...because home doesn't happen overnight.
I finally hung some fabric in our master bedroom closet doorway where I removed a door several weeks back. Just in time for the Open House.
Some of you might be disappointed to learn that I chose a ‘safe’ fabric. I stuck with the same panels I used as window treatments in the bedroom – IKEA’s unbleached linen AINA curtains. I hemmed them to the same length as the real curtains in the bedroom so that they pool at the floor a little. {HINT: Prewash curtains before hemming to allow for any shrinkage.} If we didn’t plan on moving, I probably would have chosen something more graphic with a pattern. Still, I like the way replacing the door with flowing fabric softened the wall. It reminds me of a dressing room.
Plus, it’s much easier to get in and out of the closet now. Before, the door opened up into the closet making the entrance cumbersome. I decided to hang both panels of the pair {the AINA curtains can only be purchased in pairs} to add fullness and to make opening the fabric door more practical. We simply walk in between the two panels.
Our two-year-old likes to pretend they’re stage curtains. He waits patiently in the closet while I introduce him. ”And now presenting the smiley-eyed, dimple-blessed and undies-wearin’ cutie patootie, Everett James!” Then he comes barreling out of the closet to ‘perform.’ He doesn’t know what stage fright is. To him, everyone in the audience really is naked.
Here’s the view from inside the closet, at nighttime…sorry, I forgot to snap a picture during daylight hours…same with the picture of Everett above.
I bought an $8 curtain rod from Target and had Handy Hubby hang it above the closet doorway. Simple, easy and cheap. Just the way I like it. What about you? Ever replaced a door with fabric somewhere in your home?
images: all Dana Miller for House*Tweaking
Many of you have suggested posting tips and ideas for prepping and staging a home for sale. And since we just hosted our first Open House this past weekend {yep, our house is officially on the market}, I thought I’d share with you what we did to get it ‘buyer ready.’ Of course, there’s the traditional dusting, vacuuming, decluttering, burning candles, baking cookies, hiding stuff in the car, etc. I’d like to step outside of the usual prepping box and mention some ideas that aren’t always talked about. Here goes…
- Turn it on. Furnace {on colder days}, A/C {on warmer days}, lights, music {on surround sound speaker system if you’ve got it}, fireplace {again on cooler days} and ceiling fans all function to make a home feel comfortable and inviting. Take advantage of them all to welcome potential buyers into your home.
- Nitpick when you clean. Use an eagle eye to clean nearly every surface in sight. Control laundry clutter by doing a load daily while your house is on the market. It will help to keep your laundry room and closets tidy. Hang a squeegee in each shower for a quick wipe down after each use. This will help maintain a clean shower in between actual full-fledged scrubbings and may even extend the time between cleanings. Don’t forget to look up! Dirty ceiling fixtures, vents and bathroom fans can be real turn-offs. If any appliances will be included in the sale of your home, clean the insides. Potential buyers may want to peek in them.
- Get it out. Empty trash cans, unpark your car {ask a neighbor if you can borrow their driveway for a few hours} from the garage and furnish outdoor areas. Sure, it might be too cool or wet for dining outside on the day of the Open House, but potential buyers will get the idea that dining outside is an option when the weather is accommodating.
- Hide ‘em. So you already got rid of a bunch of stuff in an effort to declutter and make your space look/feel bigger. Great! Just remember to hide those unsightly everyday items you use: hand soap pumps, toothbrushes, visible toiletries, kids’ bath toys, plungers, stinky toilet brushes, and wet dish/wash cloths. Take a good look around. It’s easy to forget these everyday uglies as we get use to seeing them! This required us to stash Handy Hubby’s CPAP in a bin under his nightstand. If you’ve never used/seen one before, they could be a scary bedroom discovery.
- Up off the floor. Get toys, unnecessary furniture items {this may be contradictory to photo styling/decorating} and dirty clothes off the floor. The more floor potential buyers see, the larger the room/closet will seem. Having a toy storage system already in place makes this easier. I did remove the 2 step stools we previously had in the laundry room {for propping open the door to our front-loading washer} and in our kids’ bathroom {to save our backs at bath time} making these smallish rooms easier to navigate. I also relocated a large floor plant that was blocking the view in our two-story foyer. {If you look closely in the second image below, you can see the round mashed carpet area where the plant use to live.} After all, you’re selling the house – not the stuff in it.
- Man up. It recently dawned on me that men {and probably some women too} like to walk around the exterior of homes and into the basements to check out possible ‘man spaces.’ If you’re a woman preparing your home for sale, remember to wipe down all man doors {including the front door and any walkout doors} that might be used to scope out any outbuildings, yard or landscaping. And if you have a shed, Shop Vac it like Handy Hubby did.
Ok, so maybe that last bit about vacuuming your shed isn’t overtly practical but I just had to include that pic I took of Handy Hubby a few hours before our Open House. As I was busy cleaning inside, I happened to glance out of the sunroom to see Handy Hubby vacuuming the outside of his ‘man shed’ with the Shop Vac. I thought it was hilarious. Have you ever seen a man vacuuming his shed?! If a spotless custom shed {built and cleaned by Handy Hubby himself} doesn’t sell this place, I’m not sure what will.
So, there you have it. A few not-so-common tips for getting a house ready to show to potential buyers. In case you’re wondering, myself and the kiddos holed up at my dad’s house about 30 minutes away while Handy Hubby showed the house. I was afraid I’d be way too apologetic pointing out all the things we wanted to change about the house but never got around to. Or that I’d just end up on my knees begging someone to pleeeeease buy my house so I could quit my current stalemate job in 5 years and follow my dream of becoming a designer. That’d probably get me a few brow-raising looks but no offers.
images: all Dana Miller for House*Tweaking
This week I’ve already shared which blogs and designers inspire me to make my house a place I love to live. Today, I’d like to introduce you to several books I own that have played {and continue to play} a part in my wannabe design world. I’ve always been enamored by books. Going to the library is a longtime favorite activity for me. I have vivid memories of going to story time at our local library back when I was no older than 5. I love the hush of a library and the way it smells. Have you ever noticed how borrowed library books smell once you have them at home? {Well, not the ones that have been previously borrowed by smoking homes.} If someone created a perfume of that scent, I just might wear it. I love the hunt for a good book. I love the organized aisles and shelves. I love the anticipation of the library…hmmmm…which book will I bring home with me? I love the vastness of the library. You can find a book on practically any topic. More than anything, I love that it’s free. So, it should come as no surprise that design books are a major inspiration to me. {I wish our local library had a better selection.}
The Nest Home Design Handbook – Carley Roney successfully discusses design room-by-room offering tips on how to style, arrange, organize, clean and personalize your home. The back of the book gets down to the nitty gritty mentioning specifics on lighting, closets, utilities, rugs, housekeeping and furniture layouts. There are even resource pages of grids and furniture icons that you can copy, cut and arrange to play around with room layouts. I love this book not only for its design sense but its practicality and relevance. It would make a great housewarming gift for a first-time homeowner!
New Decorating Book {Better Homes and Gardens Decorating} – BHG encourages you to find your inner designer in this book. It takes you from the very beginning helping you to discover your style. Beyond the room-by-room basics, it includes before-and-after makeovers, quick and easy projects, house tours, emphasis on balance and scale, outdoor living, ideas for floral arrangements, discussions on finishes and unique window treatments. Oh, and it has TONS of pictures. It’s like a magazine made into a book. It is BHG after all. This would be a good book to study and read before starting to decorate your own home as it gives advice on how to find a style, color scheme and mood that you’ll want to live with forever.
Design Idea Book – This book by Karen Templer is a showstopper. Pure inspiration. It features a compilation of designer idea houses that utilize the best of the best in the way of architecture, decor, materials, furniture and finishes. I would never be able to afford any of the homes in this book but they are great go-to’s to mimic on a smaller, less expensive scale. The image of the family room above is one of my all-time favorite inspiration photos. This is one of those books that you could read a million times over and find something new to inspire you each time. This would make a great coffee table book.
Downtown Chic – Robert and Cortney Novogratz are unstoppable. Over the last 10 years, they’ve bought, gutted, renovated and designed numerous homes. This book is sort of documentation of all that. It’s fun to see how their aesthetic has changed and developed over the years. The Novogratz’s are style and business savvy, so it makes sense that their passion has organically evolved into a pretty lucrative career. And they did it all while creating and raising a family…a very large family. Seven kids in total. {Yep, they’re the 9 By Design people.} Yowsas! Their lifestyle and decor choices may not be exactly like mine {I don’t think I could handle the renovation of that many homes in such a short amount of time along with 7 kiddos in tow AND still remain sane.} but I’m inspired by their willingness to learn, try new things, be true to themselves, take risks, follow a passion and persevere. Look where it’s got them so far! I love that the book includes information on hiring contractors and the bumps that go along with modernizing older homes. Many of the photos include {at least some of} their children showing me that families and design can live under one roof.
Amy Butler’s Midwest Modern – You already know that Amy Butler is one of my inspirations when it comes to design. But did you know that she has a book that helps to spread her fresh take on modern living? I absolutely adore this book. Amy’s philosophy on interior design is simple…surround yourself with people, natural elements and art forms that you love. Her home has a real connection to the outdoors and it’s evident that Amy uses nature as one of her main sources of inspiration. Her book also includes topics outside the realm of interior design namely fashion, music, gardening, handmade crafts and even camping! This book will never go out of style as won’t Amy’s view on a simple yet fulfilling lifestyle.
A few more books that I own and have found helpful are:
I almost always purchase my books from Amazon, usually in pairs so I can get the free shipping deal. I’ll ask for Amazon gift cards for my birthday and Christmas because I know there will always be another design book I’m wanting. I keep a running list of books that I want but don’t have and I’m a few years behind when I finally get them. But if they are the really good ones, it doesn’t matter because they’ll always be relevant to the world of design.
I just purchased these two books but haven’t had a chance to sink my teeth into them yet:
Maybe once I’ve had a chance to read up, I can give reviews on them if you think that’s something that would be interesting.
I encourage you to add a few design books to your personal library. They really are helpful in creating a home that’s you, a home that you can live in for years to come. And please, please, PLEASE read them! – don’t just look at the pictures {although that’s fun to do after you read ‘em front to back}. There’s so much information in the text that helps to explain the images. I’ve found myself looking at a picture and not seeing much but then I read the page and learn a wealth of knowledge from the picture. The words and photos are there together for a reason. You’re only shortchanging yourself if you don’t actually read design books.
Another tip I have for reading design books is to keep a little notepad handy for jotting down particular page numbers or images in books that you’d like to refer to again. I know they make those little sticky tabs to bookmark pages but I don’t like them for two reasons: 1) when I flip to that page with a bookmark sometimes I have no idea why I bookmarked it in the first place 2) I like to display my books and those tacky little tabs aren’t that appealing. So keep a running handbook of book titles, inspiring page numbers and a brief description as to why they’re inspiring. Believe me, it’ll be useful someday.
Happy reading!
images: all Dana Miller for House*Tweaking
I hope you don’t mind if I interrupt all the inspiration going on for a little update on our house hunting adventure. You might be surprised to know that we actually put a bid in on a HUD {Housing and Urban Development} foreclosure a few weeks ago. We hadn’t planned on putting in a bid so early on, but this house was too good to be true. Too good to be true was right.
It was a 3 bedroom, 2. 5 bath home only 4 years old…the same age as our current home. It was a little over 1,800 square feet but it had that great open floor plan that we’re drawn to. And vaulted ceilings. All of which made it feel larger than it really was. It was definitely a builder boring house. Much like our current spec home when we initially purchased it. We didn’t love the finishes or the fixtures but we knew they were things we could change or update along the way as we lived there. The carpet was the only thing that would have needed to be replaced straight away…it had old {and fresh!} pet stains on it.
{That’s my lovely cousin, Amie, who also happens to be our lovely and very patient realtor.} The kitchen was at the front of the home and opened up into a dining area with a family room beyond that. We totally would have painted the cabinets, replaced the countertops and ripped out the island for something more ‘us.’ What I did love was the bright bay window in the kitchen where I envisioned a window seat with cushions.
The dining area had a strange plant ledge surrounding it. I guess it was probably meant to suggest a dining room but it wasn’t structural, so Handy Hubby and I talked of tearing it out the moment we saw it. There was also a nice window high up on the wall letting in tons of natural light but avoided showcasing the neighbor’s siding.
The family room was just off the dining area and had patio sliders that led to the backyard.
That’s the view from the family room looking back towards the front of the house. You can see more clearly that unnecessary plant ledge I mentioned. You can also see the front door and staircase leading upstairs on the left. Once again, the kitchen, dining and family areas were under vaulted ceilings. Nice and open. Ahhhhhh.
{Notice the carpet stains.}
The master suite was on the first floor with an attached full blah bath.
{That’s insulation on the floor, not doo-doo.}
A loft, two bedrooms and a full bath were on the second floor {which was only over half of the house…remember the other half had vaulted ceilings}. We very much liked the idea of the boys having their own separate space to sleep and play up and away from the main living space. I had also pictured using the loft area as a nice spot for paying bills, blogging and future design office.
There was an attached 2-car garage with a bump out where Handy Hubby said he’d set up shop.
And the price was unbeatable! Well below our price point – even with having to replace the carpet. {Heck, I’d already picked out the new hardwoods I wanted to replace it with!} We loved the idea of being able to move in right away and working on it as we pleased. It was livable. It had only been on the market for 10 days when we saw it and had already gotten a lot of traffic – at least the guest list portrayed that during our tour. We put a bid in the same day we saw it. For the asking price {which was well, well, well below the appraised value of the home} plus said we’d pay closing costs. Now, you may be wondering why we offered up such a good bid on a foreclosure. Well, at this point, we had seen and researched many, many, many foreclosures. This one stood out heads above the rest for several reasons: 1) it was a newer home in excellent condition 2) it was livable 3) it was very close to our current neighborhood 4) it was in a neighborhood very similar to our current neighborhood 5) any work we did to the home would be purely cosmetic 6) it was priced to sell.
We waited 4 days after putting in our bid {foreclosures typically take a long time to get a response back from because you’re either working with the bank or, in our case, a government agency as opposed to a private seller} to hear if our bid had been accepted or not. Sadly, it had not. The HUD agency told our realtor that an offer was accepted but it wasn’t ours. Which meant someone else had: 1) offered the same bid but in cash 2) offered the same bid but before we had placed our bid 3) offered a higher bid, yep, higher than the listing price + closing costs. So, it was too good to be true. We didn’t get it.
I’m a firm believer in the whole ‘everything happens for a reason’ thing. We weren’t meant to get that house. The problem is I keep trying to figure out why we weren’t meant to get that house. Maybe it’s a sign that it wasn’t a big enough challenge for us – home improvement or design wise? Maybe we’re meant to find something older this time around? Maybe it wasn’t the right location and we’re supposed to end up closer to Handy Hubby’s work, further from our current neighborhood which would require us to go outside of our familiar surroundings and try something new? Maybe that house gets demolished in a house fire or during a tornado in the near future? {God forbid.} As you can see, I’ve exhausted way too much time and effort in trying to figure out why we didn’t get that ‘easy’ house. Maybe we’re not supposed to know? Maybe I’m just supposed to move on.
images: all Dana Miller for House*Tweaking
True to my word, I’m continuing to share my sources of inspiration. Yesterday, I mentioned my most favorite-est blogs. {Thanks for introducing me to a few of your faves as well.} Today I’d like to talk about a few designers who I find myself drawn to over and over again. You might be surprised to learn that they’re not all solely interior designers. From formally trained professionals to ‘they’ve just got it’ talents to self-made entrepreneurs…there’s more than one way to stake your claim in the design world.
Amy Butler {artist & designer most credibly known for her fabrics and sewing patterns}: Maybe it’s because she’s from the Midwest {she actually lives in Ohio too} but Amy’s sense of found style really speaks to me. She’s not afraid to cover an heirloom piece in a modern graphic print or to plop down finds from nature walks right onto her coffee table. It’s easy to see that Amy’s fabrics, wallpapers, art and stationery are inspired by nature. And how could nature go wrong? Amy gets it all right with colorful floral prints, geometric prints and no-fail coordinating designs. From handbags to wall art to hand towels and even apparel, Amy’s talents spread far and wide. Her vision reaches nearly every facet of everyday living.
Erika McPherson Powell {interior designer}: Ever heard of Urban Grace Interiors? If so, then you already know that Erika is the design genius behind the biz. If not, you should definitely check the portfolio. Erika is a trained, experienced professional with higher-end clients. While I may not be able to afford any of her interiors, I can certainly learn from them. Erika’s sense of balance, scale, symmetry and contrast are quite intriguing to me. Her rooms are usually minimally styled, meaning there’s not a lot of stuff in them. But the pieces that are there belong there. The way she can edit a room is something I strive to embrace. The use of calming colors, rich wood tones, architectural details and vintage pieces {especially lighting} give her a signature style. Classic but modern. Her designs are timeless and will never predate her.
Bonnee Sharp {textiles & interior designer}: Bonnee is the master mind behind Studio BonTextiles and her quality textiles are graphic and delicate at the same time. The patterns have a way of injecting pattern and interest into a room or piece of furniture like no others can. And I can’t mention her name without also mentioning her interior design capabilities. Her personal residence was featured in several publications for its quirky sense of charm juxtapositioned against contemporary fabrics, furniture and finishes. Now, that’s my {dream} idea of a modern cottage!
Nate Berkus {interior designer}: The man’s got his own TV show now for crying out loud. He’s amazing. The way he can work a room by simply proposing I-never-thought-of-that furniture arrangements is pretty fantastic. Not to mention his ability to successfully mesh black, navy, camel, velvet, glossy finishes and leather into one room. While the interiors he designs may look like a million bucks, they aren’t always so. Nate’s keen on thrifting, DIYing and repurposing. He makes great efforts to design spaces with people, life and real meaning in mind. And he’s not formally trained in design. Just goes to show that when you’ve got it, you’ve got it.
Emily Henderson {stylist & designer}: My newest favorite designer. I love Emily’s success at mingling feminine alongside masculine. Clean lines + fresh flowers + cowhide rug + patterned wallpaper = I love Emily. The vignettes she creates are unmatched and nothing is ever too perfect. I’m inspired by her use of charcoal and navy accents. And the layers. Oh, the layers. She’s good. Real good. I should probably start DVRing her new show, Secrets of a Stylist, to study how she arranges accessories.
So those are my steadfast designer crushes. Each has their own style and vision not just like the next. I find myself borrowing from their strengths and interpreting them in my own way. Not so sure how I’m doing at that yet, but I do enjoy trying. And whenever I’m losing sight of what I want my own home to feel/look like, I always return to their portfolios for inspiration and ideas. They get me right back on track in no time.
images: 1-3) David Butler for Amy Butler Design 4-6) Urban Grace Interiors, Inc. 7 & 8 ) Terri Glanger for D Home 9) Studio Bon Textiles 10) Roger Davies for Elle Decor 11 & 12) William Waldron photography for O magazine 13-16) Emily Henderson for HGTV
I’m frequently asked, “What inspires you?” I’m never able to pinpoint a single sole source. In fact, I’m usually a bit overwhelmed by the question. I get inspiration from all kinds of people, places and things: blogs, designers, my kids, fabrics, magazines, books, nature, etc. I thought this would be a good week {it’s okay to start the week on Tuesday, right?} for me to share with you whom and what inspires me. I could use a little inspiration this week anyway.
I’d like to start off with the obvious. Blogs. Blogs inspire me to no end. I love peeking into other’s homes and blogs are a great *legal* way for me to do that. {I’ve been known to drive and walk by homes at night in the hopes of catching a glimpse inside their lit windows.} To me, home is a very personal place that reflects those who live in it. Even when homes aren’t design-oriented, you can learn a lot about people just by how they live. As a child, I loved going to friends’ homes and getting to be a part of their everyday life for the day. Sometimes the most minute detail can turn on the lightbulb in my head. {For instance, I ‘borrowed’ my friends’ idea for hanging kitchen towels from towel rings hung on the side of the upper cabinets above the kitchen sink. Such an easy and practical idea!}
So, yeah, blogs let me in on home interiors that I wouldn’t get to experience otherwise. And this is a fairly new concept. Just within the last decade, the blogosphere has erupted with blogs pertaining to anything and everything you could imagine. You probably already know this or you wouldn’t be reading this now! I love the idea of being able to read up on my faves when the kids are napping or have gone to bed for the night. I don’t read my favorite blogs daily {I wish I had the time!} but at least twice a week I sneak in a few minutes to see what they’re up to. Here are my top 5 favorite blogs in no particular order:
1 – Young House Love: No surprise here! John and Sherry Petersik know what they’re doing and have made a career out of it. I’m inspired by their energy, frugality, green ways, optimism, humor and oversharing. I love that they have returned their blogging style to the diary-like entries that got them started in the first place. While they are busy, busy bodies, they’re also quick to remind that a polished interior takes time {and even a few mistakes} to accomplish. Go Youngsters!
2 – The Happy Home: Belinda Graham is a very talented Australian blogger, writer, designer and mother. I find her and her home to be quaint, tidy, delicate and real. Her home feels ‘just right’ – not too big, not too small, not too sparse, not too overstyled. She offers great tutorials for budget-friendly, easy and sometimes kid-help-worthy projects. I love when she throws in snippets of everyday life at home with two {soon to be three!} kiddos. That makes her and her home even more real to me.
3 – Pure Style Home: Lauren Liess is my idol. She switched careers in order to become an interior designer. And has she ever! She’s currently working on designing a room for the DC Design House. What an honor, right?! My dream. She’s also a Sheffield School graduate {she was kind enough to answer a few questions about the course for me before I enrolled} and mom of two young boys. It’s very evident that Lauren’s design talent is innate. Nothing in her designs is forced or contrite. She can mix old with new like nobody’s business. She inspires me to follow my dreams…even with young kiddos in tow.
4 – Apartment Therapy: The mecca of all home interiors. I could spend {what am I talking about? I have!} hours perusing the virtual house tours. Nothing gets my creative juices flowing like a little AT. I’ve found some great inspiration for paint colors and furniture layouts just by studying up on the house tours alone. The amount of information provided can sometimes be so much that I’m a tad overstimulated, so I try to limit my visits to once a week – just to keep me sane! The fact that AT featured my home back in November 2010 in no way puts them at the top of my list. But it does make me pretty giddy. I’m also looking forward to gaining more insight into decorating, organizing and creating a stylish smaller home since we’re on the verge of downsizing. AT regularly features functional living spaces less than 1,000 square feet in size.
5 – decor8: Holly Becker over at decor8 is down-to-earth, organic, sweet, sensible and intelligent. She features artists, stylists, designers, photographers, stores, Etsy finds and publications that all relate in some way to decorating – with a focus on the handmade. While her content crosses international borders, you can always count on a consistent look and feel. One that’s not overthought or too perfect but, rather, simple, natural and even meaningful. I’m anxiously awaiting the release of her first book, Decorate. Holly has a warm writing style that immediately makes you feel welcome and special. She also offers an e-course on blogging if you’re interested. {I’d highly recommend it!}
There you have it. My top 5 blogs. I’m sure there are a ton more blogs out there offering great images and info pertaining to design that I don’t even know about. Would you mind sharing some of your favorites in the comments section below? I’m always amazed by the sources you guys turn me onto.
images: 1) Dana Miller for House*Tweaking 2) Young House Love 3) Belinda Graham for The Happy Home 4) Helen Norman photography; Lauren Liess for Pure Style Home 5) Wes & Schwartz for Apartment Therapy 6) Debi Treloar photography via decor8
Most of the homes we’re looking at as possible downsizing options are foreclosures, short sales and/or estate sales and many of them are empty. Meaning no one is living in them at the moment. In fact, we’ve walked through at least a dozen by now and I think only 2 of them had the utilities on. We’ve been relying heavily on flashlights and batteries. I figured it’d be okay to take pics along the way and share our house hunting adventure with you since it’s not like we’re impeding on anyone’s privacy. Here’s one of the first bank-owned foreclosures we went to see just a few weeks ago. From the online photos, Handy Hubby and I knew we’d be smitten with this nearly 100-year-old home. We also knew there were probably quite a few costly repairs that would be required just to live in it. Still, if even just for fun, we wanted to walk through it. Forgive the photo quality…electricity was shut off and it was evening time, so lighting was poor. Plus, I had my old point-and-shoot camera with me that doesn’t take quite as good pictures but, hopefully, you’ll get the idea.
As I said, this home was old, built in 1912. Here’s the front door from the inside…
…and the adjoining entryway that leads to the rest of the first floor and a set of stairs to the second floor…
Notice the original wood floors still in great condition. The ceilings were really high too. Probably 9′-10′ tall. To the left of the entry and beyond a set of lovely french doors was the massive fireplace in the living room…
Opposite the fireplace was a large wall of windows with a window seat below…
At the end of the living room were 2 sets of french doors leading to a tiled sunroom with newer windows. Possibly an addition?
Back to the entry…to the right of the entry was the formal dining room which boasted original windows and a window seat as well. It also had 2 built-in corner cabinets.
Beyond the dining room was the kitchen. To us, it looked original – especially the farm sink – and I even liked the linoleum floors. It had tons of cabinet space and storage along with a little eat-in breakfast nook.
Upstairs there were 4 ginormous bedrooms all with the same hardwood flooring. I could have stared at those floors all day long.
The 2 full bathrooms {one on the first floor and one on the second floor} were both large but missing fixtures. We couldn’t tell for sure if the tile and flooring were original or not but they sure matched the style of the home beautifully.
I don’t have any exterior shots of the house but it was stucco with a detached 2-car garage and almost no yard. You can imagine all the decor ideas that were racing through my head during and after our tour. The place was amazing. So much potential. Such a great neighborhood. Awesome public schools. A short 25-minute drive to Handy Hubby’s work. Original details and loads of character. The drawbacks? For one, it was listed at the top of our price range even though it was a foreclosure. We probably could have gotten it for less than the listing price but there were several major and costly factors to consider. It needed a new roof, gutters and soffit for starters. There were also quite a few cracks in the walls and ceilings, so we were scared of structural problems. The full unfinished basement smelled musty and most likely leaked. Even with all of that to ponder, that’s not what broke the deal for us. We would have been happy to fix all those things and live in that gorgeous house. BUT. The big but. BUT…the heating system still included the gas boiler/radiator system along with a very old furnace. I loved the look of the old radiators and would’ve kept them just for decor’s sake. BUT…radiators aren’t exactly known for heating efficiently {even though they can be great for allergy sufferers} which is probably why a furnace was eventually added to the heating system of the house. We were very scared just thinking about what it would cost to heat and cool that old home. Did I mention it was 3200 square feet? Not exactly small. And definitely not downsizing material. {We would have actually been gaining square footage.} Sure, we could have afforded to buy the home and make some repairs but I don’t think we could have afforded to live in it. At least not comfortably. So, we had to say no to that big ol’ house even though we really wanted to say yes. Handy Hubby and I could totally see ourselves working on that house until the day we died. We even talked about putting a metal roof on it and installing an energy efficient geothermal heating/cooling system. If we’d had the funds. In the end, we decided this home would have been TOO MUCH. Too much money, too much work, too much space, too much utilities, too much stress.
Who knows? Maybe we’ll hunt down that house again some day after we’ve saved up a bunch of cash from downsizing and paying off our mortgage! Lord knows, I’m keeping all these photos on file just to look at and dream about every once in a while. Whoever does get that house is one lucky homeowner. I’m sorry it won’t be me.
images: all Dana Miller for House*Tweaking
Once a month, I like to share an inspiring paint color with you. Well, really, I’d like to repaint my walls once a month just because there are so many great paint colors out there to try…but that’s not realistic now, is it? So, instead, I’ll stick with sanity and simply talk about the colors of my painted rainbow here. This month I’d like to introduce you to Benjamin Moore’s Edgecomb Gray.
Even though the name has the word ‘gray’ in it, it’s more of a tan-y warm greige than the typical cool gray that comes to mind when you envision gray paint.
It’s a great neutral that turns almost creamy when bathed in natural light.
And it makes a perfect marriage with wood tones. I could see it being used in older homes with original wood baseboards, floors and moldings. Wouldn’t it give a Craftsman style home an airy lift?
If you’re searching for a light paint color for a finished basement, I believe Edgecomb Gray could be a front runner there. In artificial light, it’s bright and warm at the same time…just what you’re looking for in a basement.
Probably my favorite characteristic of Edgecomb Gray is its ability to contrast. It’s different enough from your bright white trim, doors and wainscoting to make them pop. Yet, it’s still light enough to be used alongside black and mocha accents for a contrasting effect.
In a children’s room, Edgecomb Gray would make a great backdrop to deep teal and burnt orange.
In a grown-up casual living room, Edgecomb Gray could be part of a relaxing neutral scheme including white, black and camel accents a la Nate Berkus style.
Finally, for a fresh and modern guest room pair Edgecomb Gray with a deep taupe and rich coral.
I could definitely see this paint color making an appearance in our next home. That’s how much I love it. I really think it has the ability to make smaller rooms feel bigger. And since we’re looking to downsize, making things appear bigger is going to be key. What about you? Have you used Edgecomb Gray somewhere in your home? What’s one of your favorite paint colors for small spaces? Chime in.
images: 1) Benjamin Moore 2) T. Keller Donovan for House Beautiful 3) Blossom Interiors 4) Justin Bernhaut for Domino via Flickr 5) Vanessa Francis for Decor Happy 6) Shiloe Bear via Tar Paper Crane 7-9) collages by Dana Miller using Benjamin Moore paint swatches
In the midst of all the cleaning, packing and decluttering, I made the time to do something fun today. You should probably be warned that ‘fun’ for me usually includes decor and/or creating something. While my kindergartener was at school this morning, I drug little man {our 2-year-old} out to JoAnn’s in search of some springy fabric to turn into simple curtains for the kitchen. {He always enjoys making elderly lady-friends at the craft stores.} The window above our kitchen sink has been naked for the last 3 years just because I kept waiting for the perfect fabric to slap me in the face. I figured prepping the house was a good excuse to just go out and make myself pick something even if it wasn’t perfect. Surprisingly, I found a great home decor print that was on sale at 40% off. I took home a yard for $12. Before actually making it home, we took a detour through Target {walking not driving} to pick up a pack of curtain clip rings for $5. I was going to make this project as easy as possible, so no curtain rod pocket sewing for me. Back home, it took me about 30 minutes to measure, sew and hang the new panels. Take a look.
They’re airy and simple with a shot of green in them. They’re my attempt at coaxing spring to make an early appearance.
Normally, I’d prewash the fabric before making curtain panels but since this project was all in the name of fun {and since the curtains will be staying with the house} I skipped prewashing. {Note to self: remind future homeowners that the kitchen curtains should be washed in cold water only to avoid shrinkage.}
The 7-piece pack of curtain rings and clips was plenty to hang these slim panels. They’re only ~18″ wide. Solely for decorative purposes not for shutting out light or peeping Toms.
Which is fine because we installed custom light-filtering shades that are mounted inside the window frame and block the setting sun’s rays every evening. The sun sets at the back of our property, so we had to install something early on to avoid being blinded while doing dishes after dinner. Man, I’m going to miss that sunset. It’s gorgeous.
I also took time to sand down and re-oil the butcher block countertop on the island. I used regular ol’ mineral oil that you can buy at any drugstore {yep, the kind for poopin’} and it usually takes about 24-48 hours for the wood to absorb it all. It’s amazing how the wood bounces back after a rub down like this.
During lil’ man’s naptime, my kindergartener helped me pick up and clean a little more to take pictures that will be included in our for sale by owner listing and sales brochure. He was like a frog hopping around trying to stay out of the view of the camera. In fact, he opened the front door just as I was taking a picture of the front of the house. That one got deleted. I’m definitely feeling a little sad and guilty about possibly moving Layne {that’s my kindergartener} to a new school and neighborhood. I’ve started dropping hints about moving to him and his responses have surprised me. He said as long as his new room has a ceiling fan, he’ll be happy. He’s been asking for a ceiling fan in his current room for 3 years. I promised him he’d get a ceiling fan. Sometimes I think I’m making this a bigger deal than it should be. Kids are resilient, right? As a child, I was lucky enough to attend school in the same school district from kindergarten all the way through to high school graduation. I always felt bad for the new kids. But I keep telling myself that Layne would be attending a different school {albeit in the same district with familiar faces} next year anyway even if we stayed here because the school he’s at now is strictly for kindergarteners. Still, it’s a little heartbreaking for a mama.
So, anyway, I sort went all tangent on you there, didn’t I? Oops. Well, that’s how I had fun with $20 today. I felt good to be decorating again and to get my creative juices flowing. It makes me antsy to start thinking about designing and decorating for another smaller, probably more challenging home. Antsy in a good way. Excited antsy.
images: all Dana Miller for House*Tweaking
It feels so good to say I’ve crossed 6 things off of our listing list. All. By. Myself. {Unless you count the ‘help’ you get from a 2-year-old.} I am exhausted but excited. Yesterday I tackled the kitchen. And it really looked like I tackled it. Stuff was everywhere.
Stuff to pack…
Stuff to donate… {who really needs 2 cheese graters?}
I went through each and every kitchen cabinet and drawer including the island. I organized all items into 3 piles…1) keep in kitchen 2) pack up into boxes 3) donate. We’ve lived here for 3 years, so it was easy to decide what to donate. Whatever we hadn’t used since moving, well, it got donated. Whatever we had used but wasn’t necessary for daily living {i.e. Thanksgiving roaster, bread maker, fine china, etc.} got boxed up and taken down to the basement until moving time. In case you’re wondering, I labeled each box as ‘kitchen’ then wrote what specific items were in each box to take the guesswork out of unpacking.
Not only will downsizing our kitchen inventory make the kitchen storage look bigger and tidier to potential buyers, but it should also make our move easier…less stuff to move and pack when that time comes. Our pared down cabinets are looking downright bare…
In the cabinet above the fridge, I left the microwave rack, microwave and oven range manuals, and the extra kitchen hardware. All of these items will be staying on with the new owners.
We are including all kitchen appliances in the sale of the house. I figured it was about time I cleaned out the oven…for only the second time ever since we’ve lived here. That’s pretty sad. But it looks great now.
For extra credit, I also touched up a few dings on the painted cabinets. I just walked around with our leftover latex enamel paint {from painting the cabinets over a year ago} and a 1″ brush and swiped over every little imperfection. The cabinets look as good as new!
My cousin let me borrow her carpet shampooer {a Bissel ProHeat} to erase a pet stain from the carpet in one of the bedrooms. It worked like a charm. So much so that I used it in our family and living rooms too just to spiff things up even more. Plus I kind of liked using it. Weird? Yes. Last night I took a shower in my boys’ bathroom and made myself scrub it down before I showered. This morning I tackled all the second floor closets which is no small task because each bedroom has its own walk-in closet. Coupled with the kitchen donate pile, the unnecessary closet clutter filled my SUV to the brim on the way to Goodwill. Goodbye and good riddance.
After a quick trip to Goodwill, I washed down all the windows inside and out. We have a lot of them. As much as I enjoy all the natural light that those windows let in, I’ll be happy not to have so many to wash in a smaller home. Running short on steam, I decided to take on one last project for the day. The WT {that’s white trash} mailbox. We’d lost our signal flag over the winter.
I replaced it with a DIY kit that Handy Hubby picked up from Lowe’s for about $4 last night on his way home from work.
It was easy and I thought I’d just pull the Steelers magnet off {because even though we are Steelers fans that might not go over so well with potential buyers since we live in Bengals country} and call it a day, but this is what ensued…
…rustiness. Ugh. So I trudged down to the basement for some black spray paint to finish one more project. After a little spray can shaking and a few sprays, the mailbox was looking a little less WT – but still wet. {Sorry, I didn’t feel like waiting for it to dry.}
Then I came inside and wrote this post. So that’s what I’ve been up to over the last 24 hours. I crossed 6 things off my list:
- declutter kitchen cabinets
- declutter all closets
- wash windows
- shampoo spot of carpet where the dog dooed
- scrub the showers
- fix the signal flag on our mailbox
Getting your home ready for sale – whether you list with a realtor or by owner – is a must if you want to sell quickly and get top dollar {whatever that is nowadays}. Look at your home like a buyer would look at your home. Be thorough and detail-oriented.
Tomorrow’s weather is calling for sunshine and mild temps, so I’m hoping to clean the garage floor and exterior man doors. Maybe I’ll even take some photos for the sales brochure. As tired as I am, I just keep reminding myself why I’m doing this…to live in a modest home that we can pay off in 4-5 years. No one said selling your home or becoming debt free would be easy. And I don’t expect it to be. But I’m sure looking forward to it!
images: all Dana Miller for House*Tweaking
budget decor, DIY, kid-friendly