Home at 6 Weeks!

It’s been about six weeks since I moved into my new home. Everything worked out well with the mortgage, though the day of closing was a bit hectic. (I had to wire the closing funds to the title company, and it all happened 5 minutes before the bank shut down the wire for transfers! Eek!)

So far, things are going well. I painted two rooms and have hung some art and pictures. I did some minor landscaping and have attempted to seed the grass. Though results on that are questionable due to hard freezes here in Florida. My new hibiscus is on life support. The hibiscus and begonias are covered with sheets and towels for the cold weather now, and my sunpatiens (impatien hybrids) and a coconut palm are in pots in the house.

How about a tour?

It's cute, no?

They say that a lot of people paint the front door when they buy a new house. That’s something I haven’t done. The blue is okay with me. What I did do was hang some sheer curtains to give a little privacy.

The door into the garage is in the center of that picture. The cabinet to the right was my grandmother’s. She used to collect frogs, but I don’t collect anything. It’s now showcasing Lego Architecture models on top, and one of the shelves has a Lego Toy Story train that Alexander got for Christmas.

To the left are two bedrooms and a bathroom. One of the bedrooms is Alexander’s room, and the other is a den right now.

This is Alexander’s room. Do you really expect an 8 year old to have his bed made? He got mad that I didn’t have him clean it before I took pictures, though. Alexander picked out the colors of the walls. Two are blue, and two are the green. The funny thing is, I think his room has the most “lived in” feel, even though he’s only with me on weekends. Since the paint is his, and he’s got a ton of furniture and toys and books and …just stuff… it really feels like his. The rest of the house is a work in progress… and will be for a long time. But that’s okay. It’s like the house gave me endless hobbies.

The den is the front bedroom, so I put the Christmas tree in there so when it’s lit up, you can see it from the street. The blue is the same blue as in Alexander’s room, but with the rich wood in the room and different light from the window, it has a very different feel.

The desk and the cabinet in this room are empty. I wish I had more books and stuff.

This is the guest bedroom. What you can’t see is a tiki head wastebasket and a tiki head mask on the wall.

This is the guest bedroom. It’s also known as “Amy’s room” because she gave me the bed and some of the artwork before she moved to Korea. You can read about her adventures in Korea here: http://theseoulsister.blogspot.com/ The window in this room has a good view. I live on a pond and this window looks out toward it, and there’s also a nice magnolia just outside. It’s a similar view to the kitchen, below. I picked the neutral bedding on purpose because I didn’t want to “overdesign” a guest bedroom where someone wouldn’t feel comfortable because of colors or whatever. I’ll get some decorative pillows that will pick up some colors from the art on the walls.

This image looks toward the greatroom from the front door. Of note is the Great Wall of China on the high ledge at the top right. It’s just papercraft, but it looks kinda cool. Eventually, I might paint it so it looks less paper. The cabinet with the lamp on it is also empty. It’s an awkward piece of furniture with drawers that can only open when the doors are completely open, though, so it may stay empty. To get an idea of layout, to the immediate right is the little hall to Alexander’s room and the den and that bathroom. Just past the cabinet on the left, before you enter the greatroom, is a hall to the guest (tiki) bathroom and Amy’s room.

This is the dining room part of the greatroom looking toward the kitchen. The entryway would be to the left. On the table is the Lego toy Story train that is now displayed in the glass cabinet in the entryway. Alexander took about 3 hours to assemble it yesterday after Christmas.

This is the living room part of the greatroom. It’s a work in progress. I need curtains and a better place for the television and stuff. For Christmas, my dad made me a coffee table that looks like a painter’s palette. I like the high ceilings, but that means there’s huge walls that are empty. I need art to fill it up.

This is the kitchen. It’s a good size. I don’t like a lot of what’s in it, though. I got a black fridge cheap from a friend of a friend, so I changed out the front panel of the dishwasher to match the black. The stove doesn’t look horrible, but the white microwave stands out. The cabinetry is nice and sturdy and I have a fair amount of space and counter surface, but I’m not wild about the way the doors look. And I’m really not wild about that salmon colored wall at the top that stretches into the greatroom. And the countertops are nothing special. So this will eventually be a good project room. But it’s totally functional, and I like the gas oven and range. I don’t hate my kitchen, but I don’t love it.

This is the view from the kitchen out toward the pond. It’s lovely.

This is the master bedroom. All you get to see of it, anyway, because it’s still messy. The ivy stencil on the green wall came with the house and it looks nice, framing the bed, so I’m keeping it. It’s a good sized room with a big window looking out at the pond and has a really big walk in closet.

This is the master bath. It has a jacuzzi garden tub and a nice stand up shower. I like the tile. There are some problems with the bathroom (needs some paint and maybe making the sink a double), but nothing urgent to fix.

This is the back of the house. There’s not much of a backyard to speak of because of the pond. But I can fish off the back porch. The pond is stocked with bass and bluegill. I’ve caught both. My brother gave me a gas grill for Christmas, so it will be great out here. The downside is that algae grows on the slab and side of the house. I’ll need a pressure washer eventually.

That’s pretty much it. It’s a really nice home, and I got a great deal on it. It’s more space than I need, but I think I’ll grow into it.

If anyone has criticism or suggestions for decor or projects, I’m totally open. I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas! Leave a comment below! Comments are love!