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!