OUR HOUSE - 2 YEAR UPDATE

Two years ago we took possession of our current house! I have almost lost track of how many times we have moved in the last 11 years so for us, 2 years in one house is something to celebrate! The picture above is an rendering of our house during the planning stages, if you follow me on Instagram you will notice a few changes from this picture!

Our exterior updates include:

* Pergolas over the garage doors (they have both been stained since this picture)

* Changed the front pillar to a 12" x 12" cedar post

* Installed a custom metal address block

* Switched the soffit in the entry way to cedar

* Upgraded the light fixture

* Had the front door and side light painted orange

Still to do:

* Have custom metal planters built and installed

* Create an area for the garbage and recycling bins

* Landscaping!! (We live on a street full of construction, and have put off any landscaping until the street is more developed. Hoping to have this completed in the spring!)

I was looking through my computer for a few pictures I took on possession day and came across these from the exciting construction phase!

We started the planning stages and meeting with the mortgage broker, builder, real estate agent etc in October of 2014. They broke ground in March 2015 and we moved in September 2015.

Possession day! As you can see from the kitchen we had a lot of work to do. First things first - the rest of my appliances. It was a 3 week wait for my fridge and freezer to arrive. And the dishwasher/microwave was a few months. (We hit some delays along the way but in the end it made me appreciate my appliances SO much more, haha) My trusty Fisher Paykel range was there from day one and I eventually ordered the matching range hood.

Our kitchen updates include:

* We bought appliances!

* We installed a subway tile up to the ceiling

* We created a DIY chalkboard

* We did a weekend makeover of our pocket office, adding wallpaper, shelves and painting the existing desk

The Living Room!

Our living room updates include:

*Buying all new furniture (the kids are lounging in the box the couch was shipped in, haha)

*Adding an area rug

*Building bookshelves on either side of the fireplace

*Building a mantel and painting the wall above blue

Still to do:

* Modify the mantel design

* Get the granite tops for the bookshelves ordered and installed

* Tile the front of the fireplace

* Wainscot the surrounding walls and paint the upper half of the wall blue

* Get a tv that is a better scale for the room and hide the cords!

The Dining Room

* We are in the middle of the dining room project! We added a box beam ceiling (will be painted soon!) and will be adding wainscoting. As you can see in the picture I was visualizing the space by using white wrapping paper. TIP: Use painters tape or paper on a roll to plan out the space and look at it for a few days before beginning your project! Since taking this picture I taped out different heights before finally settling on one.

On the second story updates include:

* Installing subway tile around the kids tub/shower and in the sink room of the kids bathroom

* Installed wallpaper in the kids bathroom

* Wallpapering an accent wall in our daughter's bedroom

* A custom DIY walk in closet with window seat in our daughter's bedroom

* Installed custom shelves in the linen closet

* Switched out the master bathroom light fixture

*Installed wallpaper in the ensuite....then promptly removed wallpaper in ensuite (back to the drawing board on that design!! LOL)

Still to do:

* Custom closet in the master bedroom

* Re-do the master bedroom and ensuite

* Custom closet in our son's bedroom

* Custom desk and shelves in our son's bedroom

* Photo gallery grid wall in the hallway

I was having a hard time finding before pictures of the bedrooms and bathrooms...but I did find this one of the kids Jack and Jill bathroom the day we took possession! (Note: my husband had the plumbers come back to switch out the plumbing to be chrome not black PVC)

BEFORE: