i {heart} my home

When we were looking for our first home and out with our realtor, it seemed like we had looked at what seemed to be a gazillion homes. After each house, we met back out at the car to chat with the realtor about our likes and dislikes. Ryan and I could not find one we agreed on. After checking one out and meeting back for yet another pow wow, I instantly said "No way!" and Ryan instantly said, "This is exactly what we are looking for!" He had to do so much convincing to get me to agree. I was just not feeling or seeing what he was. The house needed so much work. Ryan had the vision and I was blinded by the ugly. We bought the house with the promise that it would change. Ryan started renovating bits at a time. He made what to me was a big heap of poo into a beautiful little starter home. We lived in that home for a few years and decided to move on to a bigger home to fit our growing family better. The hunt was on again. This time with a lot more faith in my husband's abilities.

I drove around looking at houses for months and passed by this one a couple of times and didn't even consider it. It had pink peeling paint with brown trim and the landscaping was trashed. After a drive by with Ryan he wanted to see inside. He liked the size of the lot and he had that ability to look past the outside. I would like to say he looks at the beauty inside but this one was in need of so much work, there really wasn't much beauty to look at. As we walked through, he instanty started saying what he wanted to do to the house (add some walls/knock some out, etc.) . Not too long after that the house was ours and Ryan started demo the day we got the keys. The kitchen cabinets were out that evening. We lived with his parents for a month or so while the fence went up around the pool and the kitchen was done.

We have been here 7 years in April. I love living here. There is still a lot to do. Comes with home ownership. You get stuff done and by the time you get to everything, you are wanting to change what you already have done. I can't count how many other things I would like to still do or redo to this house, but there are also countless things we have already done in the time we have been here too. Ryan is so talented and I am blessed to have a HANDY MAN!! He helps make our house a home, a place were we are comfortable and happy. What a lucky girl I am to have a husband who can see the potential in things. Here are a few pictures that I have been promising to post forever. I will try to do better at posting as change happens!

{Outside view} BEFORE

{ Outside view} AFTER

{Family Room} BEFORE

{Family Room} AFTER

{Fireplace} BEFORE

{Fireplace}AFTER

Moved fireplace and put up stone surround

{Dining Room into the kitchen}BEFORE

{Dining Room into the Kitchen}AFTER

Storage cabinets to right, walk in pantry and now a office

{Kitchen view}BEFORE

{Kitchen view}AFTER

New everything in kitchen. We gutted it!

{Kitchen View}BEFORE

{Kitchen view} AFTER

{Hall Bathroom}BEFORE
{Hall Bathroom}AFTER

New shower surround, fixtures, tile and counterops

{Master Bathroom} BEFORE

{Master Bathroom}AFTER

Moved toilet and shower to different locations, tiled and new fixtures.

Also, enclosed door into the closet to have entry in from bedroom and not bathroom (not shown)

{Master bathroom}BEFORE

{Master Bathroom}AFTER

Removed carpet and step. Tiled, new granite countertops and sinks

I {heart} my HOME!