May 11, 2011

Before...

Because I don't get to share my new house journey with any of my "girlfriends" in America, (as in they come over, help me clean it, or help me paint, or go with me furniture shopping, or watch my kids while I go furniture shopping) I figured this is about as close as it gets over here. Though my friend Angie WILL be here very soon and will be very close-by for probably more ventures in home decoration than she ever thought possible. Until then though...

April my friend, here is us sharing an experience together.  I don't tend to be too much of a hand-holding type, but I like to think that our blogs are doing the equivalent of that through this post.

In a couple weeks we will move into our new rental home in our new city and I will decorate it (as much as budget allows... and if you knew how Candice Olsen and I are secretly bff's in my mind and how I clap for her surface, finishes, lighting, and fabric choices, you'd know that budget isn't allowing for much. But we'll do what we can and call it home anyway!)
Here are a LOAD of pictures of our house "Before..."

House from street (behind me is the neighborhood park!)
Yard to the left, just inside the gate

Outside standing in the carport, door-grill open leading to "atrium" (as I've come to call it)

Standing at door-grill, with front door to my left looking into atrium. (you can't see front door, but it's there) It's outside but it's covered somewhat. This area is going to require hazmat suits to get clean! But we really like it as it's just off the living room and will give the boys space to play "outside" while not being in the sun!
Standing in atrium looking through glass into living room. You can't see it, but front door is off to the left from the window on the left.

Standing in corner of living room. Basically opposite view of photo above. This room will look much different! Except for the little boys you see there. We think they were designed very well and don't need any sort of color change or rearranging... those pink walls however are already gone!

Blurry picture, but this is the guest room (aka- Kaylee's Room, we'll tell you about her later). Door to the right past the atrium.

Guest Bathroom. Yes, that is a squatty potty. The blurry doorway in the pic above is the doorway I'm standing in for this pic. The white door on the left leads to the kitchen.

Standing in doorway looking at kitchen from Kaylee's squatty potty bathroom :) Orange walls are already somewhat gone and we are trying our darndest to figure out how to get rid of those random orange cabinet doors.

Opposite view of photo above. Looking from window back across kitchen toward laundry area. That's the squatty potty bathroom door again.

Standing in kitchen entry looking up the stairs.

Standing in Master bedroom doorway looking across "loft" area towards staircase and kids rooms.

Inside master bedroom looking at what will be the closet area. They really got their money's worth out of that can of orange paint!
Standing in corner of Master bedroom. Windows to the left look out to the park. You can't see it, but there is also a window off to the right that looks out/down into the atrium. LOTS of windows and natural light in this house! A big selling point for me (now to figure out how to pay for all those curtains!)
Master bathroom. Not huge, but there is already a hot water heater in here and I don't have to share this with my kids. Good with me!
Baby's room. First room off to the right at the top of the stairs. Window in this room looks out/down into atrium as well. Also ignore the pink. That was there. Though it may end up being a fun coincidence that this room is pink and the boys' room is blue. We shall see. They'll both be painted regardless (you can't see the masking tape still lining the lovely shapes on the walls, but believe me. It's there and it's sticky)

Kids' rooms share a bathroom. Walk in the nursery and to the left is the door to the bathroom. Western toilet for the kiddos!
Standing in bathroom doorway looking into boys' bedroom. That is actually Isaac's bed and mattress pre-assembled. We had to order a matching one for Isaiah...his first big boy bed! Also. As much as I love stars and squares and triangles. This paint will also be re-done.

And this will be your sneak peek into the "After" photos.  This was taken in the house we're in now, but these pillows are my mother's day prizes and they will be happily displayed in our new living room!
I know that was a lot of photos and most of you don't care. But there is an interior decorator part of me that only gets let out occasionally (whether actually capable or not, it doesn't matter, I enjoy it immensely!) So of the 7 or so of you who follow the blog, thanks to the maybe 2 of you who cared enough to look at all the photos! Can't wait until there are "after" photos to show!

20 comments:

Emily said...

"whether actually capable or not, it doesn't matter, I enjoy it immensely!" - This is SO me too!
I love before and afters of ANY kind - weightloss, makeovers, haircuts, and especially house/home pics!
Your house already looks like something I would love to live in. I miss living overseas. :(

Cara said...

I care!! And I can't wait to come visit and help with the decorating!! :)

e&k said...

Sharon, your house is so nice! even the before pictures, wow! i'm looking forward to seeing your after shots! thanks for sharing! and congrats on the girl!!! do you pronounce her name kA lee or KaI lee? both are great :)

Anthony and Sharon said...

It's pronounced KAY-lee, but for clarity sake, she's an adult who will come to live with us for several months, NOT the new baby. We don't know the sex of the baby yet... I can hear the Grandparents now — Anthony and Sharon know the sex and they didn't tell us?! Haha. We find out May 27th. -AR

Elizabeth Bradley said...

This was such a fun post to read... and yes, I read it all the way to the end AND cared to see all the pictures. :) There's so much I could say about your new house:

1.I love that you have a carport.
2. Your atrium is SO cool.
3. All of the windows in your living room / atrium are so, so interesting to me. Will you cover them all or leave most of them open? Does it matter? Can anyone see in from the street?
4. So curious as to who is Kaylee and why she needs a room. ;)
5. So amused to think of your parents possibly using Kaylee's room as a guest room AND using the squatty potty. :)
6. Not gonna lie, I sort of like the orange wall in the kitchen... though I definitely wouldn't want it in my bedroom or the pink in the LR.
7. Those pillows are so cute! Can't wait to see what you do with them.

Craig and Angie said...

Girl, I can't wait to do some shopping with you! The big question is which house will get decorated first???

Craig and Angie said...

Hey I think I recognize one of those houses in the background.

Anthony and Sharon said...

Elizabeth- I nearly made a comment in the blog about the kitchen "being good if I was moving in as a college freshman to Gainesville, but I won't be adding any royal blue accents to this orange beauty!" ;) So my little UF blog follower, while you may not have been thinking in those terms, the fact that you like the gator-orange (or wildcat orange, ya know) does my heart good. Think we're gonna go with a gray with red and white accents. Though it won't look anything like Oklahoma or any other red-colored team.

And Angie- Speaking of kitchens decorated the wrong color. Sorry about your UofL kitchen. I think if you want to make that the first room we make a little less Cardinal-ish, I'd be fine with that. Hopefully mine will be done (at least the bottom floor) by the time you arrive...then whoever has budget for some decorating is who's will attack! I do have 3 letters for you, "SSF"...it will change your world. Ever been there? You will.

Cara said...

I care!! And I can't wait to come visit and help with the decorating!! :)

Kellie said...

So Candice hung a skeleton picture in someone's bedroom; are you sure you want her to be your inspiration? ; ) I love those pillows and all the natural light in your new place! I can't wait to see it after it's been touched by Sharon!

e&k said...

Sharon, your house is so nice! even the before pictures, wow! i'm looking forward to seeing your after shots! thanks for sharing! and congrats on the girl!!! do you pronounce her name kA lee or KaI lee? both are great :)

Anthony and Sharon said...

It's pronounced KAY-lee, but for clarity sake, she's an adult who will come to live with us for several months, NOT the new baby. We don't know the sex of the baby yet... I can hear the Grandparents now — Anthony and Sharon know the sex and they didn't tell us?! Haha. We find out May 27th. -AR

Brandon and April said...

TOOOOOOTALLY going to live vicariously through you and LOVE the fact that your kiddos get a "jack and jill" bathroom to share! that's really cool....and convenient. :) And the pillows rock. Will you come decorate my place when you finish yours?! :)

Julia Roberts said...

I think it looks great:) I can't wait to see the after photos. I know the interrior decorator in you is having a blast with this. To me, the "after" always makes it so worth it.

Unknown said...

1. I love, love, love the pillows!
2. If you are having a little girl, that'd be just awesome!
3. Who in the world is Kaylee?

Hope you're doing GREAT!

Danielle said...

Um, first I am so excited to see all the pictures and can't wait for the after pictures! Second, I like the orange...why paint?! Hellooooo! Just kidding, think of me when you paint it!

Joy said...

Kaylee loves adventure - I think you need to leave the squatty potty as is! Love the house - so open.

Sharon's mom said...

Riverses-Looking forward to our adventure in painting/shopping/decorating when we get there... I'm packing a set of "grubby" clothes! I couldn't help but notice that your awesome new pillows have orange in them too. But I guess pillows in the kitchen won't work well. lol
Elizabeth- The grandparents stayed and squatted in their last house for over a week! :-) And it WAS amusing!!

Anonymous said...

Love your new house! Hope all is going well with your move. We loved meeting you guys (especially it little ones). So excited I can blog-stalk you now. Can't wait for the after pics. Wish you lived closer so you could come use your decorating skills at my house.
Love, Marylou

Craig & Nicole said...

Sharon! I have been OBSESSED with HGTV lately. So, I could totally envision awesome things that could be done with this house. "Open floor plan" and "light and airy" were the terms coming to mind the whole time! I definitely can't wait to see the after pictures!!