Saturday, August 4, 2012

House Tour! The One That Will Be.

Tuska House

The first thing people inevitably say to me when I tell them we are moving is, "Oh, finally realized you needed more house?"  and then I get to say, "No, moving into a smaller house, actually."  To which I get the funny look and I know they're thinking something along the lines of, "Huh, downsizing, I knew they couldn't afford all those kids."

So, in answer.  No, we are not downsizing.  Or upsizing.  We are moving to a home that fits our family better.  The house we are leaving behind is beautiful.  I love it and it will always hold a special place in my heart.  But we purchased it before we had kids.  Before we knew our family dynamic. And it just doesn't work for us anymore.  This home is older, more quaint and more us.  No huge vaulted ceilings to echo screaming children.  No giant master with oversized bathroom wasting what could be perfectly good living space.  And no running across the length of the house to check on a sniffling kiddo in the middle of the night.

Instead we have a huge yard, a huge patio, and plenty of living area. The bedrooms are on one side and the family space is on another.  Separation of church and state may be my favorite part.  The neighborhood is big and rambling and old.  Well, old for this part of the country anyway.  The trees are plentiful and the traffic is minimal.

It's no McMansion, but it is my dream home.


Front Yard

(i cannot believe i forgot to take a picture of the front door.  i'll fix that asap!  i'm so excited about cleaning all this up.  bushes are getting trimmed, scrubby plants pulled, tree beds weeded.  new roof, painted shutters, painted door, maybe even rockers on the front porch?! hallelujah!)
Tuska House
Tuska House

Foyer

(floors are staying.  light fixture is staying. wall paper is going. popcorn ceiling is being retextured. no, i don't give a hoot that  you think the light fixture is awful, just wait until you see the ones i'm keeping in the bathroom.)
Tuska House
Tuska House
Tuska House
Tuska House

Formal Living

(on your immediate right as you walk into the house.  carpet is going, popcorn ceiling is going.  it's getting a coat of paint and a new fan.)
Tuska House

Formal Dining

(just beyond the formal living to the right - and connected to the kitchen. this will be our playroom again because for now we need it more than we need a formal dining room.  and i'm not sure it would even fit my gigundo table.  carpet and wallpaper are going.  popcorn is going. fan will be updated. and seriously, how much do you love this note the previous home owners left on the wall.  it kills me that we're going to cover it up.)
Tuska House
Tuska House

Hallway to Bedrooms

(on your left as you walk into the house.  all the bedrooms are together.  we love this.  love. carpet is toast.  probably a new light fixture too.)
Tuska House

Office

(first room on the right as you enter the hallway. wesley has decided to work from home for the foreseeable future.  in retaliation i have decided to put my desk in his office. hah. in your face, wesley.  definitely new paint and ceiling fan.  beyond that will depend on how badly we screw up our reno budget.)
Tuska House
Tuska House

Boys Room

(first bedroom on the left. people are always incredulous when i tell them all three boys share a room.  first of all, they want to.  second of all, get over it.  new paint, new fan.  see above re: budget mayhem.)
Tuska House
Tuska House

Josie's Room

(all the way down the hall on the left. she totally has the biggest bedroom.  seriously, even bigger than the master.  just works out that way because the bunkbeds wouldn't fit well in this room.  i suspect we will eventually be doing some bed shuffling.  and/or having more babies.  hopefully the latter. see above re: paint, fan, budget. the completely awesome desk is going into the office.)
Tuska House
Tuska House

Bathroom

(second door on the right.  for now it's just getting a new toilet.  i'm hoping to reface the cabinets with some elbow grease and spray paint.  also, the wallpaper has GOT to go.  light fixtures are staying though.  because i heart them.)
Tuska House
Tuska House
Tuska House

Master Bedroom

(all the way down the hall on the right.  yes, it's a tiny master. no, we don't care.  we're not bedroom or bathroom people.  we're chill in the kitchen and on the patio people.  the tiny closet wall is coming down and getting framed in completely to make a walk-in closet.  bathroom door is scootching over to the other wall.  new carpet, possibly doors out to the patio. hopefully.)
Tuska House
Tuska House
Tuska House
Tuska House
Tuska House
Tuska House

Family Room

(directly in front of you if you are walking through the front door.  paneling is getting painted, updated fan, skylights, recessed lighting.  wall on the right between family room and kitchen is getting obliterated.  smash, boom, bang, open concept baby. also, new flooring and no more popcorn.)
Tuska House
Tuska House
Tuska House

Kitchen

(just beyond the family room.  also connected to the formal dining-soon-to-be-playroom.  gutted. happy birthday to me. okay, i did salvage the leaded glass from the cabinet.  because, cute. right?)
Tuska House
Tuska House
Tuska House
Tuska House
Tuska House
Tuska House

Patio

(this is staying as is for now, but hopefully some time in the not-toooooo-distant future it will get a facelift.  however.  HOWEVER. beyond the screened room there will be a pool.  it's zeroing out over a third of the entire budget, but, yay.  pool.  beyond that.  yard.  as is.  came with a riding mower.  thank goodness.)
Tuska House
Tuska House


----------
{Can you stand it? Join the family for even MORE bonding time!
Check us out on
Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, StumbleUpon, and Flickr!}

12 comments:

Sue M said...

I absolutely LOVE it, you will make it "your" home & fill it with love & make many memories along the way. Give updating your progress. Your yard is HUGE. Love the layout of the kitchen also..

TwinMomMichelle said...

This house has so many great features. I love your little vanity area and the desk in the kitchen. You have so many great family spaces. The note on the wall is priceless. I can't wait to see the updates.

Jenn said...

Oo I LOVE the light fixtures in the bathroom!!!!! and that patio is HUGE!!!!

Daniel Bauerkemper said...

Love the patio and the yard!

Daniel Bauerkemper said...

^Its Meredith posting BTW - didn't realize Dan was signed in!

Pam (@iwriteinbooks) said...

I love both houses! I also love when houses fit their families. Enjoy!

Unknown said...

Wow! I cannot wait to see the transformation!! :D

anymommy said...

Oh my gosh, it feels so spacious and light and lovely. I can't wait to see the reno and that note CRACKED MY ASS UP.

Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting said...

OMGosh, I love it! And that note about the wallpaper made me teary.

Mom In Progress said...

Love love love house tours!! We are always moving for work and I love getting creative with new places. I really thought the old house was beautiful but you are so right the new one has so much more FUN space for a family. Can't wait to see the facelift!

Cathy said...

What a great house! You will have fun making it the home of your dreams--ok "fun" isn't the right word here--the journey through its transformation will be worth every expletive! ;)

DNIrish said...

LOVE IT! Especially the yard and the fireplace!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...