We’re running about a day behind since we didn’t have internet at home until late yesterday, but here’s how things looked on Tuesday (our first full day in the house) with all of our boxes littering every room. Goodbye clean blank slate. Hello chaos. Oh and it bears mentioning that nothing is necessarily staying where we put it (we just dropped furniture and boxes around the house, and will definitely be living with things a bit before committing to final placement for anything).
But let’s rewind a bit for a moment. The last time we moved, we were going from NYC to Richmond in a minivan (well, I guess technically we moved one more time three months later from our apartment to our first house, but we borrowed a small trailer from a friend and were able to transfer everything that way). The point? We had no idea what it was like to move with more than five boxes a piece. And I’m not gonna be all rainbows and unicorns about it. It totally bites. But we’re slowly but surely making a dent in things and starting to gain some order. As in, we now know where our socks and underwear are again. And we’ve showered!
We estimate that by tomorrow we should hopefully be mostly unpacked (since we’ve been taking post-writing, picture-taking, Clara-tending, address-changing, and comment-answering breaks between box unloading spurts). Then we’ll be diving into projects like painting, hanging, removing, replacing, floor planning, window treating, etc. We don’t know what we’ll tackle first (it’ll honestly just depend on our mood and what supplies we have on hand). When it comes to big projects we like to save our pennies and plan things to death, but for small things (which we always recommend doing first so you can live with the house a moment before making any dramatic changes that you might regret) we always just dive in and learn as we go. It’s the only way we’ve been able to accomplish things instead of being paralyzed by indecision. So we’ll hang frames somewhere and if we don’t like them we’ll move them. Same deal for picking paint colors and arranging furniture. And we’ll post pics and details as they occur, not to worry! Anyway, on with the messy just-moved-in pics…
Future dining room:
Future office:
Kitchen:
Future living room (furniture won’t necessarily stay in this configuration, it’s just where we dropped it for the moment):
Hall bath (amidst a diaper sprayer installation – more on that here):
Clara’s room (of course rebuilding the crib and getting the basics in there got priority because we wanted her to adjust as well as possible- which seemed to work so far):
Future playroom/kids room (we had to disassemble the daybed to get it down the hall):
The master bedroom (since our old bed frame conveyed with the old house, we’re sleeping on the floor until we build/buy a new one- who knows where we’ll end up on that):
The master sink/bath (we need to raise that tension rod to accommodate our extra long curtain… soon):
No idea what Burger was doing in that picture. Maybe he’s developing an interest in home related details like hardwood floors and molding. Anyway, here’s the sunroom:
And the laundry/mudroom:
Oh yeah and we have another separate entry basement (this time it’s under our bedroom instead of our sunroom) which will be awesome for storing tools, bikes, the lawnmower, seasonal decor, baby stuff, maternity clothes, etc.
So that’s our house. Can’t wait to get things unpacked and share pics as each room starts to take shape and projects start to unfold. Off to unpack more boxes…
Psst- Here’s a floor plan to help you make sense of what room’s what (although we switched Clara’s bedroom and the playroom since the smallest room makes a great nursery).
Psssst #2- We announced the winners of this week’s giveaway. Click here to see if it’s you.
Ashley says
I’m sad for you with that washer and dryer. I had stackables in our apartment and they are so small. Especially with Clara’s diapers and all your clothes, any ideas to get new washer/dryer. Your old set was to die for.
Emily says
I’m looking forward to seeing what ya’ll do with the place!
Sarah H. says
Okay, So I HAVE to ask. In the pics of the old house empty I see you left your awesome set of front loading washer and dryer. In the new house I see a stacked washer and dryer. Is that what you plan to continue to use? With a baby I can imagine that it will be running constantly and I don’t figure that those hold as many clothes as your previous set.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Sarah,
We plan to eventually upgrade to something more energy efficient like our old washer/dryer when we see a sweet sale. We’re holding out for a major deal though…
xo,
s
Barbara says
You “know know where our socks and underwear are again”??
You are obviously tired from the move!!! :)
Congratulations on the new house!
Lindsay@Tell'er All About It says
Things are shaping up! Hang in there! You guys will get there eventually! And, you’re right, as you get older and acquire more “things”, moving sucks big time! And it’s not really the big items that are painful but all those little things (silverware, all those things that go in the kitchen!). UGH! Hopefully you’ll have some more than willing volunteers this weekend to help out! GOOD LUCK!
Jordan says
Beautiful!!! I love it so far and can’t wait to see what you guys to do it!
Nicolette @ Momnivore's Dilemma says
This is DIYers dream! I can see the potential beyond the moving boxes.
You guys should just move every few years so there’s more drama and material to write about…
Can’t wait to see what you do to the kitchen and parquet floors!
What are your plans for Clara’s room?
:)
nicolette @
http://momnivoresdilemma.blogspot.com
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Nicolette,
We plan to obviously keep all of the furniture and major accessories in Clara’s room, but we’ll be painting the walls a new color and adding some other fun touches and projects so it’ll evolve as she grows.
xo,
s
Albita Alexander says
Wow your half bath looks alot like your old half bath!! doesnt it??
:)
Congratulations! May your new home be filled with lots of wonderful successful projects, love and happy memories!
Best of luck to you all!
Can’t wait to see more!
Thanks for sharing!
Roshni says
you guys have things all well worked out! Can’t wait for your post tomorrow!!
susan says
I love how Burger is in like every picture. I can just imagine him following you all around the house as you are taking pics. Our cats do the same thing. I try to get a picture of them and they run away, but if I take a picture of anything else they are totally interested…love them!
Martha says
Good luck with the unpacking! One quick question…I noticed your dining room table is in the kitchen, will you be keeping it there and getting something new for the dining room?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Martha,
We’re thinking we’ll keep the table in the kitchen until we get around to opening up the doorways and adding the island, at which point we’ll craigslist it and trade up to a larger seats-more-people dining table for the living room that we’ll be converting over into a dining room. Up until then we’re thinking the front living room will just remain totally empty. But who knows how things will actually happen, that’s just our first thought…
xo,
s
kelly says
It’s amazing how just adding your furniture makes the house look so much more cozy (even with all the boxes)! I’m so excited to see everything come together :)
Diana says
A piece of advice. Feng shui recommends placing your bed in a position where you can see people coming into the room. I’d recommend somehow placing it on that wall with the window.
Kimberly says
Coming to life already! So excited for ya’ll and I look forward to watching your journey!
RM says
Just wondering – since I’m assuming a kitchen reno isn’t going to happen, you know, next week or anything…do you think you’ll keep the table in the kitchen and make meals easier since it’s not that convenient to the living room/new dining room, but then have to have an empty dining room for a while? Or vice versa? I’d say of all the organizing/chaos/layout deciding/figuring out next projects/whatnot, this problem would have me the most stumped!
YoungHouseLove says
RM,
We’re thinking we’ll keep the table in the kitchen until we get around to opening up the doorways and adding the island, at which point we’ll craigslist it and trade up to a larger seats-more-people dining table for the living room that we’ll be converting over into a dining room. Up until then we’re thinking the front living room will just remain totally empty. But who knows how things will actually happen, that’s just our first thought…
xo,
s
Christine B says
My husbands grandmothers house is layed out almost exaclty like yalls and hers is located in S.C. must be because they were built in the same era. Her style is totally orginal to the house so it will be nice to see how you update yours!
form2form.wordpress.com
Amy says
I’m very anxious to see how you arrange that living room furniture. It seems to have similar placement of doors and windows to my own. I have been rearranging it since we bought our first home in August. Poor Hubby can’t wall- mount the TV until I figure it out.
Lacey Howell says
congrats on the new house! Can’t wait to see all your new projects!! you guys are such an inspiration to all of us newly married DIY-ers!
Lisa says
Looks great so far!
Any thoughts yet on the nook in the corner of the master bedroom? I was just picturing some long shelves like you had in the dining room at your first house with lots of pictures and ceramic animals on them. Will be so fun to see how it looks once you have everything unpacked.
YoungHouseLove says
We’re thinking of making that into a built-in bookcase but we’re not 100% sure yet…
xo,
s
Rachael says
Your new home is so beautiful! The natural light is just amazing! Love all that space you now have. You must be so happy! : )
Shyla Thompson says
For your bed, check out Ana-white.com. She has free, awesome furniture plans including awesome bed plans…did I say awesome already?
YoungHouseLove says
We’ve been debating that idea already! We LOVE Ana White! We’re just not sure if our suuuuper heavy organic mattress (literally, it weighs as much as thirty dead people) will be fully supported if we DIY the whole thing from scratch…
xo,
s
Jaime A. says
Just in case you didn’t know…
You done good.
=)
Sheena says
Amazing how similar your new home is to your first home! haha. Great to know what you love! :) I’m soo exciting to watch the transformation!!!
Lee says
I’ve been meaning to ask this for a while…it seems that you envision that your front door is going to open into your dining room? Even for you guys, I’m having a hard time figuring out this decision. Care to share more info?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lee,
We’re going to create a little entryway so it doesn’t feel like you’re stepping into the table or anything like that. We actually had the front door open into our living/dining room in our last house and by defining the entryway it worked really well. We just love open living!
xo,
s
Lindsay@Tell'er All About It says
Ooooh…btw….now would be a fun time to pull out that old Gawker software and do a time-lapse video of you guys unpacking. I did it for my bedroom when we first moved in and it’s a hoot to look at – especially watching the dog!
Anna says
Hey guys,
I hope settling in is going well. I’m am super excited for your new projects and watching your new home come together. We aren’t homeowners yet but reading your blog has been inspirational. I look forward to the day we buy a home and I get to reference your site for our projects :)
-Anna
Jenn says
Yay! I am so excited for ya’ll. Though I’m sure you’re probably going crazy living amongst the mess! Question for you guys–did you get in there and clean the whole housevtop to bottom before you moved everything in (I’m a bit of an anal organizer/cleaner like yourselves), or did you wait and do it once you got in and settled?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jenn,
The previous owners actually hired a cleaning crew to go through before we arrived so it was spotless when we got there. Love them!
xo,
s
Jan says
Love everything about the new house. I was sad that you left the old one, but I am SUPER excited about the new one. The house is just so YHL.
Lauren says
It’s going to look so great!
Something unrelated, as I was looking at first bday inviations for my son. I saw this one and thought of you guys with all your shots of clara over her first months…
http://www.tinyprints.com/product/17300/birthday_party_invitations_photo_year_begonia.html
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lauren,
Thanks for the link! That would actually be really cute with C’s monthly pics!
xo,
s
EM says
Hey YHL! Congrats on the new home!
My husband and I just bought our first house (and have a little one on the way) and we’re overwhelmed with all the details and dreams we have for the home! Thanks for your blog, we read it and feel better knowing that redoing a house takes TIME and can actually be FUN! You guys rock! :)
Michelle says
It’s huge (to me :)! I absolutely cannot wait to watch you guys turn this into a beauty :)
Sandi says
Hi!
Great looking house! You guys don’t fool around, is that a cute little porch outside of your sun room?
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! It’s actually a small patio- perfect for a BBQ when it gets warmer…
xo,
s
Molly P-H says
Hooray!! Burger is in lots of the shots!! It’s almost like he’s blogging again. Okay, not really. But it’s all I’ve got and I’m making the most of it. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Seriously! He’s a little fame-monger. Trying to sneak into each shot and “model” the room for you guys. I guess he’s good for scale, haha.
xo,
s
Stacy says
oh man, i love those wide plank hardwoods in your master. beautiful!
Shannon says
Ok, you guys these is eerie – I think I am like your doppelganger! I have a son that is only a little older than Clara (a month I think) and now my husband and I are moving into a new house this weekend! It has been so fun to watch someone else go through all the chaos! Thanks so much for continuing to post through the move, it really made me feel like I was right there with you!
Also, your sellers were a dream compared to ours! They refused to let us in the house after we signed the contract (not even for inspections) and are still going to be moving their stuff after we close! Ugh!
Anyway best of luck to all of you in the new home! Can’t wait to see what it will look like! I am hoping to post our renovations at some point too, but we shall see – kids and dogs are alot of work!
Shannon
Jenn L @ Peas and Crayons says
I must always have food and crafts on the brain b/c I CAN’T WAIT so see what you guys do to/with the kitchen and office!!! eee! so excited! <3
xoXOxo
jenn
Lisamarie says
COngratulations on your new house! What an exciting time! I have a question: When you moved in, was there anything that you HAD to replace (carpet, toilets, etc.) before you could live in the new house? Like Jenn, who commented above, I had to clean mt condo top to bottom as well as get new toilets, carpet and paint before I could live in my place. Just wondering what second-hand things you guys couldn’t live with, if any! Thanks!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lisamarie,
In our first house there were some naaaasty dog-pee-smelling carpets but in this house it was move in ready! We’ll probably refinish/adapt/update/tweak every square inch of the place over time, but it’s totally liveable so we’re happy to take our time and enjoy the ride!
xo,
s
Chelsea says
Love that Burger’s in almost every photo. Dogs just have a way of doing that, don’t they?
Elizabeth says
Not sure I want to know how you know how heavy thirty dead people are?! ;-)
(Enough knows and hows in there for ya?)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Elizabeth,
Haha, that’s exactly what John said!
xo,
s
Nicole says
How did Burger handle the move?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Nicole,
He did great! We can’t tell if he thinks we’re on vacation or if he realizes we’re in a new house, but so far so good!
xo,
s
Erin says
Do you plan to keep that washer & dryer, or get front loaders and stack them?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Erin,
We’re planning to upgrade to front loaders – but we’re holding out for a killer deal…
xo,
s
Jenni says
I’m so glad to see you are settling in. I’m sorry the snow couldn’t just hold off another week.
On Monday I kept telling my husband, “Ooooh, the Petersiks are moving today, I hope everything goes well!” He finally admitted to me yesterday that he started to read your blog and that he found that he “actually” likes it. (This is where I politely refrained from saying, ‘Uh, duh, honey!’ :)
I do have one extremely random question-sorry!-we really like the Dr. Bronner’s almond castille soap, however, it seems to gum up in all of the soap pumps we have tried. Does this happen to you, and do you have any advice with this? Thanks so much!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jenni,
We water it down by about 50% (it actually recommends that on the bottle). Works like a charm!
xo,
s
Monica says
Such an amazing house! It’s always hectic unpacking when you move somewhere new, but once you get that done, figuring out what you want to do with everything and the place itself is so much fun!
Diana says
Hi Sherry and John! Congrats on the new house! Just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy your blog and am looking forward to seeing you transform your house into and home =)
Nik says
What is going to happen to that odd little bookcase by the backside of the fireplace in the family room? Are you keeping it, dressing it up, or taking it out? Just seems a litte strange. Maybe the pics don’t do it justice.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Nik,
It’s a goner!
xo,
s
Katharine says
I absolutely love how REAL y’all are being about this move. My husband and I moved last year (second time in two years, *fake yay*) and yeah, it bites. Even across town. Do you have a room that can be the dump-everything-miscellaneous room until you can get to it? (If you’re like me, you get to it next year.) That’s what I always end up doing whether I want to or not.
Also, your sunroom is gorgeous.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Katherine,
Well the front room will be empty for a while (since it’ll eventually be converted into an entryway/dining room) so it has become the box dumping ground for now.
xo,
s
- Sarah :-) says
So… I’m Super interested to see what you do witht hat little laundry nook/mudroom. I HATED our stackables before. I mean with a burning firey passion, afer about a week of living with them. It seems like it’d be tricky to get any other kinf of washer/dryer combo in that space, though. Any plans rearding that as of yet? Or are you guys planning to keep the stackables, at this point?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Sarah,
We’re planning to upgrade to stacked front loaders (like the ones we had in our old house) when we see them on sale, but we’re holding out for a real deal…
xo,
s
Sara says
I love that Burger managed to find his way into most of the photos. He certainly does love the limelight! It already looks great, so happy for you two and again, can’t wait to see you make this house as perfect as the last!
brooke says
I totally recommend looking here for a DIY bed.
http://ana-white.com/
The farmhouse bed is on my list!
Eva says
While it was a bummer that we had a bit of snow during your move, I’m so glad you guys got everything in before the mini-blizzard we had today!