HGTV Friday 5

will smama's got this one, from the RevGalBlogPals:
As some of you may know I am in the midst of my first home purchase. It is a new-build and so some of the fun was picking out upgrades and major decor items to my taste rather than walking into a previously owned home that needed to be upgraded room by room (pink and teal tiles in the bathroom, anyone?). As much as decorating is not my thing, I did try to embrace the moment because just how many times do you get to have a do-over on kitchen cabinets/floors/countertops?

And so, my questions to you this fine Friday involve your home past, present or future...

1) If you could, what room in the place you are currently living would you redo first?

The master bedroom and bath. It's small and awkward. I'd tear down the wall between the master bedroom and the smaller guest room, competely redo and enlarge the bathroom, and create a master suite with decent size closets and room for both the dresser and the chest of drawers. Alas, it's a rental house!

2) What is the most hideous feature/color/decor item you have ever seen in a home?

Well, it *could* have been the avocado dryer or the fake woodgrain carpet. But I really think it was the purple sink in the tiny bathroom with the pink plastic (yes, plastic--with little white swirls) tile.

3) What feature do you most covet? Do you have it? If not, is it within reach?

I want a decent office with great built-in bookcases and storage, and also a guitar room for Ben. If I can get the time and accept the compromise, I think there's a major purge ahead for us and I've got the freestanding cabinets and salvaged maple door to make a great workspace for me. Ben's on his own! ;)

4) Your kitchen - love it or hate it? Why?

It's okay. Hate that the original dial is off the oven, so I have to guess what temperature I'm setting it to. Love that there is almost enough cabinet space and counterspace.

5) Here is $10,000 and you HAVE to spend it on the place you are living now. What do you do?

Master bath, no question. Even without moving the wall, there are some persistent leaks that I suspect won't be fixed until we move out and the floor can be torn up. So I'd do that first. Or bribe someone at Extreme Makover: Home Edition to redo the whole thing!

BONUS: Why do you think there was such a surplus of ugly bathroom tile colors showcased in all homes built from the 1950's right through the early 80's?

I'm afraid the French may be right. We had institutionally bad taste. Although we had in one parsonage, turquoise counters, with the chrome strip and the nails poling out to snag your clothes. It really wouldn't have been too bad, even could have been cheery, without the dark wood cabinets. Give me a bright and clean-looking kitchen any day!