Janet, I grew up in a small house with 6 people, too. My dad worked at night so I shared a bed with my mom and the boys shared the other one.

Mike and I built a big house a couple of years after we got married, and lived in it for 24 years. I had to get rid of SO much stuff to fit in to our next house! Now I get rid of things as it accumulates so I don't have clutter...not that clutter bothers me...I just need to keep my life as simple as possible:rolleyes:

Ok girls.. here's a pic of the new carpet. After the installers left, I called in the inspectors to make sure it was installed properly:D
Lucy looks like she is peeing but I promise she's not.

Hi Paula! I really like the carpet!!! And the inspectors look like they are doing a great job! :D

I grew up in a tiny 2 bedroom house with five people - only I was the step child........

My step sister moved out shortly after I moved in (at age 5) and my step brother had the second bedroom, so I slept on a rollaway bed that we kept in the hall during the day and I had to roll out every night. There was a tiny tiny closet in the hall with 2 drawers where I kept my stuff. When I was 13 my s-brother went off to college and I got the bedroom, but had to vacate every time he came home! :mad:

Everyone I knew lived in a similar house, so I really didn't know much else existed.

When I got married (the first time) we built a 3 bedroom house, about 1500 sq ft, I think. It was nice, but got sold in the divorce.

Then Gary and I got married and moved to Austin. I was in school so we bought a little 1200 sq ft 3 bedroom house. We have just stayed in it, but 8 years ago, Gary built on 800 sq ft more, a den, an office, and a BIG closet. We'll probably never sell this house, unless the neighborhood just gets really bad. Right now it is a funky little multiethnic neighborhood and we have known some of our neighbors for 24 years, and other neighbors change every six months!

I don't have too many projects I'd like to do, cuz I'm not much into my house - but I would like to paint the kitchen cabinets. They are the cheap original ones in the house that was built 28 years ago. My daughter says I need to get rid of my butcher block formica counter tops, but I still love them. They don't show a THING! :D

Betsi, you should post a picture of your cabinets since they are opposite of Paula's - I really need to do something, but not sure what to do. I like Paula's and I'd like to see yours.

We will need to change out the tub in our bathroom sometime, as it is fiberglass and has some chips in it. I'd like to do some more rock work in the front yard - get rid of more grass = less watering. I'll do that sometime, not sure when. :p

Gayle... it's easier than ya think to paint your cabinets and inexpensive too. We put a coat of Kilz primer on first, I should tell you that our cabinets have like a plastic coated finish on the doors. After you primer, put two coats of whatever color of paint that you like and YooHoo! New cabinets:) I never thought I would like doing stuff like this because everything costs so much, but I must say that after I got started painting, well an example would be.... my stepdaughter spent 10,000 on a new kitchen and we couldn't afford that so I found some paint samples at Lowe's, started a project and now I am starting to redo alot in our house. We have spent about 40.00 on paint and primer for the kitchen, can't beat that:)

I'll take some pictures tomorrow, Gayle.

Your carpet looks great Paula! I LOVE to do stuff to my house...paint, wallpaper, blinds...I can do it all:p

Thanks Betsi! And thanks Paula for the encouragement. I know my kitchen would look much better with painted cabinets!!!

Paula, I really like your new carpet!!! I love the color!!! I saw some shag carpet somewhere and they've improved it to where it won't mat so bad. That's one thing that I remembered about the old shag. BTW--I had one of those plastic rakes for my shag too!!!!

Love the carpet Paula, the color is perfect.

Thank you for compliments. The color of the carpet is speckled oak, I think the room turned out pretty good. Here's a pic after we got the furniture back in there today. Pretend that you don't see the babies crate, I hate those being in there but that's where they are used to sleeping at night.:)

There should be a table with a lamp on it in front of the window between the sofa and chair, but hubby has a small TV on it in the corner:rolleyes: He will have help this evening and will get the big TV moved back in the living room. Then my end table and lamp will be where they belong again. Isn't it funny........ Men and their TV's and Women and their computers:D

This is a great thread! Lindsey - I love your floor. Paula - I love the cabinets and the carpeting. The dogs too! I think the house will sell easily. It's lovely! Diana - I have the same ironing board, which I use as a sitting stool in the kitchen. It was my mother's. It's painted yellow at the moment, but I am going to change it.

I am organizing the closets, cabinets, the pantry, etc. I want to feel like the house is mine at last, and I realized that everything needs to be put exactly where I want it. I have not felt like I am home yet. I need everything organized. I guess I may be a bit OCD, but I don't have much stress because I am so organized. I am doing one job every day or so. The basement needs doing too. I learned today when I went down there to check the oil level. I put boxes down there for storage, and it smells moldy. The cartons are damp. They need to be moved! I have to make room somewhere, or else, put some of it out in the garbage.

I spent about 2 weeks feeling totally overwhelmed by the prospect of reorganizing my things, but then I just started doing it, and it's fine. I was going to do the pantry today, but....However, the day is not over yet!

I'm also getting a new floor for the downstairs. Jessie told me today about Home Depot's Allure vinyl planks that supposedly look just like wood, and are so easy to take care of. They are a bit pricey, but I have been saving. Has anyone heard anything about them? I hate the flooring I have now. It's beautiful, but much too high maintenance.

Paula it's beautiful and has such a homey feel...I love it. I pretty much like my house....for the post part, but I really wish I had different furniture and flooring.

Thank you Judy and Janet:)

Judy, this thread has been a fun one for me. Everyone just starting joining in with their ideas and pictures and suggestions. I loved it!