By now you’ve probably heard there’s a $5,000 bonus for the project that earns the most votes on BHG.com. We entered our porch in the contest, and although we’re holding steady in second place, many readers have asked what we would do with the $5,000 if we won. While we don’t want to count our chickens before the votes are in, we indulged the idea and imagined how we’d spend the prize—partly on charity and mostly on the house.
First, we’d donate a portion to one of our favorite housing charities in Richmond. The rest would go straight back into home improvements—no luxury shopping or vacations, just projects that improve the look and function of our spaces. If everyone reading this voted once a day until the deadline, we’d have a much better shot. Here’s a prioritized list of what we’d tackle.
#1. Retile the hearth of the living room fireplace
The current hearth is old red terracotta tile that we painted white and sealed. It’s held up, but a fresh, elevated look would make a big difference. We’re considering white river rock, glass mosaic tile, or even a slab of white marble to create a cleaner, more modern focal point for the room.
#2. Replace the builder light fixtures in the guest bedrooms
The current fixtures are dull and feel generic. Instead of buying something off the shelf, we’d DIY custom shades—perhaps a large drum shade with cascading tabs of white felt, or a woven/rattan option made from repurposed materials like a runner or woven placemats. Custom pieces would add personality and texture without breaking the bank.
#3. Completely overhaul the 50-year-old bathroom
Our vintage bathroom has character, but the tile shows cracks and discoloration despite our efforts to preserve it. With extra funds we’d consider a full redo: new tile, wainscoting, a modern vanity and sink, updated plumbing fixtures, and refreshed lighting. A complete overhaul would make the space more functional and visually cohesive, and it’s one of the bigger jobs on our list.
#4. Add a lounging area to the patio
Our patio is currently table-only, but we’d love to turn it into a true outdoor room. We’d add planters, a couple of comfortable lounge chairs, side tables, and an all-weather rug to make the space inviting and usable. If funds allowed, we might even build a small stone fire pit for cozy evenings—transforming that corner into a year-round hangout spot.
#5. Add layered, textural interest to the half bathroom
This mini refresh is intended to be a surprise, but the goal is to layer in texture and depth with relatively small investments: textiles, hardware swaps, paint, and a few curated accents to make the half bath feel finished and intentionally styled.
#6. Transform our secret basement room
We have a separate-entry basement beneath the sunroom that currently looks like a cinder-block eyesore. We’ve handled rough spaces before and already have a plan to convert this “prison-like” area into something useful—finished walls, improved lighting, new flooring, and better storage. A portion of the bonus would accelerate that transformation.
Some readers might wonder if we’re confusing $5,000 with a much larger sum, but we’re practical with our budget. Several of these projects could be completed for relatively modest amounts, leaving room to tackle the bigger jobs. Even if the bonus doesn’t come through, we still have plans and will keep making progress on Casa Petersik—this is just a fun exercise in dreaming a little bigger. Thanks for following along and for all the support!