Tell Direct Line what you would do to your home to create your ultimate Home Plus. Three lucky Mumsnetters will be given £1,000 to fulfil their creative urges. NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

Direct Line have asked us to find out what Mumsnetters would do to their homes to go the extra mile to make it a "Home Plus". What would you do with £1,000 if you had the choice?

Here's what Direct Line say, "We know that a home is more than just a house, that’s why our Home Insurance Plus policy has additional benefits to cover more of the things you love. And right now there’s 20% off when you buy online!

(Discount applies when you buy buildings and contents together. Minimum premiums apply. New customers only. Underwritten by U K Insurance Limited)

We want to hear what your ultimate Home Plus ideas are – what would you love to do to your home to go that extra mile and make it a Home Plus Home?"

So, what is the craziest idea you've had about renovating your home, but just haven’t been able to justify the cost for? Perhaps you have always wanted to have a jungle themed bedroom? Or mimic the beach complete with beach hut, sand, 'sea' and palm trees in your back garden? Whatever it is, we'd love to hear it.

Three lucky Mumsnetters will be selected to carry out their idea and will be given the £1,000 they need to do so! The winners who are selected must be willing to provide before and after pictures of the area of their homes they choose to renovate with the £1,000 prize. The renovation work must be done and the pictures must be provided by Monday 11th August. Photos will be posted on Direct Line's hub on Mumsnet and may be used in further marketing material by them.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

[deels]

i would get new windows put in... and do up the garden

[TheHoneyBadger]

that's actually quite a good incentive to actually crack on and get it done

(the photos and deadlines business)

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

We could definitely have it done by the 11th! Haha!

[FanFuckingTastic]

Definitely doable for the August date, and my house looks awful right now, so good before and after pictures.

[ChaffinchOfDoom]

yep we could do an amazeballs patio and create my tropical courtyard by 11 aug no probs
agree it helps to have a deadline to get stuff done!

[nomdemere]

I would like to put an enormous sunken trampoline in the front garden, to make a safe bouncy space for our 3 DC and friends - and modify the decorative metal garden gate to make it lockable for while they're out there.

OR, I would like to turn our basement playroom into a home cinema, with a giant TV on a tilting bracket up on the wall. It would mean we could all watch a film together with everyone having a good view - which we can't do in our awkward-shaped living room.

[Suddengeekgirl]

I'm another one who has a new build filled with blandness. I love that it has smooth and un-cracked walls, with no woodchip wallpaper or anaglypta (sp?) to to deal with. But it is SO dull! So if I'm thinking of the family, then I'd repair the house to liven it up and put our own stamp on it. :)

If I'm being selfish though I'd build a shed. Not a man-shed though, it would be for me! A place to escape and get on with all my crafty projects that the dcs and dh always seem to interfere with. I'd paint it inside so it's nice and airy, it would need good sized windows too I think. There's be a workbench for my sewing machine and a comfy chair for a cup of tea away from the rest of the family! I guess it would need a power supply too for lighting and a heater for the winter. And probably some insulation too.... Actually maybe I just want a house of my own!

[Suddengeekgirl]

Actually just seen that any work needs doing by 11th august. No chance of that with dcs being off school and summer holidays too!

[Uzma01]

Would love to get the front jungle garden & path to the house made over. There's a raised section by the hedges that could be planted with bright flowers too. At the moment that whole area is a disappointment - we got the house painted the year before last & the roof was retiled recently, so the garden looks at odds with the rest of outside.

If there was anything left over then a trampoline for all of us to enjoy in the huge back garden & a shed - so I can finally get rid of the lawnmower from my kitchen

[Sixgeese]

I have a huge list of things that I would love to do to our WW2 damaged 1930's semi, but with the thousand pounds and getting it done by my birthday, I think that I would love to tackle my jungle.

We have a 60 foot fox infested London garden which I would like to make child friendly. Making it into an additional room of the house which the children can use as an extension of the house. Replacing the French windows and the rusty climbing frame and make it a place which is safe for the children to run and explore after school.

[Bigglesfliesundone]

my wish would be for a much brighter kitchen. Zig zagging tiles as a splashback, bright green pantry door and doorsmin a and out and a quarry tile-esque floor. A place I want to be in

[SweetPeaPods]

Good to know I'm not alone with the new build blandness!
Since my initial comment I've been thinking about this more and more. Our dining room doesn't have a lamp shade/light fitting. We have just never got round to it! I hope our friends don't think we are just lazy. It's just DH never finishes DIY jobs or we spend the money on the decorating then have no money or time to do the fancy matchy stuff after. I have no chance of 'winning' though so I cN dream...

[EwanHoozami]

I reckon I could turn my "futility" room into my mini-disco-launderette before 11 Aug.

[EddieVeddersfoxymop]

I would love to deck some of the back garden, and install a summer house. Just for the simple pleasure of sitting enjoying the garden and nature....without being blasted by the freezing, unrelenting, north wind we get up here in NE Scotland! Would be heaven!

[Wickeddevil]

I love my home, but would love to home plus it. To me mealtimes are at the heart of family life; good food, good company and good times to relax and have fun.

DH and I have 3 DC; two teenagers and a 5 year old and so family meals are our time to come together, and whether we are laughing or fighting, (I explained about the teenagers), it is time I cherish. I also love cooking for extended family and friends and joining together.

My ultimate home plus would therefore be an enormous dining room table. In my dreams it is round and seats 10 to 12, and is made of wood so that it looks beautiful when it is uncovered. It always has fresh flowers in the middle of it and offers a warm welcome to all.

[mjmooseface]

I would still like to be considered, please! It will be my summer project! :D

[LadySybilLikesCake]

Arse. I skipped the bit about pictures

I'd go back to soundproofing my room so I'm not woken up (ds has a corridor between his and next door so he can sleep). I'd also revamp the room; replace my very old bed, and get some thick curtains to block out the nasty orange streetlight outside and turn it into a place fit for a Lady (Sybil) . A couple of lovely bedside tables (that match!), lamps, draws and a dressing table (can't get a wardrobe up the stairs unless it's flat pack). I'm not allowed to decorate (rented house, hence why I can't have a wine cellar ) but I can hang some pictures.

I'll stop posting on here now

[CalamitouslyWrong]

Michelle: I'd be willing to take pictures so long as I was allowed to clear all the crap out before photographing. I don't want to post pictures of our room that makes us look like we should be on some kind of hoarding shock-doc.

You're welcome to photos of our hideous sliding door that seems to be composed mostly of condensation.

[Mummytoboyz7]

I would love to create a pirate themed bedroom for the boys, complete with a fiber optic ceiling for the night sky, boat mural and a wheel for the headboard. A secret passage under the boat would lead to little reading den / fancy dress area complete with a pirate themed (kiddy sage) lantern and bean bag. There would be a map leading the way to the treasure toy chest. A telescope to spot fellow pirates and stars.

Homemade bunting and of course a personalised flag.

Oh I want to do it already!

[TollgateDebs]

Our kitchen is the heart and soul of our home and we spend a lot of time talking with friends and cooking there, but never quite manage to gather enough money to update the 80's kitchen! However, I have filled it with my retro tins and signs, my old scales and all sorts of quirky bits, but I would love to ditch our table and make a booth area, like Happy Days, to fill the space with a fun area to sit in and enjoy with friends and family - eating and socialising with a smile

[ladygoingGaga]

I would love to decorate and furnish my spare room. My mum comes over regularly to look after my son while I work evenings and nights.
The spare room has never been touched, feels cold, empty and heartless.
Everything is second hand in there, would love to create a proper bedroom, with soft furnishing, curtains and decoration that pulled the room together to feel like a home from home for her.
My mum has never complained, but to be able to surprise her and thank her for all she does to help me would show her just how much I appreciate her help and support.

[whereisshe]

I want to redo our loft conversion, with ultra high spec insulation, clever storage, oak beams (decorative purposes) and a heat/cool pump so it's nice and toasty in winter and cool in summer. And redo the bathroom up there at the same time to make it a really stylish, carefully thought out wet room.

Then it would be my haven

[Spurtle]

Is replace the kitchen doors and worktops, and retile too if I had enough left over. Or, maybe I'd buy a new wardrobe. Or carpets! So many things is like to do! I think the kitchen comes top of the list though.

[Spurtle]

^ I'd, not is.

Just seen the bit about photos and deadline - I'm totally up for that, am a teacher off for seven weeks so got plenty of time to get it done.

[nannynome]

We have just moved into a new build which is going to be our long term family home. We want to turn the garage into a room for DS and future sibling to be able to play in/do homework in/put the instruments in there and also partition off a bit at the back for a laundry room. The garage overlooks a beautiful wood so we want a large window at the front with a reading seat for them. Bright colours and lots of light for them :) and if we have a bit of spare money probably an imaginative mezzanine desk/play area bit like a pirate ship or tree house :)