Our new house!

After living behind Pizza Hut for 8 LONG months we finally have a new home! This house is really special to us because it is our first "forever" house. Obviously I would never say that this is the house we will be in for life, if I know anything it is that we are totally unpredictable ha! But we do have every intention on being in this house for a long time, hence the enormous amount of work we want to do to it.

Buying this house has been a rough journey for us. We still have our house in Tolono and despite the fact that it is in a great neighborhood, unbelievably cheaply priced (like makes me sick to my stomach priced) and just plain adorable...we can't sell it. I could go on and on about how unbelievable the housing and lending situations are but instead we decided to suck it up and rent it out until it gets better. 

Anyway, the rental situation here in Midland isn't the best when you have two dogs and a toddler so after having just about enough of Pizza Hut we decided to start looking. After about 17,000 phone calls, TONS of paperwork and selling my kidney we were able to find a company here in Michigan willing to float us a second mortgage. It is amazing what the letters PhD behind your name will accomplish LOL. Although I'm pretty sure our new home is owned by the mafia, it was all well worth it to finally have a place of our own with a yard and plenty of room for guests.

A little about the house- it was built in 1979 and the upstairs was just updated this winter to help sell it. Not the case downstairs though...it is 70's central down there. So here we go, I'm sharing these as our "before" pictures because there are PLENTY of things to be done to this house to make it more "us". I'm taking some inspiration from my new favorite blog (younghouselove.com thanks for sharing Ash W!) and want to document all the transformations.

Welcome to 2904 Georgetown Dr!

The front of the house. We are in need of a major landscape overhaul, basketball hoop removal (who puts a basketball hoop there?!) and a fresh coat of updated paint on the outside. All projects for next summer. Good thing I like to paint!

Come on in everyone! Layla is very excited to be your tour guide. Here she is greeting you at the front door.

View when you walk into the front door. We have the kitchen to the right, formal living room straight ahead, coat closet and hallway to the bedrooms on the left. Plans for this space includes paint and some wall art.

Another shot of the living room. The window looks out to the backyard. Layla LOVES to sit on her dinosaur and watch the birds and squirrels out there. This room will get a complete transformation with new furniture, paint...and Bryan wants a new TV (maybe in 25 years).

Another shot of the living room looking back to the foyer.

The dining room is right off the living room and connects to the eat in area of the kitchen. We need paint and a hutch or buffet or something here...

We are back in the foyer looking into the kitchen, eat-in area and family room.

Another view of the kitchen. We don't have any real plans other than some paint and new flooring. Not sure if we will do tile or hardwood in here. I'm sure I'll take a poll on that one at some point.

Family room that is currently being used as Layla's playroom. She is the only toddler I know with a fireplace in her play area. LOL. I know we are crazy but I just couldn't give up the living room for her toys. We still need to do some major baby proofing around the fireplace but other than that, this is perfect for her. All this room needs is a coat of paint and glass replacement on the fireplace (ewww to gold fixtures). You can see the screened in porch through the double windows in this room.

Currently my least favorite room (besides the entire creepy basement). This porch is right off the eat-in area of the kitchen. We need some paint, new screen door, something new on the floor and furniture here (those Illini chairs and step ladder just don't cut it).

Our backyard! Currently we have more woods than grass...something we found to be pretty typical here. Michigan people love their trees...and I'm trying to learn to live with them. It is nice because our house and backyard are SO cool with all the shade, but the bugs...oh the bugs. At some point we are going to have to cut some of these down and make room for a play set. I'm sure there will be a fort out there when Layla gets older. :)

Here we have the laundry room. I'm pretty sure the Lowe's guys had never seen someone so excited about a washer and dryer in their life. I almost cried when they were showing me how to use them. I practically hug and kiss the washer and dryer goodnight every night...I'm so in love with them. We've had nothing but problems with every washer/dryer we've ever touched but I have a feeling these babies will be around for awhile.

We have a half bath right down the hall from the laundry room and by the garage door (plus another closet). Need some paint, fixtures and new floors in here too.

Now for the bedrooms! Here we have our office, this window faces the front of the house. I have lots of plans for this room! New paint, lots of shelves and a place to display my photography.

Another view of the office. Desk and bookshelves compliments of Ashley and Eric, thanks you guys!

Come on Mommy, I want to show them my room!

And here is Layla and Oscar enjoying some rocking time in her room.

Here is a better shot. I'm trying to decide when to redo Layla's room. I'm going to try to put her in a "big girl" bed right after she turns two. Maybe then we'll get to work on her big girl room. I'm thinking cupcake themed for now but that is subject to change. 

I can't wait to paint in here! Still trying to convince Daddy that blue walls will be the way to go. But we'll just enjoy the Paris theme for now. 

Here is the guest bedroom. First on this list is a bed frame for in here LOL. Then we'll work on the rest.

Layla's bathroom. Still working on this one...need more ideas!

Our bathroom. I think we'll do a coat of paint and be done in here.

Layla in our closet. She locked me in there while I was getting a sweater. We have a lock on the basement door and she hasn't figured out the locks on the outside doors but bedrooms and closets are game on!

Our bedroom. Yes...that Jumparoo is still used (pathetic I know)

Besides some paint and more decor we obviously need to either hire a priest or buy some furniture coasters. Our top drawers will not stay shut! A ghost or leveling problem? We'll find out as soon as we stop being lazy and get something under those front legs. LOL

The dogs love the new place!

Overall not too much work needs to be done, just the perfect amount to keep us busy and make the place our own. One thing you won't see for a long time- pictures of the basement. Until I can go down there by myself (I'm too scared now) you'll just have to use your imagination. Their is a drop ceiling, dark wood paneling for the walls, a few windows, a bedroom and another bathroom down there...ALL needing updated. It will be a huge job that will have to wait until we get everything else done. I promise to get before and after pictures but that job is going to wait until our house in Tolono is sold.

Hope you enjoyed the tour! Can't wait to start posting those "after" pictures!