We can tip our hats to “Rehab Addict.” And Pinterest. And, of course, the grand dame who started it all, Martha Stewart. DIY icons and home improvement outlets have empowered the average homeowner to cast a critical eye at their surroundings and make some renovations...themselves. DIY is indeed a good thing.
“There are very few things I can mess up that I can’t fix,” homeowner Lyn Longenecker explains, then qualifies, “or have someone else fix if I really mess it up.”
Lyn and his wife Penni live in Lancaster’s School Lane Hills neighborhood and, room by room, have renovated their entire home, almost entirely by themselves. Their home will be featured on Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity’s Renovators’ Home Tour this fall (see below).
Granted, Lyn had a leg up on DIY from his greener days out of college, when he worked three years as an electrician. This early experience perhaps laid the foundation for tackling more involved home projects.
There’s the “wow” of the dining room china cabinet he built, in part from materials purchased from Lancaster Habitat ReStore. And the buffet, a family treasure from Penni’s mom, that Lyn retro-fitted to a nook inside the back door. He’s taken a sledgehammer to walls and ripped up a ceiling for re-wiring.
Matt and Jessica Misel, homeowners in Manheim Township’s Grandview Heights neighborhood, also took home matters into their own hands. With an equally strong eye for detail, their home (also featured on the Home Tour) is mix of large-space renos that Matt executed himself and funky, smaller design ideas that anyone can do.
Upon entering their front door, your eyes turn immediately to the staircase, where pictures, family treasures and decorative pieces encourage you to follow their leap the steps. Upstairs, you’ll find a hallway with white shiplap walls against a glossy black ceiling. It’s the right backdrop for two large pendant lamps. This is no longer a small space—it’s a showpiece.
If you don’t already have an appreciation for the transformative power of lighting, you will after walking into their newly renovated dining room. The well-placed bulbs highlight the beauty of the wallpaper on the upper third of the accent wall. It’s just enough paper to make you think artwork rather than wallcovering.
Of course, there comes a time when you must call in the professionals. When Lyn and Penni decided to renovate their kitchen, they knew it was a project that required more expertise. A support beam, custom cabinetry and a new room footprint were all jobs that Lyn felt were best left to the experts.
“Try painting or cosmetic stuff first,” Lyn advises to anyone interested in jumping in to home improvements. “That boost of confidence can help as you take on bigger projects.”
Wallpaper? Yes. Installing your own hardwood floors? If you’re a newbie, perhaps think again. But do something. Even if it’s small and easy, the project is yours and surprisingly satisfying.
And that’s a good thing.
You can view both DIY and professionally executed home renovations, including the Misels’ and Longeneckers’ homes, during Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity’s Renovators’ Home Tour, to be held Sunday, October 1st. For ticket and event information, please visit www.renovatorshometour.com.
