11 retrofit must-dos
Ex‑Meta VP–turned‑designer Emma Schwartz Rose posted an 11‑tip thread for new homeowners recommending simple future‑proof installs like adding outlets everywhere, using solid‑core doors, and adding grab‑bar blocking in showers (x.com). The thread drew engagement and practical attention on social, with the original posts showing low but traceable metrics in the briefing notes (x.com).
A home-renovation thread by designer Emma Rose argued that the cheapest upgrades happen before the walls close, and homeowners quickly passed it around as a punch list. (x.com) Rose’s list ran to 11 items, including more electrical outlets, solid-core interior doors and wood blocking in shower walls so grab bars can be added later without opening tile. A follow-up post linked back to the thread and showed the advice circulating beyond her usual design audience. (x.com 1) (x.com 2) The ideas are ordinary building choices, not flashy remodel features. They target the stage when framing, wiring and backing are exposed and small changes cost far less than tearing into finished walls later. (x.com) (hubbell.com) Several of the recommendations line up with code or industry guidance that already treats future access as part of good planning. The 2023 National Electrical Code added rules for kitchen islands that either require receptacles in some cases or require provisions for future addition, reflecting the same “do it while it’s open” logic. (electricallicenserenewal.com) (hubbell.com) Bathroom backing is the clearest example. Housing and accessibility guides describe reinforcing walls around showers and toilets so grab bars can be mounted securely later, instead of relying on drywall anchors in a wet room. (huduser.gov) (componentsourcing.com) Her point about solid-core doors also matches standard product guidance. Door makers market solid-core slabs as quieter and more durable than hollow-core doors because the added mass reduces sound moving from room to room. (masonite.com) (jeld-wen.com) The same logic applies to wiring. Residential installer guides from Leviton recommend at least Category 5e or Category 6 cable for data runs, because low-voltage cable is easier to pull before drywall and can support later networking needs. (leviton.com) Electrical protection made Rose’s list too. Whole-house surge protectors are installed at the service panel and are designed to divert voltage spikes away from appliances and electronics, covering far more than a single power-strip surge protector. (thisoldhouse.com) (todayshomeowner.com) The thread’s appeal was that none of the items require a luxury budget or a full custom build. It read like a contractor walk-through translated into plain language: spend on the parts hidden in the walls, because those are the hardest parts to change once the house looks finished. (x.com)
