TURNING A HOUSE INTO A HOME.........renovating 26 years of our life...

OUR LITTLE COUNTRY HOME UP ON THE HILL......
26 YEARS OF MEMORIES.....THE HOME WHERE THE DAUGHTER
GREW UP AND WHERE WE GAVE A HOME TO
SEVEN WONDERFUL ANIMALS.....
WELL.....MAYBE SIX...."SPRITE" THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER WAS A BIT
OF A HANDFUL....
25 ANNIVERSARIES.....
75 BIRTHDAYS....
BUT AFTER LOCKING HER UP AND MOVING ON UP BACK IN
AUGUST OF LAST YEAR IT'S GOTTEN TO BE TIME TO PASS HER
ALONG TO ANOTHER FAMILY.....
WE WERE TOLD BY MANY THAT IN THIS ECONOMY IT'S BEST TO
JUST SELL IT "AS IS".....THAT MEANS A RED...WHITE...AND BLUE...
BATHROOM FROM THE 80'S......I LIKE FLAGS WHAT CAN I SAY...
CARPET THAT HAS AT LEAST BEEN DOWN SINCE DOG NUMBER
FIVE CAME ALONG.....
A WALL IN THE BOSS' DEN THAT ACTUALLY HAD "FAUX BRICK"
PANELING ON THE WALLS....
NO.....WE.....WITH A GOOD CONSCIOUS.....COULDN'T SELL IT
"AS IS"
NO ONE WANTS TO TURN THEIR HOUSE OVER TO THE EVER POPULAR
HOUSE FLIPPER....UNLESS OF COURSE IT'S JEFF LEWIS...
USING IT AS CHEAP STORAGE FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF
NEEDED TO COME TO AN END.....
SO................
WE FOUND A CONTRACTOR.....AFTER INTERVIEWING MANY....
WE DECIDED ON THE FATHER OF OUR SOON TO BE
 REALTOR...
ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE...
INCLUDING BUYING THE CONTENTS WE NO LONGER WANTED AND
CLEANING OUT THE REST.....
IT WAS OFFICIAL....WE WERE FINALLY MOVING ON....
WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS ALL THE CRAP WE THOUGHT WE COULDN'T LIVE
WITHOUT....
WE HAD BEEN BRINGING OVER THINGS TO THE NEW HOUSE
A LITTLE AT A TIME....AND WHEN WE MOVED LAST YEAR THE
BOSS WAS NICE ENOUGH TO BUY ME ALL NEW FURNITURE....
SO WE BASICALLY HAD LEFT ALL THOSE
"SENTIMENTAL" THINGS.....
YOU KNOW THE THINGS THAT DAUGHTER WILL PITCH IN THE
TRASH AS SOON AS WE DIE....
SOME OF HER DESCRIPTIONS OF OUR PRIZED POSSESSIONS....
"CRAP......JUNK......HIDEOUS....NO I DON'T WANT THOSE
CABBAGE PATCH DOLLS YOU HAVE BEEN SAVING FOR 25 YEARS"
THE BOSS MOVED EVERYTHING WE WANTED TO KEEP  OVER TO
ONE OF OUR GARAGE BAYS.....
THEN REALIZED HE WOULD INDEED DIE IF HE HAD TO CARRY
IT ALL DOWN TO THE BASEMENT.....
AFTER ALL I AM THE ORIGINAL DISH COLLECTOR....
DO YOU KNOW HOW HEAVY DINER CHINA IS??
SO GETTING SMART IN HIS OLD AGE....WE CALLED
"TWO MEN AND A TRUCK" MOVERS AND FOR
 $125 AN HOUR
IN ONLY 18 MINUTES EVERYTHING WAS MOVED TO OUR
BASEMENT.....
AND THE BOSS DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO BREAK A SWEAT....
TWO OF MY "HAD TO KEEPS".....
THE SMURF IN HONOR OF DAUGHTERS NICKNAME AS A CHILD....
AND A SIGGY STUFFED FIGURE IN HONOR OF MY FATHER SIGGY...
THIS IS WHAT THE CONTRACTOR WAS LEFT WITH WHEN
WE DROVE OFF...
6 MORE MONTHS IN THE HOUSE AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN
CONSIDERED FOR THE SHOW "HOARDERS"

THE DAY IN AUGUST OF 2011 WHEN WE MOVED OUT
THIS IS THE GREAT ROOM...
HERE IS THE GREAT ROOM YESTERDAY.....
IT TOOK TWO MEN TO GET THE MOOSE DOWN OFF THE
WALL....HE NOW HAPPILY RESIDES AT THE NEW HOUSE WAITING TO
BE HUNG.....
AND I REALIZED HE IS OFFICIALLY AN ANTIQUE
HE TURNED 100 THIS YEAR.....

OUR MASTER BEDROOM....WAITING FOR IT'S NEW PAINT JOB... 
THE BOSS' DEN....HE TREATED HIMSELF TO A GUN SAFE...
SO THE GUN CABINET WAS LEFT...
PAINTING THE MASTER BEDROOM.....
I USED NEUTRAL COLORS IN THE WHOLE HOUSE....
IT ONLY LOOKS PINKISH IN THE PICTURES....
THE KITCHEN.....ALL GONE EXCEPT FOR THE APPLIANCES...
THE WALLS HAVE BEEN PAINTED A LIGHT TAN
ALL THE WOOD TRIM HAS BEEN PAINTED
CREAM.....IT REALLY LIGHTENED UP THE WHOLE HOUSE
LOOKING FROM THE DINING ROOM INTO THE GUTTED KITCHEN...
THERE USED TO BE A LAUNDRY AREA BETWEEN THE TWO ROOMS
BUT AFTER A HOSE BROKE ONE NIGHT LEAVING WATER
EVERYWHERE WE MOVED THE WASHER AND DRYER TO THE BASEMENT...
A NEW CABINET UNIT WITH A SINK AND GRANITE COUNTER TOP....
THINK A "WET BAR"....WILL GO IN THAT SPOT...

I USED TO HAVE NAVY STRIPED WALLPAPER IN THE KITCHEN...
LUCKILY I AM PAST MY WALLPAPER STAGE
SO THAT'S THAT......EVERYTHING SHOULD BE DONE IN
ABOUT THREE WEEKS...SO PLEASE STOP BACK TO
SEE A BRAND NEW HOUSE.....
WE KNOW WE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION TO RENOVATE AND PASS THIS HOUSE ALONG
TO ANOTHER YOUNG FAMILY IN THE SAME CONDITION WE
PURCHASED IT A LONG TIME AGO....
THE HOUSE MAY HAVE BEEN STANDING FOR 26 YEARS...
BUT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THE THRILL OF
MOVING INTO SOMETHING BRAND SPANKING NEW.....

Comments

Helen said…
Hi there! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your 'adventure.'
October 25, 2012 at 7:58 PM
Salmagundi said…
So, that's what you've been up to the last couple of weeks. I'm sure your old house will sell fast - it looks like it is on a great piece of property. Now, what are you going to do with all of the stuff in your basement??? Sally
October 25, 2012 at 8:09 PM
Linda @ A La Carte said…
Aw it's hard to leave such memories behind but your new home is gorgeous and you will build new memories. Glad you are fixing it up to sell!

hugs, Linda
October 25, 2012 at 9:31 PM
Cass @ That Old House said…
Wow -- that's an ambitious makeover! I absolutely will check back to see the results. Lucky new owners, that's for sure.
Good luck with the renovation, and with selling it lightning fast.

Where's Bullwinkle going in the new house?

Cass
October 25, 2012 at 11:45 PM
Confessions of a Plate Addict said…
I love the decision that you made, Sue! The new family will be so appreciative and will be able to start their memories in the same place! What a loving tribute to your old home! (Gotta say I do love the new one...gorgeous!) Happy weekend!...hugs...Debbie
October 26, 2012 at 4:59 AM
Cheri said…
Whoever moves in will be so thrilled that all of this work is done. Wow...you sure have been busy.
October 26, 2012 at 3:07 PM
Chatty Crone said…
So you have decided to remodel and then sell it. I think that's a great decision. Fresh and new. I know it must be hard to give up memories though.

Love, sandie
October 26, 2012 at 3:19 PM
Pondside said…
The reno will make the house sell a whole lot faster, and that will be a good thing!
I'm looking forward to seeing where Rudolph's distant cousin will be in your present house.
October 26, 2012 at 6:17 PM
Anonymous said…
We've done the same thing to our beach house -not-on-the-beach. It now has the kitchen I always wanted--but I'm reluctant to use it because I want to keep it looking new. (I'm making the "sacrifice" to eat out every meal.)

Now to sell it. . . !

Good luck on selling yours, too!
October 27, 2012 at 12:59 PM
The Country Nest said…
As a realtor...I am glad you are fixing it up to sell. Memories go with you, not the house, you see they reside in your heart and mind. It seems your home was a happy place so now let it make happy memories for a new family. Now about all that stuff....I believe after so many years of marriage we are all a bit the same. We will be in our home 40 years this summer and OMG I wouldn't want to move it all!
Hugs,
Donna
October 30, 2012 at 4:11 PM
Stan and Jody Gabara said…
It's going to be beautiful! Happy Halloween to you and your family!

Jody
October 31, 2012 at 5:51 PM
Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
November 1, 2012 at 9:51 PM
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