This is an unedited, unstyled first tour of our new house – five days after moving in. Sometimes real life isn’t pretty.
Well, we’re in. We’ve moved.
The weather on moving day was unseasonably warm which made for a nice clean move (no wet soppy boots on my floors!) But now, four days later, winter is here in full force. (I’m ready to hibernate!)
Yesterday morning the kids started homeschool again – you know since I could find and unpack the laptops – and I’m up to my eyeballs in boxes and packing paper. Thoughts of where do I put this, and how much can I unpack before I paint the walls, are rolling through my brain.
But mostly I’m thankful.
I’m thankful for our old house (I cried big wet ugly tears after locking the door for the last time) and the memories we made in it. And I’m thankful for this new house that we will make so many new memories in.
I’m thankful for friends and professional movers and cleaning ladies (that our realtor provided) and more space than I ever dreamed we’d have.
I’m even thankful for light fixtures and paint colors that really aren’t our style, because it means I get to choose new ones and paint the walls afresh.
I’m thankful for a big open kitchen and the potential it holds.
I’m thankful for the brands we work with and the fact that we live in the suburbs with lots of stores and have internet with lots more stores. You know, because this house has so much potential, but it’s gonna need a lot of stuff (like the 13 gallons of paint that are currently sitting in my entryway!).
I’m thankful for four bathrooms (a huge upgrade from only one).
I’m even thankful for our massive sectional not fitting down the basement stairs – because that meant we could bless someone else with it.
We’re tired and sore for sure. But instead of dwelling on that – and how far we have to go before this house looks anything like our style – I think I’ll try to remember to focus on the good: we’re here, we’re together and we are oh so blessed by that.
xo,
Shannon & Dean (and the kids)
P.S. You can see photos from the night we got keys (the empty house) here.
It’s absolutely gorgeous!! I just can’t wait to see what you do with it to make it yours! Have fun!
Thank you, sweet Faye. đŸ™‚ In my paint clothes now about to start painting!
Can’t wait to see these rooms come to life for you and your family! Many blessings!
Big congrats to you! Can’t wait to see what you do with it!
Thank you, Micaela!
Oh, my goodness. I’m so glad I’m not the one moving! Been there, done that so many times. You’ve got your work cut out for you, but I’m looking forward to the results.
Lol. Yeah, this is the 11th time Dean and I have moved. Happy to settle in here for a long while!
I cannot wait for your steps to bring this gem to your style.
đŸ™‚ One little bit at a time. đŸ™‚
Wow! You even have your Christmas tree up!! I can’t wait to see how you paint and decorate the new house. It is so nice and big and I can’t imagine 4 bathrooms! (we have 1 1/2 but there is only 2 of us now) Wishing you all the best as you unpack, paint, decorate and get ready for Christmas. Blessings!!
The Christmas tree was easy! I just labelled the box “living room” and then Dean and our youngest put it up in about 5 or ten minutes on moving day evening while the other two kids were at youth. Pre-lit trees are the best! Lol. Yes, four bathrooms. So far so good. Especially on the first day when our master shower didn’t work and there was no curtain for the kids bathroom – I could still shower in the basement bathroom! And not having to wait for a kid to finish is fabulous after one too many cups of coffee!!! Thank you so much for your best wishes, Pamela!
My heart and prayers are with you. We moved into our new home on December 15 last year with my husband having just had surgery. We had kids home for Christmas and because Furniture either didn’t go in the new house or we sold to buyers of our former house, we ate Christmas dinner on our laps. This year we have a table and chairs. Still either way we are thankful for another year.
May you have many new wonderful memories in your new home. You’ll probably be decorated well before I am. I will continue following you for much inspiration.
Wow. We’ve had strange experiences after moving close to Christmas too. I’m so happy you have made progress in your home this year. I hope your husband has recovered well from his surgery too!
Looks good for only a week!!! We moved just three weeks ago, so I feel right where you are!!!
I can’t wait to see the transformations you will make. It will be gorgeous.
And you hit it on the head with being thankful for being in and being with family!!!!!
Happy Holidays!!
Lol. Thankfully I had two dear friends here on different days to help unpack kitchen and dining room/China cabinet type stuff which eliminated a lot of boxes. And couch pillows – ha! – they took up a lot of boxes too! Now to hurry up and get the walls painted so I can unpack all the art and pretties! Then we’ll really be making progress! Congrats on your new place too, Dawn! I hope you at least feel settled real soon.
love your work
Thank you, Lucy.
you go girl! cannot wait until you start to ‘do’ your style. I too recently moved and have several of the ‘please change me items’ you have in your new house. I will follow along and appreciate your creative ideas. very excited!
I’m so excited! We’ve already changed the kitchen light fixtures which makes a big difference. And last night Dean installed a new kitchen faucet – the old one sprayed all over the place and made more mess than it cleaned up! I’ll show you all soon. đŸ™‚
Congratulations on your new home. It’s beautiful and I can’t wait to see it after you put your touches on it.
Thank you so much, Amy.
It’s going to be stunning when you’re done. I’m so happy for you and your family. God is good isn’t He?
All the time!
I can’t wait to see what you do with this new house! It already looks pretty good, but once you get your hands on each room it will be outstanding.
Thank you Jeanne!
Plus I want to see the outside!
There’s not much to see out there right now. The front is pretty plain – although I did share the front door wreaths on Instagram the other night. And the back yard is all pool – which unfortunately is a disaster right now because the water bags that are supposed to hold the tarp in place all leaked and the tarp is half in the pool. We just ordered new ones. Once Dean gets it all tidied up I’ll share. There’s only so much mess I’m okay showing y’all! đŸ˜‰
I’m so looking forward to seeing which can of paint you crack open first. Which room will it be?
Spoiler alert: it’s the trim paint! I started painting the interior doors and trim yesterday. I desperately want to paint the mauve in the entry and dining room. But because we’re changing the door knobs and hinges on the interior doors this week (to black ones!) it made sense to get paint on the old ones! đŸ™‚
You do have your work cut out for you! However, it looks like it’s a great house to make your own. I’m looking forward to watching you make it beautiful!
Yes ma’am. As Dean and I were on our fifth or sixth trip to Home Depot last night, I said to him “Can you imagine if we’d bought an older house that needed MORE work?!” Lol.
HI,
AMAZING WHAT YOU HAVE CONQUERED IN A SHORT TIME. WOW! MOVING IS HARD WORK, BUT THE RESULTS ARE GREAT.
LOOKS LIKE YOU HAD SOME GREAT HELPERS. BY THE WAY, YOUR DAUGHTER, I’M GUESSING, IS BEAUTIFUL.
I’LL ENJOY HEARING FROM YOU AS YOU PROGRESS. LOVE YOUR IDEAS. TAKE CARE AND HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING.
PAM IN COLD K.C., MO.
So much hard work! We are literally SO TIRED and sore. I suppose one bonus is that I’m sure we’re both building muscles we haven’t used in far too long! And yes, she is our daughter and she is lovely! Enjoy your Thanksgiving and stay warm!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for showing these photos! I know in my head that when I’m looking at all those Pinterest photos of other people’s “perfect” houses, that’s exactly what they are: A snapshot of a moment of stylized perfection, and I think to myself that surely people don’t LIVE this way…right? Then I think maybe it’s just MY family that cant keep the couch orderly for 10 seconds, and there is something wrong with me…. but when people like you post normal pictures of normal move-in chaos, I remember that I’m probably not the weird one, I’ve just lost my perspective on reality for a minute. So thanks for reminding me. I can’t wait to see you mold this new house into your very own home!
Oh Amy. It was honestly kinda hard for me to do. I personally don’t love my house when it’s a mess. But it’s true, the stylized photos don’t last long. Because we live in our home, it’s like a living, breathing, ever-changing organism. The pillows on the couch are either always smooshed or I’m constantly fluffing them. There are most often dishes in the sink, despite having a dishwasher less than a foot away. Shoes and coats never want to stay in the closet and beds hate to be made, or so it would seem. It IS chaos right after moving. It IS messy. Yes, I adore beauty and a tidy home. But that’s not what I’ve got right now. I’m glad you appreciated the perspective!
Home sweet home!
Yes!
Wishing you many blessings in your new home!
Thank you so much, Carol.
Oh my gosh Shannon. I am really sooo happy for you. The new house is amazing and so big. I cannot wait to see all the beautiful things you do with it. You are so talented. It is going to be an amazing home for you and your family! I have not been online for a while but I am back now, time to get caught up and I still need to order your book. Good luck and congrats!!
It is definitely larger than our previous homes, yes. Thank you so much! đŸ™‚
Congratulations on the move! Like the others who have posted, I’m looking forward to see what you do to this new home to make it your own Home Sweet Home.
Thank you, Helen.
Shannon, the house is beautiful! It appears to have a lot of character. Seems like all you have to do is change the wall colors to your liking. Here’s wishing you health and happiness in your new home.
There is a lot of character, yes. đŸ™‚ We do need to do a lot of painting and some updating. But it’s a very good house!
I know moving is awful, but once that part is over, and you can see how the house works for you, and what needs improvement, you are going to LOVE decorating a new house! The thrill of shopping and finding the perfect item, the perfect paint color, etc. Have fun with it!
It’s been fun so far!
Oh, I’m so happy you have a new house! I`m especially happy it has beige walls and ugly ceiling lights like my house. Now take us through step by step, room by room to make it beautiful and comfortable and every bit as lovely as your last home!
Lol. Well let’s just say it’s not our style. We are working on it a bit at a time!
2017 will bring you new creations, new inspirations, and exciting new blogs for us to be fortunate enough to watch you create totally new surroundings called “home”! I am so excited for you!
Thank you, Cathy! We’re excited to share it with everyone.
LOVE the new house… can’t wait to see what you do with it! Also please let me know how you like those kitchen lights – will they stay? I have the same one’s only in a nickel finish and while I love them I find that sometimes I stand in my shadow when working at the counters so we’ve installed some under counter lighting but that doesn’t help much… I don’t have overhead other than the bar lights just like I see in your photos so no recessed lights in my little kitchen. I’d be interested in hearing if you are having similar issues and if you’ve got any ideas.
Thanks for allowing us along on this new exciting journey!
The black track lights in the kitchen are actually brand new! The ones that were here were not our style at all. I don’t mind the new ones at all so far!
Shannon, look at all that space! Your home looks amazing. Welcome home! Xx
Thank you sweet friend, Danielle. xoxoxox