Why a house tour? Because transformation feeds the soul.
Before and Progress
Home, sweet home on the day we came for a showing.
Home, sweet home after simplifying the landscaping, switching out the shutters, and painting the siding. The curb appeal factor could use some upgrading, but, let’s face it, I’m an indoor cat.
I loved these bushes, but couldn’t see myself maintaining them.
The bushes were replaced with roses and azaleas that I actually haven’t killed yet. Time will tell.
Please observe the 80’s shutters on the left.
Updated cottage-style shutters and willow edging for the win. With a side of out-of-control shrubbery.
The Bear was gracious enough not to tell me what he thought of this tile until I got it out. And I quote, “It looked like meat chunks surrounded by vomit.”
Hours of jack hammering, tile installation, and stenciling later, and we are greeted with this when we walk in the door. Ahhhhhh.
Gray carpet, meat-chunk-vomit tiles, and orange-y oak paneling. Gotta love those 80’s wood spindly things on the right!
For years, the entry was a painfully boring beige box until I finally picked a stencil and did something about it. The addition of a stunning MCM tulip pendant is the crown on this foyer makeover.
View of the dining room from the entry.
View of the dining room from the entry minus dated wall paper, with the addition of a few other things.
The Bear and the inspector on inspection day.
View from the dining room through to the breakfast nook and beyond, minus Bear and inspector.
Now you see the oak cabinets, burnt orange counter tops, and bulky oven surround . .
Now you don’t.
I was originally going to leave the brick column alone, but after cooking in that kitchen for a month, I realized I desperately needed more counter space. And those wall ovens are crazy expensive to replace.
Mmmm. Sexy, sexy counter space.
Any UT Austin fans would love this back splash/counter top combo. A UT Austin fan, I am not.
I am, however, a fan of bead board. And travertine. And oil rubbed bronze fixtures.
LOVE the bones of this room. And how about that chandelier?!
All this space needed was a little paint to brighten it up. And curtains. And a new light fixture.
Not bad. Really not bad. Just a bit . . . . yellow.
Nothing a little blue paint and a chandelier couldn’t fix.
So. Much. Orange.
Amazing what a couple gallons of paint and a quart of stain can do. And new flooring.
The bones of this space and the view through the windows are the only redeeming features here.
Why yes, I am addicted to bamboo roman shades and white curtains.
Yikes!
This hallway was a depressing stretch of nothing but doors for almost 5 years until I finally mustered the mental energy to solve the problem of creating pieces that fit in the awkwardly sized gaps of wall space.
The guestroom.
The guestroom plus new carpeting, paint, and furnishing.
There are no words.
So much better. I still need to redo the shower surround and take out the furr downs, but at least the guest bathroom is less claustrophobia inducing.
Further attention must be paid to this situation.
One more time for the people in the back. Ok, moving on.
Did I use wood look flooring tile on a counter top? Yes, yes I did.
The back bedroom.
A.K.A., the random stuff storage room. At least the track lights and grungy carpet are gone.
The master bedroom.
After tweaking the bedding, wall color, and accessories obsessively for years, this room is finally the haven I had hoped to create.
View of the master bathroom through the left door.
Now, the whole thing is a closet.
Tub in an alcove – great concept. Too bad the tub was about 12″ deep
My happy place.
Shower and toilet nooks opposite the tub.
Yeah, yeah, glass shower doors are on trend right now. I enjoy using a shower curtain as an opportunity to add color and pattern in a space, though. And it’s 1/100th of the cost.
“Her” side of the bathroom, complete with vanity and obligatory light fixture.
“Our” side, complete with dual vanity and built in hamper..
“Hers” vanity and closet.
Because why wouldn’t we want a fireplace in our bathroom?