Home renovations and remodels are fairly common these days. From owners trying to make the most of their money by purchasing a fixer-upper and upgrading the interior themselves to new couples and families that want to make the space their own, the trend has resulted in a massive 326 billion dollar industry. Alex and Jess Monney were part of the latter group, and they decided their 90s style bathroom needed to be brought into the 21st Century.
When The Past Comes Calling
Most people don’t really consider the history of their homes outside of its physical wear and tear — it can be easy to forget that other people lived there before you, and other people will probably live there after you. So, how do you leave your mark on an industry that experiences such subtle but widespread transience? The Monneys were about to find out.
During their bathroom renovation, they discovered a personal note from the previous owners hidden in the walls.
“Hi! We’re the Shinsekis! We remodeled this bathroom summer 1995. If you’re reading this, that means you’re remodeling the bathroom again. What’s wrong with the way we did it?”
The snarky message came complete with a few pictures of the Shinseki family, including Cassie, their adorable house-trained pet rabbit who the proud parents declared would be “the next Cadbury Bunny.”
The Inspiration Continues
While this isn’t the first thing people have found in their walls, it certainly might be the most delightful. With so many shows (literally dozens upon dozens) on the Home and Garden Network encouraging home renovation, you really don’t need to look very far for ideas and inspiration: the hilarious and playful Brother vs Brother shows just how fun complete renovation and remodel experiences can be, keeping with the trend the Shinsekis started.
If you’re planning on building your own home, the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on it — either a little secret for you and your family, or a delightful discovery that will only be made when the next family moves in — still exists. Take a moment to think about the history of your home, and what you want people to feel when they take it on after you.
