Our new house was built in 1969.  So even though it’s new to us, it’s not actually new.  Many of the rooms need updating but overall, our house is perfect and exactly what we wanted.  We have an awesome neighborhood.  In a given day I probably see 3 cars pass by my house, and they belong to people who live on our street.  Our yard is private and very shaded with natural boundaries, no fences.  There is plenty of room inside for all of us and all of our stuff but not too much space that it’s a nuisance to keep clean.  I’ve already showed you some of our yard (we own a half acre) which is probably my favorite part of owning a house but I’m excited to show off some of the inside as well.

When we bought the house, it appeared that the family room had not been updated, remodeled, renovated since the house was built. It had dark paneling, a tile drop ceiling, very poor lighting and a dingy indoor/outdoor type carpet.  Here is what it looked like:

click image to enlarge

We knew that this would be a room that we would spend a lot of time in as a family, especially during the cold winter months when we wouldn’t be spending as much time outside.  So, this was one of the very first projects that we decided to tackle.  We had big visions for the space and knew that we wanted to maximize the square footage as much as possible.  We found a contractor on ServiceMagic.com and got started right away.  Here is what the project entailed:

  • remove paneling, ceiling, carpet
  • install new windows in front of room, close in rear windows
  • rip out built in cabinets and move wall back to gain square footage
  • install drywall for the walls and ceiling
  • install 8 recessed lights on dimmers
  • install new trim, baseboards and doors
  • install new carpet
  • paint!!  We did this ourselves to save on costs.

I am beyond thrilled with the finished product.  The contractor was here for full days (usually 8am til around 6 or 7pm) and it took him about two and a half weeks to do all of the work.  He was a one man show and did a phenomenal job!  We’re in the process of furnishing the space which will be our family room/TV room/playroom.  The entertainment area is set up and the couch and main furniture is in.  Now it’s time to get some pictures on the walls and dress the windows (this could take a while).  So, without further ado, here are the after, unfurnished, undecorated pictures of the room:

I promise to share more pictures once we get the  finishing touches in.  We’re already enjoying the space and loving every minute of it.  I can’t believe how big it is.  The girls have so much room to play and we have a little home theater set up on one side.  Scott is thrilled to have his surround sound system set up and our TV and couch look perfect here.  I know we’re going to spend a lot of time in our new family room.  Couldn’t be happier!

Related Posts with Thumbnails