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Inside the House :)

May 18th, 2016 at 02:29 am

Okay, so I went over to our house today after work. Not having a major sinus headache sure helped a lot!

I needed to take a picture of the water meter for our Realtor, and I also just wanted to spend some time absorbing the house and take some pictures!

One thing I figured out, was that the one closet which I had thought I'd use as a pantry (but would need some renovation to do so) wasn't my only option! The closet that is near the entry of the kitchen would work way better! I'll need to get some pull out shelving, etc., but it's going to make a fantastic pantry! The broom closet/small pantry will still be good for some of the larger items/cleaning supplies.

I also made my decision about which room would be my office and which one will be the bedroom. (The one with the hanging lamp is to be the bedroom. The other room is slightly larger, and will become my office/workout room/guest room.)

The room with the fireplace will be our living room, as well as the cat's playroom. We'll be putting their cat trees, along with lots of cat safe shelving on the walls and under the windows. I'll probably also put my electric keyboard in there.

The basement (which has its own kitchen and bathroom) will be mostly DHs "mancave." The workshop (where you can see the iBeams and sump pump) will be where fish and other animals abide, as well as where DH can work on his electronics. There is tons of storage space in the basement. Which DH will most likely fill with his home/car stereo collections easily.

(Upstairs is mostly "mine" to do with as I please.)

The previous homeowners who built the place definitely made some creative designs and "finishes" in the closets, etc. (As in, the closets aren't really truly finished. Still, they work.)

Some of the pictures may look a little weird due to my experimenting with the panoramic feature.

DH says he feels like the place is dated and needs some modernization. I'm not totally sure what he means - maybe the partition thing in the entryway? Could that somehow be updated to look more "modern"?

Officially, the house has two bedrooms and one bathroom. 1362 sq ft. Realistically it has three bedrooms, a family room, a living room, two kitchens, two bathrooms, a huge laundry room/area, and a workshop.

So ... here's a link to lots of pictures!
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/nWK8NAX8sLwXKyVhCgyBjzAvN4YQITQyPBmzDUgT2El?v=grid&ref_=cd_ph_share_link_copy

9 Responses to “Inside the House :)”

  1. snafu Says:
    1463553274

    Thank you for the photos of your new house. When do you anticipate beginning to the move-in process? What date must you and DH vacate your apartments? If you're still working with the realtor, I suggest asking for the warranty that would have come with the laminate flooring. I've the impression that basement development was rented to generate income sometime in the past. Can your agent verify if that development was designated/authorized a 'legal' suite and meet code? These factors don't affect you now but have potential to change the game sometime in the future.

    I hope you'll welcome outsider thoughts and ideas that are none of our business. Your 1st steps of course is space designation as you've already outlined. Terrific that you have all major appliances, fridge, stove, DW, W/D. Do they configure more or less as a work 'triangle' ? The laundry area configuration is unusual, is there a reason the washer is so far to the right from the water hook-up? Since meals are prepared daily , electric outlets, switch plate etc? My fav trick is to create dimensions of bed for bedrm for example, with cheap, easily removed masking tape to ensure easy access, no doors in the way and electric outlet where needed for example. Much easier than trying to move a bed or a dresser/bureau.

    I believe it's best to leave decor issues until you are comfortable with natural lighting and placement. I suggest using existing shelving or temporary unit before spending large sums on a pantry. I'll try a link...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F844SYdYydg [Jen talks a lot but she gets things done for modest cost and effort]

  2. creditcardfree Says:
    1463570191

    I actually LIKE the divider by the front door. So unique, however if it were taken out it would really open up the room. It's up to you both, as it is your home. That's some fantastic work space downstairs. It will look better once you have your things in it. Smile

  3. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    1463574873

    Hi Snafu,
    I already brought a few things over last night. Smile But I have movers scheduled to get my stuff and DHs stuff from the storage unit this coming Sunday. DH is making his own arrangements for moving his stuff from his apartment. (The speakers, etc. will take a lot longer to box up to move than my stuff - which is pretty much all packed.)

    We have a packet of warranties/user guides for just about everything in the house that the sellers left for us.

    It's possible the basement space was used for a rental or a mother-in-law apartment. Potentially, we could rent it out - but that would probably only be if something happened where one of us couldn't work and needed the income.

    I have no idea about why the washer is where it is. Smile Good idea about tape outlining of furniture placement.

    I'm not planning on spending huge sums on the pantry. The shelves/space is *very* deep, so to make it usable, some kind of pull out shelving would help.

    CCF - I like it too, but that was one thing that came to mind when DH mentioned feeling like he took a step back twenty or thirty years when walking in. Getting rid of the wallpaper in the upstairs bathroom and downstairs kitchen might help too. Smile

  4. Turtle Lover Says:
    1463576481

    thank you for sharing! How neat!

  5. snafu Says:
    1463580182

    Laura, my wretched computer dropped lines yet again arrrgh...Was trying to say, you might use graph paper to outline each room, dimensions to scale, noting location of doors/closet, windows, light switch and electronic plugs. If windows have blinds for privacy, taking down valences/curtains etc. will be more modern. Pinterest offers wonderful ideas for themes and complementary color combos to support those themes.

    If you are still working with the RE agent, do the former owners have paperwork that makes the basement space permit/approval for rental? Every community has it's own set of rules, grandfathered approvals and recently CJ had to pay a fee for a non conforming bthrm...way after the fact!

  6. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    1463581061

    I like the look of the dividers, too, even though at first I thought it compressed the entry area. I think they might be practical, too. I imagine on a blustery winter day the dividers might help keep cold from wooshing through the house when the door is opened. Also they do give a little visual privacy when you open the door to the knock of a stranger.

  7. Frugaltexan75 Says:
    1463589571

    Snafu - I'll see if I can find out. We're stil supposed to have a yard/garden run through with the wife.

    Joan - that's a good point - privacy and wind block!

  8. Petunia 100 Says:
    1463608724

    Thank you for sharing the pictures! I like your house. I also like your plan to kill your mortgage in just 20 years. Best wishes for a happy life in your new house with your new spouse.

  9. VS_ozgirl Says:
    1463660333

    Was lovely to see your new home, thanks for sharing the pics! You two will make your mark on the place and modernize/update as you go, it's all part of the fun Smile

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