Home Sweet Home

It's been 9 days since I moved in with Jimmy. I wish I could say it's been a smooth transition, but both Jimmy and I have had to do some adjusting with living together... but I think that is a given with all new living arrangements.

Jimmy lives about 25 miles north of my parents, and only 5 or so miles from where I went to college so I know the area very well. The neighborhood we live in is comprised of houses that were built in the 1950's. Jimmy purchased this house in May 2008. Our house is only 2 blocks from one of the high schools so there's always track teams and teenagers around. It's only annoying during football season since our street turns into one giant parking lot and you can barely dive through. Overall I like the area, but I definitely would want to move when our future kids get to the age of wanting to ride bikes and play outside. There's not much of a yard, and the people tend to speed down the road.

Anyway, I took my camera around my new abode. This is Jimmy's and my first home together!

First up is the front room/ entrance/ family room.

This is the only room that is 100% renovated and finished. When Jimmy first bought the house you were greeted with a wood paneled wall and tile. The rest of the room where you now see hardwood floors was covered in green shag carpeting. Those things were the first to go. Jimmy finished the existing hardwood himself and it turned out beautiful. It extends into the hall and dining room. Notice the blank walls? Yeah that's a theme that goes throughout the entire house. We don't quite know what to hang on the walls yet.

As you go through the front room and into the hallway, immediately to the right is our master bedroom.

I'd like to paint this room soon and replace the carpeting. Plus something needs to be done with the window treatments. The drapes came with the house. They aren't the prettiest things, but they keep out the street lights at night and the prying eyes of our neighbor across the street. Ray is 80 and likes to peep when there is anything going on. I'm sure when I go outside to shovel today he'll watch me from his front door the whole time. Sweet man, creepy habits.

Back into the hall, the next room is the 2nd bedroom where Jimmy has his office.

This room bothers me. It's too big for the furniture we own, but too small to make into a guest bedroom since I don't think a double bed would fit very nicely. Again, empty walls and window treatments from the previous owner. At least this room has blinds! Here is also where my closet is. It barely fit all my hanging clothes but it works. Plus this is where we keep all of the stuff we don't know what to do with... like Jimmy's baseball card collection from childhood. Can't wait to get my walk-in in the basement!

One more time into the hall and to the left is the main bathroom of the house.

This is a SMALL bathroom. No counter-space nor storage. It is very bright though, which is nice. This tile is not my favorite, but something I can definitely deal with. Jimmy installed the shower door a few months ago so we didn't have to deal with gross shower curtains anymore. The counter and sink is being changed to silestone and an undermount sink soon. We're just waiting for the order on the silestone to come in.

To the left of the bathroom is the "3rd bedroom" or dining room.

On the last walk-through before Jimmy owned the house, I walked through this room and had no idea what it was. It was supposed to be a 3rd bedroom, but there were 2 doors, one connecting to the kitchen, and the other to the hallway. When Jimmy moved in he took off the doors and put a table and chairs here. It works perfectly for us, and we use this room when friends come for dinner or to play games. Seriously how were we supposed to fit a bed in here?

Through the dining room is the kitchen, which then connects back to the front room. We just did a big circle to give you an idea of the layout.

The kitchen is functional for us right now... and that's about it. There isn't much cupboard space, but we don't have much so store so it works. That peninsula is gigantic but in an awkward place. It's where most meals are prepared since the rest of the counters are so small. If we get around to renovating the kitchen before moving, Jimmy is thinking of tearing down the wall to the dining room and expanding it. Plus replacing that electric store with a gas one. HATE cooking on electric.

Directly across from the stove is the door to the basement, and Jimmy's big project at the moment.

These two pictures above will be finished into a new living space that will probably have a TV, couch, pool table, etc.

Where the lovely Angelina Jolie (don't ask) stands will be my walk-in closet and bathroom. Jimmy's in the process of tearing down that wall into the existing bathroom.

The previous owner left the washer, dryer, and amazing workbench for all of Jimmy's tools. This area will remain unfinished, but we'll clean it up a lot after the renovation of the rest of the basement is complete.

During the time that the hardwood was being finished upstairs, the basement was our main living area. The TV was set up to only watch DVDs and we'd sit on that daybed in the 4th picture. Jimmy's plan for this space is to put up walls to create 2 rooms. One living space with carpet and new windows, and then a laundry/ work room that will remain unfinished. The bathroom will get a complete overhaul and will have a connecting walk-in closet for me! So excited for Jimmy to get started.

So that's our house! It still needs some work (as all houses do) but I absolutely love it. It's perfect for where we are in our lives, and will probably be home until after our first child.