Interior House photos

Well, friends. I had high hopes of taking pictures of the house with my fancy camera then putting together side by sides of the before and afters, but that's not happening. At least not right now. So instead of holding off, here are some super grainy, poorly lit, photos of what our house currently looks like.

Living Room

Entry

Dining Room 

Kitchen

Envision floor to ceiling, wall to wall, white subway tile

Our range will go to the ceiling once Bob finishes the install 

First Floor Half Bath

Master Bedroom

 Master Bathroom

Boys Bedroom

Avery's Bedroom & Kids Bath

Laundry Room 

Tiny as she may be, the ridiculously deep built-in shelves next to the washer and dryer make it super functional

There's still work to be done, namely our kitchen backsplash, fireplace tile, and closet doors/rods, but those projects are slow going for a variety of reasons.  The boys room will also not be decorated until Brooks is out of the crib and we get big boy beds in there. The house decor/organizing will continue to be ever-evolving and rooms like our living room won't look like I want them to for years, because buying new furniture is out of the picture. But I love this place and I'm so so happy it gets to be our home!

Exterior: Paint, Deck, Landscaping

I realize what I'm about to show you is incredibly premature and may not happen for another 10 years. But if there's anything I've learned during this remodel it's that you can never be too prepared with a vision and a plan.

So without further ado, here is my vision for the exterior of our home.

Paint:

I'll paint the body of the house Dovetail (4.). The main trim and columns will be white, and the second trim color will be one of the three options below (1 - 3). The second trim color is for the decorative trim piece (where you see blue paint and the strip under the windows), as well as the garage door.  Then we'll stain the front door similar to the below.

1. Espresso Beans by Behr
2. Black Fox by Sherwin Williams
3. Espresso Bean by Benjamin Moore
4. Dovetail by Sherwin Williams

Deck: 

We plan to put french doors in the mudroom (where the black door is) and we'll tear off the shingles and add stucco to the areas that don't have it. I mean, as much as I love the four different exterior materials they got-to-go. 

When you walk through the french doors you'll walk onto the deck. The immediate space out of the doors will be for the grill and built in benches. Past the grill, to the left, the deck will open into the outdoor dining area that will be covered by a pergola. The deck color will be stained similar to the front door, a dark brown.

We also hope to put up a new fence, one that is a darker stain. Again, similar to the front door. 

Landscaping:

I basically have no idea what I'm doing here. I started with an idea of the plants and colors I like, which is what you see below. Now I'll begin researching what I can afford and take care of, I guess?  

As for layout. Well that is where I'll rely on my friends, because I don't have the slightest clue. Like no, no, no clue. 

As for a plan to make this all happen. We are applying for the RAMP program immediately after we move in. This program is set up to give $15K FOR FREE so long as the money goes to exterior work and you stay in your house for 5 years. This program is leaving our neighborhood in April and moving onto another neighborhood in KC. If you live in KC check it out! Your neighborhood may be next.

What we don't get done with the RAMP money we will do over time. I image we'll make a spreadsheet of what projects are left and approximately how much each project will cost.

I'm excited to get a more definitive answer to our timeline questions, because our exterior needs some major lovin, but first. LET'S MOVE IN.

Decorating with a plan

I've mentioned before that I no longer have a decorating budget built into our remodel. Which means I have to turn to our every day budget to make the prettiness happen. And I will make it happen. Not only do I think it contributes to the overall coziness of our home, it's something I love, love, love to do. And I haven't done it in OVER A YEAR.

We don't have a plethora of extra money to pour into decorating, though. In order to keep myself from the all-too-familiar-walk-of-shame to Target's return section, because I was blinded by creative forces and it made me think I had million bucks, I've created a plan. One I absolutely have to stick to as I'm determined to never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever go back into debt.

So I created a spreadsheet. Nothing profound. In fact, I'm sure they are teaching third graders how to create more complex workbooks.

Inside the spreadsheet I have a tab for each room. I compiled my wants by spending time on the internet and walking through stores. Mainly Target, IKEA, and a few small online businesses because those are the kinds of stores we can afford. This has taken me months because well, IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR, and at some point I had to do these types of things to keep the right side of my brain alive.

Once I found something I loved, I added it to the list, including prices and what store the item is from. The hope is to keep an eye on sales and coupons, but here's the catch. No matter how good the sale is, if I don't have the money right then and there I have to say no. No. No. No. I'm the queen at justifying sale purchases. The queen. But if the money's not there. It's not there. Profound, right?

This plan will take work, but I know what it feels like to be in debt. I also know what it feels like to buy everything I think I need, promise my husband I won't buy another thing for at least 5 years, then the next day be wanting for more. These things can't hold the weight of my ultimate satisfaction. Only God can. To truly enjoy this decorating process, with no guilt and honoring all the Lord has given me, I have to do it this way.

So here's to trying! And to patience. And pain. And more patience. And joy. Lots and lots of joy. BECAUSE I HAVE A HOUSE TO DECORATE. Thank you, Lord!

Redemption in a house

A couple months ago I was walking a friend around our house, sharing my ideas and vision for what it will be, and she said isn't it amazing? how we, as humans, yearn to make things beautiful? 

I think about what my friend said often. Especially as I find myself waffling between anxiety, because it's been a year and a half and I'm ready for stability. Guilt, because there's much need around the world, yet I'm picking out countertops and new appliances. And excitement, because this is a dream of Bob and I's.

Yet knowing that my longing to right what is wrong, to restore beauty, is the same longing that belongs to my Creator allows me to still my heart and see that this house is about so much more than paint colors and decorations, tile and lighting fixtures. It's a picture of redemption.

Master shower: still needs grout, trim pieces, and a threshold piece.

Third floor bathroom tile- a little dirty

Third floor shower

Kids bath

Paint colors

Second floor hallway leading into the Master. 

Avery's closet and entrance into the kids bathroom

Imperfect pano of our primed master vanity

A portion of the master closet we had built

*The house has come a ways since the above pictures. Trim pieces are up. House is clean. And paint is happening. By the end of next week all painting will be done and the refinishing of our wood floors will begin. EEKK!