House #1 Tour

Welcome to our first home. This page shows the before and after transformations of just about everything. We bought a cookie-cutter builder grade home and started adding character little by little.

Exterior

Front Yard: 85% Complete

•  Relocate the plants in the flowerbed tothe backyard
•  Install varying types of holly bushes inthe front flowerbed
• Paint front door ‘landing’ with concrete paint (Brown)
•  Extend the flower bed
• Plant a tree (Forest Pansy Redbud
• Plant a hedge on side of garage (to disguisethe meters on side of house)
• Plan a raised flowerbed on East side ofhouse
•  Install carriage lights on either side ofgarage door
• Cover the underground utility boxes
• Spray paint the utility meters on theside of house
• Border the flowerbed with brick pavers
• Switch out ugly plants with better ones
• Cut down October Glory Maple Tree
•  Replace October Glory Maple Tree with aBrandywine Maple Tree (decided not to) 
•  Caulk the header of garage
• Pressure wash the driveway (we try to do it every other year)
• Touch up paint the top of the chimney 
• Create a professional-looking raised brick border for flowerbed

This was taken in August 2008. We were 'stalking', looking at this house and knew we wanted it from the very beginning. We loved the neighborhood and this house had potential.

Backyard: 95% Complete

•    Install a fence for the dogs
•    Pour an extension to the existing patio(10’x20’)
•    Paint patio and extension with concrete paint (brown)
•    Build a sitting wall on patio extension
•   Rent a sod-cutter to remove grass in new flower beds
•    Line the fence with a rubber border to keep mulch in the flowerbeds and not our neighbors’ yards.
•    Paint the rubber lining on fence brown
•     Plant trees 
• (Crepe Mrytles, Eagleston Holly, Teddy Bear Magnolia, Redbuds, Ivory Silk Lilac)
•    Create flagstone path from gate to porch
•   Switch porch light out with outdoor fan/light
•    Add another spotlight and hook it up to existingspotlight
•    Border the flowerbeds with TN Cobblestone
•    Install a sprinkler system
•    Plant lots of plants! 
• (Knockout Roses,  Parsoni Juniper, Holly, Azaleas, Laurel, Tea Olive)
•    Start dividing plants
•    Remove diseased rose bushes
•    Plant new plants to replace rose bushes ( Part 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
•  Add some extra lighting (Part 1, Part 2)
• Turn my pretty pot into a solar water fountain
•   Screen in the porch

Backyard - before

Backyard - before

Backyard - September 2013

Interior

Living Room: 50% Complete

• Take out WHITE carpet
• Install  5 inch wide engineering hardwood
• Buy a sectional couch and rearrange room
• Paint the walls Fairmont Penthouse Stone 6008-1C by American Tradition 
•  Create a collage on the wall above couch
• Add 4.5 inch Louver Shutters to replace blinds
• Add two new windows
• Paint the mantel
• Change the fireplace surround

Living Room with white carpet and dark walls - before

Living Room  - December 2013
Wall Color: Fairmont Penthouse Stone 6008-1C by American Tradition

Dining Room: 80% Complete

• Take out WHITE carpet
• Install  5 inch wide engineering hardwood
• New faceplates for the light switches
• A properly sized rug for under thetable
• Hang sconces
• Hang shelves above small buffet tocreate the look of a hutch
• Create a drum shade to go over thechandelier
• Replace curtains with shutters (more light)
• Cut off the curvy detail on the bottom of the chandelier
• Refinish the table and chairs

 Wall Color: Portabella SW6102 by Sherwin Williams
 Trim Color: Pacer White SW 6098 by Sherwin Williams

Dining Room - Before

Dining Room - January 2013

Dining Room - December 2013
Wall Color: Portabella SW6102 by Sherwin Williams

Bonus Room: 60% Complete

• Take out WHITE carpet
• Install freize carpet
• Install a fan with light
• Install canned lighting
• Paint the walls blue 
• (SW Duration in Matte. Colors: Dark Pewter UL260-20 and Antique Tin UL260-21)
• Create the look of built-inbookshelves
• Add cable outlet
• Install our own internet outlets (two)
• Add shelving to the closet
• Add more windows
• Create a nook where the new windows will go for a desk area
• Foam insulate the attic (Part 1, Part 2)
• Install a programmable thermostat

Bonus Room - Before

Bedroom #4 / Bonus Room - June 2013
Wall Colors: Dark Pewter UL260-20 and Antique Tin UL260-21 by Behr

Bonus Room Bathroom: 90% Complete.

• Paint the walls Bonsai by Valspar
• Add more lighting (vanity? canned?)

Upstairs Bathroom
Wall Color: Bonsai by Valspar

Kitchen: 35% Complete

• Paint the walls ‘Pine Needle’ EB23-2 by Eddie Bauer Home by Valspar
• Install a 20x20 tile over the existing laminate floor
• Switch out the lights over the island
• Install window treatments in kitchen
• Upgrade the electric range to a gas range
• Switch out the cabinet knobs
• Install cabinet “feet”
• Install more shelves in thecabinets
• Install an internet plug for the computer
• Create a desk area in the kitchennook
• Install more shelving in thepantry
• Switch out the nook chandelier
• Find a solution for fruit/vegetable storage on counter
• Board and batten style coffered ceiling
• Install new countertops
• Install a backsplash
• Install an apron-front deep sink
• Install a bridge faucet
• Get a quieter dishwasher!!! With a deeper top rack.
• Extend the island
• Update island (framing)
• New drawer fronts (to accommodate new handles)
• New drawer pulls
• Paint the island
• Install undercabinet lighting (use the switch that currently controls the light over the sink)
• Butcher block top for island

Kitchen - Before

Kitchen - December 2013
Wall Color: ‘Pine Needle’ EB23-2 by Eddie Bauer
Cabinet Stain: Fruitwood

Kitchen - December 2013

Bedroom #2: 95% Complete

• Take out WHITE carpet
• Install freize carpet
• Install a fan with light
• Paint the walls ‘Raffia’ NA53 by RalphLauren
• Create Twin Bed Corner piecereplica of Pottery Barn’s
• Create a Nautical (not boat) theme
• Add shelving to the closet
• Hang propellers on the wall
• Refinish the rocking chair
• Refinish the crib
• Attach bookcases to the walls(Safety measures for tipping over)
• Sew new curtains with blackoutliner
• Paint the walls a gray color
• Find a dresser to go where the crib currently is

Bedroom #2
Wall Color: Bonsai by Valspar

Bedroom #3: 90% Complete

• Take out WHITE carpet
• Install freize carpet
• Install a fan with light
• Paint the walls 'Terrarium' FA40 by The FreshAire Choice
• Create replica art from Crate and Barrel
• Install a shelf up high behind the door
• Add more shelving to the closet
• Create a pallet wall backgroundfor crib (and later a desk)
• Create elephant artwork for theroom
• Refinish the hand-me-down crib
• Sew new curtains with blackout liner
• Paint the dresser and tall boy
• Find a desk that will later replace the crib

Bedroom #3
Wall Color: Terrarium FA40 by The FreshAire Choice

Guest Bathroom: 80% Complete

• Paint the walls 'Bonsai' 345-2
• Paint the picture frame black to go with the other artwork
• Hang shower curtain as tall as I can (I love my shower curtain too much to get rid of it.)
• Install a new toilet handle
• Replace the broken toilet handle
• Upgrade the vanity lighting
• Replace the tile with the same tile in the kitchen

Guest Bathroom - Before

Guest Bathroom - After
Wall Color: Bonsai by Valspar

Staircase: 95% Complete

• Take out WHITE carpet
• Install pretty berber carpet
• Switch out light fixture
• Create a collage
• Re-do the collage
• Paint the wall

Staircase - Before

Staircase -  June 2013
Wall Color: Brown Bag by Glidden

Master Bedroom:85% Complete

• Take out WHITE carpet
• Install shag carpet
• Paint the walls 'Azure Snow' 5001-1A by American Tradition for Valspar
• Paint the walls 'Elephant Skin' UL260-5 by Behr
• Paint the walls 'Stone Manor' 6006-2A by American Tradition for Valspar
• Paint the walls Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore
• Paint the trey ceiling
• Buy a King size mattress set
• Build a headboard/footboard for new king size bed
• Get a new duvet cover for the new king-size bed
• Install canned lighting

Master Bedroom - before

Master Bedroom - September 2013
Wall Color: Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore

Master Bathroom: 40% Complete

• Paint the wall 'Bayou Sand' 343D-3
• Tile another foot above the shower
• Install a chandelier over the tub
• Add shelving in the toilet room
• Add shelving to the master closet
• Upgrade the vanity lighting
• Replace the tile with the same tile in kitchen
• Replace the window with something prettier (stained glass?)
• Rip out surround shower and install an all-tile shower

Master Bathroom - Before

Master Bathroom - Present
Wall Color: Bayou Sand' 343D-3

Foyer: 90% Complete

• Paint the walls 'Portico' by Sherwin Williams
• Refinish the table
• Replace door bell
• Install peep hole in door
• Install train shelf with heavy duty anchors
• Install a storm door to let morelight in
• Install a new handleset
• Reinforce the exterior door framing
• Install a new deadbolt
• Paint the front door navy
• Switch out the light fixture
• Install an automatic timer forporch light
• Rip out the tile
• Replace tile with brick pavers (I love that look)

Foyer - Before

Foyer - After
Wall Color: Portico by Sherwin Williams

Laundry Room: 95% Complete

• Install 20x20 tiles over existing laminate floor
• Install more shelving
• Install more shelving in closet
• Install even MORE shelving
• Add a light to the closet
• Paint the walls 'Hale Navy' by Benjamin Moore