Thursday was the end of our first week of home ownership and today is the end of the first week of living here. Saturday we had a bunch of people over for D&D and dinner.
Here's the house tour pictures for the end of Week 1.
We still have one piece of furniture to bring over from the apartment; the third computer desk. There is still a lot of packing to be done over there too. It just doesn't seem to end. I want to be out of the house by the end of the day next Saturday.
I'm contemplating stuff I still want to buy but I think it'll be just contemplating for a little while:
corner table for the stair landing
under cabinet knife block
dresser for myself
Odd things discovered this week:
the skeleton key hanging on the interior front door
light sensing nightlights don't work in the bathroom
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
New House, New Kitchen
I'm slowly adjusting to the new kitchen. Maybe not so slowly, we've only owned the house for a week as of 4 pm this afternoon.
Every piece of my kitchen that has come into the house had a home, at least temporarily. It's been interesting because there are only two drawers in the kitchen and the cabinets go up higher than I can reach with a step stool. The kitchen island we brought from the apartment had two drawers in it so I now have some place to put the knives. The small cutting boards will probably be evicted from the other side of the island and kept some place else. I'll put not so commonly used utensils there.
It looks like I have a thing about second hand kitchens. I've been compulsively lining all of the drawers, shelves, and cabinets because the naked wood squicks me.
The big change is that the piece of furniture I was using for a dresser has gone back to it's original purpose as a sideboard in the dining room. All of the silverware, napkins, and disposable dishes are in there.
I have to find a home for the shoe rack and then I think I'll be all set for the weekend. Then after that we'll get the rest of the kitchen stuff from storage and figure out where all of that goes. I only have about half of my kitchen at the new house.
Every piece of my kitchen that has come into the house had a home, at least temporarily. It's been interesting because there are only two drawers in the kitchen and the cabinets go up higher than I can reach with a step stool. The kitchen island we brought from the apartment had two drawers in it so I now have some place to put the knives. The small cutting boards will probably be evicted from the other side of the island and kept some place else. I'll put not so commonly used utensils there.
It looks like I have a thing about second hand kitchens. I've been compulsively lining all of the drawers, shelves, and cabinets because the naked wood squicks me.
The big change is that the piece of furniture I was using for a dresser has gone back to it's original purpose as a sideboard in the dining room. All of the silverware, napkins, and disposable dishes are in there.
I have to find a home for the shoe rack and then I think I'll be all set for the weekend. Then after that we'll get the rest of the kitchen stuff from storage and figure out where all of that goes. I only have about half of my kitchen at the new house.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Homeowner Lists
Small things that need to be fixed:
Front storm door handle
Back storm door closer
Reassemble outlet in craft/play room
Get a dehumidifier for basement
Create ways for the Duckie to reach light switches
Medium projects:
Cut down and trim white shear curtains for kitchen
Medium projects requiring help/advise:
Light switch for dining room
New light for dining room
fix reversed light switches
Large projects:
Replace living room carpet
Strip and paint stairwell
Paint master bedroom
Large projects requiring help:
New porch roof
rewire second floor
Gut walls in kitchen
Shopping List:
dresser for me
two more pantry shelf sets from ValuHome
black nine cube organizer from ValuHome
fabric bins for the cube organizer in grey, black, and tan
craft room table (white folding?)
floor lamps for under $100 that have switches half way up the side
light switch extenders that work on sideways switches
Front storm door handle
Back storm door closer
Reassemble outlet in craft/play room
Get a dehumidifier for basement
Create ways for the Duckie to reach light switches
Medium projects:
Cut down and trim white shear curtains for kitchen
Medium projects requiring help/advise:
Light switch for dining room
New light for dining room
fix reversed light switches
Large projects:
Replace living room carpet
Strip and paint stairwell
Paint master bedroom
Large projects requiring help:
New porch roof
rewire second floor
Gut walls in kitchen
Shopping List:
dresser for me
two more pantry shelf sets from ValuHome
black nine cube organizer from ValuHome
fabric bins for the cube organizer in grey, black, and tan
craft room table (white folding?)
floor lamps for under $100 that have switches half way up the side
light switch extenders that work on sideways switches
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Wall Art for the Duckie's Room
http://www.art.com/products/p13573091-sa-i2703487/andy-warhol-butterflies-c1955-big-green-in-middle.htm?sorig=cat&sorigid=0&dimvals=0&ui=af4b1a2037b94662a769879fd9b59a9b&searchstring=warhol+butterflies
http://www.art.com/products/p14485028-sa-i3056720/andy-warhol-wild-raspberries-c1959-pink.htm?sorig=cat&sorigid=0&dimvals=0&ui=af4b1a2037b94662a769879fd9b59a9b&searchstring=warhol+dessert
http://www.art.com/products/p14485028-sa-i3056720/andy-warhol-wild-raspberries-c1959-pink.htm?sorig=cat&sorigid=0&dimvals=0&ui=af4b1a2037b94662a769879fd9b59a9b&searchstring=warhol+dessert
House Pictures
Before pictures of the house:
http://picasaweb.google.com/112027436046345326346/HouseBefore?feat=directlink
Tonight I want to get another round of pictures so I can see the progress we've made.
http://picasaweb.google.com/112027436046345326346/HouseBefore?feat=directlink
Tonight I want to get another round of pictures so I can see the progress we've made.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
The Continuing Adventures in Moving
Done today:
Cleaned out the front hall, bathroom, living room (except for frog and electronics), and pantry.
Unpacked all kitchen boxes at house.
Changed the back screen door handle.
Introduced myself to the other neighbor.
Set up the pantry at the house.
Arranged living room.
...
I forgot what else I did but I haven't stopped. I need to pick up my knives and I should be ready to cook in the new kitchen for the first time.
Cleaned out the front hall, bathroom, living room (except for frog and electronics), and pantry.
Unpacked all kitchen boxes at house.
Changed the back screen door handle.
Introduced myself to the other neighbor.
Set up the pantry at the house.
Arranged living room.
...
I forgot what else I did but I haven't stopped. I need to pick up my knives and I should be ready to cook in the new kitchen for the first time.
The Grand Duchess' Room
None of the wall art and little decorative touches have been moved to the house but here's the basic idea for the Grand Duchess' bedroom:
My stepmother did an AWESOME job painting the room.
My stepmother did an AWESOME job painting the room.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
At the end of the day...
I'm happier tonight than I was last night.
The Husband's computer desk goes very well with the decor I planned for the living room. I found fabric at Joanne's that is exactly the style and colors I want there so I picked up a yard of it. I can't afford to make curtains out of it (yet) but I can either make pillows or recover the bench.
My Mom and I just finished one wall in the kitchen and it was the most difficult one. The brown burlap looks like a rich wallpaper and is a perfect compliment to the peach lower half of the walls. That's the one that will have extra furniture around it so the rest will be easier.
I found the light I want in the dining room in an ad for $10. I'll see how it looks in person but it's the style I want.
We're not really packed enough to move but we have time this week to do the rest once the furniture is out tomorrow.
The Husband's computer desk goes very well with the decor I planned for the living room. I found fabric at Joanne's that is exactly the style and colors I want there so I picked up a yard of it. I can't afford to make curtains out of it (yet) but I can either make pillows or recover the bench.
My Mom and I just finished one wall in the kitchen and it was the most difficult one. The brown burlap looks like a rich wallpaper and is a perfect compliment to the peach lower half of the walls. That's the one that will have extra furniture around it so the rest will be easier.
I found the light I want in the dining room in an ad for $10. I'll see how it looks in person but it's the style I want.
We're not really packed enough to move but we have time this week to do the rest once the furniture is out tomorrow.
Day Two
Of home ownership, here we are.
We're on plan B for the computers and plan C for the kitchen walls.
The third bedroom which was going to be the office and craft room will now be the craft room and play room. The computer will all be on the right hand side of the living room.
Last night I spent two hours painting the kitchen and it looks like crap. The sponge paint was there to hide the imperfections in the wallpaper they painted over. Mom came over and suggested Plan C; we're going to cover those sections of wall with fabric. No, really, it'll look good.
We're on plan B for the computers and plan C for the kitchen walls.
The third bedroom which was going to be the office and craft room will now be the craft room and play room. The computer will all be on the right hand side of the living room.
Last night I spent two hours painting the kitchen and it looks like crap. The sponge paint was there to hide the imperfections in the wallpaper they painted over. Mom came over and suggested Plan C; we're going to cover those sections of wall with fabric. No, really, it'll look good.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Day One
Of home ownership.
Started off the morning picking up more coffee supplies, soda, cups, a trash can, garbage bags, and a couple of lamps. Dad and I went to ValuHome and picked up paint, the entertainment center, stuff to swap out the outlets in the office, and light bulbs.
Discoveries today:
1. Only the bathroom upstairs was rewired.
2. They painted over wall paper in the kitchen.
3. There are American flag stickers on the window of every door.
Personally, I put together the entertainment center and painted a lot of the first coat in the kitchen. I am the queen of "some assembly required." I am not the queen of wall painting. That is my stepmother. She rocks the walls. The closet and one of the Duckie's walls are already done. One light pink and two dark pink walls to go.
And for those of you who know me well, let me state that this evening I spent over two hours at the top of a step ladder.
The kitchen walls now look like crap. At last now it's not sponge painted crap. The green does not go with the peach on the bottom and now I can see every little wrinkle in the wall.
Started off the morning picking up more coffee supplies, soda, cups, a trash can, garbage bags, and a couple of lamps. Dad and I went to ValuHome and picked up paint, the entertainment center, stuff to swap out the outlets in the office, and light bulbs.
Discoveries today:
1. Only the bathroom upstairs was rewired.
2. They painted over wall paper in the kitchen.
3. There are American flag stickers on the window of every door.
Personally, I put together the entertainment center and painted a lot of the first coat in the kitchen. I am the queen of "some assembly required." I am not the queen of wall painting. That is my stepmother. She rocks the walls. The closet and one of the Duckie's walls are already done. One light pink and two dark pink walls to go.
And for those of you who know me well, let me state that this evening I spent over two hours at the top of a step ladder.
The kitchen walls now look like crap. At last now it's not sponge painted crap. The green does not go with the peach on the bottom and now I can see every little wrinkle in the wall.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
T minus 3 hours
Woo! It's closing day!
12:30 pm is the final walk through.
1:30 pm is the closing.
I'm very excited!
12:30 pm is the final walk through.
1:30 pm is the closing.
I'm very excited!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
It's a GO!
Woo! We're scheduled to close tomorrow! We're moving this weekend!
Because a lot of people have plans for Saturday, the Big Move will be Sunday. So...
Sunday, September 19th
1 pm until pizza
58 Prospect Terrace, Cortland NY
24 Arthur Ave, Cortland NY
There will be people at both locations but we'll start at Prospect.
Because a lot of people have plans for Saturday, the Big Move will be Sunday. So...
Sunday, September 19th
1 pm until pizza
58 Prospect Terrace, Cortland NY
24 Arthur Ave, Cortland NY
There will be people at both locations but we'll start at Prospect.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
You're not going to believe this...
We're back to the same place we were on August 11.
The easement can't be added to the property's tax number until March because the county doesn't fix tax stuff like this until then. The easement property would have to have it's own tax number. The bank won't allow a mortgage to cover two tax numbers.
So we just went through a big four week circle.
On the upside, this means that we should close early next week.
The easement can't be added to the property's tax number until March because the county doesn't fix tax stuff like this until then. The easement property would have to have it's own tax number. The bank won't allow a mortgage to cover two tax numbers.
So we just went through a big four week circle.
On the upside, this means that we should close early next week.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Round About
Chris, our real estate agent, our lawyer, and the bank are trying to find a way around the roadblock to the closing. Hopefully we'll have a house soon!
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Purchase Update and Structural Plans
We're ready to buy the house on our side but there's a holdup someplace else. We're not quite sure what's going on. Everything SHOULD be set to go. I drove by the house last week and saw survey markers. At least we know that's been done.
Onto eventual plans for the house. There are only two major renovations I'd like to do eventually.
The first is to add a half bath to the first floor. The dining room is big enough to take a small chunk out of it and put in a tiny bathroom. That was done at my Dad's house and it's worked well.
The second is to convert the closet behind the bathroom into a full stairway to the attic. Right now there's a pull down set of stairs which means that I can't use the closet for much if I want to preserve attic access. Since we're not going to use the basement for storage, attic access is important. I haven't been up in the attic there myself but the rest of my family has. I hear that it has about 3 feet of wall before the roofline and I know that it's the full length/width of the house.
Onto eventual plans for the house. There are only two major renovations I'd like to do eventually.
The first is to add a half bath to the first floor. The dining room is big enough to take a small chunk out of it and put in a tiny bathroom. That was done at my Dad's house and it's worked well.
The second is to convert the closet behind the bathroom into a full stairway to the attic. Right now there's a pull down set of stairs which means that I can't use the closet for much if I want to preserve attic access. Since we're not going to use the basement for storage, attic access is important. I haven't been up in the attic there myself but the rest of my family has. I hear that it has about 3 feet of wall before the roofline and I know that it's the full length/width of the house.
Friday, September 03, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)