(Money Magazine) -- Your big remodeling plans may be on hold for a
while, but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on this buyer's
market for home improvements. Just go small.
Contractors have
dropped their prices as much as 40% during the past year, and many
top-notch workmen who once scoffed at anything less than six-figure
projects are now happy to take on quick, simple jobs. Here are four
interior design upgrades that will turn a plain-Jane room into a
distinctive, upscale space for less than $1,000, including
installation.
Beadboard the bathroom
Beadboard
wainscot is in vogue right now, but it's actually a traditional look.
The wood paneling, which alternates vertical strips with a half-rounded
"bead," comes in large sheets that a carpenter can install in a few
hours. "It instantly makes any bathroom cottagey and cute," says
Downers Grove, Ill., architect Cinda Lester. Ask for a chunky "cap
molding" (a small shelf-like topper) instead of standard flat trim to
ensure that the wainscot looks like an authentic feature rather than an
afterthought.
Cost: $500 to $800 for a three-foot- high painted wainscot in an averagesize bathroom.
Pep up the light fixtures
Cheap
"builder-grade" lights are to well-crafted ones what econobox cars are
to luxury European models. But you can get handsome pendant lights and
sconces at any specialty supplier or home center. Just don't install
them yourself, because the fasteners in the ceiling may not match the
screws on the fixture -- and electricity is nothing to toy with if you
don't know what you're doing.
Cost: $100 to $300 per fixture (plus $50 to $75 for installation), and $150 to $300 if you're adding a new electrical circuit.
Beef up the moldings
Undersize
moldings cheapen the look of the home. Hiring a carpenter to replace
narrow trim with bulkier woodwork gives the whole place a more upscale
feel. No need to spring for ornate hard-wood moldings; simple painted
trim is a better fit for a typical house anyway, and as long as it's
large (say, six inches wide or better) the impact is dramatic, notes
Anaheim contractor Katherine Wu.
Cost: $800 to $1,000 for baseboards and window and door casings in an average room.
Tile around the fireplace
Adding
tile is a great way to bring color and personality to your home, as
long as you don't put it where it will get torn out in an upcoming
renovation. That brick or stone strip between the firebox and the wood
mantel is a snap for a tile setter to refinish, and since it's a small
area, you can splurge on pricey materials. To find the best deals,
visit high-end retailers and ask to see old remnants in the stockroom.
You may score posh tiles for a steal.
Cost: $600 to $1,000 to have a tile setter remove the existing masonry and install the new tile of your choice.