Dear house,
We remember moving in exactly two years ago like it was yesterday. And boy were we head over heels for you from the start. God knows why when we look back at the first exterior picture that we took…
But you had us at hello. Even when you greeted us with that crazy shelf divider in the living room complete with a stained glass square and a faux stone linoleum landing.
And who wouldn’t have been charmed by that dated dining room wallpaper and the ancient kitchen cabinetry that shouted “Paul Bunyan wuz here”?
Sure the master bedroom was kinda nondescript, but we were positively over the moon about our first pale blue-gray paint color choice (the only one that we didn’t change at least once in the next 24 months).
And that den was the scary smoking lodge we always knew we never wanted. Yet we couldn’t wait to sign those 890 mortgage papers to make you ours. Maybe because we had grand plans to paint the paneling and move in some pretty sad furniture until we could work up the energy to paint the brick and the beams (and work up the funds to replace those terrible dorm furnishings).
But the room that sealed the deal was your lovely and fabulous sunroom. Even though the carpet smelled like pee, we plugged our noses and plugged away until you were looking a bit more presentable.
And even though you boasted five dilapidated and dusty ceiling fans, we looked the other way (and feasted our eyes upon your two fireplaces). And although you had not one single electrical outlet in either bathroom, we didn’t even notice until we moved in and tried to plug in our hairdryer. We were too busy oggling the front porch- one of the only ones in the neighborhood. And yes dear house, regardless of the fact that everything about you made us weak in the knees (in a good way and a bad way), it was the vintage cow weather vane that convinced us that you were “the one.”
So thanks for the laughs, the memories, the almost-hernias, the snafus, the life lessons and the transformations over the past 731 days. Here’s to many many many more.
Happy Anniversary! Look how far you’ve come in two years… I’m looking forward to see what other wonderful transformations are ahead!
Wow you have come a long way! It’s amazing to see the very first before photos comapared to what we see now. Well done!
I’ve only just discovered your blog and all I can say is it’s impressive. Both the blog and the work you’ve done on your home. Everything is beautiful. Not a missed step in any room. So much accomplished in only 2 years! It must be all your youthful energy.
Now that I’ve found you, I look forward to keeping up with future posts.
OK, I had that dining room wallpaper! But it was in a bedroom. Because there was a time when wallpaper was the only way to go. I think I see the trend returning – Candice Olson actually had some in one of her shows…
I really like the pillows in your bedroom. A lot. Why did you remove them?
Thanks Gracia and Aimee! You’re two of our best little commenters and we totally appreciate your kind words each and every time you leave them.
Why S- So happy you found us! Glad you’re planning to stick around. We’ll keep the good stuff coming.
East End- So funny that you had our dining room wallpaper in the bedroom! I totally agree that it’s coming back (I’m partial to the grass cloth kind that Nate Berkus uses, and while I’d paper a closet in something fun and unexpected, I’m way too scared to actually commit to wallpapering a room anytime soon). As for our bedroom pillows, the fun cow hide one got moved onto a chair in the living room and the brighter blue ones sadly had to be retired due to Burger’s naughty puppy habit of chewing on the ends of pillows until they frayed. Thank goodness he grew out of that stage…
xo,
Sherry
Happy anniversary! Your blog is certainly an inspiration. I think my house and your house are distant cousins or something. I (still) have that lovely shiny brass chandelier in my dining room — to be replaced soon. My house also has some ceramic tile in the entry way that I believe is covering up hardwood. I’m afraid to pull it up to find out but I really want to. AND, I have before and after pics of my front door with the Fabulous Red paint from Valspar!!! It is soo soo beautiful. I painted it yesterday! Now I’ve already started telling people that my house is the third one on the right, the one with the red door! I love it!!! Thanks for your suggestion!!!
Sweet- so glad you’re loving the Fabulous Red! That makes two of us (four if you count John and Burger). I love telling everyone we’re the house with the red door. Maybe we’re distant cousins or something too.
Please please please send us your before and after door pics! We’d love to see ’em. Oh and as for the brass chandelier, John and I actually spray painted ours white and it completely transformed it. Made it look totally updated. We eventually removed it when we converted that room into a third bedroom, but boy was our white chandelier a hot ticket item at the yard sale!
xo,
Sherry
Happy Anniversary! It’s amazing to see what you’ve done in such a short amount of time. My husband and I were wondering (while attempting to hang an 8ft tall gate) whether y’all have home improvement-related arguments? Hope the moving went well this weekend too.
-Elizabeth
Hey Elizabeth,
Home improvement-related arguments? Who us? Of course! Although John is extremely hard to rile. I think I’ve heard him raise his voice less than five times in our entire relationship. So I’d imagine that in a calm, soothing voice he’d contend that they’re more like healthy debates or fleeting disagreements than arguments. Semantics.
Anything that’s painfully difficult (and sometimes actually painful to do) can elicit a difference of opinion, but we’re pretty good about not staying irritated for long. Usually by the time we complete the task at hand we’re both congratulating each other and off to get some ice cream- so as long as you don’t silently seethe for hours I think it’s absolutely positively normal (and a-ok for the ol’ blood pressure). At least that’s what we tell ourselves…
xo,
Sherry
Haha – I’ve posted before about my bathroom, which looks just like one of yours – and mine doesn’t have an outlet in it either! The electrician is coming in the next few weeks, hopefully.
soo… do you still have the weather vane?
Yup! Love that thing.
xo,
s