Charming with a Side of Warts . . .

Well, as you know, we bought our new OLD home in November 2014. The girls and I were so excited to be home owners again and we couldn't wait to put our own mark on it. My entire life, I have been in L.O.V.E. with old homes. I love old, thick moldings. I love high ceilings with large wooden doors. I love the wavy glass of the wood windows that stick in the humidity. I love the wood floors that creak and moan when you walk on them, you name it. I literally get major heart palpitations walking into a gorgeous old home (or a salvage shop but that's for another post). There's something about the charm of the old features that a lot of people would want to change and update but those quirks just make me want to move in!

Love my old front door.
Needs a coat of paint but I love the wavy glass.

Look at my fab-u-lous Greek Key tile.
It's so pretty - just needs a good polish
to bring it back to life!
Wish I could say the same for me!

The wood-burning fireplace is one of my favorite spots.
It has a door on the outside, at the base of the chimney,
to unload all the ash.
Then I literally could say -
"nice ash!"

These French doors lead from the dining room
to the front hallway.
Those curtains H.A.V.E. to go though!

Old glass door knobs just make me swoon!

The quirkiness of this room is fun. The door to the right leads
to a small walk-in closet and there are 2 to the left that lead to the
hallway. Why? No one knows!
Be sure to make note of the ever-so-lovely
acoustic ceiling tiles!

With great old windows come termites, lots of termites
and their droppings!

Under that ugly blue carpeting?
Wood stairs with lots of layers of paint - oh joy!

And under the paneling -
another layer of paneling!
Seriously! Who the heck did that!?!
(Note: Some serious, and I mean serious,
cursing went on while removing this hideousness
from the walls. I still have the physical,
and mental scars, to prove it!

We have a basement, yes, in Florida!
Its teeny-tiny, has a dryer that does not work
but I think it will make a great wine cellar
. . .  someday!

Lots of houses in our neighborhood
have these old planters/urns that make the perfect
accent to any front entry, when cleaned up!

A metal wheelchair ramp?
While necessary for the previous owner,
doesn't add much charm, does it?

And a lovely generator kind of sitting in the
middle of the yard.
That has GOTS to go!

I did find a box of silver, not sterling but there were
a few silver-plated pieces.
We took it as a sign since some of the pieces were
monogrammed with a M!
Well, more than likely, it's a W for the previous
owner but we can always look at it from another angle.

Well, as we like to call it, this is our "Home of Potential!" We have made a lot of changes and I can't wait to share them with you but that is for another post.

- Kristin

Ta . . . Freaking . . . Wanda!

I am SO excited to own a house again and literally love every second of it (well, maybe not the plunging of the toilets but the rest is pretty good). I think I fall in love with it a little more everyday. Now I must admit (as some of you have also pointed out, I'm talking to you Mayda!), that's it not much to look at right now but I can see the potential through the blue carpeting, the dark paneling, and the drop-down ceiling. I have to look deep but its there. We have done quite a bit of renovating, a lot of it on our own, so I'll take the next couple of posts to catch you up. There will be lots of befores, a few afters, and a few not for the next couple of years!!

Now the girls and I were excited to spend some time at the house so we decided to have a picnic on the floor the night we became owners. 

Nothing wrong with Chick-fil-A on the ground, right?
We actually ended up meeting several of the new neighbors too.

The girls wanted to play around on the elevator a bit.
It's kind of funny.
Everyone is impressed when I say it has an elevator
but I am quick to tell them it isn't that cool! 

Here the girls are "rising" through the floor in Olivia's room
We laugh that it is definitely a bit creepy!

So the next morning I hit Home Depot and gathered some tools - crowbars, gloves, masks, goggles, and other miscellaneous tools that I already own but are packed in a box somewhere in a POD stashed somewhere where I have no idea.

Now the theme of this house is currently Tawanda. Those of you who are familiar with Fried Green Tomatoes know exactly what I am talking about. Those of you who don't, watch the movie and you'll know what I am referring to. It's freaking awesome!

One of my favorite, and most quoted, movies.  

My lovely, lovely, so relaxing master bedroom.
Can't you feel your troubles melting away???
Somewhere behind all that lovely paneling are 5 old windows
completely covered up by nasty paneling.

Looking into the lovely dressing area.
Closet to the right, master bathroom to the left.

My master closet . . . ok.

My master bathroom -
aren't you dying to take a soak in here?

Caitlin was an incredible tearer-downer of all things that must go!
We both learned it was super hard but
wonderfully cathartic and therapeutic!

Tawanda!
We yelled that a lot -
according to the girls, I yelled it too much!

We found this little coloring under some plaster.
It's not anything wonderful but we liked it.

Unfortunately in this room, there's not an after because it still basically looks like this! Oh vey!

More to come but that's for another post!

Literally (and Figuratively) Moving On . . .

I'm in love!!  Yes, I'm head-over-heels in love and I want the world to know it! A new puppy, you ask? Not yet! A new man?  Hell NO! What's causing me to smile just when I think about it . . . you really want to know? 

Drum roll please  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . It's our new home!!

After having to sell our family home and then living in a rental for 8 months, the girls and I were getting anxious and restless to get permanently settled. I needed some projects and I needed them now! I was actually having withdrawals from the smell of paint fumes and the sound of a nail gun from my prior need for renovations!  My Realtor was wonderful and patient while we house hunted - a bunch. I stalked Zillow, Realtor, Homefinder, Trulia, you name it. I obsessed about listings. I knew I wanted an older home with character - hardwood floors, high ceilings, moldings, and details out the ying yang!! The best neighborhood, in my opinion, in St. Petersburg is Old NE. It's quaint, charming, has a "neighborhoody" feel and is super close to downtown, which is under a major, super-hip, revitalization. Kind of like me, right?? Ha!! Well, after many, many open houses, house tours, multiple go backs, and going over financing, we finally found the right one and we're SO excited!! Its perfect for us and I can smell the paint fumes already  . . .

The house is on the corner and looks so pretty!
Uh, . . . well, its got potential and it is located
so close to downtown St. Pete.
I LOVE the location and love living here.

The front view from the main street.

I think I'm going to spend a lot of time here - someday . . .
when the paint is dry and the boxes are unpacked!

The living room is almost long enough to bowl in and
will need a lot of furniture to make it look cozy but I accept that challenge.
I got a little carried away when I was moving
and gave away most of our furniture - oops!
Time to go shopping.

The dining room and yes, those are burlap curtains
paired with a lovely '70s ceiling fan.

The kitchen - isn't she a beaut!?!? Ha!
Oh vey! '70s cabinets too.

Don't you love the drop-down ceiling?? 

The elevator, yes, we have an elevator.
Might come in handy when I'm old, like in a year or two.

Olivia's bedroom - see the line, to the right, on the ground?
That's where the elevator comes upstairs -
right into Liv's room. She hates it.

Caitlin's bedroom - Do you see the potential?

Guest room - More '70s??
That paneling has GOT. TO. GO!

The girls' bathroom - its a good size and in good condition -
its just U.G.L.Y. it ain't got no alibi.

The master bedroom - it's so tranquil - NOT!
Paneling, and acoustic tiles, and paneling, oh my!

Yes, they think this ceiling is a highlight. Not sure why?

I just can't even . . . 

Love the beautiful backyard!!
Ugh!

Ok, so truth be told. Yes, the house is a fixer upper. Structurally this baby is sound. It has a great floor plan and the rooms are a good size. The girls and I are excited to make it our own and have been working hard for the past couple of months.

We're homeowners again!!!

 I can't wait to share all the changes we have made but that's for many, many future posts!

- Kristin