We love being able to look back on Day One at our previous house (as clammy as the photos make us) – so we took a second to walk around our new house on Day One (in this case, the day all of our big furniture finally got moved over) and snapped these lovely photos. What do you guys think? Gorgeous, no? Our work here is done.
The living room:
The kitchen:
Other side of the kitchen:
The office:
The dining room:
The guest room:
The hall bathroom:
The spare room:
Clara’s room (here’s us frantically trying to get it ready so she had a place that felt like home – and a place to sleep).
This is her room as it looked a few hours later:
Words can’t describe how grateful I am that she’s so enamored with the place.
Here’s our bedroom on Day One, as I was screwing the headboard back into place. Quick tip: every gal needs an accidental bouffant whilst using a power drill.
As for moving, this time we tried a new approach since we had overlapping time at our last house and this one. Instead of needing to squeeze everything into one big truck and move all on one day (which we had to do last time) this time we got to take car-loads of things over every time we went there. So if we were laying flooring we took a load each day we worked on that.
It sure looked crazy, but for the small to medium stuff it seemed to work great. And it definitely cut down on bubble wrap and boxes since just driving a few miles in the car (instead of stuffing everything into a rocky moving van) was a lot lower pressure. You can just cram things into the car in a somewhat thoughtful way, without meticulously wrapping every mirror and frame. And not only was it faster to pack, but unpacking went more quickly and created less waste too. No box graveyard like last time!
We also did one evening of moving that we lovingly called Family Caravan, where John’s parents brought their larger cars over and we did a run to the new house with some bigger stuff like dining chairs and console tables. It was amazing how much we could transport in a 3-vehicle parade over to the new house.
But we still needed a big moving truck to transport large items (beds, dressers, the sectional, our dining table, two daybeds, a few big armchairs, etc). So we recruited some hired help that John’s sister had once used for a move: four guys to lug stuff with us. We didn’t task them with any box packing or furniture dis-assembly (we did that all in advance since we were paying them by the hour). And thanks to all that prep we had the big stuff over to the new house by lunch! So our budget way to use moving help would be to do 80% of it yourself and just hire the big guns for the large stuff – which is hopefully just a few hours of their time.
Not only did things go much faster, but it meant when they left we still had plenty of time and energy to start putting rooms together (we mainly focused on Clara’s so she could feel settled). Plus, John was still in hardwood floor recovery mode so he was grateful to be spared some manual labor. Oh and I knew we’d have moving luck on our side (wahoo, no ditches!) when our U-Haul had my home state of Jersey on it. Picture me doing a good luck fist pump all around the truck before we started loading. You know, as one is apt to do.
Oh and one of my favorite tips is to have small ziplock bags handy along with a sharpie. That way when you disassemble large furniture (John and I did that right before the guys showed up to help) you won’t get to the new house and say “uh, where are those screws… and what goes with what?” I just bagged them, labeled them, and shoved them into my purse. It’s a huge time saver, and a welcome stress saver after what could turn out to be a pretty long day of searching for nearly everything since your house is such a disaster area.
My second tip is to take time to soak it up. We posed for a few nerd-tastic photos throughout the process. It really helps to keep spirits up during a pretty tiring parade of carrying things, stopping to breathe, and carrying more things.
Bet you guys didn’t know I was a windowsill ninja.
So that was Day One and a few moving tips. And you’ll be relieved to know that: A) I’m no longer rocking an accidental bouffant, B) I’m also a top-of-the-car ninja, C) the sofa is put back together, the office no longer looks like a chair convention, but the house is still pretty nuts looking.
Can’t wait to share all the photos as we get this thing together…
Lindsay says
Just noticed that we bought the same crib as you! Our little one is due in Sept.
YoungHouseLove says
Congrats! Clara loves it!
xo
s
Melissa says
I love how your green office chairs just look so lost in that photo. As if they’re saying “What, no desk? Where do we go?!”
But, speaking of chairs, do you guys still have those school stools that you painted blue? I was always waiting to see where they would end up in your house. Do you have plans for them in your new house?
Oh, and Clara’s rug looks so good in her new room! It looks like you can see more of the rug and it looks so great on the new floor!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Melissa! The blue stools got craigslisted a while back (when we realized we didn’t have a spot for them in the sunroom) but they went to a friend of a friend so I love knowing they’re in good hands :)
xo
s
Melissa says
Aww. Well, maybe they could send you some “Chair Crashing” photos. You know, for closure, lol.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man I’d love that.
xo
s
cheri s in iowa says
Know what else is a regional thing? The use of the term “conveyed”. I love it!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo
s
Sally says
Your moving method makes tons of sense to me. I’ve done something similar for two across-town moves. We did hire a moving company (instead of separate U-Haul and labor), but it ended up being very cheap because it took less than an hour of their time on each end. We pre-moved the small/light stuff and had them do the furniture and some boxes – things like books that were easier to go ahead and box.
Brooks says
As a moving expert – 10+ moves in 4 different countries – one of my favorite packing tools is the large totes that Ikea sells! The blue or yellow bags are made of tarpaulin and are about a yard long, a foot wide, and a foot and a half deep. I think Ikea sells (used to sell?) them to help customers transport things home, and we’ve accumulated a huge family collection. I tend to pile them up with unbreakables like bedding, throw pillows, and clothing. They cut down on trips to and from the moving vehicles and they last forever – some of mine must be 20 years old! If you’re worried about the contents getting dirty shove everythign in a giant garbage bag then put the bag in the studier Ikea tote. Works like a charm.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s awesome!
xo
s
Kim says
YESSSSSS! I always forget to bring my IKEA bags with me when I go back so I have a pretty sizeable stack of these bags from buying them every single time. They are super durable and I have used them for moves myself, mostly carrying food from our pantry as well as linens like Brooks mentioned. I also use them when I go camping because they carry so much stuff. Definitely worth the $1 when you’re at IKEA! :)
Lisa says
Super fun post! It’s crazy to see all the last-moments-in-the-old-house pics. I can’t wait to see how the new place comes together.
BTW, I guess hiring some muscle and hiring a moving company are two different ballgames. But we hired a moving company last year when we moved and though they quoted me based on a “base starting fee plus hourly fee”, they had a 4-hour minimum, which they neglected to tell me on the phone. In our case, it didn’t do us any good to spare them from any work and moving involved. Now I know moving forward what to ask and how to approach moving if we use a moving company again.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh no! Great tip to ask if they have a minimum!
xo
s
Leah says
It looks like you guys have some great natural light in all of the rooms… especially the office.
Can’t wait to see how things come along. eek!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! That’s the brightest room in the house! Love it so much!
xo
s
Lisa says
One more moving tip (or entrepreneuriel tip for someone looking for an awesome business to start)… wish I lived in NYC or north Jersey area because there is a company called “Bin It” where you rent plastic bins to pack your stuff in. They deliver and pick up when you’re done. My sister used them for her move and it made moving so much greener and cheaper. I think she was able to keep the bins for about 3 weeks.
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds cool!
xo
s
Gracie Herbert says
Your posts are making me want to move and we just moved into our new house 15 months ago and are nowhere near finished with our “adjustments”. I just love the blank slate of a house. Although we were much more motivated with changing our old house (lots of south western themed wall paper or bright pink walls!!). I’m excited to see what you’re doing, I need some motivation and inspiration. Although, to be fair, we have a 26-month-old and I’m almost 8 months pregnant so I need more energy and time than motivation. Good luck!
Laura B. says
Your table really looks fine in the new dining room. I like how the curve of the table is echoed with the little cabinets in the corners. I’m sure you can find a way of updating them if you want to.
Heather Marie says
I’m just picturing your reaction the first time you see the bear, and I’m dying laughing!! I haven’t seen it yet either, but I’m sure I’ll be overdramatic… with a few added gasps in there. just enough to scare my fiance, thinking that something bad just happened. Hahaha #shouldbeusedtoitbynow. Lol!! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo,
s
Nina A says
LOVE the rug switch! I have to ask-where did you get the blue/gray rug now in your living room? It looks amazing!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks! That was in our bedroom before, and it’s from a local outlet called The Decorating Outlet but we’ve seen it on jossandmain.com too!
xo
s
Jennifer says
Setting up one area that feels like home, and is organized is such a huge help. I remember on our last move, my husband stayed at the new house to move boxes and furniture to the correct rooms while I went back to the old house to load up again. When I came back, he had opened a box of family pictures and had them arranged on the fireplace mantle. Such a small thing, but it made the new house really start to feel like our home.
We tried to do all of the loading and unloading ourselves, but while moving the refridgerator to the van, what I meant by “that way” and what my husband understood “that way” were the opposite, and my hand was smashed between the door frame and the fridge corner. Nothing broken, but I couldn’t use my right hand to lift much of anything after that! We hired a moving company to move the last of the heavy stuff, and reassemble the furniture at the new place. They came on Christmas Eve and it took them less time than they estimated, for moving more stuff than I originally asked for. Money well spent!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so sweet of your husband to put out those frames! I love that story!
xo
s
mp says
Only parents (good parents) make sure their little one has their room set up while the rest of the house is a mess. Love it.
Connie says
yay! now comes the fun part! I do the baggie thing with screws too, only I tape the baggie to some inconspicuous part of the furniture. That way it’s all together. Good luck!
Elaine says
How many times a day do you take pictures or say “I gotta take a picture for the blog!” And does life stand still a moment while you do so? I think that a lot when looking at your pictures…cracks me up sometimes. LOVE Clara’s new room- it’s so big and nice! Good job!
YoungHouseLove says
A lot of times in the middle of a project we’ll almost forget (or put it off) a million times, like when we were doing the floors we’d say “one more row and we’ll go get the camera- ok, just one more…” and so on!
xo
s
SarahA says
We have that same light in our kitchen that you have in your “other side of the kitchen” pic. Can’t wait to see what you decide to do with it…I am lacking in the idea department lately.
Cheers,
Sarah
Donna says
I happened to be in your old neighborhood to attend monthly BUNCO the night of the family caravan and caught a glimpse of your group in action! You all make moving seem easy! Congrats!
YoungHouseLove says
No way! That’s hilarious!
xo
s
anna says
heh, i actually really like the blue of the trim with the green of your office chairs… note that i said “of the” there… ;)
having an overlap is so much easier – we got keys to our new house a week *after* settlement of the old place so we had to hire a truck (moving van) and park it in my parents’ yard for a week before we could unload to the garage (we have a garage! that hasn’t got old yet!). so we 76 boxes (labelled, contents listed in a notebook), but we’ve managed to redistribute them else where (*phew!* it’s handy having sisters getting married and moving out of home…).
i’m really looking forward to seeing what ideas you use from the old house and what new ideas you come up with…
Angela says
I love “windowninja”! I don’t really care what the actual proportions are, you in that window, makes you look really tiny! I would put that picture on your next gallery wall, that would make me smile everytime it caught my eye! No wonder Burger would sit in that window, looks like a good spot.
Abby @ Just a Girl and Her Blog says
Looks like you guys are having fun with it! Moving is so much work, but what a great feeling to finally be into your new space! Clara seems to be loving it too–such a cutie! Hope you’re having a great week!
~Abby =)
Lindsay L says
so, love the windowsill ninja, ha! Also, love the way Clara’s room is so cozy and what makes it nice is the furniture and layout. The hardwoods look spectacular! and i LOVE her curtains! Question about curtains, how do you hang them, do you have one person hold them and the other mark where you will hang the rod? Or do you measure the curtains then measure up the wall to ensure that they will float perfectly across the floor? I am SO bad at designing and furniture placement and making things look cohesive and cozy. I better get your book out and start reading! haha
YoungHouseLove says
We’re huge fans of eying things, so John stands up on a chair and holds them and then I step back and say “yes there!” and then I stand on a chair next to him with a pencil and mark the exact spot for the rod and we install them.
xo
s
Christine says
Thank you thank you for this post. We are literally moving less than 20 miles as we speak and love the tips!! Especially the one to take silly pics during move…..need that levity to make it all feel worthwhile. sending you best wishes in your new home with gratitude!!
YoungHouseLove says
All the best of luck Christine!
xo
s
Marisa says
As a Jersey girl myself, I feel your moving truck karma – but in trying to read the side and only seeing something about a mining district, I laughed thinking of the movie Zoolander when he goes deep in “Coal Mining Country” … somewhere in New Jersey. Happy Unpacking to you!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahaha! I forgot about that part!
xo
s
Brande Vaughn says
I’m excited to see all the changes you’re going to make-especially the strange circular air vents that we also have!
Marie W says
Love the pics – my favorite is the window Ninja! You rock, Sherry! This post made my day! =)
I don’t often comment, but don’t miss reading any of your posts.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Marie!
xo
s
Jennifer says
I am SO excited to see what you guys do in the living room!! It is very similar to ours… Ours is 24′ x 12′ wide with 3 large windows. It’s long and narrow with tons of wood features. Dark wood decorative beams, dark wood trim, and a traditional brick fireplace with a wood mantel and built in bookcases surrounding. It’s lovely but just too much dark wood for me! I have been telling my hubs I dream about painting it all white but I am very reluctant because the brick and wood are truly beautiful. I can’t wait to see what you guys come up with because I have been so torn!!!
Jennifer says
Would love to see a picture of you as a top of the car ninja…ijs..lol….congrats guys!!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh it’s on.
xo
s
Char Joy says
I cannot express how grateful I am to you guys for sharing your idea on bagging the screws. I took down a bookshelf last summer and asked my husband to put them in a bag and tape it to a piece of the shelf. Today, we still do not know where those screws are. I am grateful because it reminded that the next time I decide to take something apart, I’ll handle the bagging the screw duty.
p.s. You guys are an inspiration to someone like myself. God bless
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, I hope they turn up Char!
xo
s
Jenn says
Long-time reader, first time commenter!
I LOVE the idea of screws in baggies. That’s just pure genius right there.
And is that a clock on the outside wall under your old carport? That’s such a great idea as well! I can’t wait to see all the wonderful things you guys do to the new house!
Jenn says
First time commenter and I commented on the wrong post. :-P
YoungHouseLove says
The screws in baggies are on this post, so you were a-ok ;)
xo
s
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, that old clock is from Target. It has needed batteries for like two years now! Haha.
xo
s
Catherine says
We have moved (internationally) 3 times in the last 6 years (not military but husband’s job) and I have to say, thank heavens we have had the packing and moving paid for each time! I would hate to have to do it myself. We always knock ourselves out setting up the kids’ bedrooms first too. It helps for them to have their own settled and calm spot while the rest of the house is still a disaster for sure. Looking forward to seeing everything you do now!
thelady says
I really like the living room. Maybe the color isn’t as nice in person but the coral walls, brick fireplace and wood floors make it seem cozy plus it has good light.
Alison says
We moved into a house that hadn’t been lived in for 6 years AND was a court auction. Boy!! It needed a lot of work. While we were living in it. Like replacing the floors and part of the roof. For the first three or four months, we lived in the bedroom with a narrow hall access to the kitchen for cooking and the entrance room FULL of all of our boxes. Looking at your photos, I am so wishing that we had stopped to take photos and document the process of our house becoming our home. You should make a photo book for it! I can see the love in your photos. So excited to see how the new house changes. (Somehow I missed the big announcement, so it was a bit of a shock. Would love a link to the date you posted it, if you don’t mind taking the time…)
Love your blog. It inspires me to see my home in a new light! And I always love your photos and funny comments. You make it all seem like such fun! (Not an easy feat, I think!)
Gilit @ Shoes Off Please says
Congrats! I’m so impressed at how much you guys got done already!
Okay, in that first picture you have of the car, you have what looks like two pillowcases sort of spilling out and I LOVE the fabric- where is it from? (If you don’t mind my asking…)
YoungHouseLove says
They’re pillow shams from Pottery Barn that we got gifted back in 2009, so I’m not sure if they’d still be available or not.
-John
Julie says
I’m a new follower and first time commenter. I really like your blog and have already gotten the courage to make 95 inch curtains in our master bedroom after reading one of your posts though I sewed them rather than using heat n bond.
I’m curious though, where did you get Clara’s daybed? It’s super cute! I read the other comments and didn’t see anything about it. I have a two-year-old and am looking for a white daybed.
Thanks and I look forward to seeing what you do with the new house!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s from West Elm. We got it a several years ago as a wedding present.
-John
Amy O. says
Every time I see that yellow rug of yours from pottery barn i swoon!
We are thinking about getting a similar rug from PB as well..do you think it was well worth the $600 and is it soft? We have a 8 month old that is crawling like crazy and we need something soft and durable!
YoungHouseLove says
We paid $199 I think on clearance but it’s just a 5 x 8′ guy, but he’s SO soft! And has held up well and definitely can add some happy to any room. So I’d definitely give it a glowing review. We have loved ours.
xo
s
Jen Banker says
I am so excited to be able to watch you transform this house in real time (or in blog time, at least)! I just found your blog about a week ago and have been neglecting my family and house because every time I get to the bottom of an article I see another one that looks awesome.
And I can commiserate with you on the blue trim and wallpaper. Every single piece of trim in our two story colonial is painted that exact same blue. Ugh. I’m hoping seeing you get rid of it will be some much needed motivation. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Jen! Let’s tell that blue trim who’s boss!
xo
s
Kerri says
Congrats on your new home! I can’t wait to see all the wonderful changes to come. I have a question – Is the bed with the upholstered headboard (which I love) just a platform base in which you attached and where did you find it. :)
YoungHouseLove says
That’s actually an Ikea bed called the Edland (not sure they sell it anymore) and we built the headboard so it could be screwed in from behind to secure it.
xo
s
Bailey says
Great tips – you are the ultimate resource in moving and renovating!
xox
Bailey
http://akabailey.blogspot.com
Leonie HF says
House moving is so exciting, but a big stress – so I’m loving the tips, especially the idea to bag up and label the screws! It’s one of those gloriously simple things that I never would have thought of ;) I can’ wait to see what you do with the new house. Congrats on your new adventure!
Brianne says
Where did you get your daughters bed? It’s so cute!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks! It’s a daybed from West Elm.
xo
s