House Projects

We have been out of our duplex for one year now!  Justin and I love being homeowners.  We are not fans of the price tag that comes with owning a home but we more than enjoy being able to do what we want to the house and property.

It doesn't really seem like we've done much to the place--until somebody stops by and makes a comment and even that doesn't convince me.  I guess it's kinda like gradually losing--or gaining--weight...unless it happens overnight, you really don't notice!  Thus far, most of our projects have been pretty simple and painless.  Thankfully the house was in great structural shape so our projects have been mostly cosmetic!

Next month, we start in on the kitchen.  On our to-do list is new flooring (it's scheduled to be installed in mid-May!!!) followed by a new countertop, backsplash, hood over the stove, extra shelving and wall paint.  We're hoping we can tackle the projects over the summer when I have more time to be home, but it will be up to our bank account to dictate if and when everything happens.

Once we get the kitchen done and the landscaping put in/fence painted, we should be done with the major stuff.  Right?!  Or do homeowners continue to find things to fix/improve? 

Just the other day, I was trying to find a bookmark on my computer and I came across the visual tour from when our house went on the market.  THAT convinced me that maybe we have changed a few things so I decided to compile some Before's & After's.  I wasn't smart enough to photograph the entire house & the link has since been deleted...but here is our progress thus far!

6 months before it went on the market--appx April 2009...Thank goodness for the pending paint job!

After--Early March 2011...we can only take credit for the fence & pruned trees, the previous owner tackled the paint job!





Before--The landscaping, or lack thereof, that we inherited.  We have our work cut out!

 

After--The hostas and Brazilian Firecrackers that we planted, July 2010.



Before--The crazy, bent-up handrails that came with the house.

After--Handrails no more!  July 2010

Our crazy step in Feb 2011, it barely survived our first winter in the house...notice it's condition in the above picture

After--the replacement step, March 2011

The chimney cap that we had put on--no more "breeze" in the fireplace or jagged bricks.  Oct 2010

Before--Inside the house on closing day--living room looking into the dining room, March 2010



Before--Inside the house on closing day, living room fireplace.  March 2010

After--view from the front door/living area into the dining room, March 2011

After--Dining room facing hallway/bathroom



After--Dining room looking into part of living area

After--more of the view into the living area

After--our "entryway"

After--Living room, facing the front porch

After--Living room, facing the fireplace

 

After--From the couch, looking into dining & kitchen area



After--from the kitchen, looking into the dining & living area

Before--the bathroom when we bought the house, March 2010.  If the house wasn't an obvious bachelor pad, the bathroom was convincing!



After--the bathroom with new paint & border, May 2010



After--the Guestroom, it used to be white, white and white!



After--Now it's the "J-Money" Shrine

After--some of our K-State wall.  I just wish I had pics of the rest of the room!

Before--the hallway was the same color as the living/dining area

After--a fresh coat of "Frosted Pine," looks better in person!