Home Reno

When my grandmother passed away, I bought the family home. It was built by her in-laws in 1930 and has always been in the family. There is actually a street in my town named after our family. There is a lot of history with this house.

 This is the cousins on my front porch this past Easter. There are actually 8 more cousins. There are 3 great grand-babies in the pic and two more that are missing. If you're counting, that's 18 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.Oh yeah, and miscellaneous spouses. My grandparents raised 8 children in this house, look what they left behind. 
 
This post isn't really about a weekly craft, I'm just showing off my home improvements. It's taken me just over two years, but with a little lotto money I could probably finish off what I wanna do. Maybe I should start playing the lotto.

I've tried to update the house without loosing too much of its 1930s character. There are great wide mop boards around the base of all the floors, arches between the rooms and wonderful old wood windows. I totally need new energy efficient windows, but need cash.  

Here's the family room before.


One day I went downstairs to get the vacuum and then decided I didn't want to vacuum anymore. So I went upstairs and ripped up the carpet. Totally normal rational decision.  I had no idea what was underneath, but was hopping for the same wood that's in the bedrooms. I was in luck! The floor still needs to be refinished, but I love it. I painted the walls and frosted the bottom of the front window, although that's hard to see in this pic.

This is the old view from the living room looking into the dining room and kitchen.
I don't have a the same "after" view.







The dinning room got a new light fixture, new paint and some swapped out and new furniture.

Kitchen before...

The kitchen was repainted.
I made the curtains and inserts for the cupboard doors.
My dad helped me put up the shelf for the microwave, again to add to the counter space.
I added a tin (plastic) backslash.
I hung, amateur style, the light above the sink.
I have more I want to do... black and white floor, new cabinetry, sink, facet, counter top... I really need to buy that lotto ticket.

The table and chairs were removed, since the dinning room table and chairs are just a few feet away. The island was a nice expansion of the very limited counter space. I have no idea how Grandma spent all those years bent over the table cooking for 10.

My absolute favorite reno has been the bathroom.
Tiny sink, light fixture with pull-cord overheard that I could only reach on tiptoe (which was also where the only outlet was located), not so cute pink and blue tile, no shower (just a tub)...












My dad and I put up the new bead-board.
my friend Dave came and put in the new light fixture, which was actually a fixture made for a ceiling, but I got creative. He also added a light switch at a normal level and a new outlet.
I found the sink on the floor at my local home improvement store. It had just been used in a home and garden show and I got it for a steal. Always ask and then ask for a discount.

I lost some storage space putting in the pedestal sink, but my dad and I added a cut-out in the wall behind the door.( I picture of that at a later time. Also one of the shower. So glad to have a shower!)
I made the curtain.Yep, I made that.Oh yeah, I also replaced the mirror in the medicine cabinet. I couldn't find a single new medicine cabinet I liked, so I just spruced up the one I had.
I was so glad to be able to save the old hex tile floor.




I'll probably do another post on the rest of the rooms, but just took some updated photos and wanted to share.

Thanks for letting me brag!