Fixing up the house [Archive] - Simple Living Forums

Gardenarian

4-22-13, 6:12pm

I'm always trying to make our house prettier and more organized. We got a new fence and I've been busy painting that. I'm now turning our semi-finished attic into a family room/guest room. We'd been using it as a playroom for dd, but she's getting rid of all the toys, we're putting in a couple of beds, painting - well, it needs a lot of work!

I've been inspired by a couple of sources. This book that I reviewed in the "what are you reading thread":
"Downsizing your home with style : living well in a smaller space" by Lauri Ward. I'm not moving anywhere, but this book had lots of great tips for anyone who wants to live with less fuss. She is the author of "Use what you have decorating", another great book. I've been spring cleaning and generally fixing up the old homestead. Many practical ideas for making your home function well.

There is a website (blog?) called Little Blue Deer that has lots of inspiration pics/eye candy. I like that the stuff on the site is not perfect, it's not what you go shopping for - it's about creating a cool space.

Anyone else feeling inspired to create their dream home?

fidgiegirl

4-22-13, 7:26pm

This is where Pinterest comes in for me :)

Sounds so cool, Gardenarian!!

A teeny part of me wishes that with our old house (the one we now rent), we had done a "pretend move." Like, packed and taken EVERYTHING out, and THEN decided what to sell/replace/place back in the house. But I don't know if we could have done it, because we already had an idea of what that space had been before, and I don't know if we could have overcome that.

Gardenarian

4-22-13, 7:35pm

Yes, Pinterest! Great for planning.
I love the idea of a pretend move, but boy would that be a lot of work!

fidgiegirl

4-22-13, 7:48pm

I love the idea of a pretend move, but boy would that be a lot of work!

Which is totally why we never did it! :D

awakenedsoul

4-22-13, 7:59pm

I'm doing the same thing. Right now my focus is on the garden. I get inspired by the fairy tale cottages in Carmel. I love those front yard gardens. They are just breathtaking! I've been sitting on my front porch, knitting a cable knit vest. It's so peaceful out there with the hummingbirds, birdbath, mature trees, flowers in bloom, and my cottage's new salmon pink exterior. I feel like I'm in a patio cafe in Europe...

Wildflower

4-22-13, 9:25pm

We live in a small home, and I have been trying to create the English cottage fantasy I envision in my mind for the past 20 years. To me, a cozy little dwelling with lots of color and English cottage type decor, with a lovely garden is my idea of perfection on earth. I continually strive for this look in my decorating. It's been alot easier to accomplish since the kids are grown and gone. Along with them went alot of clutter, so it's been way easier to organize my home and decorate to my taste. DH appreciates my efforts as well. :)

fidgiegirl

4-22-13, 10:37pm

Also are you aware of Apartment Therapy books?

decemberlov

4-22-13, 11:43pm

I love apartment therapy for inspiration!

all of my house is decorated in pretty much all the same color scheme: chocolate brown with punches of red and yellow and blue. I often move around art pieces and decorations from room to room to make things feel new without actually buying anything new.

razz

4-23-13, 9:15am

Love these threads for inspiration!!

pinkytoe

4-23-13, 10:46am

Been "cottagifying" our little house since we got it. Darn, the property tax estimate came today and so after so much work, unless there is a windfall to keep us here long term, we will have to move. Now up to $7000 a yr:(

Gardenarian

4-23-13, 2:55pm

I'm also going for the English cottage effect!
Great minds and all that...
And I was just checking out Apartment Therapy yesterday! Maybe I'll get the book from the library and try to do the whole "Cure" this time.

pinkytoe - you really have to move? That is so sad!! Is there any way you can appeal the tax?

Tussiemussies

4-23-13, 4:28pm

Just love the cottage look pinkey, sounds like us living in a high tax area....

pinkytoe

4-23-13, 5:11pm

Tussiemussies

4-23-13, 5:47pm

One of the things we did early on was to "borrow" 2 ft from a bedroom closet and install a floor to ceiling bookshelf on the other side which is in the hallway as you enter that bedroom. There is something about built-ins like window seats, bookshelves, niches etc that help with the cottage effect. On the property tax, we have appealed in the past and won but not likely we can do it again. I think our only option other than moving will be to refinance so at least there is some extra to add towards the tax. We don't have escrow so I have to pay in cash every year. We do want to move eventually but hadn't expected it to rise so quickly.

Before we moved this happened to our last landlord. It was a real jump but they are still keeping the house...our taxes are high as I mentioned but we just cannot fathom living anywhere else. We tried it one and our taxes were a mere $800.00 a year but the culture was not for us. There is a lot to take into consideration.....good luck!!!

Wildflower

4-23-13, 6:26pm

On the property tax, we have appealed in the past and won but not likely we can do it again. I think our only option other than moving will be to refinance so at least there is some extra to add towards the tax. We don't have escrow so I have to pay in cash every year. We do want to move eventually but hadn't expected it to rise so quickly.

Since our house is paid for we don't have escrow either, but to make our property taxes easier for us to pay every year - we take the the total amount and divide it by 12 months, then put that amount away in savings each month, just like we used to when paying a monthly mortgage payment. Then we have the total amount at the end of the year to pay the big property tax bill. It's alot easier for us financially if we do it this way, then suddenly having to come up with a huge amount in Dec. to pay the tax man.... It's just another monthly expense for us. Maybe that would work better for you too, pinkytoe?

citrine

4-23-13, 9:21pm

I love the cottage look myself :) We are constantly renovating the house, changing decor, and adding to the landscape. We have a "want" list and save up money, use coupons, peruse craigslist, the curb, and freecycle to offset a lot of the costs. I also get paint and stains from the "oops" section at Lowe's and Home Depot so we always have a variety of paint on hand to transform pieces of furniture.

Gardenarian

4-24-13, 1:51pm

I also get paint and stains from the "oops" section at Lowe's and Home Depot so we always have a variety of paint on hand to transform pieces of furniture.
I have quite a collection of "oops" paint. My daughter uses it for artwork, and it is so much cheaper than buying craft paints!

sylvia

5-15-13, 8:13pm

These times of homeownership especially looking at your tax bill rising is shifting peoples views. We live in a small 1960's built home for a family of 4, I cringe when i drive by the giant Mc Mansions.I wouldn't want it. The time to clean and money to maintain, you will be practically slaving to pay for a house you can't afford to stay in. I like your thread about decorating. I too have painted my picket fence. I was proud that I did. I painted the chipped wooden garage door, and voila it looked like new. Keep it simple and neat, it'll be worth it. Nothing sadder than a run down home.I think a cottage type home and theme is great , it reminds me of a retreat a hobbity type home.I would love to create an English graden/ victory garden . A happy place.That's what a home should be.I have planted lots of edibles lie alpine strawberries , herbs , raspberries so one could pick it anytime.More come back each year.

Gardenarian

5-20-13, 4:44pm

Hi Sylvia -
yes, our house is in an older neighborhood and is just two bedrooms - I don't know if two-bedroom houses are even built anymore. Right now our house looks just awful, as we have several (too many) projects going on at once. But it's going to look great when we're done, one of these days.

Does anyone ever 'finish' their house?

Awakenedsoul - those storybook cottages in Carmel are one of my home inspirations. So beautiful - and the gardens, OMG.

Gardenarian

5-20-13, 4:50pm

For those of you who have not been to Carmel (near Monterey, CA)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y75/readaboutit/fairytale-cottages-hansel-2_zps8aa8bf9b.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/readaboutit/media/fairytale-cottages-hansel-2_zps8aa8bf9b.jpg.html)

catherine

5-20-13, 6:34pm

OMG are you kidding me? How much would a house like that cost?

Gardenarian

5-20-13, 7:28pm

Very little in Carmel under 1.5 million.