We finally did it! On May 7,2008 we closed on our dream house. It was a long, emotional process, but it finally happened and we couldn't be happier. We've done a lot of work already and still have a lot of work to go, but it's ours and that's all we really care about!
My Mom took this picture about 5 minutes after the closing. Yes, I have my painting clothes on already! It had thunderstormed all day, my hair was flat, I had no makeup left on, and a bad case of "shiny face", but these are still some of my favorite pics.
It was raining out and they never put "Sold" on the For Sale sign, so we improvised!
Dining Room
All of these "before" pics were taken some time around late February. It was FREEZING cold (there was no heat in the house), but DD was super excited to be the tour guide!
During
My BFF Jamison doing a little trim painting. Notice her paint covered arm. Don't ask. What you don't see in this picture is the big patch of black dog hair stuck to the base boards because of....
Lola might have had a little run in with some paint. Oops! Am I a bad dog mom if I admit that she still might have a few white hairs here and there almost four weeks later?
After
This table had been in our family for years, my mom found a different one she wanted for her house, so guess who lucked out! It actually has two more leaves for it, so it can seat up to ten. Now I just need a few more chairs.
UPDATE: The front door, and the new "hall tree" that I created out of an old dresser and an old piece of picket fence. LOVE IT!!
I got the horse print from a local artist, and the rest of the horse stuff I pulled out of my tack trunk in the garage. It's amazing what you can turn into "decor" when you get a little creative!
The other corner of the dining room. Sorry it's so dark, I was having a hard time finding the correct setting on my camera. The rocking chair was DH's grandma's. The rest of the stuff I've just picked up at garage sales, estate sales, etc.
This is a little better picture.
I picked this light fixture up a couple of weeks ago for $10 at a garage sale. Still need to get a new bulb for the middle lamp, but other than that it's as good as new!
I got all the white sheer window treatments for $1 each. Now I just need to finish hanging them all!
This print was my inspiration for the wall color. I think I did pretty good if I don't say so myself! The paint it Happy Camper by Behr.
This is the other wall in there. Old salvaged window w/ grapevine wreath and DH's "Bob Villa Project"- the built in china cabinet. That is a work in progress!
Poor thing took the doors off to sand, paint, and replace hardwear and two of the pains of glass broke. =( Hopefully we'll have those repaired this week and he'll be able to get it finished. Can't wait to get rid of all the power tools in there and display my china finally!
THE BAR. 'Nuff said.
(Sorry about the funky angle!)
Who's ready to party!?!
Living Room
Before
It's like Where's Waldo, but with DD!
During
Front windows after paint, before furniture. Paint it Spiceberry by Behr. This may be one of my favorite spots in the house!
After
Update:
I LOOOOVE my "reading spot", complete with tree branch from our brush pile in the back yard and twinkle lights.
It's really hard to take a good picture during the day here because there is so much light. Normally the blinds aren't all pulled down like that.I'll try taking one tonight when it's dark out.
Switched some furniture around so that I could put the big chair in the window. Computer is in the armoire in the corner. Don't know why these are so dark.
DH just got around to hanging the big clock. (Chair isn't there anymore, but better pic of the wall color)
Before
Just a big blank canvas, screaming for some decorating!
After
Sorry, don't know why this pic is so blurry!
Still trying to decide what to do with the components on top of the t.v., any suggestions? Also, I've already moved the two vases, the suitcase and the wooden box from the sides of the t.v.
Definately need new throw pillows for the couch. Also need to paint the floor grate.
Before
The doorway at the bottom of the stairs is the guest bedroom, someday nursery.
After
I've got some great old Hank Williams albums that are going to be hung on the wall behind the couch with the guitar. Still need to get frames and a guitar hanger.
Finally got these hung. Still waiting on the guitar hanger though!
Also started my photo wall on the stairway. At some point I'd like to get matching frames and I need to update the pictures, but it's a start for now!
Kitchen
Before
This is one of the only rooms we didn't paint before we moved in. Eventually we are going to paint the cabinets white and the walls red, but keep the wainscoating white. I would also like to replace the sink and faucet.
After
Starting to feel a bit more like home...
That faucet really needs to go!
Before
The room through that door is going to be the laundry room. Hopefully this weekend we are going to rip up the old floor and lay the new one. I can't wait to have first floor laundry again! Right now it's hooked up in the basement. Ugh.
After
Someday that table is going to be replaced by an island, but it works for right now.
Saw this is someone's inspiration pic. Thanks!
Before
That was just a plain old closet before my dad got ahold of it. Now it's this...
After
I LOVE having a pantry! (Thanks Dad!)
A place for everything...
And everything is it's place!
Notice the curtains my Mom made me out of old feed sacks. Now it is officially a country kitchen!
Bathroom #1
Before
Yuck. That's all I have to say about that.
After
Why is there a giant bundle of twigs glued to the mirror you might ask? Let's just say that DH might have cracked that mirror just a "little tiny bit" (HUGE) when he put it up. It's called camoflauge!
A friend of mine gave me this old vanity mirror. It was dark wood and pretty scratched up, so I painted it white with everything else in the bathroom. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it now. The hamper is in the closet now, and there is a short white dresser under the mirror for towel storage.
Vanity detail- both Mercury glass candle holders I bought for $10 on clearence. The sandstone birds came from an estate sale for $1 each. All of the apothocary jars are from garage sales and the nest candle holder is from Peir 1.
The inspiration for it all. I fell in love with this shower curtain quite a while ago, but it didn't match my old bathroom. I never thought I'd be decorating a room in my house with birds, but I really like it.
I didn't know what to do with this birdcage, it was the card "box" from our wedding. Funny how things just fall into place!
Another hand-me-down from my Dad and Step-Mom, also painted white. Notice the bird hardwear, a gift from my Mom. The brown basket was DD's flower girl basket from the wedding and the little nest basket was $.50 at a garage sale. Towels on clearence from Target.
Mmmm...Biscotti room spray from Pier 1 (an essential for any bathroom DH uses!!! Sorry honey!). Bird napkin rings from Mom's antique store.
Stool another gift from Mom. Nail keg bought at a garage sale for $2. Makes a great trash can!
DD's Room
Before
DD's "cubby", she thinks that it's a great hide and seek spot.
After
I don't think there's much room to hide in there now!
Super messy, super unorganized little girl's room.
DD's Bathroom
Before
Needless to say, this room needed a little work. It was pretty gross!
I bought the shower curtain, the valance, both bath mats, four washclothes, the soap dispenser AND the toothbrush holder all at a garage sale for $10. Everything was brand new with the tags still on!!!
Still needs some work. I'd like to paint and refinish the hardwood floors someday. We just ran out of time before we moved in.
Master Bedroom
Before
DH's closet (and my shoe storage).
Paint is Creek Bend by Behr. It actually photographs a lot lighter than it really is. I LOVE this bedroom. I finally feel like I have an "adult" bedroom (no, not THAT kind of "adult"!)
The "Mr & Mrs" were my first DIY project in the house. Unfinished wooden letters from Micheals, a can of spray paint and some ribbon...voila! The quilt was a gift from my mother's cousin for my bridal shower. Still need to find some throw pillows for the bed.
The print I bought at World Market when they were closing the store near us for 80% off!!! Someday I would like to find something that matches the other nightstand, but for now this old sewing table does the trick.
Before
My closet (and MORE shoe storage!!).
After
Definately need to figure out how to hide those cords better! Not sure what to put in the bottom of the t.v. cabinet yet. All the movies and stuff are downstairs. Suggestions are very welcome!
This dresser is actually right outside our bedroom door. There are funny little alcoves outside both bedrooms upstairs, perfect for out tall dressers.
The dress form I spray painted black (it used to be pink), and the wedding shadowbox I made for DH for Christmas.
Guest Bedroom
(future nursery)
I'm being lazy and not adding before pics!
Sorry it's so dark. That light on the wall is the only light in the room right now. Weird!
The big wood piece is actually built into the wall. It's actually so that there is head clearance for the basement stairs. Just another perk of buying a house that's over 100 years old! It makes great storage though, and someday it should be a WONDERFUL changing table! ; )
Kind of hard to get a good angle in here. The chairs are just temporary, I didn't really have a better place to put them.
I'm thinking about painting this shelving unit at some point (if not replacing it alltogether). Right now it's movie, music and book storage with photo albums on top.
My mom either made or bought me all of these samplers. I need to re-group them, I"m not really happy with the way they turned out, but that room felt so bare that I had to hang SOMETHING on the walls.
Outdoors
Before
All of these pics were taken when we first put the offer on the house. I can't say that we've done a whole lot since we moved in, but at least the snow is gone now! I can't wait to get things looking good outside.
I don't know why these are so grainy. Anyway, this is the back of the house. It's on a double lot, but I don't have any pics of the yard yet.
That's a patio under there! I see lot's of grilling and Margaritas in our future.
This is the "carriage house" (a.k.a. super old garage). It could use a new roof, but other than that it's pretty solid. If nothing else, it's great storage.
