Red, White, and Blue Sign

Since we first began even looking at our new home, MJ referred to it as "red,white,blue sign house".  He's like a little walking advertisement for Remax and readily spots red, white and blue signs all over town now.  Anytime we'd be out and about he'd always want to drive by "red,white, blue sign house".  I think our house will always have that association.  :) 

We closed on the house shortly after returning from our St. Louis trip, and the work began that very same day.  We could see the vision for this house (well, maybe Mat even better than I), but knew it was going to take some work...some major elbow grease and a few projects, but luckily no gutting of any rooms or removing any walls.  We've been in the house almost 3 weeks now and that combined with the couple weeks leading up to it that Mat was here at the new house working mostly while I was at home with the kiddos and packing up our house all myself have lead to one TIRED mama!  Luckily things have calmed down a bit now, but it has definitely been a hard move.  We've moved a lot in our 11 years of marriage, but this one has been the hardest, and I definitely wasn't expecting that to be the case.  Lesson learned:  moving with kids, especially two little ones, and with no family in town, is not for the weak! 

Overall, I'd do it all again, and hopefully I'm still signing that tune in another few months once most of the projects are all complete, but it has definitely kicked my butt, made me feel old, and taken it's toll on all of us!!  So glad the hardest part is behind us.  With that being said, here's a glimpse of the "before" or our new (to us) home and our vision for what it will soon become:

Welcome to our new home!  To come:  new sod, paver sidewalk, and paver flower bed

 It's move in day!  August 18, 2012-So thankful for some friends who loaned us their trailer and 7 college guys who moved us and did an outstanding job!  Not one thing was broken or nicked and they were cheap labor, too.  :)

 

Mat was happy he could sit back a bit and watch the guys do the heavy lifting.  The night before he'd been up until 2AM painting and I'd been up until 2AM packing.  Nothing like pushing it to the very last minute, huh?

 



I've always dreamed of a big front porch and am so excited to now have one.  Can't wait to complete our vision of cleaning and painting the porch and adding some pretty outdoor furniture.  All my pinterest pins for wreaths and decorating will soon becoming in handy!  :)

 



Stairwell leading from the foyer to the upstairs.  Hideous carpet ad pretty bad wallpaper.  All carpet has already been removed and foyer and hallway to be painted this weekend.  "After" pics to come in a couple months when it's all said and done.

 Basement bedroom which will become the guest room.  Vision includes:  removing this awful floor that had water damage (Mat's already removed floor and sub floor, and put in a new sub floor), added carpeting, and new paint

 Basement/guest bath and laundry room.  To be done:  paint

 Basement rec room which is now the playroom.  Vision includes:  new paint (already done) and lots of kid friendly decor

 Backyard AKA lots of weeds:  Vision includes a playground and mulch here

 tearing all of this area out and having a paver patio installed,

 lots of powerwashing, removing this deck, tearing out all sidewalk and weeds, and buidling a paver patio (oh, and that's our garage there in the back...yayyyyy, a garage!!).

 MJ's room-Vision includes:  removing carpet, finishing hardwoods, new paint (all completed)

 Mater bedroom-I know, you're probably gasping at this God awful Oregon trail wallpaper and blue carpet.  Trust me, it was really hard to see past this.  The vision includes:  buh bye wall paper, hello paint, removal of carpet, refinish hardwoods, new window seat cushions, window treatments (paint and floors completed)

 Main bath-Can you tell blue was the popular color in this house?!  Even the mini blinds match the vanities!  Luckily we have two vanities at least and do love all this cabinet space!  The vision includes:  restaining the cabinets a dark espresso color, new granite top vanities and new sinks and fixtures, smaller mirrors ,and new lighting

 Other view of the bathroom-envisioning a new toilet and new window treatments

 Charlotte's room:  Vision includes removing carpet, refinishing hardwoods, removing wallpaper, drywalling in this glass wall area, paint (all complete)

 Kitchen:  Lots and lots of thinking and contemplating has went into this area, but we're pretty confident our new kitchen coming this fall will include:  restained cabinets in a dark espresso color, new stainless steel appliances, granite countertops,new sink, subway style backsplash, new ceramic tile floor, new paint

 Office/family room:  This is an open concept floor plan connecting to the kitchen, therefore we'd like to restain these to match the new kitchen color

 Powder room:  Remove vanity and replace with pedestal sink, new ceramic tile floor, paint

Family Room: Pretty much the one room we're not changing much. We had the carpet cleaned and repainted it.

 

 Dining Room: Refinished wood floors, needs new paint

 Living room:  Remove carpet and refinish hardwoods (done), and new paint

 

Geez, just typing all this makes me realize why I've been so tired lately!  We're making some pretty major transformations in a short amount of time.  I'm thankful for a hubby that doesn't mind painting (lots) and is able to create a vision when I struggle to find the silver lining at times.  We make a pretty good duo when we can muster up enough energy to get things done!  Our goal is to have all major projects complete before the holidays.  Then, I can begin doing some decorating slowly over the next 6 months or so.  Man, do I struggle with patience.  I like to blame Pinterest for making me want to have my home look like it stepped out of Better Homes and Gardens.  I'm coming to terms with the fact that I need to practice patience, budget control, and knowing my own personal limitations.  Over time, this will become the perfect home for our family. 

 

 I can't believe how much it's already changed since we first laid eyes on it!  I can't wait to see our children grow and play in this home.  One of our favorite things is walking right out our front door and taking walks together, and of course stopping by the big playground at our neighborhood school. "After" pics to come later this fall!