By now most readers know there’s a $5,000 bonus up for grabs for the project that earns the most votes on BHG.com. We’re holding steady in second place, and many of you have asked what we would do with that $5,000 if we were lucky enough to win. We don’t want to count our chickens before they hatch—this competition is fierce—but since you’ve been so curious, here’s how we’d spend the prize to improve our home.
First off, we’d donate a portion to one of our favorite housing charities here in Richmond, but most of the money would go straight back into the house. We wouldn’t splurge on luxury shopping or a lavish vacation; instead we’d focus on projects that add lasting comfort, function, and value. Your votes would make that more likely—if everyone reading this voted once a day until the deadline, we’d be much stronger contenders—so here’s our wish list.
#1. Retile the hearth of the living room fireplace. Right now the hearth is old red terracotta tile that we painted and then sealed. It’s held up, but a fresh, high-quality surface would change the whole room. We’re picturing options like white river rock, a glass mosaic, or white marble for a clean, timeless look.
#2. Replace the builder-grade light fixtures in both guest bedrooms. The current fixtures are fine but uninspired. Rather than buying something off the shelf, we’d DIY custom shades—maybe a large drum shade with cascading tabs of white felt, or something woven, rattan-inspired, or repurposed from runners or woven placemats. Handmade fixtures would add personality and texture to each room.
#3. Completely overhaul the 50-year-old bathroom. This is one of those spaces that could really benefit from a full redo: new tile, updated wainscoting, a modern vanity and sink, refreshed lighting and fixtures. We tried to salvage some vintage tile in a previous update, but there are cracks and discolorations that warrant a full renovation. With extra funds we’d move this up our timeline—and you can bet John is ready to swing a sledgehammer.
#4. Add a lounging area to the patio. Our patio is currently table-centric, but we’d love to create a true outdoor room. We’d add planters, comfortable lounge chairs with a contemporary look, a couple of accent tables, and an all-weather rug to define the space. If the budget allows, we’d even consider building a small stone fire pit to make the patio usable year-round.
#5. Layered, textured details in the half bath. This is a smaller project but one that could pack a lot of visual punch. We plan to introduce layered textures—think a tactile wall finish, interesting hardware, and layered textiles—to give the half bath character and warmth. It will be a surprise reveal when we get to it.
#6. Transform our secret room (the basement under the sunroom). This tucked-away space currently feels like a cinder block cave and needs a serious transformation. We have a plan to turn that grim basement into something much more inviting—better lighting, finished walls and floors, and functional storage or a cozy living space. It’s one of those projects that would greatly benefit from extra funds to make the makeover worthwhile.
Some readers might wonder if we’re confusing $5,000 with $50,000, but we’re realistic. We’re careful with money, and several of these projects could be achieved inexpensively—some for as little as a hundred dollars—while the more ambitious tasks would use the remaining funds. That mix of small, high-impact updates and a few major renovations is exactly how we prefer to improve our home.
We’re grateful to have been included in the challenge and to be part of such a creative community of bloggers. Whether or not the bonus comes our way, we’ll keep making progress at Casa Petersik. Thanks for following along and thanks for the votes and encouragement—you make dreaming about these projects a lot more fun.