OUR NEW HOUSE!!!

As I have mentioned before--for the past 8 years our family of 6 has been living in this little (1200 square foot) home:

 We have loved our little house--but it is finally time for us to move on to some MORE SPACE!!

So, a few weeks ago we made an offer on this:

This house has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths in 2300 square feet.  It is in an AWESOME neighborhood (our house is probably the oldest and smallest in the whole place--all the rest are BIG, BEAUTIFUL homes--Who doesn't love that!?)

And our house is beautiful too.  It just needs a little elbow grease to make it really shine!  We have BIG PLANS for this house.  It may take us several years to afford and accomplish all of them--but when we are done--this place will be spectacular!  I just know it!!

So with no further ado let me introduce you to our soon to be NEW HOME and tell you a little bit about our plans.

(Now remember--we have not taken possession of the house yet--so all these pictures are of the existing homeowners furnishings and decor.)

For the outside we will be painting all the red trim and the exposed cedar shingles a nice neutral brownish/tan color to give the exterior an updated look.  And we will be ripping out a lot of the overgrown landscaping.

The back yard is pretty much perfect already.

This is our front entry way.  BIG plans in here.  White trim throughout.  Refinish hardwoods.  Paint.  Custom coat rack.  etc. etc.

The kitchen is in store for the biggest overhaul.  We plan to rip out the cabinets over the breakfast bar area.  Build a custom hood over the stove.  Install Hardwoods.  Paint cabinets.  Install hardware on cabinets.  Paint up another awesome back splash.  New counter tops down the road.

Then we will take out the desk in kitchen and replace it with a large pantry.  And install a door to close off adjoining room (Which will be my sewing/exercise room--who needs a formal dining room?  Not me--I NEED a sewing room!).

Again--new hardwoods.  New window treatments.  New shades and paint on the light fixture.

In the family room right off the kitchen, we will continue the hardwood floors. Replace fan. Paint trim and fireplace white. Trim out the fireplace with new tile. Paint walls. Spray paint the brass trim on the fireplace.

And like I said--this "formal Dining room" will turn into the perfect spot for my sewing room on one side and my elliptical machine on the other---YAY no more exercising in a cold garage!!  So of course we will paint and change out the lighting in here.

And I certainly don't need a "formal living room!"  Sorry to all of you who love FORMAL spaces.  I think they are WASTED SPACES.  So our "FORMAL LIVING ROOM" will turn into our KIDS HANG OUT ROOM.  It will not be a play room--but rather a room with a comfy couch and a TV and video games and a big coffee table for games and puzzles.  A place where my kids can hang out with their friends.

This room will get a set of french doors in the front and new paint and hopefully some awesome craigslist furniture.

The banister railing leading upstairs will get sanded and stained a dark color to match the new hardwoods--the spokes of the banister will remain white (SPOKES--is that what they are called?).  And we'll have to invest in a LONG ladder to paint the two story entryway.

Both bathrooms upstairs will get new tile and paint.  And we'll figure out something creative to help the light fixtures along.  Frame up the mirror.  And maybe someday new counters.  And we'll see--maybe paint the cabinets too.

And of course all the bedrooms will eventually get a new coat of paint and new decor to match each child's hopes and dreams for their new rooms.

And our new laundry room (Yippee--I will have a LAUNDRY ROOM!!!  No more doing laundry in our freezing cold garage!!!) will also get a new tile floor and some paint and hardware on the cabinets.  Sorry I don't have a picture yet of that room.  But trust me--it is awesome!

So that just about sums it up for now.  We are set to close on March 23rd and take possession on the 27th.  And then the fun REALLY begins! 

Wish us luck!