House Update # 1

Back when I started my blog I wrote about moving to my parent's house and I think I mentioned some of the challenges of moving here and the condition to which I found it after it had been vandalized. I've worked hard at getting the house put together, selling off everything extra at my "Big Ass Garage Sale" which was a great success. Now, I need to have a small hiney garage sale and get rid of more stuff.

I wanted to add some pictures of a few rooms that have been finished.

First is my bathroom. Here's a before picture. The first picture on the left is what it looked like when my folks lived here. The second picture is what it looked like 6 years later when I moved here. The lovely neighborhood thieves stole that attractive handicap and rusted toilet.



Since moving here I have gotten a new toilet (first thing), painted and decorated it into a "girly" room.

That's about as girly as I can get although I did pick up a $10 chandelier at a yard sale to hang in here but I just haven't gotten around to it. I keep thinking some knight in shining armor is going to show up to do it for me but so far that hasn't happened.

There is also a sign inside the pink frame now that says "Its never to late to Live Happily Ever After". I thought it was very appropriate for my life. 

I love my little laundry room. Its not much and isn't big but since I have very little storage at this house I have to make a little space go a long ways.

Before pictures:



I can't remember which came first but I picked out this really bright yellow color for my sewing room or my laundry room and loved it so much I did both rooms. I really think I picked it for the laundry room first. The room is long and narrow and dark so I wanted a color that would reflect any light that made it in there and also put me in a cheery mood every time I see it. Here's the finished -and incredibly full, but organized - laundry room.

As for the living room and bedroom, I just had to figure out how to make everything fit in those rooms. I haven't painted either room. My bedroom has a 1/2 bath but because the thieves took the toilet out of there too and I have yet to replace it, it is just a storage room for now. I don't have a good picture of the living room but here is the bedroom although it has already changed from this. I found that that the old screen with the little dresses kept getting bumped so I hung a picture there instead.

                                                 

When I moved in my office it was green due to my bargain $5 paint purchase at Home Depot. I'm just not a green person. So, I painted it a lavender color and made it the "bear" room .



   

Here are a few more favorite pictures from my house. I have a long ways to go. Its a small house but just right for me. I want it to be a cozy, welcoming house where a person feels comfortable putting their feet up and relaxing.

                       

                                     

                   

The old birdhouse is something I found at an Antique Mall awhile back for $22. I just couldn't pass it up. It has so much character. The big picture behind it is one of my most favorite possessions. The picture really doesn't do it justice. Its about 5' x 4' on a big heavy board plank and is probably 100+ years old. The paint is chippy and the old wood shows through in just the right places. One of the things I love most about it is that there are 2 churches among the houses on the right side of the painting. This painting was the big adventure when moving. I wrapped it in Saran Wrap and then we laughed every time we started to move it because I was so paranoid more paint would fleck off of it. My son finally decided he wasn't moving it at all. It was all mine to take care of. That works for me!! The last picture is my front porch decorated for the 4th of July. I love my little porch. Its not much but its a nice place to sit when the weather is less than 100 degrees outside.

I hope you enjoyed the tour. I'll post more as I get more work done. I'm afraid a lot of what is left is big ticket items that don't show up too well like a new roof, new A/C and heat, etc.