This post has been a long time coming, as we’ve somewhat finalized two big projects that have been hanging over us and I haven’t had a chance to update all of you.
If you’ve read my blog for more than a few months, you probably know I’ve talked about two major projects on the horizon: the kitchen and the pool. While the kitchen has always been a “known” project since the day we moved in, the pool was more a dream and “we’d love to do this” type of plan. Basically from the day we moved in, we set up two separate savings accounts for each project, as we knew we didn’t want to finance either of the projects. But this also meant a longer scope of time before either became a reality. Secondly, we had to prioritize both of the projects from a monetary and resource perspective.
In April, I announced I was ready to move forward with the kitchen plans. We’d saved enough away, and I even went so far as to create a Photoshop mock-up of how I thought the space would look once complete. I had a bid for new Shaker cabinet doors, a range hood and counter tops. But I just couldn’t pull the trigger (partially because I couldn’t decide on the counters I wanted to go with). Indecision after indecision.
Then, prior to our departure to Italy in June, we had a landscaping company and a pool company come bid the backyard renovation. We gave them a budget, and although they came in at over 50% more than our budget (seriously), we started to wonder if it would make more sense to put all the money we had saved towards the pool so we could move the project up a year or two. The issue is the landscaping is about half of the cost because of the retaining walls that would need to be built up and around the hill. But one thing we do know, us + pool water = pure happiness.
Tough problem to have, right? Pool or newer new kitchen. Trust me, I know this is certainly not a real problem by any means. But, we wanted to ensure we put our money towards the right project.
We had to ask ourselves the following questions:
- Which project would give us the most long-term enjoyment?
- What adds more value to our home?
- Which investment is most practical for our lifestyle?
- What are the real costs for each of the projects?
- Which changes are necessary? Which are just “nice to have”s?
Although each project had its own set of pros and cons, long story short (okay, that wasn’t really that short), we have decided to put our resources into completing the back yard. Our kitchen is 100% functional currently, and although it isn’t totally my style, we know we will get so much more enjoyment out of the pool if we move down that path first.
We need to do our due diligence and get several more bids for the backyard, but our hope is to move forward with the pool next spring so it is ready by summer. Does anyone have feedback on concrete vs. fiberglass vs. liners for pools? This world is totally new to us and I would love any advice! I think one of the hardest parts of this whole process is that we are used to doing our own projects and both of these require outside sources {which intimidates us both a bit}.
How do you decide which projects to move forward with in your home?
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I’m excited to hear about your pool and to see how you landscape. We have one that isn’t landscaped and I am always looking for ideas. It will be fun to see the whole project, from start to finish.
Very exciting! You will love it!
I would either go with concrete, which is what we have, or fiberglass and stay away from the liners. They aren’t nearly as durable as the other two options. Can’t wait to see what you come up with because I love your style!
Hi–I love your blog and I live in Omaha as well…in midtown. We are starting a kitchen update as well. Would love to hear your final decision or recommendations on countertops….been struggling with that as well.
Honestly, the countertops are the part that freaked me out the most! I really want Carrara marble, but my husband 100% refuses based on how porous it is. So, I’m trying to find a good, durable alternative that looks the same. It’s hard to find something like that in Omaha! There are a few lines I found online, but there aren’t retailers here. Maybe in another year or so? Good luck with your reno!
I know you guys will figure it out! Having a pool would be so nice in this hot weather!
Good for you two–taking your time and thinking it through. That’s a hard choice, though–pool or kitchen. Can’t wait to see which one you choose!
Yayyyyy!!!! How exciting!!!!! Are you on planning on going with a salt chlorinated?! I actually live in Norfolk, Nebraska and moved into a house 2 years ago that has a pool, so have been learning all the lingo/procedures.lol. Trust me though…the chlorinator is a definite must! If you’d like to know why or have any other questions, feel free to send me an email! 🙂
Oops…. salt “chlorinator”.
Awesome! I think I may take you up on your offer when we get further down the road 🙂 And yes, we were planning to go the salt route!
Vinyl pool liners definitely aren’t the most durable as compared to concrete or fiberglass per most research, but you can get thicker ones if vinyl is a much cheaper option than concrete or fiberglass. We have an extra thick vinyl liner and had a tree fall into the pool from a storm in the spring- the limb cracked and smashed the concrete deck around the pool but didn’t rip the liner at all! Just my two cents!
I totally agrere! The pool turns your home into an entertainment hub. No one will care if your kitchen is a little old when splashing into the water. Best of luck!
– Amanda
lifeonlinton.com
I am looking forward to learning what you find out about pools – we are in Urbandale, Iowa – a western suburb of Des Moines and we are just beginning to research pool options. We also hope to have one installed sometime in the next year. And ironically, we also have a backyard similar in that we have a hill on the back of our property that is going to take some extensive landscaping.
We went through the whole “does it make sense to install one or invest our money somewhere else – namely a lake condo/home”. For our family (3 children under the age of 9) we decided that the better ‘family’ investment to pursue at this time was a pool.
So far everything we hear about liner/fiber glass/concrete has come from the mouth of the sales people, and as expected they have wonderful things to say about the product they are selling, but not about the others. In our minimal research we have found – out of 2 friends with liner pools 1 doesn’t like it because they have had to replace their liner after 5 years. Another really likes theirs and were able to go 12 years before replacing their liner. We also have a friend who installed a fiberglass pool 2 years ago and have nothing but good things to say about it.
We are finding pool companies, but no real pool/landscape companies. I don’t want just a pool in the middle of my backyard, I want it to fit in and look aesthetically pleasing as well.
We are also going to do a small addition to our house (if you can call it that) and add a 1/2 or 3/4 bath / changing area that is accessible from the outside. I have hardwood floors throughout my main level and don’t want people walking through the house getting them wet. Otherwise I envision myself following everyone through my house wiping the floors behind them, not fun.
My husband I and lived in Arizona for a few years many many years ago and had a pool there. From experience, salt water seems to be the way to go. Also another consideration in terms of shape – if you have a rectangular pool you can have an electronic hard top cover – which for us in a must given the age of our children and the children in our neighborhood. Additionally, in Urbandale, city code doesn’t require a fence if you have an electronic hard top cover (finding a home owners insurance is another story). We will put a fence in of some kind, but with no hard top cover code requires a 6 foot privacy fence with no gaps between the fence boards. I am thinking I would rather do a 4-6 foot decorative metal fence with bushes and landscaping that give us the privacy.
Lots of things for us to think about, and get figured out. Again, looking forward to following along with your experience and learning from you! Thanks for sharing!