Our House: Before and After

Hey y'all! How have ya been? I've decided to come out of hibernation! The weather, trying to find a house in a different state, having a house on the market, packing, moving, and unpacking took up most of my time. Hopefully you'll be seeing a lot more of me.

Today I'm sharing some before and after pictures from our Ohio house. Maybe I'm biased but it looks like a totally different house.

Keep in mind that we weren't there for long and it's far from "finished"...
 the pics are from the listings.

The front door opens into the living room...

 The dining room...

We gave the kitchen a facelift...just in time to move. Seriously. We "finished" the day we put the house on the market. I wish I had gotten better pictures. The day we put it on the market was the same day we left to go home for Christmas. When we got back, it was sold!

 We added cabinets to the left wall and where the refrigerator was on the right wall. The cabinets are Project Source Unfinished Cabinets from Lowe's painted in BM Dove White.

The cabinet hardware is from Home Depot.

matchbox latch,  drawer pull, cabinet pulls

  After much debate, we chose the Ikea numerar birch countertop.  We Eric stained it with 2 coats of minwax dark walnut stain and then sealed it with 3 coats of Waterlox. The backsplash is actually thermoplastic made to look like old tin. It was pretty easy to put up- as in you can cut it with scissors and put up with adhesive.

 We widened the door to the dining room and exposed the brick!  I love exposed brick...I hate exposing it. It is a PAIN! The trim is also painted BM White Dove and the walls are SW Frostwork Silvermist.

Last, but not least, we added a deck! I love the southern cross detail! We were only able to use it for a few months before we froze!

Well, that's our Ohio house tour! Many of the projects were never completed...

 Let's see what we accomplish with our new house!

Making Our (new) House A Home

Happy 2014!

I've missed my blog friends! 

I'm ready to get back to blogging and reading!

 Man, it's been a while! Holidays are so busy...especially when you live 10 hours away. Thank goodness we don't have anymore holidays away. In fact, we only have 3 weeks left in Ohio. I can't wrap my head around it.

I'm a little late, but I'm sharing my goal for the year. Yes, goal. 

I just have one:

to make our house a home

I didn't do a very good job of that in this house. 

I never felt like we were home. 

I never felt like it was relaxing.

I never felt like it was inviting.

I never felt like it was cozy.

That's about to change people!  

I want to come home and feel relaxed. 

I want to go to bed in a peaceful bedroom.

I want to cook in a kitchen I love.

I want to feel at home.

And that's going to happen!

Here are a few pictures of our current home house from the MLS...

 Don't you love the curtain rods with no curtains? And the mancave sofa?

 A dining room table is so functional without any chairs:)

 We started renovating our kitchen 2 days before we found out that we were moving. Perfect timing huh? The glass cabinets are original. I'll have to find a before picture and do a post with sources.

You can see a before picture of this wall here. I'm loving the exposed brick!

The sort of finished deck...it's too cold to finish it now!

Well, that's the first floor of our house.

Here's to making our new house a home!

Shopping List: The Back Deck

It's almost Friday loves!

Who's excited? I know I am!

I'm so excited that it's finally warm enough to spend time outside. 

And you know what that means...projects!

Eric's grandad is coming up to build us a deck and a new front porch!

Here is what I'm thinking this new deck needs...

 

 

lights/umbrella/planter/table/pillows/lantern/chairs

I''m thinking about painting the chairs a minty aqua-ish color...thoughts?

Do you have these chairs? Are the comfortable?

Running in Stilettos: The DL on Columbus

When there was a possibility that we would be moving, I researched the heck out of my prospective digs. I guess you could say I blog stalked of sorts because I was on the look out for Columbus bloggers! One of the first ones I came across was Running in Stilettos. I'm so glad Holly has come to share a little about my new city!

 ________________xoxo________________

Hello, High Cotton Stylers!

I'm Holly and you can catch me weekdays over at Running in Stilettos.

While Fletcher is busy moving into her new house {very close to where I live actually!} in Columbus, Ohio, I thought I'd give her {and you} a little insight of what she's getting herself into :)

Source: google.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest



I've called Columbus home for the last decade, when I moved here, from my small hometown in the northeastern part of the state, for college.

And I still have so much more to discover in America's 15th largest city.

But here are a few of my favorite things about living in Cbus:

#1 The Buckeyes

Source: ohiostatebuckeyes.com via Stacy on Pinterest



We're just NUTS about our Buckeyes {pun intended}.

Watching The Best Damn Band in the Land do Script Ohio on the field gives me chills every time.

And we are huge fans of tailgating!

Lane Ave and any open space around the stadium is packed with people. A local radio station even blocks off a large parking lot for a community tailgate, called River Jam.

Bands, large screens to watch the game and plenty of booze and food. It's the bees knees.



#2 The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Source: via Laura on Pinterest

It's the best zoo in America! And it really is pretty sweet.

It's so fun to visit with and learn about the animals, plus there is an awesome water park, Zoombezi Bay, right next dogor.

The zoo also hosts awesome events throughout the year for the whole family.

Two of my favorites are the Zoolights {the entire zoo is covered in Christmas lights!} and Zoofari {an adult-only fundraiser with booze and bands, which I was lucky enough to attend for the first time this year!}.



#3 Festivals

Source: dispatch.com via Equi on Pinterest

ComFest, the Dublin Irish Festival, Oktoberfest, Jazz and Ribs Fest, Park Street Festival, Red, White and Boom, the DooDah Parade and SO many more, there is always a reason to celebrate in Cbus.

These festivals happen all over the city and the suburbs, so it's fun to always explore different areas.



#4 Nightlife

Source: shortnorth.org via Equi on Pinterest

There are plenty of places in Columbus to find good entertainment, food and drinks.

The Short North offers unique boutiques and eateries, and the Gallery Hop once a month.

The Arena District is packed with bars, perfect for catching the game or dancing the night away. And of course, Nationwide Arena where the Blue Jackets, Columbus' professional hockey team, plays. Then there's the LC Pavilion, an indoor/outdoor concert facility, and Huntington Park, the home of the minor league baseball team, the Clippers.

The Brewery District has plenty of eateries and is home to Shadowbox, a live-performance theatre.

There are also plenty of bars, restaurants and local events in the suburbs, as well.

 #5 Parks

Source: columbusalive.com via Columbus on Pinterest

Columbus has some beautiful parks and recreation spaces.

The Scioto Mile downtown is gorgeous and is a great area to host outdoor events, including fitness classes and festivals.

The Olentangy Trail is popular with runners, bikers and walkers.

There are also various parks for people and pets with nature trails, paved trails, facilities for nature classes and events, and festivals.



 It's been a lot of fun to lay down roots here.

There is plenty to do, and there are great areas to live in the city and in the suburbs.

I hope your move goes well, Fletcher and that you enjoy getting to know your new city!

Welcome to Cbus!

Go Bucks!



And be sure to stop by and say hi :)



We Survived Our 1st Week & A Favor!

We did it! 

We survived our 1st week in Ohio!

It's quite a change but we both love it. We're just ready to move into 

our new house and get settled. It's hard living like this, ya know?

There is so much more to do here.

So far we've:

-Gone to a concert.

Darius Rucker

It was great. So glad to have a little bit of home up here!

 (and yes, he saw the SC flag that I was holding up:))

- Gone to a food truck and cart festival

SC is really missing out on these!

It was delicious. We tried almost every truck

-Gone to a GREAT architectural salvage store.

Columbus Architectural Salvage

Girl can spend serious money in there!

Here are a few pics I took!

(Would love to use these in the island or in a walkway)

 Although there are no tobacco baskets like Scarlett's (don't think I'll find those around here), it is still filled with great pieces.

I should have taken more pictures. 

 O well, next time!

I can't wait to see what else this city has in store for us!

The Favor

If you're a regular (or occasional;)) reader, please 

click "join this site" on the right side of my page. 

It doesn't take much time:)

And, I would really appreciate it!

xoxo

Prayers

There are 2 different scenarios:

ONE:

Eric's prayers have been answered

TWO:

I need prayers to cope with living like this for month

I'm not exactly sure which one we're dealing with here.

Anyway, we packed up the house and moved it to a storage unit this past weekend. We then packed up our cars and made the long journey to Ohio. Let me tell you what a fun drive that was. I my car was so full that I could only see out of my window. It was scary to say the least. Thank you, UHaul for not renting trailors to Ford Explorer's (Eric and I both drive them). 

Thanks to you, I'm living in a man cave.

 Think I'm joking? Take a look

 And yes, that is a yeti cooler for the coffee table. Lovely huh?

 Eric could not be any happier.

This will be my living room for the next monthish 

I'm pretending it looks a little like this:

via

In other important news, I have INTERNET!!! WOO HOO! They man just came and set it up like literally 20 minutes ago! So ready to catch up on all of the posts I have missed. A girl can only see/read so much from a phone screen. 

Sink or Swim: The Great Island Debate

So we are supposed to close at the end of September. I can't wait to get my hands on this space and start making it a home!

 I can already envision the kitchen. 

Well, I envision many kitchens. 

That's the problem

I just can't decide.

I do, however, know that an island is in store. 

The kitchen needs more counter space.  

And with the shape, an Island is the perfect solution. 

There are a few dilemmas to discuss:

 The Shape/Focus

I was thinking about doing one of these "x" islands:

(source)
 in lighter colors of course

Then I saw this shape

(source) 
and my heart started palpitating...and I was smitten.

 Issue 1:

Open or Closed?

You see, we won't be having a sink or appliances in it.

It will just be extra counter space and seating.

Open

(source)

or

Closed?

(source)

Decisions, decisions...

Designing an island is a lot trickier than I thought. 

Need input ladies...

So which will it be? Do you have experience designing islands? 

What do you think the best option is?

This Is Why I Drink...Or Atleast At Airports

I had a crazy, busy, exhausting week. 

Here's the DL:

On Sunday night I dropped Eric off at the Airport

Monday:

 kept Wyatt and Carson

packed

hosted play group

 flew to Charlotte

 waited in Charlotte (plane was delayed due to maintenance on a prior flight)

Got to Columbus

Tuesday-Wednsday:

checked out our new town

looked at houses

got lost...a LOT

Thursday:

went to the Columbus airport

waited (plane was delayed due to maintenance on a prior flight)

Landed in Charlotte

Hauled ass to my connecting flight (all the way across the airport)

Made it to my gate with 2 minutes left

waited (plane delayed due to maintenance on a prior flight)

waited some more

flight was cancelled

waited on a bus

drank at a bar by myself

rode on a bus back to Florence

Friday:

woke up

ran around town trying to find train birthday party supplies

4 stores...

only Walmart had train whistles- go figure

made cupcake toppers

iced cupcakes

iced smash cake

picked up baloons

made it to the party

 went to Florence After Five

drank

picked Eric up from the airport

Yes, it was a crazy, busy, exhausting week.

Good news though- Eric put an offer on a house and it was accepted!

Woo Hoo!

This is it. Small little farmish house. I think it needs shutters and a window box. Paint in the future. 

What would you change?

 

The Beach and some REALLY BIG News!

Well, it's over. Or at least it will be in the morning. Eric and  I have to go home and everyone else gets to stay and play until Sunday or Monday.

Why are we leaving on a Saturday you ask?

Eric has to clean the boat, pack is clothes, get on a plane 

and fly to New Albany, Ohio. 

Why am I telling you where he is flying? 

(sorry so many questions ;))

Because he is flying to our new town.

NEW ALBANY, OHIO 

Yep, we're moving.

And we're moving SOON.

Like a few weeks soon. 

If you know of anyone are are from the Columbus area, let me know! I would love to meet some Columbus bloggers

I am so glad we were able to spend a week at the beach before we 

move sooo far away from it. 

Here are a few pictures from this week:

(shame on me- I only brought out the camera once)

other pics are from the phone 

Actually, I brought my camera out twice. The girls wanted a lil' photoshoot:)

also, remember the photo special I have going on!