After yesterdays first house vs. current house comparison, this comment from Jess definitely got our wheels turning: “I think its an unfair comparison to put 8 months of work at the current place up against 4 + years at the old. You should have compared current photos from this house to what your old house looked like 8 months after you moved in there!!” Well, that’s probably not quite fair either, since we’ve definitely learned a ton in the last five years of homeownership (and also spend a lot more time doing house stuff these days since this DIY diary of ours is our job)… but we’re game! It’s Friday. But oh boy is this walk down memory lane going to amuse you. Just picture us quietly cringing over here as we bare all.
See, eight months into owning our first house, we still didn’t even know how to properly paint trim (I painted all of it in the entire house with flat paint only to learn it should be semi-gloss and then had to redo it all – and yes, it was torture). But the beauty of this post is that it’s a good reminder that houses take time. And sometimes they look crazy. Which is probably why some of the completely unfinished rooms in this house don’t make us want to cry as much as they did in our first house (back when we thought homes were supposed to be done the week after you moved in). Now we know better. So just for fun, here’s how our first house looked around eight months in (which was only about eight months before we started this ol’ blog to track the progress of our big kitchen renovation for friends & family members). Oh and you can scroll back to yesterday’s post if you want to peep the final first house pics (or compare this roundup to our current house’s eight-months-in progress). Just didn’t want to bog this post down with 50 more pics and crash the site like I did yesterday. Oops.
Front Yard, First House (8 Months In):
Our front yard was kind of just a forest when we moved in. But in eight months I did manage to clip all the trees that completely blocked the view of the house from the curb so neighbors could sneak a peek (yes, there really was a house back there). Project Tree Trimming was one of those let’s-surprise-John-when-he-comes-home-from-work projects that I did with a lawn chair and a branch cutter. And yes, the mister was shocked to actually see the front porch from the street.
Front Porch, First House (8 Months In):
This was a few weeks after I clipped up the branches. I took a saw to the fully slatted wood screen door and cut a big “window” in it just to break things up. Then I painted it yellow and hung an embarrassingly lame twig and faux lemon wreath from Target. Oh yeah and that thing hanging next to the door was left by the previous owner. It was a wood plaque that looked like a cutting board with a pineapple and the word “Welcome” painted on it. Very country cottage-y. But I loved that thing for a good year.
Living Room, First House (8 Months In):
Oy. That’s really all I can say. The sofa was a hand me down from a family member. The iconic college dorm coffee table was an Ikea find. Everything is way too small and way too far apart. There’s a square of faux-stone linoleum in front of the door. It’s all sorts of horrible. Living with this room for a few years taught us that creating two zones in the long-ish space (a dining area and a living area along with a console by the entryway) filled the space in a more functional and not-crazy-sparse way.
Kitchen, First House (8 Months In):
We were pretty active in the kitchen within eight months of moving in. We got all new appliances (Frigidaire from Lowe’s, which we carried over into our big remodel about eight months later) and painted the cabinets (Brown Bag by Glidden), replaced the hardware (with cheap Ikea stuff) and painted the faux brick backplash (Wishes by Glidden). It still looked like a hot mess in there, but it was our mess. Come on, you know you like those awkward serving spoons hanging from the metal range hood that’s not actually over the stove.
Dining Room (Future Bedroom/Nursery), First House (8 Months In):
We had lots of fun with this room, even though it wasn’t very functional (a room that barely accommodates four people does not a dining space make). We actually built that table ourselves (using a thrift store pedestal base and a giant piece of wood screwed in from below and then painted glossy black). I also spray primed and painted the old chandelier white (it used to be brass) and replaced the long pointy fire-shaped bulbs with modern round ones. But my favorite little adventure in there was painting the area over the chair rail with tiffany-box blue paint, and then using chalk to draw subtle leafy branches on the wall. Crazy yes, but lots of fun (I even used a spray fixative from the craft store to keep it from rubbing off). More on that project here.
Our Bedroom, First House (8 Months In):
Yikes, this room was baaad. Much like the living room everything looked really sparse. And yes, that’s a printer/fax machine hiding on the floor in the corner. Freelance copywriter from home = actually faxing things pretty regularly. But there’s no excuse for having it on the floor in the bedroom. And the too small art and too low bed with nothing else going on to fill things in around them kind of kills me. Thank goodness for living and learning.
Oh yeah, this bathroom phase is like looking back at photos of a really bad haircut in ninth grade. I thought painting the trim black around the window could look really cool and Domino-ish… but no. Not happening. So I painted it white again and removed the swag (which was actually a pashmina that I still wear to this day – and giggle when I remember its past life). Ah, much better.
Guest Room, First House (8 Months In):
So… eight months in meant we painted the room but that’s it. Still no bed for guests. We were saving our pennies and focusing on other areas, but we eventually got a full sized bed as a hand-me-down a few months later. Hooray for sleepovers.
Den, First House (8 Months In):
Bad news bears. Seriously, everything from the white bedsheet that I actually stapled to the underside of the desk in the corner to the crooked-looking painted paneling but unpainted brick makes me cringe. About a month later we painted the two brick walls the same color as the two paneled ones and it started to move towards the room that we know and love (but it still took a while to work up the energy to tackle those beams).
Laundry Nook, First House (8 Months In):
This is a terrible shot of the space that would someday become the laundry nook because it’s aimed at the floor, but I was terribly proud of the peel & stick vinyl tile that I laid down over grody old yellow sheet linoleum (that always looked dirty no matter how hard I scrubbed). Of course about a year later we’d remove those bifold doors to open the laundry area up (and to avoid door wars between the bifolds and the door to the sunroom) and add wood flooring throughout the entire hall, half bath, den, and kitchen. Oh but you might notice that I put little glass knobs on the bifolds to make them more palatable until those later phases. It’s the little things.
Half Bathroom, First House (8 Months In):
We knew that giant boxy sink vanity needed to be switched out for a smaller pedestal sink to make the tiny room feel a lot less crowded, but eight months in we were pretty scared to take that on (a little googling revealed that we had to cut into drywall to find studs to secure the back of the sink basin) so we put it off a few months longer. But we did paint the walls the same tiffany box blue that we had in the dining room (with flat paint, which was a bad call, btw- now I always use semi-gloss in bathrooms & kitchens) and replaced the toilet (it was avocado green when we moved in). And I replaced the knobs and the grungy old fabric on the window shutters (but later removed them entirely because natural light was much needed).
Sunroom, First House (8 Months In):
We actually did a fair amount of work in eight months in here. We got that wicker daybed as a hand-me-down and then got a hand-me-down twin mattress for it (and used regular old twin sheets from Target to cover the mattress and make that odd little skirt in the front). We also used a cheap-o lack table from Ikea to create the scrabble table (we just topped it with a larger tabletop that came with the thrift store pedestal that we used to make the dining table). We also stained the concrete floors a color called “tuscan gold” – which I later grew to hate because it was a bit too orange-y in direct sunlight (so we painted it a glossy chocolate color to tie it into the hardwood flooring throughout the house).
Patio, First House (8 Months In):
This patio was labeled as “needs replacing” during our inspection, so we knew it was on its last leg but thought we could live with it for a little while. But when my mom visited a few weeks before our backyard wedding and said she feared for guests’ safety (and pictured them all breaking their ankles on it) we decided to spend some of our saved-up “house fixing fund” to pay a pro to redo the whole thing over the course of three days (since it was just a few weeks before the wedding and we feared a giant half-finished disaster if we took it on ourselves). Knowing just how hard laying a patio is from doing the one at our current house, we’re still very happy we hired that one out so we could plan the rest of our wedding without that monkey on our back.
Back Yard, First House (8 Months In):
During our walk-through I glanced through the window in the old dated dining room and saw this. And I nearly lost my breath. I remember thinking “all this could be ours?” – I just thought having all this space would be awesome (the deep woods beyond the planted part was also part of the acreage). At first we loved the park-like setup above (and kept it pretty much exactly like this for the wedding (you can see how we set things up here), but eventually we grew tired of weeding the long pea gravel path and pruning the bushes and trying to use the tiny patches of segmented grass for incredibly mature things like extreme frisbee and chasing the dog, so we eventually craigslisted the gravel & bushes (folks dug them all up and hauled them for us in exchange for them being free) and we laid down some grass seed for a nice flat grassy yard in front of those deep woods. And Burger thanked us repeatedly for the trouble.
So there you have it. The state of our first house around eight months in. Thank goodness for the whole learn as you go, trial and error thing. It might not be the quickest way to a complete makeover, but I’m telling you – there’s something to it. Eventually you get there. Heck, it’s still the exact method that we use today (we just know a bit more about what we like and what type of paint should be used on trim and in bathrooms). So rejoice if your house is only a shadow of what you long for it to be. That stuff takes years, at least it does for us. So just keep trying things and learning about what floats your boat and eventually you’ll get there. Oh and don’t forget to enjoy the ride.
Anna says
My husband and I bought and moved into a 1970’s fixer upper in May…this post is very refreshing to remind me that things don’t happen overnight (even though I want so badly to be rid of the blue bathroom fixtures!!). It’s our first house, so we’re slowly but surely getting our style down too.
Love the blog!
Marcy says
A friend told me about your blog 2 days ago and I love it – I watch shows all time but I have found your blog to inspire me more. I am going to start a hallway project this weekend with photos – I tend to replace the framed photos in the living room every few months but I miss all the ones that I replaced and want photos of our wedding (12 years ago) and the kids growing up (9 & 5 year old) around more so this is my project – we will see how it goes. Great job – I will follow your blog now!!
Elle says
We’re slowly saving up to redo our kitchen, but the appliances are not so slowly dying. We want to tear out the wood floor and lay down stone, but I don’t know how hard it will be to move/work around the appliances. Did you find that to be a challenge, or would you recommend buying appliances in advance? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We didn’t mind having appliances before doing the floor but I think it can work both ways. You definitely have to be careful of the new floor when you slide them into place either way (namely the fridge) so using a sheet of cardboard to roll them in on can help. Good luck!
xo,
s
alg says
I’m going to do it all over all 4 walls. (Sounds busier than it will be — I hope.)
But that’s a good idea — I’ll just do a small test spot & just cover it with touch-up paint if the fixative won’t wash off.
Man… I think my brain is on vacay this week. I seem to have muchos obvious questions. I blame the preschool for being closed for 2 weeks ;->
Thanks, S!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh I’d love to see pics when you’re done. Good luck!
xo,
s
Wom-mom Ethne says
I didn’t know about you guys back in the old house days, so this was fun to see. Thanks.
Jill says
Sherry, I want you to know I just bought some ORB spray paint. I don’t even know for what yet, but already I feel better having it in the house. However there is a pesky lamp in my living room that could stand some Love. Love your blog, keep it coming.
Jill
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love it. Have fun!
xo,
s
Ali says
Love this comparison much more. Especially since I hopped onto your blog by the time you guys were already in your second house. Seeing the pictures from your first house just 8 months out makes me feel so much better about our own. :)
Jess says
Hey! My comment inspired a post. I feel famous or something! ;)
For the record, every single room in your current house wins when pitted up against old house @ 8 mos!!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- thanks Jess! Such a fun idea!
xo,
s
Jenn says
Have you guys seen this blog? It is HI Larious. This particular post may be of specific interest to you… :[)
http://crappypictures.typepad.com/crappy-pictures/2011/08/house-tour-with-amber-of-crappy-pictures.html
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, hilarious!
xo,
s
J @ A Girl and A Key says
I can not thank you enough for sharing these pictures! It makes me feel like there is hope for our home too. Sometimes I look through my favorite blogs, esp. yours, and then look around my house and want to cry! I know I have some great ideas and aspirations for the house but I am not exactly patient on the “it takes time to build a home” concept. This post brings me back to reality and shows that design evolves and we are all but human! (Except I think your “before” shots are better than a whole slew of after shots- you two are born homemakers!
I can only hope that over time, I can turn our tiny little house into a beautiful home that reflects me and the hubs, like you and John have done for your family.
Be safe this weekend with the approaching storms!
Bethany says
Thanks for the awesome post. I was just starting to feel down that we hadn’t tackled certain rooms (and by rooms I mean the entire second floor) of our house yet. we are at the eleven month mark in a few days! holla! Love your blog, john and Sherry~ read it every day first thing! Muah!
Sarah says
Thanks for the post, it gives me hope about our house!
Jaime says
What color paint is in your current houses bedroom
YoungHouseLove says
That’s Valspar’s Carolina Inn Club Aqua color matched to Olympic No-VOC paint. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Hilary @ My So-Called Home says
I just loved seeing all the old photos of your house and it helps all of us new homeowners and first time decorators to feel like things don’t have to be perfect right away. A good home evolves over time, no?
We’ve only been at our new house for a month and things are already looking WAY different now than when the previous owners were there. You can check out our progress here:
http://www.mysocalledhome.com/2011/08/one-month-in.html
YoungHouseLove says
Wow you guys have been busy!
xo,
s
Melissah says
I’ve just stumbled upon your lovely blog. I look forward to popping by again for some more inspiration! I’m just new into blogging this year & have put together a daily blog on design, fashion, food, travel and anything pretty.
http://scrapbook-melissah.blogspot.com/ and
http://coastal-style.blogspot.com/ for everything chic and coastal
I had a lot of fun putting them together maybe you would like to check them out if you have a spare minute.
x
Melissah
YoungHouseLove says
Off to check them out! Happy blogging…
xo,
s
Katie says
Yessss – I love this post! Makes me feel SO much better about the state of our lived-in-for-one-year first house. Thank you!
Jamie says
Thank you for posting this!! It’s so encouraging to learn that you didn’t always have such an amazing eye for design – maybe there is hope for us all!
Kath says
New house definitely wins for 8 month effort!!
These first house photos give me lots and lots of hope :)
Lindsay says
My (now ex) husband and I had 45 days to renovate our house (due to it being a rural development loan and due to some special loan that went with it to help us renovate such a dump quickly). We gutted a kitchen (adding a French door) gutted a bathroom (removing a window) and finished a basement rec-room type area as well as painting every room, finishing hardwood floors in two rooms, carpet and much more. I am SO BURNED OUT on house projects now that I don’t want to finish the many Projects that need to be done. How do you keep up the pace and not get burned out?
YoungHouseLove says
For us, slow and steady wins the race! It took us 113 days to complete our last kitchen reno and about 6 weeks to gut a bathroom, so we’re definitely not folks who can work at lightning speed (that just gives us anxiety and makes us feel like we’re making rushed decisions that we might regret). It sounds like you don’t have the luxury of time in your case, so I would just encourage you to keep doing what you’re doing and try to take breaks and laugh and eat good food and listen to good music and go on walks and do whatever it is that you need to do to keep up the morale. Since you had such a collapsed time line, it’s easy to see how exhausted you must be. So I recommend ice cream. And naps. And dance breaks. Good luck with everything!
xo,
s
Meika Wood says
Thanks for posting these pictures. I am a huge fan of your blog and I am always super inspired by your projects. My husband and I have lived in our house for a little over a year and there are so many things I want to do but I get easily overwhelmed focusing on the whole instead of seeing each room as an evolving process. These pictures really helped me to see that you guys never started with perfection but worked away until you had rooms that you loved. Thanks for helping me focus on the “baby steps.”
Jenny says
wow, this is super encouraging! I’m not a designer, but it leaves me feeling better that even though things don’t happen over night, if you stick with it great things do happen. If I was looking at those pictures and didn’t know anything else, I’d never guess you were able to make home improvement your full-time careers, but you have!! You’ve come a long way, guys!! Definitely leaves me feeling hopeful that, with patience, practice, and diligence, maybe some of my dreams will become a reality and i’ll be able to do what i love full-time as well :) thanks for sharing!!
brandi girl says
Thank you for posting this, it’s definately one of my faves. It makes me feel soooooo much better to see the oddly empty and half decorated rooms of your first house that look so very similiar to my first house in our sixth month of living here. It’s hard not to feel overwhelmed or discouraged with the hand me downs and not quite rights, so thanks for the lil chin up!
Jenna says
Oh my goodness. Just the refreshing type of post I NEEDED to read. Have enjoyed reading your blog for the past year. My husband and I are just over a month into our first house and I wish I could snap my fingers to have the wooden trim painted, 50 year old hardware changed and pink bathroom gutted, among a long list of additional things. We are so glad to be here, but it hit me hard this week that it will be a long process into which we’ll need to put a lot of effort. Wish Annapolis was a bit closer to Richmond so we could hire out your all’s expert advise! Keep up the good work. And thanks for reminding us to keep it in perspective — what you guys accomplished, and what we readers hope to one day accomplish.
Ashlee says
Oh my gosh!!! What a relief. I just assumed (and hoped, actually) that you both had some sort of awesome decorating gene or something — that you had been this good all along.
How awesome it is to see that your house really started out like so many I’ve seen before. It gives me hope that someday I’ll be able to create something as stylish, personal, and beautiful as what you all do.
Thanks so much for this post! How fun to see it!
Melanie says
For the last 8 months I have enjoyed reading all of your posts but, this one in particular struck a cord with me. Just like the two of you, my husband and I spent 4 years transforming our first house into our home. Then moved not long after our daughter was born. Sad yet exciting. I don’t think there was one inch of that house we left untouched, DIYing everything we possibly could. Seeing your pictures is like looking at our own. Funny yet endearing.
The two of you have something very special here and you have inspired my husband and I to get back on track with making our new house our “home”.
front load washer smell says
My wife and I are still renting, your blog definitely gives us some hope. Although I’m from California and the homes here are still insanely over priced! Hopefully, we can DIY too someday!
Mrs Rosie Posie says
I LOVE both houses – inside and out! You have a real talent x
Maureen says
This reassures me that we are not way behind in our makeover (even though life has no timeline). Love you guys!
Kellie Collis says
What a beautiful home! Enjoy the lovely weekend, Kellie xx
Rosi says
I don’t know if you guys have taken this quiz yet, “http://www.bhg.com/decorating/color-personality/”.
It is short, but it got me right on with my Earthy Green personality.
The 8 months in before to the 8 months in now is surreal, with all your new knowledge, you can see how much your style has changed. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Fun!! Thanks for the link!
xo,
s
LaDonna says
Hi YHL! I am officially addicted to your blog! I know this is way off the subject of the house comparison, but I really want to start pinning ideas because we are selling our current house and buying a new one. I was wondering if you could invite me to pinterest? Thanks for writing an amazing blog! ~LaDonna Aguilar in Texas
YoungHouseLove says
I’m terrible at figuring out how to invite folks but if you ask on our facebook page you get an invite really fast that way. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Andrea says
Love the chalk tree idea! Did the chalk + sealer make it hard to re paint when you covered it up? Did you have to sand the walls?
YoungHouseLove says
I just rolled fresh paint over it later without any issues.
xo,
s
ashlee says
wow, this makes me feel so much better about my current home (11 months in). this is a much more accurate representation – although i have to say, the other post was pretty darn awesome too.
i find that even though we’ve been here 11 months, i can’t expect TOO much of myself because i have two small children who like to rule the place and make a hardcore mess. plus, raising two kids and the finances to fix up a house don’t really mix. either way, this post made me feel like superwoman and i’m totally taking the baby steps like you did. i look forward to all the changes we’ll make.
thankfully, i was smart enough to take photos immediately after we moved in so i’ll always have something to compare to. i should take photos of our progress. i’m always hesitant to take ‘progress photos’ because i’m afraid it will stress me out and make me feel pressured to finish, lol. the only progress so far is the kids’ rooms and a tiny bit of new furniture in the master.
i have to admit, and i’m sorry for saying this, but the choice to paint the bathroom window sill black in attempt to match the flooring made me laugh out loud harder than i have in weeks. thank you for that! lol. i needed it!
ashlee says
ps, for the love all things holy, give me some advice for painting trim. oh.my.gracious. it’s going to be the death of me. i started about six months ago – have accomplished next to nothing.
YoungHouseLove says
This is my secret: https://www.younghouselove.com/2009/06/how-to-paint-trim-like-a-pro/
xo,
s
ashlee says
i’m posting ‘before’ pictures of our playroom on my blog today. if you’re in the market for a laugh, by all means, check it out :) i’m thinking of redoing it somehow – but it’s going to take A LOT of work. lol.
ashlee says
i’m getting really, really tired of working with oil paint on my pine (cedar?) window sills. it is absolutely DIGUSTING to work with. i read that you used a different paint when you did our newest family room – an olympic brand, i think it was? i might try that. this oil thing is going old fast.
YoungHouseLove says
We like Olympic No-VOC semi-gloss paint for trim. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
ashlee says
i wish i’d had this tidbit of information before i wasted time on oil paint! i swear, it is *the* most disgusting thing to work with, especially when you have a ton of windows that require a ton of paint.
what can i put over it as a sealant to decrease the risk of cat claw scratches? i mean, they like to sit on the window sills, so unfortunately they are going to get dinged up regardless, but i’m hoping there’s something i can do to minimize it.
YoungHouseLove says
Using a semi-gloss finish should help (since it’s glossy like a sealer) but you can add something like a water based poly or Safecoat Acrylaqc (our personal favorite since it’s eco and doesnt yellow like some other poly options. Good luck!
xo,
s
ashlee says
which one is the minwax that doesn’t yellow? apparently we can’t buy safecoat in atlantic canada, says home depot.
YoungHouseLove says
The one we recommend by name in this post is the only one we can vouch for (along with the Safecoat). Be sure to use thin and even coats though (anything applied too thickly can yellow).
xo,
s
Anna says
Hi John and Sherry,
this is by MILES my favourite YHL post.
My sister and I were literally this morning talking about how blogs and pinterest can sometimes overawe you into a slump of thinking you’re just never going to get there. It can feel like your house is just always messy, nowhere near as amazing as you’d like or your taste is so much better than your budget allows you to show!! Seriously, am I EVER going to replace my furniture!! haha
This just shows that you have to keep chipping away. You guys have worked SO hard and learnt so much along the way and we all can too!
Definitely going to try and focus on that the next time I start feeling grumpy that I hate all our carpets! We’ll get there one day. Fingers crossed.
Hope you have a great weekend. Not sure of the exact geography of Irene but as previous commenters have said- hope you stay safe. xx
ashlee says
i totally agree with this whole comment. xo. seeing it unfold one step at a time is awesome.
eileen marie says
Sherry!
If you still have room in your new home (and heart -haha), look what I came across while browsing West Elm’s clearance section online:
http://www.westelm.com/products/round-coco-mirror-w522/?pkey=call-sale
I could have sworn you wanted this, & sure enough I found the old post.
PS: Could you tell me what wide angle lens you purchased for your Flip camera -we’re in the market. :)
YoungHouseLove says
We actually never got a wide angle lens for the flip although we have seen them. We have a flip HD which seems to have a wider lens than our first regular flip.
xo,
s
Hannah A says
Hi,
While talking with my cousin last week about my future job aspirations, she suggested i check out some design blogs, she mentioned one named ‘Young House Love’, i liked the name and decided to check you out, turns out i am now addicted to checking your blog.
I love your cool and creative ideas, i hope to use lots of them some day when i have my own house. I am currently redecorating my bedroom to have a theme – moroccan, i love the warm colours and the general culture they have, so hopefully that will go ok :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, thanks. So glad you found us. Happy decorating!
xo,
s
Gina says
how are you faring in richmond…we are at the beach and so far not so bad..still have power and everything.i think one house in sandbridge was demolished by a tornado….
YoungHouseLove says
No power and lots of wind! Holding on for dear life. Haha. But so far we’re staying dry.
xo,
s
BethanyB says
not a lot of rain yet here in DC but wishing you guys a safe day :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks! You too!
xo,
s
Holly says
Thank you. I’m 4 months into my first new house and feeling the “oh my god why does it still look so bare and unfinished.” I keep telling myself it’s only been a couple months but our front room is screaming at me to work on. Thanks for the perspective!
Ami says
Like so many other comments, its so nice to see how it really all started and how you also learned as you went as you guys are a huge inspiration for our home. We’re also into our second home and looking back at pictures from our design decisions from our first, we have so many, “What the h-e-double-hockey-sticks were we thinkin’!” BTW, just love that old vanity with the faux marble. Who on earth ever thought that looked good? I echo that sentiment: If that is cool, I do not want to be hip! You guys rock.
NYer says
I know you don’t usually post on weekends and that power is out as far inland as Richmond, but when you get a chance I’m sure all your fans would love to hear you are safe.
We’re now waiting for Irene here in NYC.
YoungHouseLove says
So far we’re safe although it’s still over us for a few hours. Lost power but hanging tight.
xo,
s
Christine says
I agree that this is a much better comparison! I never saw those really early pictures of your first place, and (I mean this nicely!)it’s sort of comforting to us mere decorating mortals that you guys actually had rooms that were cute but necessarily fantastic at first! Hope you are safe and with power and water right now in this hurricane.
YoungHouseLove says
It’s not good in our heavily wooded neighborhood guys. A giant tree just fell on the house behind us and there are five others down on our street. We’re staying in interior rooms and signing off for now (we have no power and need to conserve phone battery). Stay safe everyone!
xo,
s
Becky says
Re your post: “There’s a square of faux-stone linoleum in front of the door. It’s all sorts of horrible.”
I see in the updated pics from yesterday’s post that it looks different, but what exactly did you do with that square entry way? I have a similar problem. Ummm… exact problem!
YoungHouseLove says
We discovered the hardwood floors ran right under it, so we ripped it up!
xo,
s
Andrea says
Would you mind sharing the color of the paint in your bedroom at 8months in? My apologies if you’ve listed it elsewhere!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s Valspar’s Carolina Inn Club Aqua color matched to Olympic No-VOC paint. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jenn Khoury says
This post was great too! We’re here in central Jersey starting to get the rain and wind hitting us now. I’m taking advantage of the time we have left with power to charge my laptop and check my favorite sites! I hope you are all safe and well throughout this crazy weather. We have a 16 month old and are in a state of panic because if it… we even have a sleeping station setup down stairs already should the storm get worse and we need to relocate ourselves.
Joanne says
Dear DIY Dorks and Clara, I hope you guys are okay after Hurricane Irene came knocking on your pretty yellow front door. I love seeing the comparison of your two homes and want to say “stay strong”. Eight months is not all that long and you have learned so much on your way.
Koko @ KokoLikes says
I love this post because it shows that you guys are real! Your new place is so fabulous and your old one 4 years in is to die for. So to know that it began like this shows that really anyone CAN transform their living space. I really really enjoyed this post
Sabrina says
I have that teal target plate ( and the matching bowl) I love them but they are so heavy and don’t match anything in my home right now. Is it wrong to decorate a room around a plate?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, not at all.
xo,
s
lilly says
I hope u guys are ok. God bless your family and your friends and neighbors out there going through this tough time. You will be in my prayers.
YoungHouseLove says
We are ok! Thankfully no trees fell on our house but many homes around us (and roads and power lines) were hit by giant falling trees (including the house right behind us). Our thoughts are with everyone dealing with the aftermath. We probably won’t have power for a while so we won’t be able to check in very much. Thanks for all of the love you guys have sent us.
xo,
s
Michelle says
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for doing this post! We’re now 14 months into our first home and this gives us hope that while we still have a long way to go, we’ll eventually get there!