On April 28th, 2009 we made an offer on our first home. After countering with the seller, we are now on our way to being homeowners! Our new home was built in 1902, and it’s an original Four Square style home, complete with slate siding, plaster walls, and all of the original dark oak wood work. The style has some Victorian/Queen Anne influence. These three historic styles are very popular in our neighborhood. We also live within walking distance to a small historic down town, and a small college that both DH and I work at. We love it!

It’s 5 bedrooms, and 3 bathrooms – 2,293 sq ft (not including finished basement). It’s big for the two of us, but we don’t plan on moving any time soon and there’s room to grow. :-)

Since we’re starting from scratch in the decorating department, please please PLEASE leave comments with your ideas :-)

A nice summer pic of our new home!
A nice summer pic of our new home! It’s not quite this pink – more of a lavender.

All interior pics are of the buyers stuff.  I’d love to have some of her furniture!  All of the pictures are a tad bit dark.

The cute front porch
The cute front porch
The entry way/foyer - it has a large oak bench with storage underneath.
The entry way/foyer – it has a large oak bench with storage underneath.
Foyer - looking back towards the front door with the bench on the left.
Foyer – looking back towards the front door with the bench on the left.
The living room - its to the left from the foyer. Theres another huge window in this room on the left wall just outside this picture.
The living room – it’s to the left from the foyer. There’s another huge window in this room on the left wall just outside this picture.
The view from the couch looking back into the foyer.
The view from the couch looking back into the foyer.
The dining room - its just off the living room.
The dining room – it’s just off the living room.  We’re definitely painting the walls – this room is super dark.
Another view of the dining room - you can see the 3/4 bath in the corner. This is where the old back porch used to be.
Another view of the dining room – you can see the 3/4 bath in the corner. This is where the old back porch used to be.  The kitchen is on the other side of the wall with the china cabinet on it.
First floor 3/4 bathroom - well eventually take down the wallpaper and paint this.
First floor 3/4 bathroom – we’ll eventually take down the wallpaper and paint this.  Might also put a sconce over the mirror since the light in here is tiny.
The kitchen - it is NOT this yellow!
The kitchen – it is NOT this yellow!
Another view of the kitchen - this is a more accurate color for the cabinets and counters. Well eventually replace the drop ceiling and paint the walls. Someday well get new appliances...
Another view of the kitchen – this is a more accurate color for the cabinets and counters. We’ll eventually replace the drop ceiling and paint the walls. Someday we’ll get new appliances…and maybe redo the whole thing.  I’m not sure what the wall color should be yet – any thoughts?
Stairs leading up...
Stairs leading up…
Looking up the stairs to the second floor landing.
Looking up the stairs to the second floor landing.
This will be the guest bedroom eventually. Its right above the kitchen.
This will be the guest bedroom eventually. It’s right above the kitchen. (This is still sellers furniture)
This will be either a bedroom or an office. Its the largest of the four rooms on the second floor - above the dining room.
This will be either a bedroom or an office. It’s the largest of the four rooms on the second floor – above the dining room.  I’ll be replacing the fabric in the shutters with something fun.
Looking back towards the door.
Looking back towards the door.  We’ll get rid of the black stripe (???)
Another bedroom...well take down the fan and wall paper, and then paint the walls. This will be another guest room.
Another bedroom…we’ll take down the fan and wall paper, and then paint the walls. This will be another guest room – above the living room.
Yet another bedroom - well take down the fan and the wallpaper, then paint. Who knows what this will be...
Yet another bedroom – we’ll take down the fan and the wallpaper, then paint. Who knows what this will be…
Second floor full bath. Eventually well build up a wall so we can add a shower curtain. For now, its just a tub with a little hand shower thingy - but its nice.
Second floor “full” bath. Eventually we’ll build up a wall so we can add a shower curtain. For now, it’s just a tub with a little hand shower thingy – but it’s nice.
Another view of the bathroom - not quite this yellow. Well probably replace the towel racks and paint the walls.
Another view of the bathroom – not quite this yellow. We’ll probably replace the towel racks and the lights and paint the walls.

This is where things start to get a little “different” – but in a good way.  Most older homes have huge attics, and since there wasn’t a master bedroom/bathroom “idea” in 1902, the sellers finished off their attic into this huge master suite in 2007.  And fortunately, the stairwell works – a lot of the old homes had stairwells from otherwise occupied bedrooms, which could potentially be awkward.  Hopefully you can follow the progression of pictures…

Looking from the 2nd floor bathroom toward the stair well - the closed door leads up to the master bedroom
Looking from the 2nd floor bathroom toward the stair well – the closed door leads up to the master bedroom
Going up the stairs...
Going up the stairs…again, not this yellow.  I had some white balance issues.
Looking up into the master bedroom from the stair landing.
Looking up into the master bedroom from the stair landing.
The view from the top of the stairs. The ceilings are about 13 ft tall at the peak. Well eventually get rid of the weird track lighting. Im not sure what well put there...
The view from the top of the stairs. The ceilings are about 13 ft tall at the peak. We’ll eventually get rid of the weird track lighting. I’m not sure what we’ll change it to…the gables are 6 ft. tall, so we can fit a chair and table in there or something.
Looking back across the room - next to the bed is a small door into some finished storage space, then theres the stairs down (where the previous picture was taken from). Behind the chunky wall in the middle is part of the closet. Then you get to the bathroom.
Looking back across the room – next to the bed is a small door into some finished storage space, then there’s the stairs down (where the previous picture was taken from). Behind the chunky wall in the middle is part of the closet. Then you get to the bathroom.  Yes, the tub is just there – but it’s HUGE.  And we like it.  We might Get a huge drape to sorta divide up the room, or a pretty folding screen.
Well probably change the reading lights that are built into the slanted ceiling - I think they look like alien eyes. Wed prefer lamps or sconces.
We’ll probably change the reading lights that are built into the slanted ceiling – I think they look like alien eyes, and it feels like you’re on a plane. We’d prefer lamps or sconces.
Double vanity in the master bath. We might change the mirrors - well see.
Double vanity in the master bath. We might change the mirrors – we’ll see. We’ll definitely change the knobs – they’re kinda weird.
The HUGE tiled shower - it has a double shower head!
The HUGE tiled shower – it has a double shower head!

To the left of the shower is the toilet, and tucked around behind the double vanity is a walk in closet.

See? This is the closet behind the sinks.
See? This is the closet behind the sinks.
Because of the slanted ceilings, the hanging rack is low. At the end of the closet on the left is a tall shelf for clothing and some drawers (you cant see it). The closet is pretty spacious, though we may add some stuff to it to make it more functional.
Because of the slanted ceilings, the hanging rack is low. At the end of the closet on the left is a tall shelf for clothing and some drawers (you can’t see it) next to the water heater. The closet is pretty spacious, though we may add some stuff to it to make it more functional.

On to the basement…

Cute kids play room in the basement. Im not sure what well do with this - it will probably be where we put all of our music stuff for now...
Cute kids play room in the basement. I’m not sure what we’ll do with this – it will probably be where we put all of our music stuff for now…
Basement rec room or theater room.
Basement rec room or theater room.
Other side of rec room - the black folding doors hide the laundry. Maybe theres some creative way we could get the laundry on the second floor, but I doubt it...
Other side of rec room – the black folding doors hide the laundry. Maybe there’s some creative way we could get the laundry on the second floor, but I doubt it…

What you didn’t see: the mudroom off the back of the kitchen, the staircase leading to the side entrance and basement, the utility room, the back yard, the patio on the back, and the garage (it’s not attached to the house).

  • Published by jen
  • If you like this blog please take a second from your precious time and subscribe to my rss feed!