Our House (Updated May 18th)

"What I love most about my home is who I share it with"


I like this place, and willingly could waste my time in it.   -- William Shakespeare

We knew that buying our first house was going to be a large investment financially, but we were not prepared for the investment physically (Terry) and emotionally (me).  Our house has become our home and we love it the way you love the most important parts of your life; with overwhelming pride in the accomplishments (us), laughter and humility in the fumbles (me), patience and perseverance on the days where it may just be easier to throw the hammer through the window (Terry...you know I'd rather throw stuff), and  anticipation for what is going to get ripped apart or torn down next (us...maybe a little more me on this one though). 

I thought it'd probably be helpful to have an area on the blog dedicated to all that we are changing in the house.  This is just the overview of all that we've done so far to the house, but you can click Here for our most current home improvements. For those who are far away, which is essentially everyone, this will hopefully help keep you up to speed with our projects. 

Without further adieu

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Our House Stats:
Built: 1964
Became ours: August 27th, 2009
Sq. Ft: ~2000


The Floor plan:  (not to scale but you get the idea)

The Kitchen

~99.9% Complete (always gotta leave a little wiggle room for changes)

Upgrades:
Granite Counter tops
Under mount Stainless Steel Double Sink
Swan Neck Kitchen Faucet
Recessed Lighting
Pendant Lighting over Counter
Refaced Cabinets (Jacobean Trim with Mahogany Inlay Stained Red Oak)
Stainless Steel Cabinet Hardware (handle-pulls)
Matching Bar Stools to Cabinets
Stainless Steel Appliances (Dishwasher, Side-by-Side Refrigerator, Gas Stove, Microwave)
Kitchen Freestanding Island with Butcher Block top
Stove Conversion from Electric to Gas
Additional Floor to Ceiling Cabinet/Pantry
Under cabinet Lighting
Custom Created Travertine Back-splash
Addition of French Doors from Front Family Room into Kitchen

The Living Room

99% Complete

Upgrades:
Insulation and Drywall on Walls
Paint
Base Trim
Air vent replacement
Ceiling Light cover replacement


Still to do:
Curtains for double door to backyard

The Front Room

100% Complete

Upgrades:
Paint
Curtain Treatments
Sand and Refinish Wood Floors
Installed French Door leading into kitchen
Finish Drywall around French Door
Re-paint around French Door
Recessed spot lights along wall joined with the garage
Install base trim

Dining Room

95% Complete
Upgrades:
Paint
Chair rail around room
Floor Trim around room
Pull up carpet
Sand and Refinish Wood Floors
New Light Fixture
New curtain treatments


Still to do:
Install Transition piece between Dining Room Floor and Hallway Carpet
 

Guest Room
100% DONE

Upgrades:
Paint
Remove old closet door and install new
Replace Bathroom Door and rehinge to swing into room
Install and paint floor trim

Guest Bathroom

100% DONE
Upgrades:
Slate Tile Floor
Paint
Remove Box Sink and Install Pedestal Sink
Replace Old Toilet with Eco-Efficient Toilet
Install moulding and trim 
Storage Cabinet
Faucet and Showerhead

The Office

20% Complete

Upgrades:
Pull up carpet for exposed hardwood floors
Paint


Still to do:
Install hanging bookshelf
Sand and Refinish Wood Floors

The Hall Bathroom

90% Complete (Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!)

Upgrades:
Repaint Washer/Dryer Space
Demo wall upon entrance/to the right side of sink
Replace Vanity
Install Double Vanity
Remove Shower Door
Install floor-to-ceiling shower curtain
Replace Toilet with Eco-Efficient Toilet
Remove Wallpaper
Paint
Install Wainscotting and Top-trim
Travertine Tile Floors and Shower Walls

Still to do:

Figure out how to mask the Window

Front Guest Room

100% complete
Upgrades:
New Ceiling Fan
Replaced Closet Doors 
New Floor Trim around room
Paint
New Window Treatments

Master Bedroom

100% Complete
Upgrades:
Window Shades
Paint X 2: Sometimes you have to do it twice to get it right!
Base Trim
New Ceiling Fan


The Master Bathroom

100% Complete

Upgrades:
Full Demolition (counters, shower, vanity, toilet, walls, floor)
Demo wall into hall closet to make bathroom larger
Slate Floor
Slate Shower
Upgraded Shower Light and Ventilation System
Additional Electrical Receptacles
Eco-Friendly Toilet
Custom "Barn Table" Double Vanity
Vessel Sinks
Brushed Nickel Faucets
Upgraded Lighting Fixtures
Install Glass Shower Door
Built-In Removable Hand-Crafted Wall Storage Unit


Yard

Upgrades:
New landscape rock enclosure for shrubs along front of the house
Plant Shrubs along front of house
Flatten entire yard / Aerate lawn


Still to do:
Build new patio
Hang Hammock swing from tree