Since a lot of this blog will be about the renovation of our house, I thought I would give you a tour before things start changing too much. We've already changed a few things in the couple of weekends we have lived here, but don't worry. We haven't put a dent into everything that needs to be done.
To get your bearings, here is a rough blue print of the house. It is a split level home, with the living room and kitchen on the main level, three bedrooms and 2 bathrooms upstairs, and the downstairs containing one bathroom, bonus room, and laundry room. Not depicted is the multilevel deck off the living room.
Main level
Upstairs
Downstairs
Okay, now that you have a general idea of the layout, lets look at some pictures.
Exterior: Some paint, windows, and garage/entry doors will give it a much needed face lift.
Living room: We love the windows and natural light this room has. But lordy, that fire place wall. And see that brick square to the right of the stairs? That's a built-in planter. For like, ferns and stuff. Sigh.
We plan to knock down the wall separating the living room and the kitchen. Open floor plan for all.
Yep, that's a fake french door leading onto our massive deck.
Kitchen: Complete with original 1960s appliances. Except the fridge, because I have standards (read: I don't want to put food into a stinky, gross, old refrigerator). That beautiful fridge is the one new thing in this house. Oh, and the hot water tank. (But that is a whole other story...)
Next, let's venture upstairs. Our first project is to rip up that nasty nasty carpet.
Master bedroom: There is a sliding door just to the left of this photo that leads out to a small patio. To the right is open closets.
Master bathroom: Before we ever used that shower, I tore out the gross shower door that was covered in mold. And bleached this room from top to bottom. Twice.
Hall bathroom: Oh, the pink tile. And yes, you climb into that hole to bathe.
Nursery: At the time of this post, Link is actually set up in the other room; but we will eventually move him into this room.
Guest bedroom: Imagine new walls and pretty floors. But any suggestions for that cubby-hole?
Okay, that's enough of the upstairs. Now let's head down to the bottom level.
Bonus room: This huge room has a bar, fire place, and a built-in charcoal grill. We have brainstormed a lot of ideas for this space, but right now it just holds boxes and bicycles.
Laundry room: Are laundry room pictures ever interesting?
Half bath: Meh.
Patio/backyard: The deck is huge. This view is looking back onto the house. The structure on the left is what the college boys dubbed "The Boom Boom Room." There is an alley way on the right hand of this picture (also pictured below) that runs along the side of the house/garage.
We have already made some serious headway on the yard. About 4 days of cutting, chopping, and burning and you can finally see that white shed.
This is a picture of the lower half of the deck, from the view outside the laundry room door. So much deck. Above us is the patio off the master bedroom.
And there you have it. It is easy to get overwhelmed by what needs to be done. (Ahem. I'm looking at you Josh.) But, piece by piece, I think we have a real gem on our hands. Slowly, but surely, we will turn this thing into a looker.
