it with skill and style -- on a budget you can afford. Hanby-Robie has created another easy-to-read guide similar to My Name Isn't Martha, but I Can Decorate My Home. She gives a good overview, with practical advice on renovating, remodeling, or adding on to a home. Special attention is given to the kitchen and bathroom (where the most costly remodeling can occur), with information on countertops, cabinets, flooring, and the like so that readers can make informed decisions. Hanby-Robie also covers family rooms, bedrooms, attics, and basements and briefly considers the outside, discussing landscaping and pools. Several good books cover similar topics in detail, among them Jan Weimer's Kitchen Redos, Revamps, Remodels, and Replacements (LJ 9/15/97). But few give as comprehensive an overview of remodeling, making this a good choice for public libraries. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. The Virginian Pilot The source you've been looking for...thorough, well-researched, and clearly written. Des Moines Register Simple and savvy help for affordable home decorating. Arizona Republic A helpful, handy, interesting guide to creating the style you desire without spending a fortune. Mountain Living Witty, conversation style...packed with information...exposes readers to the vocabulary of the interior design trade, which can only bolster their confidence when they deal with retailers....Keep your eyes open for future installments. Southern Pines Pilot Down-to-earth, easy to understand. Sharon Hanby-Robie has been an interior designer and a member of the American Society of Interior Designers for more than thirty years, with her own business, Town House Interiors. She is also a licensed real estate agent and an actress who has appeared in numerous informercials. She has written several books, including Decorating Without Fear and My Name Isn't Martha But I Can Renovate My Home . She and her husband live in Pennsylvania. CHAPTER ONE: TO MOVE OR IMPROVE -- THAT IS THE QUESTION! As both an interior designer and a real estate agent, I have the advantage of being able to consider home improvement from two different perspectives. As a designer, I want to be a problem solver as well as to aesthetically improve the appearance of a home. But as a real estate agent, I want to do what makes the most sense from an investment standpoint. As a result, I often find myself trying to resolve conflicts resulting from these two perspectives. So I have compiled a list of questions to ask yourself in order to determine what is the best solution for your specific situation. The answers will obviously be determined by you, your family, your lifestyle, and your future dreams and plans. I have offered commentary to the questions in order to further help you in making your decisions to renovate. * How long do you anticipate living in your home? Certainly, plans can change. Yet it is important that you realistically answer this question as best you can. If you decide to proceed with your renovation plans but you also intend to move in a few years, then I may advise you to do things differently than if you were planning on staying in your home for many years. Unless you are planning on living in this home for the rest of your life, it is necessary to give some consideration to resale. At some point, most of us will sell our homes. It should come as no surprise that the homes that take the longest to sell are those that are overpriced, overimproved, and far too personalized for the general public. A prime example of this is the home across the street from me. Even I co