In 2004, home-improvement spending by homeowners nationally rose nearly 6 percent over 2003 levels, according to Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. Nationally, nearly $127 billion was invested in home remodeling last year, according to the center. Television shows such as Before & After and Weekend Warriors on HGTV have made remodeling an everyday word, with projects as uncomplicated as painting the master bedroom or as involved as adding a home office.

Home-improvement centers no longer are just selling sinks, but adding design centers that enable homeowners to visualize projects, making them easier to start. And the increasing availability of home equity lines of credit makes it easy to refinance those granite countertops and hardwood floors.

What are homeowners spending equity on? Reports say kitchen and bathroom remodels are hot. Custom Homes are second. Which are more costly up front, but offer a more return on investment.

In the Denver metro area, the remodel costs can range from $42,783 to $65,398 for a mid- range to upscale major kitchen remodel and $9,766 to $25,626 for a midrange to upscale master-bathroom fix-up, according to Remodeling magazine's 2004 Cost vs. Value Report. Plus, Homeowners recoup up to 80 percent of the cost of a major kitchen remodel and around 70 percent of bathroom remodels.

A midrange major kitchen remodel involves updating a 200-square-foot kitchen with new cabinets; sinks; faucet; appliances, including microwave; custom lighting; and laminate countertops. An upscale major kitchen remodel includes new custom cherry cabinets, stone countertops, commercial-grade oven, built-in refrigerator, new sinks, task lighting, flooring and ceramic-tile backsplash.

Flooring, cabinets, countertops and appliances bump up the cost of remodeling a kitchen. Other costs are incidentals, such as drawer pulls, molding, pendant lamps, raised soffits, paint and gadgets, which often make the remodel sing.

In the kitchen, the Alison's replaced plain oak cabinets with stained alder, white laminate countertops with granite, and added new appliances and details, including molding and wrought-iron-look drawer pulls.

According to Remodeling, a midrange bathroom remodel includes new fixtures, including a standard-size tub with a tile surround; tile floor; solid-surface countertop with two integral sinks; and vinyl wallpaper. An upscale bathroom remodel involves enlarging a 5- by 7-foot bathroom to 9 by 9 feet within the existing space in the home as well as relocating and replacing the tub with a 4- by 6-foot shower featuring a full body wash shower wall; new toilet and bidet; tile floor; custom vanity cabinet with stone countertop; wallpaper; new lighting; and hardwood trim.

Depending on the bells and whistles - water jets, claw-foot legs and stylish shapes - tubs can cost thousands of dollars. Faucets and sinks, although available for less, can run $1000 or more. As with kitchens, flooring and countertops are high-ticket items.

The Alison's didn't enlarge either bathroom, but they did replace the guest-bathroom tub with a shower lined with travertine tiles. They replaced the vanity with a custom-made one featuring marble countertops, and removed wall mirrors in favor of framed mirrors.

The couple are pleased with the three-month project.

"We had enough equity to do everything we wanted to do," Laura Alison said. The kitchen is more functional - she's set up specific areas for baking and preparing food. The bathrooms look like retreats.

And little things, such as the custom bathroom drawers, have made a difference. The drawers are the right height to hold her favorite bottle of lotion. Before, she had to lay it on its side. back to top