One year ago today we officially closed escrow on our home. We had already been working on the house for a few days (with Dad's help), trying to get it move-in ready. The call came as I was standing on the kitchen counter scrubbing dead bugs out of the kitchen cabinets already thinking "what did I get myself into?"This year has been filled with those kind of moments--the never ceasing dust, the increasingly high amount of money we've spent, the always appearing dead, stuck-on bugs, the months of unfinished projects, and the overwhelming exhaustion of working constantly.
In October, when all of our friends were over carving pumpkins and making carmel apples it felt like our "home" for the first time and I was happy. This Christmas with the decorations up and the lights shining, it felt like it was all worth it.
I am incrediably proud of my husband who has worked hard every day creating the change that you'll see below. Not only has Dave taught himself 101 new things, he has put up with my ongoing pressure to achieve my "home" image! Some rooms you'll notice major changes have already taken place, some minor changes, and some with almost no changes.
Front of the house: replace front door and repair stucco around door, remove bells from above windows, began removing paint from fireplace brick, removed green paint from porch,
remove old sprinker system, add new sprinker system with automatic time and valve manifold and sod
Living Room: removed plaster of paris fireplace, replace front door, repair plaster, textured walls, painted walls and trim, new light sconces, curtains hung
Office: major plaster repair, mailbox elimination, textured walls, paint wall and trim, Dad's custom desk built made and stained, Mom's custom curtains made and hung
Kitchen: bugs removed, cabinets cleaned over and over again, painted everything Swiss Coffee white, removal of gross floor, level/scraped, vinyl floor laid by Dad, curtains hung, mess made (lots more to re-do)
Red Room: room used for storage for seven months, rug added, dining room table and bunnies added (really this room hasn't changed at all).
Front Bedroom: major plaster repair, textured, paint wall and trim, closet scrubbed and cleaned, curtains from Target hung (used as our Master right now)
Hallway: walls scrubbed of dead, stuck-on bugs, painted wall and trim, replaced bathroom door, replaced hardware on linen closet
Hall Bathroom: stripped down to the studs and floorboards, replaced tub, moved toliet six inches, tile floor/wall/shower, vanity/toliet/sink/etc installed
Master Bedroom: nothing itself has changed, added queen bed and paper fold curtains (there is even still bugs on the walls)
Backyard: Removed the desk, dug giant hole for gas and water lines to garage, rototilled ground and laid soil preparing for grass.
