I have a half written post in the draft box for the third week of the $100 food challenge.... but my heart is somewhere else today. The truth is, this house stuff is completely dominating our lives right now. All in a good way, and I truly cannot complain one bit. It's been so very busy! When I shared a bit of the recent chaos on facebook a friend replied, it seems like a good problem to have. She's so right... it's all good chaos right now.
I'm a bit leery to relax just yet, we still have an appraisal to get through, but things are looking good. The inspection went really well yesterday. It looks like we will be closing April 4th, perhaps sooner! We even have at least two families who want the house if this deal falls through. Everything seems almost too good right now, and while my first instinct is to be wary.... I'm quickly reminding myself to believe that things can work out just right every now and then.
So, while I'm riding the wave of beleiving in all things wonderful, I wanted to tell you the truth about the last three months. Joe & I have been a nervous wreck. The market has not been good here. We've watched houses sit for months unsold, or sold for really low prices. We were really concerned about having to split up the family. Joe going to RI for his new job with the teenagers to start school, me staying behind with the little kids waiting for the house to sell. We worked hours and hours a day, everyday, for the last three months finishing up the renovation projects, cleaning, and painting. We have truly poured a tremendous amount of work and love into this house. We made it a home. Selling a home is different.... it's more than just a house. You know?
And while this might be really bad financial advice.... we decided we only wanted to make back what we put into it. We weren't worried about all our time, or the tiny crumb we nibbled off the loan in the last four years. We just wanted what we put into it, and someone who would love it. We priced it a bit lower than other homes and had two offers in less than a week. The second one being exactly what we had hoped for.
Yesterday I loaded kids and dogs and cat into the van for the sixth time in 10 days. I gave Joe a good luck kiss and headed to the park while he stayed for the home inspection. Three hours later he sends me a text. "Everyone is leaving. They want it, as is. You can come home."
sigh of relief.....
He said he sat with the buyer on the covered patio and she told him how much she loved the house. She loves the color, the wood doors, the kitchen, the patio, the moulding that took Joe hours to put in. She loves all of it. I can't tell you what that meant to a man who has spent hours making a house a home.
I still owe you guys a post on kitchen cabinet refinishing.... but today, I wanted to invite you in to see what we've done over the last four years. So come on in, there's coffee and fresh donuts from the best place in town in the kitchen. Take your time and wander around. Welcome to our home.....
the formal entry, or foyer as the real estate agent likes to call it
from the foyer the kitchen & living room are to the left, the music room & bedrooms to the right
the music room (somehow the guitar collection increased these last few years!)
down the hall we come to the main bathroom
you can see the last bit of yellow peeking out from behind the shower curtain
the boys room (no more pink carpet!)
master bathroom
the living room, those french doors both open to the patio and to the left corner is a doorway into the kitchen (some good during the process photos)
we replaced all the doors with those solid wood ones, the one in this photo leads to the laundry room
the laundry room (and the tile job here)
roadside chairs and table
the kitchen, this is my favorite room in the house... that island is fantastic....
one more kitchen photo
So there it is. You can visit the whole renovation album on flickr if you'd like to see the progress and before photos. It has been such an amazing experience..... so much work.... but in the end a job well done that we are so very proud of. And most of all, a home to pass along to someone new.
{ps ~ just want to say once again to my husband, who did all the hardest work of this project and managed to renovate an entire house on evenings and weekends..... never hiring a single job out.... you amaze me. I am most certainly a lucky and very grateful wife ~ xoxo}
it is beautiful — what a wonderful gift for the new owners. and you get to go together! so much happy. xoxoxo
Posted by: Lori | February 22, 2013 at 11:16 AM
You forgot the pics of those awesome closets you have in the rooms with mega storage space!!! It's beautiful...I'm going to share this link with Bob so he can see what you've done!!
Posted by: Nancy | February 22, 2013 at 11:25 AM
Steph, I am proud of what you & Joe have done together as a team. It has turned out fantastic. No wonder the buyers fell in love with it. Thank you for sharing all the pictures .
Posted by: Elephant Lady | February 22, 2013 at 11:33 AM
And so it goes....I continue to live vicariously through you! Love this!
Posted by: klctsmom | February 22, 2013 at 11:46 AM
You got a TV! :D Its beutiful, really. And so well appointed. No wonder it sold so fast, the floors throughout are beautiful.
Posted by: TK | February 22, 2013 at 12:04 PM
What a beautiful home you've made! And now off to the adventure of a new one--so glad it's all worked out for you!
Posted by: Account Deleted | February 22, 2013 at 12:06 PM
Your home is beautiful! I'm glad everything is working out for you!
Posted by: Sarah | February 22, 2013 at 12:10 PM
Its beautiful!!! You guys did an amazing job. I know Joe did the majority of the work... but give yourself some credit too. I know you did a lot also.
Good luck with the appraisal. I work in Appraisals. If you have any questions.. let me know. I know its a totally different market than up here. But i can try to answer any question you have lol. Love ya!
Posted by: Stacy | February 22, 2013 at 12:14 PM
Wow! You guys have done an incredible amount of work in your home. It is lovely and you can see the blood, sweat and love that has gone in to it. Be proud. The new owners will be so lucky. I hope everything goes 'smooth like butter' for you!
Posted by: Susan | February 22, 2013 at 12:21 PM
It's beautiful Stephinie! I especially LOVE the island - I would love to have all butcher block countertops! Someday! Congrats on selling and hope to see you at some point on the east coast. Katie
Posted by: Katie | February 22, 2013 at 12:29 PM
Gorgeous! So happy it's all coming into place. April, though!? Wow, that's quick. And so the packing begins...hugs. xo
Posted by: landgyrl | February 22, 2013 at 01:45 PM
Such an amazing space. No wonder there's a line out the door. I can only imagine that they can feel the love and happiness in the house as they walk through... congratulations on a job well done and well recognized!
Posted by: Kerry | February 22, 2013 at 02:01 PM
wow!!! it all looks so good! you really redid e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g!!!
i can't decide if the kitchen cabinets or the master bath is my fave.
we're so happy for you guys!
Posted by: Amanda | February 22, 2013 at 04:36 PM
holy holy WOW. i would fall in love for sure. good juju, beautiful floors, tiles, patio.... it truly is amazing. bravo, you guys! best of everything to you in this move!!! (though i wish you were coming west!) : )
Posted by: kendra | February 22, 2013 at 07:18 PM
You're home is beautiful. I would buy it if it were in my neighborhood!
Posted by: ZingDay | February 23, 2013 at 01:53 AM
What an amazing house!! So lovely. I would think it would be hard to leave all that lovely renovation work!
Posted by: KC | February 23, 2013 at 08:52 AM
Your home is truly beautiful (not just in the "pretty" sense of the word, but in a "full of beauty" sort of way). The love is obvious. And to an outsider, the pictures have a sense of peace and family joy. I appreciate it as a reader, because of the inspiration and optimism it brings to my day. It helps me, as a parent to two amazing little people, to keep ideals and goals in my mind as a model for where I want my parenting to go. Just being introduced to this amazing community of bloggers, crafters, mommies, and nature-lovers helps me to know that in this crazy, overwhelming world we live in, there are still people working hard to stay grounded with their families. It makes this enormous task feel a little easier.
Years ago (before kids) my husband and I bought a 4-unit apartment building that we worked very hard to renovate. We lived in one unit and worked on all of them. I remember how hard it was to live in the mdst of the ongoing projects all the time, how I couldn't wait to be finished, and how hard it was to part with what we created when the time came to sell it. We had multiple offers, and competing bidders, and we had the opportunity to go with a buyer that we felt appreciated our home and would take care of it when we moved on. And luckily for us, the money that we earned became the foundation for this crazy, messy, wild, happy home that we live in now.
When I clicked on the links to see some of your "before" pictures, I also read a couple of your early posts. It's interesting to read about the difficulty of the transition to this house, while also having the spoilers of how much this hot hot place full of bugs and lacking organic markets would later become a home that you love. Funny what three years of hard work, strong belief, and love can do. Good luck in RI - may your next home be amazing too!
Posted by: Cheryl | February 23, 2013 at 09:40 AM
Thank you...... it feels pretty darn good to call the project "done".
Posted by: Stephinie | February 23, 2013 at 04:41 PM
Oh wonderful...... be sure to let him know the trees are al still here ;)
Posted by: Stephinie | February 23, 2013 at 04:42 PM
Thank you Grandma. It sure was a lot of hard work, but it seems to be paying off with the quick sell! *fingers crossed* for the appraisal!
Posted by: Stephinie | February 23, 2013 at 04:42 PM
Thank you K :)
Posted by: Stephinie | February 23, 2013 at 04:43 PM
We did :) I knew someone would notice.... lol. No cable, but we were tired of squishing around a 13 inch laptop for movie night! Thank you for the house compliments.... I just hope everything continues to go smoothly..... it's worked out so well I want to pinch myself!
Posted by: Stephinie | February 23, 2013 at 04:44 PM
We're dreaming of a little more space to wiggle and some chickens..... we shall see.....
Posted by: Stephinie | February 23, 2013 at 04:44 PM
Thank you so much!
Posted by: Stephinie | February 23, 2013 at 04:45 PM
Home prices have gone up in the last four years and we did a lot of work to the kitchen and renovated both bathrooms. Hopefully it adds a good chunk of value. This house selling business sure wreaks havocs on your nerves!
Posted by: Stephinie | February 23, 2013 at 04:46 PM