This summer we lived the American dream and bought our first home, and being the poor starving college students we are, we bought a foreclosed home. As one can imagine, the house was in poor shape. Actually, it scared the snot out of most home shoppers who entered, but beyond it moldy bathrooms and written all over walls, my husband and I saw a solid house with a fantastic floor plan. So we bought the stink hole and spent three months making it into a swan. And wow, what a swan it became.
The house is a three bedroom two bath, one story home on a quarter acre lot.




We installed (ourselves) laminate hardwood floors in Everglade Mahogany by Quickstep. Phenomenal brand. My sister-in-law was my teacher and we talked about going into business.



Wall color is super important to me. I think everyone of my family members have ended up with the wrong color then what they have intended on their walls, so I learned from their mistakes and bought sample colors to test. I painted a piece of wall and watched it in many different types of lighting. Walla, I ended up with exactly what I wanted. Well, after going through about a dozen sample colors.

For the main color, I wanted pale green, but not sage. I found the Kaki green called Sand Fossil by Behr. It was perfect. For the two toned kitchen, I did the lighter version called Beveled Cream. I’m all about Behr paint. It covers well and is the best for the lowest price.
Baby girls room, I wanted pink, but with a lavender undertone. She is all girl. I went through about five pinks before I found Lighthearted Pink by Sherman Williams. With the white ceiling trim, it was perfect. I created the letters atop shelve and the butterflies top it all off. The room is as feminine as she is. Far cry from the “I hate my mom” written all over the walls.






Dillon picked out his own green color; Organic by Behr. I wanted the two toned look so we accompanied it with Hickory by Martha Stewart. The chair rail was my husband’s idea and it really gives the room a finished look. His room has a world traveler theme.




Our bathrooms were the rooms that had the most work done. We stripped the room down to just the two-by-fours behind the drywall, then started from scratch. Chris did all the tiling by himself. I wanted a chic bathroom that did scream kids and wasn’t the typical ocean theme. The color is Dolphin fin by Behr and the cupboards are Bittersweet also by Behr. The medieval painting is my little piece of my major I found a place for. (11c. German , Just FYI).








I am in love with art, but mostly with Van Gogh. I wanted neutral walls for my room so the art on the wall could really stand out. This is Wool Skein by Sherman Williams. In my room we have shelves that’s houses our favorite books; the scriptures and medieval Literature. My husband, Van Gogh, and heresy; this really is my favorite room, as well as the kids.







This pantry was one of the selling points of the house for me. Someday I shall fill it full of wonderful yummyness.

The kitchen is awaiting four missing drawers, but it gained all new appliances and lighting.




This dinning room set was my great-grandmother’s. I love it dearly. I did recently reupholster the seats.



To say we did this all our selves would be a lie. We hired a plumber to do the tub and Express to do the carpet. But beyond that we had many wonderful family members and friends by our sides through it all. My sister stayed a week with me, Chris’s dad worked his magic in about every room. Sister-in-laws and moms watched kids, brothers sacrificed evenings and Saturdays. One poured her soul into those dang wood floors, and my father finished them with finesse. We borrowed tools from friends and strangers. Many others did countless hours and we cannot
express enough love. Thank you.
