Our First Home

On November 19th we listed our house.  Of course, as anyone who's listed their home knows, I have about a million and 1 different emotions associated with this fact.  The house has seen us become husband and wife.  It's seen 3 different cars and 4 different jobs between the two of us.  It's where we brought Lola home.  It's where we brought Emery and Brynn home.  It's where we've all grown and thrived for the last 5 years.  To say that we love it wouldn't do it justice.  That isn't what this post is about though, so I'll leave it at that.

We settled on listing the house in mid-November because the market has softened considerably in our area amidst interest rate hike chatter and oil prices plummeting.  We were under the impression our new house would be ready at the end of January or in early February.  (Foreshadowing for the next Home Sweet Home Reno?  Si.)  We also learned that there was some new regulation in residential real estate that can make closing take 45 days to 60 days.  The combination of these facts made us think we needed to list stat.

We were all beyond shocked and counting our lucky stars when we listed on a Thursday and went to work on Monday with a signed contract in hand.  Our real estate Guardian Angel must have known trying to keep this house show-ready with 2 toddlers in the mix was likely to result in the purchase of a 1-way flight to Mexico.

As I've documented on the blog in the past, when we moved into this home we had all kinds of grand plans.  I had visions of completing fantastic DIY projects and writing about them all here on the blog.  While I have documented most of what we've done in some form or fashion, we certainly didn't get to everything we planned to.  I had really hoped to "finish" each room and then give it it's own post.  To no one's shock, I haven't ever considered a room finished enough to do that (except Brynn's).  I've come to realize though that selling your house is a pretty good pencils down moment.  So, what better way to pay homage to the home that has taken such good care of us than by showing how it's grown and changed.  Kick your shoes off and take a trip down memory lane with me, won't you?

THE FRONT

Before.

After.  We painted the door red.  Ryan re-shaped the beds by the house and added the pavers lining them.  We completely re-landscaped with the exception of the wax trees.

THE FOYER

Before.

After.  Unfortunately this isn't from the same angle.  We painted the foyer (SW Harmonic Tan).  We had the inside of the door painted white.  It was black.

THE DINING ROOM

Before.

After.  We painted.  Above the chair rail is SW Bracing Blue and below is SW Cottage Cream.  Oh, and we had the chair rail painted so you could actually see it.  Your girl loooooves herself some chair rail.

THE OTHER TV ROOM

Before.

After.  We actually did nothing in here.  Oh, actually Ryan hung a TV which is not pictured.  :c)

THE LIVING ROOM

Before.

After.  Ryan & my Dad spent quite a few days mounting the TV and hiding the accompanying cables/wires.

After.  Oh, and we painted.  A couple of times, actually.  :c)  This color is SW Cottage Cream.

More after.

THE KITCHEN

Before.

Before.

After.  We had the door painted white.  

After.  We also painted the walls SW Foothills.

More after.

Apparently we have a lot of pictures of the kitchen.

THE MASTER BEDROOM

Before.

After.  We painted the walls SW Mannered Gold.

THE MASTER BATHROOM

Before.

After.  If you're thinking- man that looks similar- you are correct.  The bathrooms are #1 on my list of self-proclaimed failures.

BRYNN'S ROOM

Before.

After.  Ryan & my Dad hung the fan.  Ryan added chair rail.  We painted (colors I don't recall the names of.  Similar to SW Butter Up though.)  I cranked out that stencil.

THE PLAYROOM

Before.

After.  Ryan & my Dad hung that chandelier.  We painted SW Morning Fog.

EMERY'S ROOM

Before.

After.  Ryan & my Dad hung that fan.  Ryan & my Dad added chair rail (wasn't joking about my affection for it).  We painted SW Baize Green above the chair rail and Behr color I can't recall the name of below.  I decided stencils were hard and ordered Lottie Dottie decals from Land of Nod.

THE GIRLS' BATHROOM

Before.

After.  We painted Martha Stewart Sandpiper.  Another area I consider a total failure of mine.  I can count on one hand the number of times this bathroom has been utilized in our time here.

THE BACKYARD

Before.

Before.

After.  As you can see this is where we did the most work.  Ryan & my Dad removed a lot of landscaping. 

We added the pergola and a flagstone patio.  We gave up on growing grass under that tree and put some bark mulch down.  We added a flower bed along the garage.  We spruced up the bed under the master bedroom window.

More after.  We love you, house!