Jackie's New (Old) House

[JackieB]

Well we purchased our first house on August 15th, because of the blackout we didn't get our keys until the 18th but it was worth the wait.

It was built in 1957 and we purchased it from the original owner's estate after he passed away. He hadn't decorated since the 70's and he refinished the basement in 1983-1984. I took photos so it should be interesting.

We gutted the basement and I am taking progress photos but I am going to post the photos I took before we moved in first - they are too funny.

Here goes:

Front of the house

[JackieB]

Backyard view from driveway

[JackieB]

This is where I am right now!

[JackieB]

The deck has a really slippery wheelchair ramp, I call it the stroller ramp.

It leads into our bedroom. I have added bird feeders for the cats entertainment.

We had bluejays out there this weekend!

[JackieB]

He built the toilet up on a platform so we call it the throne!

We are building my dad an apartment down there, we just finished a shower down there today!

[JackieB]

Here is our kitchen

[JackieB]

More kitchen!

[JackieB]

Pooh brown cupboards!

[JackieB]

View from the living room into the kitchen

[JackieB]

I like to use the front door because you don't have to walk into the kitchen and it has a coat closet but Josh prefers the kitchen entrance

[JackieB]

Can you believe this? Needs an expert from CLEAN SWEEP in there! Thank God it was gone before we moved in. This will be my dad's new kitchen.

[JackieB]

Doesn't this remind you of a bad porno set, this wall holds up the kitchen counters.

[JackieB]

We are redoing this room, I think we are going to use sheets of Barker Tiles.

It a sheet that looks just like tiles but it easy to install and maintain.

[JackieB]

Does anyone else have patio doors in their bedroom - how weird!

[JackieB]

Here is our super small closet, thank god my maternity clothes don't take up too much room.

[JackieB]

We were fortnate that our basement was just two large rec rooms, with the half bath and the laundry room, it made it easier to plan the basement apartment.

This room will be the laundry room, the bedroom and the 3 piece bath, with some storage area at the base of the stairs (where I am standing taking the photo)

[JackieB]

This room will be the living room, the messy laundry room is behind me in this photo and the window faces the front of the house. I am going to plant a little garden so my dad has some nice flowers to look at next summer.

[JackieB]

This is Josh standing outside our house with the SOLD sign, there is no photo of my cause the digital was full and when we came back the sign was gone already - BOOHOO!

[JackieB]

Well if you have like 30 minutes to flip through all these photos I would like to thank you in advance.

Next time I will do what Margarita did and post them on a site that has one of those slide show options. I am going to her posts now to find out what she used.

Thanks for looking!

[JackieB]

Margarita used Shutterfly so I thought I would give it a try:

I added all the photos here. Now I just have to figure out how to add it to my signature.

http://www.shutterfly.com/view/pictures.jsp?aid=67b0de21b38b4497c491

[HeavenLeigh]

Great pics Jackie! Congrats on buying your first home!!

[abbygirl]

Thanks for sharing pictures of your new home Jackie! It looks like you've got your hands full remodeling the place.

It's so much fun getting a new home!!!! :elephant:

[angelrenee]

Congratulations! Very cool back yard. :)

We have patio doors that lead out to a small balcony thing in our master bedroom. I like it other than being confined to only two room configurations. The sunlight is nice in the evenings for us.

[veda]

Hey Jackie! CONGRATS! We're about two steps behind you guys, so we can help each other stay inspired :D Doesn't it just feel like years of work right now??!

The house is great! & Josh has such a look of satisfaction in that sold-sign pic :biglaugh: & you crack me up about the pooh-brown cabinetry... what are you doing in there? Even just painting them a lighter color would make the kitchen feel larger. Your floors are great!

Its such a nice feeling, isn't it? Love the "stroller ramp" too :)

* can't wait to see after shots

[IUgrad02]

congrats on owning your first home!! We are living in our first home right now too; we bought it in may of 2002. It was in need of new carpet and some wallpaper, etc...so I had lots of fun re-doing that stuff! I'm sure you will too. Just don't over-exert yourself, lil' pregnant mama!!!!!! :D

Sounds like you are very excited :thumb2: Congrats again!! Keep us posted. :D
Post a pic of you if you can sometime!! Great fun!! :)

[Csara]

Hi Jackie! Just wanted to Congratulate you again on your new abode!! Enjoy doing your home improvements and remember that it's an ongoing process. There is ALWAYS something to keep you busy when owning a home. Have fun!! :D

[JackieB]

Thanks for all the excitement!

I plan on painting the cupboards they are brown on the outside and red on the inside EWWW! They need to be stripped first so I will have to wait for hubby to have some time since I am on a chemical free kick until bubba arrives. I added new shelf paper and that has help them look cleaner on the inside.

The patio doors are cool but with the sliding doors on one side of the room and the closet on the other it limits the way I can arrange furniture, oh well, I looked at some houses with humongous bedrooms and little living rooms, who lives in their bedroom really. So we have a larger living room which will be great for me and baby.

I like to say my house is a Trading Spaces dream! They wouldn't know where to start. Although here in Canada I would have to sign up with The Decorating Challenge, that's our version of Trading Spaces, pretty much the same concept except you get $1500, each team has their own carpenter and there is no homework, they send you to a hotel instead of staying in your neighbours house with the paint fumes.

Well as far as decorating the house, until the baby arrives I will probably just live with what is there. Our bathroom will be retiled and the babies room will be painted and decorated. After Josh finishes our basement I am going to give him a break to enjoy Christmas and the baby and all that snow shoveling!

Poor guy! He twisted his ankle last night - and I know you are thinking :eek: Oh no did he fall down the stairs or trip on some drywall while working on the basement :eek: - the answer is no, he was crushing a beer can to fit it in the recycling bin!

I took pity on him anyway and iced it down but it looks terrible today and really puffy but he won't go to the doctor so I guess he'll tough it out.

Off to work!