Sandy's Little House

[Tiramisu]

I'll add more as I do work and move in. Should close before the end of the month and I have the apartment until the end of October. On a corner lot, just under a half acre for gardening, fences on two sides, quiet, secluded area, built in 1980, I plan to decorate it retro.

I'm very thankful that I was able to get this little house.

[gja1000]

Oh sandy, it is perfect! I just love the yard, so pretty! And so much space. I love having enough space for a garden. Your cabinets look very much like mine. My house was built in 87. I can't wait to see the rest of your house. Aren't you excited! It will be ALL YOURS! I love the idea of retro. What does that mean to you? 50's, 60's or something else? I have a lot of antiques, but not retro although I love the 60's look.

[Janet]

Sandy it's so cute!!!! I love the look and the yard ...just everything. Please post more pictures. I am so happy for you!

[Tiramisu]

Thanks Gayle, I am excited and overwhelmed at the same time, but thankful to have 3 months to get moved and it is livable now. 60s would be my favorite, but I was thinking the late 70s early 80s. The aluminum Formica table and chrome diner type chairs. A bookcase headboard bed. I don't need much furniture but the front door opens to the living/dining room for I want that decorated cute.

I love but got tired of earth tones and dead animals for decor. I want to hit garage sales Nd flea markets to find a couple pieces of used furniture.

This house reminds me some of the house I grew up in. I'd love to find A red leather sofa like we had in the 60s. Maybe I can at least find a recliner to go with what I have.

I plan to paint the walls in off whites and soft colors. Biggest challenge is low ceilings. Not sure how to get the necessary ceiling fans in.

Call me happy.

[gja1000]

Sounds great Sandy! Will the ceilings accommodate flush mount fans? They don't put out as much air, but it helps. There are also come really cute decorator fans that will help move more air. I saw some at Cracker Barrel, like a bird fan or something.

[JJJ]

Congratulations!!!!! that's wonderful.

That's a cute little house and I love the yard space. My next house must have a big yard.

[judy]

What a perfect house, Sandy! It is just perfect for you. You have such a nice yard too! You can have so much fun planting. I can just see lots of bird feeders in there too!

It does look like move in condition in the kitchen. What a great thing that is! My house was that way, and it made a world of difference!

I am so happy for you!

Congratulations on your new home!!!

:congrats::congrats:
:cheer::cheer::cheer:

[Lindsey]

That is so cute Sandy! A perfect little project for you! I love the yard, it's so spacious! Congratulations on your new house!

[DianaB]

What a darling little house!!! I love the front porch!!! I can see a couple of ferns hanging from it!!!

The kitchen looks just wonderful!!! And in such good shape!!! I hope the rest is in as good of shape as it is!!! How awesome that you get to redecorate the way YOU want it......not accomodate someone else's tastes!!! I bet you'll have it decorated so cute in no time!!!!

[Marilyn]

Very cute little house!!!! Soooo happy for you!!!

[Tiramisu]

Closing on Friday!

[Blueyes]

Congrats Sandy! I know you're ready to get settled.

[gja1000]

YAY! I know you will be so happy to get this settled. Now, if the moving fairy would just come move you! LOL!!!

[DianaB]

You know that we're going to need more pictures after you move in!!! (We're snoopy and want to see it ALL!!!)

[Janet]

Yay!!! So happy for you! Diana is right, we'll be reminding you of pictures once you're moved in.

[gja1000]

Oh yes and pictures please!

[judy]

Ditto!!!:):):)

[Tiramisu]

Oh, there will be pictures when I get that key.

[Janet]

How much longer till we see some inside pics Sandy????? I'm really anxious to see your new home from the inside now. The outside is so beautiful and comfy looking.

[Tiramisu]

I foumd some errors on the survey that I wouldn't accept, so I haven't closed. I got an email from the title company late today that the errors have been corrected, so maybe Thursday.

I'm a b---- on things like that ... It's not a lot of money, but it's my money!

[judy]

That is a good thing, Sandy!!!

[Tiramisu]

Set to close at 11 a.m. tomorrow. Title company sent wiring instructions, so by noon tomorrow I'll be broke again!

[DianaB]

Did you get the papers signed today!!! I hope so.....I'm so excited for you!!!!

[Tiramisu]

Drove out after work and trimmed back an overgrown gardenia that was against the house. An across the street neighbor came over to introduce himself. Disappointed that it will be Thursday before I can get power, but I have packing to do. AC man's coming tomorrow evening.

I took some phone pictures that I'll try to post on a happier day.

[Tiramisu]

Drove out after work and trimmed back an overgrown gardenia that was against the house. An across the street neighbor came over to introduce himself. Disappointed that it will be Thursday before I can get power, but I have packing to do. AC man's coming tomorrow evening.

I have many cool things planned for my house I took some phone pictures that I'll try to post on a happier day.

[Tiramisu]

Overwhelmed is my much used word lately.

I've scrubbed and cleaned everything. I've patched all nail holes, decided to keep the carpet, central ac/heat to be installed Friday, handyman to start this week, will finish guest room paint today, spent the night, slept on air mattress, drank a beer on my front porch last night, had a cup of coffee in my house this morning, will measure all windows and go shade and curtain shopping on my way back to apartment this afternoon.

Overwhelmed.

[JJJ]

Overwhelmed is my much used word lately.

I've scrubbed and cleaned everything. I've patched all nail holes, decided to keep the carpet, central ac/heat to be installed Friday, handyman to start this week, will finish guest room paint today, spent the night, slept on air mattress, drank a beer on my front porch last night, had a cup of coffee in my house this morning, will measure all windows and go shade and curtain shopping on my way back to apartment this afternoon.

Overwhelmed.

Your in your home now :D

Very soon your house will be the cozy home you will be looking forward to sleep in. I can't wait to see pics.

[Janet]

I'm so happy for you Sandy! I know you're going to make it beautiful.

[Janet]

I know you said a brush fire was near your apartment complex...are the fires near your new home?

[Tiramisu]

No Janet, there haven't been any there that I know of. It's called New Caney, just northeast of Houston. My daughter said the one yesterday was arson. I got HR at exxonmobil to make time off for wildfire an excused with pay charge, so my tech won't be using all her vacation.

[Janet]

You're such a caring person Sandy. I'm glad your new home will be safe.

[gja1000]

I've been worried about your new home too, Sandy. I'm glad to hear that it is safe!

[DianaB]

I'm glad that everything's safe too.

[Tiramisu]

It worked ... front when I first saw it 3 months ago and last weekend ... out my kitchen window ... back side of house where I cut down the overgrown gardenia.

[Tiramisu]

Back with new AC, dining room looking into kitchen (need suggestions on remodeling this) dining looking across living to bedroom area.

[gja1000]

Oh I just love the pics of the new house! I am really bad at remodeling or decorating, but one thing I would do is paint the paneling. We had one wall paneled in our old house and I was simply amazed at how good it looked after I painted it. I loved being about to see the wood grain, even though it was off white. It will brighten up the house so much. I'd also put a nicer bar area between the dining and kitchen and I would paint or take out that paneling that is there now. I would leave it open at the top but put a half wall there with a snack bar that sticks out toward the dining room where I would put some bar stools for extra eating space. One side of our kitchen island sticks out and we have two bar stools there and I eat there a lot, even though we now have a little table in the kitchen as well as a table in the dining room.

[Tiramisu]

Thanks Gayle ... So you painted the paneling thinly to let the grain show through? My plan is to paint the paneling all eggshell, then paint some of the "boards" in a glaze or gloss to make the ceilings look higher. I want a crafty bar top, maybe a big slice of a tree with unfinished edges. Then, I want to either leave those cabinets over the bar open or put glass panels in.

Obviously, I've dropped the retro design since I wasn't having luck finding furniture in my price budget. Now, I'm trying for country comfy!

[gja1000]

No I didn't paint the paneling thinly, but the pattern of the grain showed through the paint, not the actual brown grain. Sorry for the confusion. I think your idea of glazing some of the panels is a great idea.

We constructed a bar (only about 4 foot long) that was a slice out of a cedar tree (actually two slices glued together - and you couldn't see the seam) - it was about 2 feet wide. We left the edge a little rough, but we had it all heavily lacquered (we had it professionally cut and finished) so that it looked very rustic, and the edge looked rough, yet was completely safe to eat or work on. Gary got two Y-branches off cedar trees, striped the bark off and I varnished them and then he used them as supports under the bar. They looked really cool.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of have glass doors on the kitchen cabinets. I think that is very cool.

[Lindsey]

Love the house Sandy! I can't wait to see how it looks when you start working on it! I have painted panelling a couple of times. In my condo, there was panelling around the fireplace and it was pretty dark. II wanted it white. used two coats of primer and two or three coats of paint to cover all the dark spots that kept showing through!

I also love glass panels in upper cabinets! Two cabinets in my kitchen have frosted glass... It looks really nice but you can't really tell how cluttered things are behind it :D

[Janet]

I love the glass doors on the cabinets too. I couldn't have them though...my cabinets are so packed with things, I need to get them cleaned out real bad....lol.

You might just get you some magazines and see if there is anything in them you like or look at images in the style you're interested in online.

[DianaB]

I really like Gayle's suggestions!! My daughter has painted her paneling and it looks really nice. It would really brighten your house! I like the idea of glass doors in the upper cabinets. You can buy glass that has designs in it and is harder to see through if you're worried about seeing things through it.

[Tiramisu]

Thanks for all your ideas. Jeff tried to talk be out of painting the paneling, but I told him I need to do it!!!!!! He said it won't be a problem working the cabinets and suggested lowering the bar area. I liked his ideas.

Awesome couple of days ... Jeff came in last evening so we went out to eat and goofed off a little. He got my water heater lite, put the outside step handrails in, fixed a couple of loose doors, put all new lightbulbs in, and headed home before noon to do his chores there.

The central ac is in and working really well. All I have left to do is get the carpet cleaned andi can move.

[gja1000]

Yay! I do agree with lowering the bar!

[Tiramisu]

I didn't do much more at the house, but didn't want to come back to the apartment, picked up for the carpet cleaners. I'm about to start going through my closet to minimize clothes. No need to keep moving things I can't wear.

I've decided to spend the extra money for the stove top and wall oven and not lose cabinets. I'll lower the bar to cabinet height and either leave the top cabinets open or glassed.

[judy]

I missed a few days...who is Jeffrey?

The house is going to be perfect! Looking at the pictures, it is amazing, sitting there with that beautiful lawn!

Good appliances are so important. I think you are making a good choice. IK bought a low end dishwasher last year, and the door hinge is broken already. It doesn't pay to fix it because the whole thing has to be moved out from under the counter, and the side taken off. My advice....buy good stuff!

[Tiramisu]

Judy, Jeff's my son!

While I was waiting today for a between 3 to 7 wait window for the carpet cleaners, they called to confirm tomorrow's appt. imagine me explaining that to my boss!

[gja1000]

LOL Sandy - you've got too much on your plate right now!

[Tiramisu]

Yes, and I'm taking a break to lighten my load.

[Janet]

In hope your boss is an understanding boss.. :) I agree that you need to take a break Sandy. You've been so busy, so stop and enjoy everything around you.

[DianaB]

That's great that your boss would let you off!! Soon you'll be all moved in and things will all be settled!!! I hope you can get things all figured out with your soon to be ex!!!

[Blueyes]

Everybody has given you great ideas! I would only add to be sure to use Kilz on the paneling before you paint:D Everything is going to be so cute! I'm happy for you Sandy!