Cardinal Sin

Cardinal Sin #1 after you buy your house: Looking at real estate in your area.

I stumbled upon 105 Chase Lane - and was immediately smitten:See those professional kitchen photos up there? That's because the kitchen in this house was featured in better homes and garden.

Yup, that's right. And this house is not a multi-million dollar house. This house would have been within our price range after negotiations.

Let's stare lovingly at that pro fridge:
And that gorgeous stove back there - with a pot filling nozzle (as shown in pic 1)
I love the decor - modern with clean lines. It's a bit too girlie for Brian I think - but I love it:
Yup, I'd just move in and put my furniture in there. No changes needed.
Love that neutral grey.
I'm not so sure about exposed brick. Haven't always been a fan - but I'm willing to overlook at it after seeing the kitchen. IN fact - with that specific kitchen, I'd just sleep on a sleeping back on the floor of the kitchen because it would be my favorite room in the house.
More exposed brick in the master bath? Interesting I suppose...
Love this vanity area. Ooh - la - la - imagining myself putting my makeup on there:
Another bathroom:
Back deck:
GRASS! GRASS AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE!

"Phuong, you do not want this house because you would have been renting all this time and you would not have the great neighbors you do and you would not be settled and MIchael would not be settled. God wanted you where you are and you are happy!"

Repeat.

I love my house. I do. It's just decorated in a very traditional style with very traditional colors and that's just not my style anymore. Most of my furniture is pretty traditional because that's what I veer towards - but I really love more modern lines.

Here's my laundry list of things I"d do to this house if I won the lottery:

Rip up sandy colored wood floors and install dark herringbone pattern like in Paris:

Rip up the carpet on the stairs and 2nd level. Install dark hardwood throughout.

Refinish kitchen cabinets from light maple color to white.

Install backsplash in kitchen

Renovate powder room

Install built-ins on fireplace wall

Install built-in window seat in piano room with shelving along that wall.

Renovate master bath. All of it. Whole room needs to be gutted except for vanity and light fixture.

Paint Living room light blue (already purchased)

Paint Michael's room.

Refinish deck - install new railings.

What's realistic on my list?

• Need plumber to fix my wobbly sink faucet in the kitchen that might be leaking water into my under sink area.
• Heater needs yearly service.
• Paint living room with paint already purchased.
• Sell guest bed. (FYI: Our IKEA pull out couch is way more comfortable than our guest bed)
• Move pull out couch to guest bedroom
• Move computer/desk into guest room.
• Convert guest room into a convertible office/guest bedroom.
• Move main level couches and end tables to basement.
• Sell rug on main level or move to basement with furniture.
• Sew new curtains for piano room with fabric already purchased.
• Move piano room curtains to my room where it coordinates.
• Sew pillows for my bed with fabric already purchased.

All the above things can be achieved without spending money. I have a very warm colored house - and I prefer a very neutral, light, and airy house with pops of color. Little by little (meaning 5+ years from now and me needing to get a job) - our house will be what I am proud to display.

But for now, it's a place where we live and it's fine. But it's not my dream house. I am hoping one day we'll move to TX and I'll be in my dream house there.

P