Marital harmony is already disturbed by the name of this blog. Rob doesn't think our new house is a fixer-upper at all - he thinks it just requires some "cosmetic enhancements". I agree that the work is all cosmetic, but the point is that it isn't just "some" cosmetic enhancements. Every single inch is in need of cosmetic enhancement. But, all the big stuff is done - the roof is new, windows have all been replaced, the furnace is new, and the foundation is in great shape. We know the systems are good, and, while the ones in our current home were fine, at its age we were constantly worried about things going wrong.
We get possession of the house on April 29th, and move in on May 30th. Our work is divided into three phases: right away (to be done before we move in), short term (to be done after we move in, but not long after), and long term. The long term jobs should be completed within two years.
So. Here goes the 'Before' tour. Keep in mind that these photos were taken during the house inspection. All furniture and decor belongs to the current owner, and will be gone when we take ownership of the house. As well, all rooms will be painted, and all seafoam green carpet will be removed and burned so that it will never torture anyone's eyeballs again.
This is the entryway. The tile is quite new, and is in very good shape. It extends into the kitchen. Despite it being in good shape, we don't like it. So, its days are numbered.
This is the living room. It is quite spacious and has a lovely bay window. Despite my horrid track record with plants I intend to dust off my green thumb and fill this with some nice plants. That is our realtor sitting on the couch.
This is the dining room. Big changes will be happening here. The window will be replaced by sliding doors out to the deck/yard/pool. The wall on the left will be opened up, to provide a breakfast bar from the kitchen.
Ah, the kitchen. The whole thing is going. We'll be putting in new tile floor, new cabinets, new countertop, new sink, and new appliances. The cabinets are in pretty good shape, so we'll be saving some of them for use in the laundry room.
The tiny main floor powder room is, how should I put it.... hideous. But fear not, we have big plans for this little room. In the short term it will get spruced up with a new vanity and toilet, and the offensive wall tile will be removed. Long term we are going to steal some space from the hallway next door and make a larger main floor bath/laundry room.
This will be a big job, so I might have to live with the psychedelic blue floor tile for a little while, at least. Sigh. But I do think my striped sock really adds to the overall look.
This door is currently the only way to access the deck/yard/pool. We'll be removing it when we place the new doors off the dining room, and this hall will become part of the bath/laundry room.
This is the fireplace in the main floor family room. It was wood, but was converted to gas. It is going to be re-converted back to wood to fulfill Rob's dreams of crackling wood fires, and the mantel is going to be demolished and replaced with something less a) hideous and 2) lethal for small children.
The door you see on this wall is the only entry from the garage into the house. Despite the convenience of an entry into the house from the garage, we dislike the fact that it enters into the family room without a mudroom. So, this door is going bye-bye. Seeya, strange door.
The family room is a good size. Plenty of room for a nice, sectional sofa. Because if Rob gets his wood fireplace, I get a couch I can stretch out on, dang it!
So that is your 5 cent tour of the main floor. Lets head upstairs, shall we? Please put on your protective goggles to keep your retinas from being burned by the assault of seafoam green wall to wall carpet. Underneath the carpet is more hardwood, which will all be refinished once the carpet is gone. All rooms and closets will be getting new doors.
These are the stairs. We'll be putting in a new bannister once the carpet is gone.
This is bedroom one. Office. Will be painted, and have refinished hardwood.
This is bedroom two. Guest room. Will be painted, and have refinished hardwood.
This is bedroom three. Patrick's room. Hardwood. It will be decorated like space. I particularly love how it was staged with one peice of old lawn furniture. Hee.
This is the main bathroom. It is the only room in the house that doesn't need a whole lot of work. A coat of paint and new faucets and showerhead is all it really needs! Whooop!
This is the master bedroom. Quite spacious. Lots of closet space. Will be painted, and have refinished hardwood.
Here we have the master "ensuite" powder room. Complete with pink toilet and, you got it, seafoam green carpet. Underneath the carpet in here is icky cream coloured vinyl tile. This will be getting a new toilet and vanity in the short term, and probably something inexpensive but non-grungy on the flor. In the long term the room will be completely renovated with new tile, and expanded by stealing a few feet from the master bedroom in order to put in a shower.
And last, and least, of the inside... the basement. Nice and spacious, high and dry, but hideous in a way that only people in 1973 were able to accomplish. This will be getting a full gut-and reno with pot lights, drywall, and berber carpet with nice underpad... but I have promised Rob that he can have at least one poker night down here with the place in its current state before we rip it all out and start fresh.
The stairs look nice and safe.
This room is quite spacious. The photo doesn't show it, but the behind the bar lighting is genius.
This room (office? extra bedroom? what?) is also deceptively large. We will probably turn the whole area into a playroom with a small storage/office area.
Finally, what we can see of the deck, yard and pool. The pool is huge, there isn't much yard, but we are psyched. I am already keeping my eye on craigslist for a big slide. We can't wait to get a look at it once the snow melts.
So, those are the before photos. We'll keep you updated once work begins in May... and anyone handy out there who'd like to lend a hand, you know where to find me.
I love it!!! It will be perfect...it already has so much going for it...a pool, nice big windows. It's great.
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