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Wednesday, January 16, 2008
ok, a FEW pictures.
I finally realized why I thought I had taken more Before pictures of the house than I had. I SWORE I remembered looking at pictures of the kitchen and the bedrooms as well as the very memorable two-kinds-of-linoleum-plus-stained-smelly-carpet 'great room' area, but they were nowhere to be found. Then I remembered that I was thinking of the pictures that were in the real estate listing. I wonder if the realtor still has them? I truly do wish I could show them to you. Hmm.
Oh! I just found them on the Internet (who knew there were SO MANY MLS sites?). The problem is that they are embedded in a slideshow, and I can't just link to the thing here because it will give everyone in the world my physical address which is not a great idea. (Although I recently discovered that many of my halfhearted efforts at privacy are in vain, thanks to whois. You'd think I'd have thought of that. Oh well.) So if you're a person I know, and not just a random Googler, leave a comment or drop me an email and I'll email you a link, if you're interested in the infamous Before pictures. I won't even bother with the couple of lame ones I have of my own.
OK, without further ado: the After (or, erm, maybe During) shots:
The living room from the front door. Notice:
- The kids are watching The Love Bug. Y'all, we know what's good.
- Bookshelves! (they were built in, but I painted them. Of course.) Spot the Annes? Also, the fabric-y mess in the middle section is the curtains for the kids' rooms (let's see: who gets the camouflage and who gets the purple?), which are sewn, but I don't have the hardware up yet
- C heard the lens cover come off and knew it was time to pose. LT, not so much.
- "White muslin curtains give a house such an air." Yes, an air of "at $3 a yard with a coupon for 90-inch widths, I just could not say no."
The living room from a different angle, featuring the brand-new woodstove sitting on the floor protector whose tile was laid BY ME. (This, by the way, was the only DIY project I took on in this whole process that was interesting and fun enough for me that I might willingly do it again.) Also, more Love Bug. And you can see the blue (and I do mean BLUE, wow. It's a little more subtle than that in real life) that is the master bedroom, but that's all you'll see of that room (or any of the bedrooms) until I get it (them) de-boxed.
From behind the TV. Notice the boxes in the utility room. There are A LOT MORE where those came from.
Hello, kitchen! I love you. We had the black refrigerator already, so the decision was made to go with all black appliances. (The stove and dishwasher are new). I was dubious at first, because I thought they would stand out like large sore thumbs against all the yellow and white, but I think the darker floors help make it OK. Right? right? And since EVERYONE asks, the brass hardware on the cabinets came with the house. We removed it all to paint (and paint and paint and paint) the cabinets, and then put it back. Everyone asks this as if it's far too nice to have been chosen by me, since I have no taste whatsoever. (I do not debate them on this.)
Behold the dining area. For ordinary use we keep the table against the wall, to save space and clutter. When we have company, we can pull it out from the wall and use the bench that's stashed under it.
Mary: mistress of all she surveys. This is her new favorite place. (Smoky is more partial to the empty boxes. He certainly has a variety from which to choose.)
Next time: bedrooms. Maybe. :)
Comments
Nice - comfortable and very homelike. The Dutch would call it gezellig, which doesn't have an exact translation but means cozy and homey and healing to be in.
Will you eventually put a cabinet between the stove and fridge? I think the blank spot there draws my eye more than the black appliances.
Posted by: dichroic at January 17, 2008 01:34 AM
Oops, didn't see the door there in the lower photos.
Posted by: Dichroic at January 17, 2008 01:37 AM
Without having seen the "before" pictures (Speaking of which, I'd be interested in that link! The three different types of flooring intrigue me. (g)), maybe I can't fully appreciate the entire transformation-- but it all looks great to me! I love the floors, the colors, and the open airiness of the layout.
You all must be enjoying it. :o)
Posted by: Michael at January 17, 2008 05:10 AM
It looks great! Of course I can spot the Annes. :) I think the black appliances look fine, and I'd love to see the before pictures!
Posted by: Kat with a K at January 17, 2008 06:33 AM
LOVE the floors. So pretty. So is the yellow. And feh on anyone who thinks you are not classy enough to buy those nice cabinet handles.
And I can't say "YAY for built-in bookcases" enough! Woo hoo!
I would love to see the before pictures. Like Michael, I am intrigued by 3 different kinds of flooring.
Posted by: mar at January 17, 2008 06:51 AM
Is that the same jacket on the back of your computer chair that is on the back of the dining room chair?
Posted by: debi at January 17, 2008 02:37 PM
Hi Rachel! Thank you for sharing pics of your new home! I am so jealous of the bookshelves in the main living room. My books are all banished to my bedroom - would love to have them all over the house. Can I see the before pics pretty please?
Also needed to give you a thank you. Hearing about you and your classes at school helped prompt me to thinking about going back and getting my master's. Just started it this week, and I have to say I have never done so much textbook reading and education journal reading before! My students can't believe that my college textbooks don't have pictures (when we read sections of their chapters at school I never noticed how much of their pages are consumed with the pictures!)
Love the yellow and white kitchen!
Posted by: Cami at January 17, 2008 05:24 PM
OMG it looks fantastic. As Michael said,without having seen the before pictures we can't appreciate it as much but I love it. I can't wait to see it in person.
Posted by: jenn at January 17, 2008 08:44 PM
Good job Rachel. The house is beautiful. What with the before and afters your home is a poster child for the DIY network. Of course I found your listing while it was pending.. No friends I don't stalk Rachel I actually know her.
Posted by: Anonymous at January 18, 2008 05:37 PM
P.s. the anonymous was me, Shea. I always forget to sign off.
Posted by: Anonymous at January 19, 2008 08:54 PM
Your new home is beautiful, Rachel. I'm really happy for all of you!
Posted by: Denise at January 20, 2008 08:31 PM
Ok, now I feel bad; I was the one bugging you for pictures and then I don't comment til like three days later. BUT it looks awesome!! The floors, the paint, the bookshelves - I love it all!! You guys did a great job (although I too would love for you to send me the link for the listing so I can see how far it's come) ... and I'm sure you'll be having fun for a while making it all your own. Congrats on finally being IN it! I'm so happy for you guys!
Posted by: Susan at January 21, 2008 01:19 PM
