Heart of the Home

I've been a slacker when it comes to blogging, but anyone that has moved into a new home knows that there is always something on your to-do list.  We received a huge sigh of relief when we finally received all the paperwork from the bank and county stating that everything was finished.  We have already made our first mortgage payment and all the new bills have started rolling in as well.  For those that thought we would have major sticker shock when it came to our new power and gas bills, I am pleased to announce that we were quite happy with the results.  We really think our decision to have the foam insulation and investing in a "smart" programmable thermostat were well worth the cost. 

I have promised more pictures, so here are some of the main living areas.  These aren't the best because they were taken with my phone.  Our camera is on it's last leg and doesn't hold a charge either.   

As you walk in our door from the garage, we have a mudroom space that I love!  All our coats, bags, shoes etc get thrown here. 

The double doors in the mudroom are to a closet for cleaning supplies, etc and

also where the laundry chute drops into...

Right off the mudroom is our laundry room.  So far I'm a huge fan of the clothes rod and large sink. 

On the opposite side of the washer and dryer is a built in desk and space for laundry baskets.  Some day I'd like to put a shelf above where the baskets are in the picture to get more use out of the space.  This is also a catch all place for whatever...

 This picture turned out pretty dark, but this is the window in the laundry room.  Gigi and I made the roman shades based off a "simple" project found on pinterest of turning a cheap mini-blind into a roman shade.  As always the project took MUCH longer than anticipated, but I do love the end result.   

Right as you walk into the kitchen from the mudroom, we have our MASSIVE pantry.  I have received numerous comments of envy on this one.  I have to say one of my favorite parts of the house...

I really like that all our small appliances don't have to take up valuable kitchen cabinet space. 

 You probably can't tell, but in person you would realize that we do coupon/stockpile.  Love getting deals!

 I never realized how much I would love the layout of the kitchen until actually using it.  My favorite is that everything is within arms reach...

 Including a garbage cabinet to the left of the sink. 

Probably should have turned the dining room lights on for this one. 

Here are some more DIY attempts that were actually easy and turned out well (in my opinion).  I had left over fabric and picture frames (inherited from the close of my company office in Bham several years ago), so I covered the glass with fabric and hot glued on some clips so that we could display Nicholas' artwork (or I should say footwork based on what's up there).  The cross was made from TP rolls that I cut, glued and spray painted.

We have had a few "picnics" on our screened in porch.  At some point we will purchase some patio furniture so we don't have to use our dining room chairs to do so...

 From the mudroom you can either go into the kitchen or living room.  On your way into the living room is a small powder room.  

 Also off the living room is the doorway to the basement.  You can tell what is to come, based off the floor mat.

Not much in the living room, but I love how spacious it is!  I'm sure we will get more furniture over time, just not in any rush right now. 

 Looking into the foyer from the living room.

 Incredibly tall foyer, which needed an incredibly tall foyer chandelier to match
(I think it's close to 4 feet tall itself)

Ever since we started building, I haven't devoted much of the blog to Nicholas.  He is always full of energy and so tender-hearted!  He says the funniest things and is a sponge, so you always have to be aware of what you say around him.  He will finish up his second year at Mother's Day Out in May, but is in for a change next year.  Nicholas will start preschool in the fall, which consists of 5 days a week from 9-1pm.  This will also be a change for me as well as I have already confirmed with my boss and will change my work schedule.  Right now I work 3 days a week all day long and will be switching to 5 days so that I can work while he is in school and be home with him when he is not.  I'm excited about this new school and know he will learn a lot and definitely be prepared for Kingergarten the following year.  I'm still in shock that my baby boy will be 4 in May.  

Nicholas is a HUGE fan of dinosaurs, so when they opened an exhibit at the zoo completely dedicated to dinosaurs, you can believe we were there within the first few days of being open (and went through it twice).  We have definitely gotten our money's worth out of our zoo membership over these past two years.  Nicholas loves going. 

Finally In!

After almost 6 years of dreaming and planning, we are finally in the house!  We received the CO (certificate of occupancy) and the bank's approval on January 31.  This was a Thursday and because we couldn't wait any longer, we decided to start moving that weekend.  Saturday (with the help Brad's truck and trailer) we were able to move the bedroom furniture, couch and recliner and the washer/dryer.  Thanks so much to Brad, Pop, Wonderful Uncle Robert, Mimi and the girls for helping us!  Then all throughout that next work week, Gabe would make several trips each night back and forth to the house, bringing boxes in the CRV.  It's amazing what he was able to fit in the car. 

Then this past weekend, Gigi and PawPaw came up to help with what was left of the big items.  Huge shout out to Zac and Michael for helping.  I enjoyed my view as director while the boys did the heavy lifting, and there were definitely some heavy pieces left to move.  

I've had several requests for pictures, so I just found the camera and figured I would share a little at a time.  Keep in mind that we aren't completely settled and boxes can basically be found in every room.  Here is a tour of the upstairs...

Hallway - straight ahead is Nicholas' bedroom

Nicholas' bedroom - HUGE shout-out to Gigi for making the bedskirt, pillow and pillowcases (as well as valances that are coming)

His MASSIVE closet

I love that there is enough room in his closet for his chest of drawers

Nicholas LOVES his playroom.  Mama LOVES all the storage with the built-ins

 We debated on keeping the couch or not since neither one of us likes it, so it ended up here.  Now we have some place to sit and watch him play.  And yes Uncle Ryan, that is your old papasan chair in the corner.

 Upstairs bathroom

 Laundry chute.  Had to figure out how to child-proof this because Nicholas could easily fit down the whole thing.  Luckily Gabe and PawPaw figured out a lock that would work.

 Spare bedroom (or as Nicholas says Gigi and PawPaw's room).  Shout out to Mumbles for kindly donating all his old furniture to the Davenport house!  Now guests have somewhere to sleep when they come.  In case anyone is curious the quilt on the bed was made by Gabe's grandmother and given to us at one of our wedding showers. 

Today we are set to have blinds installed pretty much everywhere.  That will look much better than the sheets I had hanging over the windows, which really made the joint extra classy!  I did test out my DIY skills for a few window treatments that I will show later.  One was easy and one took much more effort than anticipated (as Gigi can attest).  Stay tuned for more pics!

The Waiting Game

The house is basically finished except they haven't run our gas line or set up permanent power yet.  We are waiting on final approvals from the bank and Leeds.  It has been raining non-stop for the past two weeks, which means they couldn't do anything outside.  Finally today we receive snow instead of rain, which was so nice for a change of pace.  Fingers crossed that the beautiful sunny weather that is supposed to start tomorrow will continue for many days to come so that they can run the gas line and finish this sucker.  

Our first snow covered home

Somehow the palm trees have survived our cold weather

Because of all the rain, we had some water get in the basement.  Gabe has worked his butt off trying to save us a buck or two by keeping the house clean, spreading seed and straw throughout the entire yard and his final task (hopefully) is to fix the standing water so that it flows away from the house and we don't have any more get into the basement.  Our patience is wearing thin, but hopefully some sunny weather will lighten our spirits and the water/mud levels in the yard.

These are a few of my favorite things...

Garage opener on visor...

and antique brown hardwood...

Large stacked stone fireplace...

and lots of kitchen lighting...

Plenty of closet space for all of our junk...

These are a few of my favorite things!!!  

(for all you Julie Andrews fans)

Finishing touches

It's amazing the difference lighting and plumbing fixtures have on making the house look finished.  We still aren't sure when everything will be finished, but we are in the final stretch.  The main projects left are to finish the hardwood floors, paint touch-ups, closet shelving, landscape (AKA - fixing all the trenches these huge trucks have created in the yard) and the front porch railing.  The exciting thing now is that the power is on so we don't have to bring the flashlights out every evening we want to check things out. 

Here are some recent pics:

Merry (late) Christmas!  Nicholas had a great Christmas with his main present from Santa being a Power Wheel.  It's been raining and pretty cold so he hasn't had a ton of time on it, but he did pick up on steering really quickly and I know he will LOVE riding it.