By Leslie Linsley

Author of “Nantucket Island Living”

January 2025

It’s time to check every nook and cranny to be sure your home is tightly sealed for the coming months. But aside from regular maintenance, there are small DIY changes you can make to update your home. Sometimes we stop seeing our spaces when we’ve gotten used to the way we live. But it’s fun to tweak small areas for visual impact and to make your home function better. Think ahead so you can use the winter months to make improvements before the outdoor projects beckon. 

     Easiest upgrade ever is to your kitchen! Replace cabinet knobs and pulls. You’ll be surprised at the variety to choose from in Hardware.  Install a new faucet in the kitchen and bathrooms. Has your ceiling fan seen better days? Upgrade a boring fan with a new modern version. If you haven’t visited the new Window & Door Gallery in the old appliance building you’re in for a treat. It will give you some ideas for upgrading and improving your home. Change out window treatments for an instant new look.  Custom window treatments can add Nantucket country charm while sleek blinds can modernize a room. Check out the slew of options in Home Furnishings.

     New lighting fixtures are another way to quickly transform any room. My daughter moved into a new home and used an old dining set from a previous home. The existing lighting fixture over the table was dated.  It was functional, but not quite right for the new look she wanted. The table was solid wood and acceptable, but the chairs were too clunky. By buying new, lighter chairs with a white frame instead of using the old dark ones, and replacing the light fixture with a modern version, the dining area instantly took on a cleaner, neater, modern look, that made a better visual statement. 

     Another quick project is to break up endless cabinetry in the kitchen with a wall of open shelves. In this way you can arrange interesting bowls, containers for holding dry goods and a small plant for interest and practicality. New kitchen lighting over the island is another easy upgrade.

    Swap out your showerhead for a spa experience. Add new knobs to the cabinets and introduce upscale, bathroom accessories. When did you buy new wastebaskets?  It’s a win-win for an easy, affordable upgrade. A new window treatment provides a small change for a new look. For a total upgrade, frame windows and doors with premade crown molding. Add wainscoting in a dining room with beadboard below and a new paint color above. Or, for a dramatic change, add wallpaper. Check out the sophisticated offerings in Home Furnishings and then choose one of the Farrow & Ball's paint palette. Think green for areas that require tranquility. Aquamarine or Ambleside are soft, muted shades. For cozy, warm areas I suggest their Puck or Mid Azure Green. Just painting the area above or below the wainscoting is easier than painting the entire room. Green Stone is soft and subtle, Kitchen Green is bright and bold. Pick up the paint chips to compare.

     New carpeting on your front hall staircase can be custom cut and installed for a perfect fit and a new look. And when was the last time you replaced house numbers to the exterior of your home? Just saying! One little item such as this and a new doormat are practical, easy and inexpensive upgrades.  A new outdoor lighting fixture finishes the look. Or perhaps it’s time for a new door to add welcome curb appeal. Again, visit the Window & Door Gallery for inspiration. Or you might choose a new color for the front door!

     My winter project is going to be my pantry. I intend to organize everything into pretty pantry bins from Housewares and label each one. If you don’t have a pantry, which I think is one of the most important things to have in a kitchen, convert a closet into an orderly place for dry goods and paper products. Turn an underutilized area of the kitchen into a pantry with open shelves for visibility and easy access. Installing a unit with adjustable shelves allows you to customize the shelf height to suit your needs. A pantry keeps clutter off the kitchen countertops. 

If you have a designated laundry room or mudroom, find a way to add a floor to ceiling shelving unit, or narrow shelves to create storage space for pantry items. Need more room in the powder room? A pocket door will provide extra space AND the new ones gently close. 

Plan to do over one thing in the coming months. It’s so much easier to make a house improvement New Year’s resolution than keeping to a diet! Just a thought.

Happy New Year to All!