We’re running about a day behind since we didn’t have internet at home until late yesterday, but here’s how things looked on Tuesday (our first full day in the house) with all of our boxes littering every room. Goodbye clean blank slate. Hello chaos. Oh and it bears mentioning that nothing is necessarily staying where we put it (we just dropped furniture and boxes around the house, and will definitely be living with things a bit before committing to final placement for anything).
But let’s rewind a bit for a moment. The last time we moved, we were going from NYC to Richmond in a minivan (well, I guess technically we moved one more time three months later from our apartment to our first house, but we borrowed a small trailer from a friend and were able to transfer everything that way). The point? We had no idea what it was like to move with more than five boxes a piece. And I’m not gonna be all rainbows and unicorns about it. It totally bites. But we’re slowly but surely making a dent in things and starting to gain some order. As in, we now know where our socks and underwear are again. And we’ve showered!
We estimate that by tomorrow we should hopefully be mostly unpacked (since we’ve been taking post-writing, picture-taking, Clara-tending, address-changing, and comment-answering breaks between box unloading spurts). Then we’ll be diving into projects like painting, hanging, removing, replacing, floor planning, window treating, etc. We don’t know what we’ll tackle first (it’ll honestly just depend on our mood and what supplies we have on hand). When it comes to big projects we like to save our pennies and plan things to death, but for small things (which we always recommend doing first so you can live with the house a moment before making any dramatic changes that you might regret) we always just dive in and learn as we go. It’s the only way we’ve been able to accomplish things instead of being paralyzed by indecision. So we’ll hang frames somewhere and if we don’t like them we’ll move them. Same deal for picking paint colors and arranging furniture. And we’ll post pics and details as they occur, not to worry! Anyway, on with the messy just-moved-in pics…
Future dining room:
Future office:
Kitchen:
Future living room (furniture won’t necessarily stay in this configuration, it’s just where we dropped it for the moment):
Hall bath (amidst a diaper sprayer installation – more on that here):
Clara’s room (of course rebuilding the crib and getting the basics in there got priority because we wanted her to adjust as well as possible- which seemed to work so far):
Future playroom/kids room (we had to disassemble the daybed to get it down the hall):
The master bedroom (since our old bed frame conveyed with the old house, we’re sleeping on the floor until we build/buy a new one- who knows where we’ll end up on that):
The master sink/bath (we need to raise that tension rod to accommodate our extra long curtain… soon):
No idea what Burger was doing in that picture. Maybe he’s developing an interest in home related details like hardwood floors and molding. Anyway, here’s the sunroom:
And the laundry/mudroom:
Oh yeah and we have another separate entry basement (this time it’s under our bedroom instead of our sunroom) which will be awesome for storing tools, bikes, the lawnmower, seasonal decor, baby stuff, maternity clothes, etc.
So that’s our house. Can’t wait to get things unpacked and share pics as each room starts to take shape and projects start to unfold. Off to unpack more boxes…
Psst- Here’s a floor plan to help you make sense of what room’s what (although we switched Clara’s bedroom and the playroom since the smallest room makes a great nursery).
Psssst #2- We announced the winners of this week’s giveaway. Click here to see if it’s you.
nicole @ our three reasons says
yay for progress! so far so good! :)
Sarah K says
So excited for you guys. I’m living vicariously through and enjoying every moment. Enjoy the settling in phase! It’s starting to shape up nicely!
Jenni says
Oh, wow! We bought it in bulk, so I didn’t even think of finding directions. Whoops! Thanks for taking the time to humor me ;)
Yuppie Lady says
OMG…I luv your new home. I have so many ideas for your house. I know it’s not mine, but my imagination can’t help itself. Older homes are the best. You have a fireplace in the eat-in-kitchen. Jealous!!!
How about a house exchange? Come and relax and tour D.C. I would luv to makeover one of your rooms. Hahaha! Just kidding! I have some renovations going on in my home.
Best of luck and congrats, again!
From one homeowner to another.
Rabbit says
Oh wow, your stuff looks so funny now that it’s moved in, since it is one look, and the house itself is…uh, well, we’ll call it “another look.” :) I can’t wait to see you integrate your stuff with this new house…and of course, new projects and new purchases!
For all of those who’ve moved recently, a confession.
We’ve been in our home about a year and two months…and we’re not totally unpacked/organized/decorated. No kids, no crazy jobs w/ long hours (like, we’re not surgeons or lawyers or anything!). Just me & DH, the cats…and a whole lotta indecision and getting sidetracked.
Someday…lol.
mary says
CONGRATS! I actually like the black and white bathroom floor! Can’t wait to see what you will be doing with this house!!!
KiTX says
This is all so exciting to me! I just started reading your blog earlier this year, so I missed the whole home transformation the last time around. Can’t wait to see the new place come together- my husband and I buying our first house next fall if all goes according to plan, so you’re giving me all kinds of insight into how not to judge a house by it’s initial appearance!
Laura says
Love seeing this – We are closing on our (first) house next week so I LOVE seeing all the craziness. At least it is exciting-fun craziness and not jump-off-a-cliff craziness. (At least I hope not – I like you guys and don’t want to see you jump off a cliff!) Looking forward to your unpacking endeavors.
Autumn says
I can’t wait to see you transform that ugly kitchen into a beautiful masterpiece! Have fun with your new home!
Amy says
“our suuuuper heavy organic mattress (literally, it weighs as much as thirty dead people)”
That is THE best comparison I have heard in a long time!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy,
Thank you! John keeps making fun of me for it. Not that I would know…
xo,
s
Jenny@Evolution of Style says
I’m jealous that you’re “mostly unpacked” so soon! That’s amazing! I was flabbergasted at how much more difficult our move to our third home was (just last month) vs. our previous one. But, we have added another child since the second move, and more STUFF, so I guess I should have expected it. Can’t wait to see what you guys do with this house – it has great bones, so I know it will be amazing.
Melissa says
So, so, so love it all. I’m not sure if someone has already mentioned this but….when we moved into our house last year, around this time, we also started off with our mattress on the hardwoods with no box springs. Turns out that this was a bad idea because a few months later we discovered mold, nasty, red, and black mold, growing underneath it. Horrors! The whole mattress had to be chucked and the room thoroughly, thoroughly cleaned. Turned out moisture was being trapped underneath from the steam from the nearby master bath. I don’t know if this was a problem with the type of mattress we had (memory foam) or just a weird fluke, but this is just a friendly FYI. Love the house!!
YoungHouseLove says
Wow- that’s crazy! Thanks so much for the warning Melissa!
xo,
s
LittleMissEclectic says
It is going to be so beautiful when you have it all set up. I love that sunroom.
Rebecca says
Are the kitchen counters already granite?
I can barely stand the anticipation of your diy projects to come.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Rebecca,
Yes, there’s granite in there already- so once we paint the cabinets and the paneling hopefully it’ll look a lot more crisp and current…
xo,
s
Peggy says
Our last move – I hired a cleaning service to come and clean the house – we turned off the refrigerator so they could clean the freezer. Hours after closing the new owners called to say the refrigerator didn’t get cold. So we had to get it fixed to the tune of over $150.00 – it was only 4 years old!
It’s always something! Glad nothing was broken and no one got hurt. Can’t wait to see what you guys ‘do’ to the new home.
Morgan says
I’m in love with your sunroom!!! I’d spend most of my time in there!
priscilla says
Your house has such great bones and potential-what fun you will have redoing it to fit your family!! Just an idea for you on that window in your new study that looks out into the carport. I know you plan to turn the carport into a garage, so you will effectively lose the light from that window. I have seen some artists do some really neat “folk art” on windows, or you could even creat a changing display of Clara/Burger photos/art on each pane. It could end up being the focal point of your new study! Can’t wait to see all the new projects!
andria says
Such wonderful light in your new house! I love the windows in your master bath- so nice to look out while brushing your teeth :)
Yulia says
“And I’m not gonna be all rainbows and unicorns about it” is my new favorite quote! Love you guys!!!
Amanda says
Good job on still making the bed!
House looks great, can’t wait to see what you guys do.
Carolyn says
Even with boxes everywhere your new home looks great – so light and airy. I love the sunlight pouring through the windows in the main bedroom and sunroom. Also, I didn’t realise how small your old home was until I saw pictures of it empty. Really small! You guys did a great job of making it look bigger than it was. Looking forward to see what you do with the new house!
Jessica says
So much glorious space! Congratulations. It’s especially beautiful with all the snow through the windows and I’m sure it will be just as pretty when all the green comes back.
Good luck settling in!
Amanda says
Hey so, your house has put every house I’ve looked at to shame.
Except one.
WHich we’re probably buying.
Anyway, I hope the unpacking goes as planned, and I’ll keep all your ceramics in mind when I pray later.
Rebecca says
Woo! It all looks so awesome – the light/all the windows are gorgeous, those built-ins in the dining area are fantastic, and I just can’t wait to see what color schemes/paint colors/furniture configurations you guys start playing with. I hope it’s tons of fun!
foo says
Whoa, guys. That place rocks. I mean it looked big before, but when you put your stuff in it we can actually see just how much more space you have. Especially your master! You’re gonna get lost in there!!
Personally, I love a foyer. I think you have enough room by your front do to make a proper foyer, which would rock. That’s my meaningless contribution. =)
I can’t wait to see the work get underway.
georgia says
Im in Love with this house – i CANT wait to see the improvements you make! :o)
I love the flooring in the Living room, my grandparents had it in their hallway when i was young, its very vintage, very cool.
Having furniture in the house now, really gives you a perspective on just how BIG it is, your house is like my dream house too… *swoooooon* xx
Mary Anne says
Oh, that kitchen. Cripes.Can’t WAIT until you get your hands on it!
Aimee Roylance says
We just moved last week and seem to be on the same schedule as ya’ll :) (no I am not from Texas, California actually, but…anyway). We just got our internet today and had to check in…I am feeling WAY overloaded at the moment with all we have to do to this house, but it is a work in progress, right?!! Wanted to send some warm fuzzies your way, as I sit in my pile of boxes and house mess knowing you are sitting in that too ;) Love your blog. Thanks.
renee says
You are so amazing to answer a billion questions when I know you are just jonesing to get totally unpacked.
But here’s one more (so sorry!!!):
Have you decided where Clara’s weekly pic will be taken tomorrow???
Blessings to you all xoxo
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Renee,
Great question! The answer: nope. No idea! Actually we get really good lighting in a number of rooms, so we might just drop a blanket on the floor and put the fabric on top of that for an instant floor photo op!
xo,
s
Angie says
Sherry,
Do you stand on a chair when you take all your pictures? Or do you jump up to snap the photo? I always think your site has great photography–and just noticed all of the new house pics seem to be taken at a downward angle!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Angie,
Nope, no chair! I just hold the camera at eye level (which is around 5″) and snap away. Maybe I’m subconsciously angling the camera down since there’s nothing on the walls and no new light fixtures, so it’s all about the boxes on the floor in these shots?
xo,
s
Meg says
Your new home is gorgeous! So light and airy. The rooms seem so much bigger than your last home. Are you finding that your furniture is looking too small now? Are you going to have to start purchasing furniture at a larger scale?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Meg,
We definitely plan to slowly acquire some new larger scale furniture (a sectional, a large dining table, a higher bed, etc) as well as DIY some stuff too (like building a large island in the kitchen down the road). Can’t wait!
xo,
s
Rebecca @ Smiths in Progress says
Looks like a great house to work with! I am loving the built-in bookshelves in the living/dining room…it looks like there is even a shelf that goes over the door? Fun! I am sure some polishing and tweaking will be done, but I hope you guys don’t scrap them completely!
My vote for one of the first projects is the kitchen…it is SCREAMING for some YHL TLC. All that amber-colored wood…[shudder]…
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Rebecca,
No way! Those built-ins are one of the reasons we’re in love with the house! They stay! And we can’t wait to wallpaper the backs of them or paint them a bold color so they become even more of a focal point!
xo,
s
Melanie says
This is great – reading about your adventures is like all the excitement of a move with none of the aggravation! lol I loved what you did with your old home but started reading after you had did most of the renovations… now I’m starting from the beginning. :)
It is strange to see everything in a new space though. And I’ll miss seeing your old place, but I am excited about the new one.
Congrats to you guys!
Rachel says
I can’t wait to see how you transform this house. The floors are great and the built in shelves are awesome! Congrats on the new slate!
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
I can’t believe you guys are unpacking so quickly already. That is awesome. Fingers crossed you are pretty much finished by tomorrow. It took us months to unpack everything, actually I think it was a year because there was so much to do in the house.
So you are NOT going to paint first before you put pictures up? And you said you are going to paint the paneling in the kitchen right? Why not replace with drywall if there is no drywall there? Or do you plan on the drywall in the future?
Really really awesome house. I can’t wait to see what it looks like this time next year. You will have to do a post of before and afters for Dec ’10 vs Dec ’11. That will be awesome to see from room to room. You will look back and see how far you have come and maybe what needs to be changed even more. ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jen,
We’re all about working with what we have for the most part, so we like painting paneling and brick instead of removing it and re-drywalling or retiling. It’s cheap, easy, and it only takes about an afternoon. As for the paint/picture question, that’s such a chicken or the egg thing, isn’t it? On one hand we hate living with blank walls in every room, but it’ll definitely take us months to paint the whole house (probably longer because we’re counting on making a few mistakes and having to repaint- just because we’d rather be experimental than safe). So we’ll probably hang pics and just take them down to paint (while leaving the nails in so we can rehang all the pics as soon as the paint dries). Should be fun!
xo,
s
Sara @ House Bella says
Wow, you’re getting there! And to be unpacked in a matter of days – that’s pretty darn impressive in itself. I’m loving the beautiful new sunroom!
Kati at sohappyhome.com says
I think I’m most excited to see your dining room to office transformation… because you have a hanging light there already, do you envision doing another hanging light in your office? Or will you be installing chandelier-style hanging lights in the adjacent living room to dining room transformation? Perhaps that’s too far into the future, but I know you both work from home, so getting the office up and running (and not needing to be undone a million times) would be where I would start.
And, do you guys take coffee intravenously? I mean, where on EARTH do you get the never ending energy?! It’s mighty impressive.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kati,
We’re definitely going to switch to a light that’s less dangly in the office (John keeps walking into it) and drop a large dramatic pendant or chandelier above the future dining table that will be placed in the former living room for sure. Can’t wait!
xo,
s
Molly says
Okay. Even though you have a ton of work ahead of you, I am a wee bit jealous of all the potential and the fun of re-doing it! Our house is by no means done, but I love the unpacking, dreaming, re-decorating the most. Have fun!
Lonely Wife Project says
So light, airy and gorgeous already! PLEASE work on transforming the kitchen first. I get giddy just thinking about the possibilities.
carolinaheartstrings says
This house is going to be amazing when you get your “Stamp” put on it. Cannot wait to see it as it progresses.
Nicole says
I love the parquet floors, do you plan on keeping those?!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! Can’t wait to show them some love!
xo,
s
carie says
Just noticed there’s a sea turtle on your moving truck that matches Sherry’s necklace :) cute coincidence!
Anna says
Having just moved into a bit of a fixer-upper this summer, I can totally appreciate where you’re at right now. I just can’t believe you’re still making the time to post so regularly! I’m so relieved, though…you four have been such an inspiration. I am overcome with inexplicable downcastness when I check your blog and don’t see another exciting installment of your lives. Pathetic, eh? :) Keep up the awesomeness!
julie says
omg, with the furniture in it you can really tell how BIG this house feels. I love it!!!
I know this is a weird question. The angled ceiling in the sunroom–it seems like the rain would run back toward the house instead of off of it, how does it meet the other roofline?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Julie,
There are some diverters and drains so it runs down the peaks of the roof and doesn’t collect. Hope that makes sense!
xo,
s
Sheralyn says
Every room is so bright! Excepppttt…the kitchen. I am most looking forward to seeing what you do in there :)
Carrie Wohlt says
John & Sherry I’ve been reading your blog ever since we’ve moved into our 1st home this June of 2010. I have really enjoyed reading your blog and was inspired to start my own blog when we moved in, wmainst418.typepad.com.
I am so excited about your new home and look forward to all the new renovating you plan on making. Especially since we’ve only been in our 1st home for 6 months and are still making renovations ourselves. We move a little more slowly with our renovations.
Boy does the photo of the boxes bring back memories. Living out of boxes sure is a challenge and can’t even image with a baby and dog, kudos to you both.
Look forward to hearing about all the new adventures in your new home.
Jamie says
New header!!!
Jessica says
Burger looks confused!
Jennifer says
Please, PLEASE don’t get rid of the black and white tile in that bathroom — it’s so classic and retro and timeless! (Also, I would love to know that you guys approve of it, because I’m totally planning to use that pattern when I renovate the second bathroom in my 1964 ranch early next year!)
YoungHouseLove says
We won’t! It’s luckily in great shape!
xo,
s
Kim says
The picture is changed! It’s official! Congrats and what a great Christmas present for all of you.
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! But is it odd that I miss the old header more than I miss the old house?!
Weird!!!
xo,
s