Lyn Peterson's Real Life Renovating - Hardcover

In this inviting, comprehensive guide, acclaimed designer and decorator Lyn Peterson takes you through thirteen renovations, large and small—from a stately seaside home to a charming little red farmhouse—and provides vital advice on classic and contemporary choices for kitchens, bathrooms, family rooms, and more. Lyn Peterson’s Real Life Renovating is an indispensable and inspirational resource for your own home renovation.

"The homes most of us are living in are becoming obsolete. . . . So why not just build something new? Because maybe, just maybe, you’re like me, and you still love your home. You have history there, memories. Renovating lets you stay put and retrofit." —Lyn Peterson

Over the past two decades, Lyn Peterson has guided hundreds of families through their home renovations. Now, in Lyn Peterson’s Real Life Renovating, she shares the secrets to turning your house into the home of your dreams. As Lyn says, “Renovating is an artful endeavor,” and it is also a personal one that requires balancing space needs, budget, time, and the family’s likes and dislikes.

From start to finish, this lively, colorful book addresses the major questions would-be renovators face: How much will it really cost? How long will it really take? What should I change, and what should I keep? With her characteristic candor and wit, Lyn takes readers through all the basics, including:

· Determining the program and defining the extent of the renovation

· Gathering the team—finding the right contractor, architect, and designer (and discovering what you can do on your own)

· Compiling a wish list and coming up with realistic alternatives

The book chronicles the experiences of thirteen families who undertook a variety of renovations, big and small, to their bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, family rooms, and more. From overcoming architectural challenges (not enough space, not enough light) to adding unique details (honed marble countertops, slate floors, and cozy wallpaper) to fulfilling blue-sky dreams (a wine cellar or a custom home theater), this wide-ranging volume shows how to achieve a successful renovation. Real Life Renovating also describes the latest developments in technology, materials, and design for each room in themed chapters such as Outdoor Living, Comings and Goings, Family Rooms, Kitchens, and Dream Retreats.

Brimming with colorful photos, inspired ideas, and time- and money-saving tips about the nuts and bolts of the process, Lyn Peterson’s Real Life Renovating is an invaluable guide to changing your home for the better—without any growing pains.