seeing how far we've come

We always have an up-to-date list of what we've accomplished so far on the blog, but sometimes it's fun to take a look and compare the pictures of the original house (at move in) with our new and improved look in each room. The first picture of each "series" is the original, pre-move-in look and anything that follows is what we have done to the house! It's exciting to see it put together this way and really see what the differences are - let me tell you, paint is our best friend - i've said it before but it is amazing what a little paint can do!

Front Yard:

• Move house numbers to other side of door
• Re-do porch and walkway
• Re-landscape - Sod front yard
• Move mailbox
• Install flag and hang it
• Repaint the exterior of the house
• Repaint front door
• Repaint shutters

Back Yard:

• Dig out old garden beds
• Weed existing garden beds
• Remove white rocks
• Move hydrangea bushes away from house and to the back yard
• Decided what to do with shed - tear down and rebuild
• Install raised garden beds
• Plant vegetable garden 
• Re-finish swing
• Change fabric on swing and bistro set seats

Living Room:

• Change out curtain rods
• Hang new curtains
• New rug
• Paint living room / choose color
• Create walkway between living room and dining room
• Replace baseboards
• Hang art
• Paint inside of front door
• Add lighting

Dining Room:

• Change out curtain rods
• Hang new curtains
• New rug
• Re-upholster dining room chairs / choose fabric
• Hang art
• Organize closet for more storage
• Change closet door to be a glass "china cabinet"
• Paint dining room / choose color
• Baseboards
• Choose and hang light fixture

Hallway:

• Hang art
• Change the coat closet from a rod to hooks
• Change the shelves in the linen closet - real wood instead of pressed wood
• Paint the ceiling / choose color

Bathroom:

• Take down original shelving behind toilet
• Hang new shelves and decorate
• Hang Shower Curtain
• Re-attach fallen tiles in shower/tub
• Add hooks for towels and robes
• Organize closet behind door with baskets
• Replace sink pedastal with vanity style
• Replace fixtures / toilet paper holder / towel bar

Spare Room / Den:

• Paint den above chair rail / choose color 
• Change out curtain rods
• Hang new curtains
• New rug
• Arrange collage wall
• Hang art
• Add hanging bar to the inside of closet / maximize storage
  

Kitchen:

• Paint jars and cubby
• Build butcher block table
• Install new cooktop
• Hang pot-rack
• Install new hood
• Tile behind cooktop
• Hang art
• Paint underside of cupboards 
• Add shelf above cooktop
• Add knobs to cupboards

Finished Basement:

• Replace carpet in basement
• Remove carpet from stairs and re-trim
• Paint basement / choose color
• Complete ductwork that connects to living room vent

Laundry Room / Unfinished Basement: 

• Clean existing shelves
• Build laundry organization
• Create shelves for Rob's tools / work bench

Upstairs / Bedroom:

• Strip the carpet from the stairs
• Refinish stairs with a pallet wood look
• Hang curtains
• Organize closet
• Replace carpet upstairs
• Hang art
• paint ceiling
• paint walls
• new bedding
• create a bed platform

Thanks for keeping up with us!

Until next time,
Lindsey 

before we begin

Well we closed - YAY!! - and we've had a garage sale (yes already haha) and it has been quite the whirlwind getting projects done and semi-settling into the new house. We are really loving the layout and all the potential this place has for us and our eventual family (Lord willing!!).

Before we begin posting pictures and tales of the projects we are doing around the new house, we want everyone to be able to see the house before we made any changes. These photos are from our inspection date and do include a little bit of the previous tenants furniture so bear with that please! 

Let's begin the tour! 

Our cute little home in Royal Oak, MI. 

This is the view when you walk in the front door, there is a wall directly to the left!

Another view of the living room from the archway in the previous picture. 

Through the swinging butler's door into the kitchen. 

From the other side of the kitchen - not a whole lot of cupboard space but we do have a basement to store extra things! 

 Cute pedestal sink in the bathroom with a great little vanity mirror.

We lucked out with the bathroom decor - it has newer tile, new marble floors and the colors aren't horrendous!

Bedroom #1 / Our Dining Room (after project 1)

Bedroom #2 / Spare Room for guests

Master Bedroom upstairs with walk-in closet (beyond arch on the other side of the bed)

There are a lot of built ins in the Master Bedroom! 

View from our Kitchen window - Oswin's new playground! 

Thanks for taking the tour everyone, we can't wait to share what we have in store and all the projects that we have already started / finished / are in the middle of! 

Until next time,

Lindsey