Up and Out

When you're a young homeowner, it's fun to fantasize about leaving behind your starter house and moving into an abode that more closely resembles your dream home. More bedrooms, larger closets, additional bathrooms and a designer kitchen are just a few of the things that people look for when upgrading their living spaces.

Increasingly, however, moving up also means moving out, as in outside- which is why outdoor "rooms" with swimming pools are becoming the ultimate amenity for people looking to improve their home life. Such was the case for two couples who recently participated in TLC's popular television series, Moving Up. which follows a chain of new homeowners who move into one another's houses and begin the design and renovation process, and then bring the old owners back for their reactions.

In one eposode, Andrew Lui and Olivia Tang moved into their new Spotwood. N.J., home to find a concrete pool desperately needing repair. Cracked plaster and dislodging tiles presented not only an eyesore, but also created leaks that eroded soil, causing the surrounding concrete deck to crumble. see more...