Skip to main content

Well We Did It Again....

Ooops we did it again! Most were calling us crazy but we found another project. The days of watching our kids walk to school are here. Being able to give them the opportunity to grow up in a neighborhood where their fellow classmates (and lots of family!) are a bike ride way is something special. The next few chapters in our family's life will revolve around meeting new friends, school events & activities and we want to be present for it all! 

Rewind almost a year Ago...........

This house came into our lap literally out of nowhere thanks to our realtor Jon. We knew we were "looking" for the next but wouldn't say we were hard core house hunting. Maybe Matt and Jon were but I wasn't ready, at least not with a 6 month old at home. Matt was persistent on moving and a phone call from Jon led to an immediate walk through that evening and we knew we couldn't pass this one up. We made an offer that night even though they had another from a friend so seriously didn't think we had a chance. We were wrong. Accepted next day. And just like that we were the proud owners of 2 homes within 2 miles of each other! Holy. Crap. What we accomplished in our Heady Avenue house was over and beyond what we ever thought we could do and it will always be my first love. Leaving this house was very difficult, leaving our neighbors who had become more like family. I was in denial for awhile. Fast forward to present date and we know we made the right decision. 

We purchased a 1400sqft, traditional cape cod on a corner lot of a beautifully tree lined street. We sure do love a good corner lot. This house didn't have much of any curb appeal besides the updated landscaping. Needed a new roof, new windows and new front porch. Inside was recently renovated open concept, 4 beds with 2 baths. We are just the third owners of this house. The previous owners did a great job on their renovations and we were able to salvage some pieces, one in particular the home’s original kitchen sink.

Some have asked me "how did you know this plan could work from a 5 minute walk through?" "how did you know the cost of it all" I honestly didn't have all the answers but i felt confident I could make it happen. some things that I zoned in on.....
- location, location, location!
- lot size; there was space to add while still having a yard and driveway
- staircase location; because re-configuring one isn't fun (or cheap)
- basement both walk out and tall enough ceilings
- kids bedrooms separate floor from master bedroom 
- living/public spaces were on the same side of the house making easy for open concept living (this goes along with where the stairs are located)
- kitchen central location
- baseboards and trims; the original tall kinds and on both floors!!
- original hardwood floors in good condition
- did I say location, location, location?!?

 Maybe that doesn't seem like a lot or even make sense but Matt and I knew the important things we wanted in our next house. Our room AWAY from the kids, ha, a larger great room for entertaining & sports watching, an outdoor living space, master bath with two sinks not just one, an 2 car garage that actually fits 2 cars. Simple things that you live through and learn from. We were at our Heady Avenue house for 6 years and a lot of things that didn't seem all that important of our first home have now changed because you know life has grown by 2 little ones so priorities have too! Overall this house met majority of that check list and what didn't we knew it was possible to make it happen. 

 So here were are breaking ground on round 2. I hope you all enjoy reading this journey as much as I love to document it all!! Pictures and Plans coming soon......


Front Yard 


Back Yard 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

#DEMODAY Phase II

Yes #demoday Phase II because like I mentioned we are basically building a new house. After the back was torn down and cleaned up a mini digger was brought in to build out our trenches where the new foundation was going to be poured. The existing slab of concrete where the breezeway and garage sat was kept since the new foot print was larger and it wasn't going to interfere (there was a small part of me that was going to miss the black & red tile floor). Also it was helpful that the team was working on that vs dirt and rock. Trenches were dug so concrete could be poured for the foundation and footers. During the design phase Matt and I went round and round on whether the new addition floor should be the same height as the existing or if we should do a sunken great room. There were benefits to each, mainly a sunken great room would allow for a higher ceiling height and potential for vaulted ceilings. We ultimately decided the entire first floor should be on the same walki...
Post a Comment
Read more

Week 3: Demo Continues

WEEK 3: DEMO CONTINUES..... Before I can start on what took place this week I have to share a special moment that happen on Monday. So Matt and I are woke up early by our GC letting us know he is going to start on the basement gut that day. Of course this was planned to not happen until Wednesday so for me not to be present when this went down made me quite nervous. But we trust our GC and know he is making the right decisions for us. Matt and I were getting phone calls left and right about this and that all day and when I finally leave from work at the end of the day to head over to the construction zone needless to say I was stressing a little. I am looking around inspecting and see a small piece of paper just sitting on the bar in the basement among some tools and materials. I glance at it thinking it might have been another found surprise in the walls, and boy was it. I immediately asked Lonnie where he got it and answered 'in the crawl space when we ...
1 comment
Read more

Week 2: Demo Begins

The framers are here! The framers are here! And boy were the fast. Lonnie and his team took two and a half days for this to happen. Never thought it would be that quick! They did a fantastic job and also learned that he has done work on a few other houses in the neighborhood. Apparently in the 50s and 60s Homerama took place here. Mud/Entry: The wall separating this room from the kitchen and dining room was removed, since it was load bearing we had to install a 14' LVL beam for the proper support. Some people do not like to have this installed when going for an open concept because your ceilings will not be one continuous plane. In our case we are leaving the parallel wall that separates the kitchen/dining and living room which is also load bearing so it is going to match up making it look as if the house was originally built that way.  Before   Before: The Beautiful Knotty Pine Room    After     After   They s...
2 comments
Read more