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View Full Version : Intro...better late than never :)


windswept
07-08-2008, 12:41 PM
I've been posting on here a bit, but realized that I never introduced myself :)

My name is Nikki, I'm 28 and I live in a small 864 SF bungalow that was built in 1927. It is my first homeownership experience, and I've now had the home for 5 years. I bought it from my family for an insanely good price, however at the time it was in shambles. Basically, EVERYTHING needed to be replaced. Bit by bit, my boyfriend and I have been working on it ourselves, learning along the way. We've done so much work, but there is still soooo much to be done! Some of the things that have been done are the roof, we've gutted and drywalled/insulated/finished both bedrooms & the living room, replaced ALL of the windows & almost all of the interior & exterior doors, built a 2-car garage/shop, replaced chain-link fencing with picket, done a TON of landscaping, etc. (Don't worry, all of the stuff that was replaced was either beyond repair or NOT the originals.)

I HATED this home when I first moved in. After years of renters and shabby renovations, it had no historical character left. (Other than the original fir floors, which we were able to salvage in one of the bedrooms and the living room, the other rooms had rot problems and water damage). But then I found CL, and finally found something I could identify with. My home had a cottage-y sort of feel from the beginning, and we've really worked to enhance that. I'll try to post some pics soon, although its certainly not much compared to the beautiful homes that I've seen you guys post up :o

Anyways, I just wanted to introduce myself! This seems like a great place, and I look forward to getting to know everyone :)

Lisa S
07-08-2008, 01:11 PM
Hi Nikki, it's good to meet you!

I can identify with your story. Our house was a rental too. Everything of character (except the door hardware and the tub) had been replaced with the cheapest/ugliest materials available. The house had been lived in hard by people who didn't care much about it.

The first issue of CL came out after we had been in our house for a few years. I had already stripped all the crummy wallpaper, removed paint from hardware and washed and shined everything else in the house. At that point, I looked around me and really wasn't sure of the direction to head with the decorating. Then I found Cottage Living. All the confusing pieces fit into place and I added the character back to the house bit by bit over the years.

Welcome. We can wait to hear about the progress of your home. We're glad your with us!

gigiG
07-08-2008, 02:08 PM
Welcome ;)... sounds like what you have done is making this house a real home/cottage. I'm sure you have learned so many things, that will make you appreciate your cottage that much more.


Post lots of pictures!!!!

Thrift Shop Romantic
07-08-2008, 04:03 PM
Hi, and welcome! The folks here are one of the nicest bunches you'd want to meet, so I hope you'll be happy here. :)

dedavis
07-11-2008, 11:35 AM
Hi, and welcome to another Washington state resident!

Houses are always a work in progress, aren't they? I learned the history and found pictures of mine by going to the county assessor's office. It was a rental for years, and then empty for a long time after a kitchen fire. Recently I tore into a wall and found smoke-stained plasterboard. Some parts of the house have been restored with quality materials, but there is still a lot of cheapo stuff. Little by little, I'll bring it along.

Cottage Living opened my eyes to how liveable really small spaces can be. I also just acquired The Not So Big House by Sarah Susanka, and excellent book.

Keep us posted!

Deb

windswept
07-11-2008, 12:35 PM
Hi, and welcome to another Washington state resident!

Houses are always a work in progress, aren't they? I learned the history and found pictures of mine by going to the county assessor's office. It was a rental for years, and then empty for a long time after a kitchen fire. Recently I tore into a wall and found smoke-stained plasterboard. Some parts of the house have been restored with quality materials, but there is still a lot of cheapo stuff. Little by little, I'll bring it along.

Cottage Living opened my eyes to how liveable really small spaces can be. I also just acquired The Not So Big House by Sarah Susanka, and excellent book.

Keep us posted!

Deb

Your house sounds just like mine :p I also thought we might have had a kitchen fire at one time, since after we removed the horrid dropped ceiling tiles, we found some very badly stained plaster. But I think it might have just been some reeeallly bad cigarette smoke stains.....yuck!

Hmmmm, I might have to try that at my county assessor's office. Did you just go down there and ask to see the old photos? I know the one on the online database is about 10 years old, and horrible! There is junk in the front yard...sheesh!


And thanks everyone for the warm welcome! I will try to take some pics this weekend :)

Chyna
07-11-2008, 01:20 PM
Or somebody burned their food alot. I can see my dh and his family having such things. :rolleyes: I know that when we took down the horrible wood veneer junk they had nailed up over my plaster alot of the paint showed evidence of what looked like smoke damage but I really think that is was just age and probably the fact there is no fan in there to vent out burned food smoke or whatever. Actually found it fascinating. :o The discoloration showed where the cupboards used to be and I could trace out where the sink used to be too. Not moving the stuff back because it wouldn't work with the house now but it was pretty cool and answered a few questions we'd have while working on it.

When we took the stuff down in the livingroom we found the spot where a window used to be. Now that was cool. And I know where that window is currently, my garage! We just used some plaster and made it look like a niche in the wall. My motto is still "make it look intentional".

RoseMary
07-11-2008, 09:46 PM
Hi and welcome! I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your house!

R~Mary