We closed on our new, less humble abode mid April and we’ve already started working on it.  Let’s get started.

Entry Before:  The previous owner installed beige marble tile and a Tiffany style light, neither of which are our style.  Oh, and lovely red curtains.

Entry Progress:  Sure, we’ve made progress, if you count moving a table and a rug in.

Living Room Before:  After climbing the stairs, you’re greeted by the living and dining rooms, complete with inlaid hardwood floors and stunning views.

Living Room Progress:  The old furniture from our theater room live here now.  Eventually we’ll repaint, install new windows and change out furniture as we go.

Directly across from the window, we’ve built and entertainment center.

Peek out the windows on the front of the house and you’ll see something like this:

Or this:

See, cool views, huh?  But back to the house.

Dining Room Before:  The bay window, super low light, and 8 foot French door in a room with 8 foot ceilings isn’t working for us.

Dining Room Progress:  After running into the light fixture a few times, we took it down, and hung a few cut out map pieces.  Down the road, we have plans to exchange the bay window with a flat window and a normal sized door.  Then new paint, trim, and a light fixture.  Oh yeah, a table would be nice, too.

Kitchen Before:  The kitchen is massive, especially compared to our first kitchen.  Ben measured the island.  It’s nine feet long.  That’s just a foot or so shorter than the stove side at our first house.  And we’ve got a little breakfast nook at the end.

Kitchen Progress:  More furniture and that’s about it.

 

Office Before:  My new office is right off the kitchen.  Which I love, but the ugly wallpaper is in there, too.

Office Progress:  At first glance, there seems to be a lot of storage.  And there is, but not for electronics.  I can’t wait to have a place to tuck my computer tower and printer away.  Counter height cabinets under the window and a lower desk area to the right are on my list along with tearing that wallpaper off.

Pool Room Before:  The glass door to the right leads to the indoor pool.  Yes, I feel like an over-privileged brat just typing that.  But, you can see the space needs plenty of work.  The roof is leaking, the pool isn’t functional, and we have industrial grade carpet on the deck.  So much light pours in thanks to tons of sky lights, doors, and southern exposure.  Hot tub anyone?  Well, it doesn’t work and is currently collecting bugs.

Next to the entrance is a half bathroom and the three stairs go up to a wet bar.

For some reason, the cabinets are insanely high, but the sliding door leads out to a patio and the rest of the back yard.

Pool Room Progress:  Progress in here = piles of insulation.  This room is not a priority, but we dream of a cedar ceiling and soft gray walls with pretty tile on the floors.

Family Room Before:  Large windows flank a sliding door.  A moss rock fireplace is the center of the room.

Family Room After:  New windows, larger trim, and a refaced fireplace are more modern, but also brighten up the space.

 

 

Main Bathroom Before:  Although this was the most updated bathroom, it wasn’t functional for our family.

Main Bathroom After:  Because this was the only bathroom with a tub, we decided to work on it first, adding a tub/shower combo, a small linen closet, leggy vanity, and pendants.

Guest Bedroom Before:  The smallest of the bedrooms, the guest bedroom boasts courtyard-esque views and built-in book shelves.

Guest Bedroom After:  A queen sized bed fits nicely, and the book shelves hold everything I had in my first office.  Making a nook in the shelves gives more floor space to the room and creates a cozy corner.

Boys’ Bedroom Before:  Oddly enough, the layout of the boys’ bedroom is a slightly larger version of their bedroom at our first house.

Boys’ Bedroom Progress:  Already owned furniture makes the room functional, and the black out striped curtains are the first design elements of the room.

Master Bedroom Before:  Yikes.  The electric blue paint is not close to a favorite color of ours.  But the room is huge compared to our small master bedroom before.

Master Bedroom Progress:

Master Closet Before:  A walk in closet feels like such a luxury.  We’ve got plenty of space to store every clothing item Ben and I own.

Master Closet Progress:  A coat of Dragonfly paint on the walls and crisp white shelving makes for a fun mini room.

Master Bathroom Before:  Red walls + yellow sinks + dingy tile = a mess made in the 70s.

Master Bathroom Progress:  Definitely not an upgrade, just more clutter on the counters and fresh green paint.

Basement Before:  Although ugly, this large open area gets a lot of light thanks to two south-facing windows.

Basement Progress:  Yet another room has fallen victim to our storage.  Random junk, mattresses, more foam, and toilets.

Laundry Room Before:  Um, the Brady family called.  They want their countertops back.  But we are thankful for the large space with plenty of storage.

Laundry Room Progress:  Washer and dryer from our last house work well side by side in here.  A left over rug covers the ugly glue covered floor.

Basement Bathroom Before:  More yellow fixtures, orange counters, and glue covered floors.  Nothing has changed since we’ve moved in here.

Back Yard Before:  A stone patio complete with non-functional fountain with a few trees.  Even better, we’ve got a steep lot backing up to state park land.

Back Yard Progress:  Other than cutting down a tree and digging out a few little rock retaining walls, the back yard hasn’t been touched.  We’ve got big plans for this space, including lowering the patio one or two feet, pouring a concrete slab patio, building a pergola, adding a retaining wall, and plants.

To get an even better idea of the layout, here’s a house tour and a separate tour of the pool room.