This will be a very long post - with lots of pictures. However, the pictures are necessary to tell the story.
Some of you have expressed interest in the projects I completed on the house while Erik was gone - while I was experiencing my nesting syndrome. So, I took a few pictures of the house, but they cannot be fully appreciated without seeing the "before" pictures. I figure I may as well go back to the beginning and catalog ALL the projects we have completed on this house. So, here is our house when we moved in - July 2009:
The Front of the House: Before
You can't tell from this picture, but there was no driveway - only concrete runners.
After
*removed all overgrown trees, bushes and outdated yard lights
*planted azaleas, hawthorns, bulbs and flowers
*added window boxes
*put up a flag
*had the unused chimney removed
*poured a driveway and parking pad
*built a shed (you can see it over the fence in the back yard) in order to clean out the garage in which we now park our van
The Back of the House: Before
After (So Far)
The backyard and lawns are still a work in progress
*graded and leveled
*put down sod (which promptly died in the 100 degree heat while we were out of town)
*cut out mulch beds
*dug out some old plants, transplanted others
*added a play set
*put in a temporary patio for our outdoor furniture
*took out a good portion of the chain-link fence and built a new wooden fence
*added approximately 300 + sq ft, connecting the garage to the house with a laundry room/mud
room and play room
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| Building the fence |
 |
| Putting in sod |
 |
| Patio space |
 |
| Play Set |
The Living Room:
Before
(That's me and Benjamin in the picture)
After :
*painted the front door white
*painted trim white (in the entire house)
*new coat of paint
*made some new couch pillows
*new lamps, rug, accessories
* made a little welcome sign to hang above the arch
*installed an overhead light/fan
The Dining Room:
Before
*knocked out wall between dining/kitchen
*added a kid's bar
*new coat of paint on walls/trim
*new dining set, lanterns, florals
Kitchen:
Before
After:
*removed windows, door and exhaust fan
*new countertops
*new sink, appliances
*added peninsula and cabinets/drawers
*added pantry cabinet space beside fridge (where stacked W/D used to be)
*new hardwood flooring
*new paint
Guest Room:
Before
After:
*painted walls and trim
*new window treatments
*installed fan
Study:
Before
After:
*new paint on walls/trim
*got it ORGANIZED - finally (this room was the dumping ground when we moved in)
*hung pictures/put up florals & accessories
*new rug
*got Erik's diploma's framed
The Play Room:
Before
After
The Laundry Room:
Before
After:
*much needed laundry/craft/sewing/storage space
*recent additions: sea grass hamper and rug
The Kids Room:
Before
After:
*coat of paint on walls and trim
(and that's Saturn hanging from the ceiling - in case you were wondering)
The Master:
Before
After:
*removed paneling
*removed the chimney
*added insulation
*raised the ceiling
*added closet space (his and hers)
*put in doors to the knee wall access
*new paint
*new bedding
*hung pictures/accessories
*new blinds
So, anyway, that's the house. We are still working on it. I don't think I left anything out. Other projects on our "Dreaming About" list are: bathrooms, covered parking on the parking pad, and a stone patio and walkway in the back. On our "To Do" list is: painting the garage and fixing the lawn.
Do we like projects? Evidently. We'll see how many more we will get done while we are here.
