House Tour

So I took pictures of our house before we moved in.  I had thought in my head to show you before and after pictures because I wanted to repaint, etc.  Well--- we are renting. And it will be short-term, maybe, because the owners plan on putting the house back on the market in the spring to try to sell it when the market is better. So we may have to move in 8 months.  I didn't want to buy it in the first place - the space is a bit weird, it is dated and needs some upgrading (as well as major repairs like the roof), and the price not right.  Besides, my kids don't particularly care either.  But the house is fine for a rental.  So I'll show you the before-we-moved-in pics.  I probably won't get around to after pics. (We have our same old furniture, just less of it since we didn't move everything, so nothing exciting.) 

Entry way. Living room.

Living room. Dining room.  It's kind of a long and skinny room.

Kitchen looking to the backyard.

 
Note the really high upper cabinets.

The doors between the sink and stove are to a big pantry.  I like having a walk in pantry that you can really walk into, not just stand in and turn around.

Master bedroom.  It has a private deck to the back yard.  Unfortunately we don't own enough patio furniture.

Lovely early 90's bathroom with the red tiles and awesome vanity lights on the mirror.

This is the boys' room.  It has a ship theme.  I did find the knobs for the built in desk and switched out the starfish and anchors and sailboats for normal round knobs.

This is Hazel's room.  There is an electric train built onto a shelf next to the ceiling.  There is also a large train scene on the wall to the right.  Apparently the room used to be an office.  There are glass tiles in the wall next to the door that look out onto the upstairs landing.

A favorite bonus for the kids is the pool table that was left downstairs.  There is a pingpong table top that goes on top of it.  The kids love it, as do all our visitor's children.  Nothing like 3 year olds throwing around pool balls.  To the left is the media room.  To the right the stairs back up. Aspen's room is in the far right corner.  Patio out the left corner.

I love that the kitchen is huge.  But it is awkard and there wasn't enough cabinet space for dishes in efficient spots (no upper cabinets within reach) Thank heavens for Ikea.  The basement is nice. The media room can be closed off and it's quiet. The owners also left their built in big screen TV.  But we don't have cable so it's just the wii and movies.  It has an entire extra kitchen that opens to the patio in back. The owners also left a fire pit which Isaac likes to use as often as I will let him to burn things up in.  There is a storage room - Yay! (that isn't an oven like a garage or an attic). And there are lots of windows to the backyard so I have beautiful views and a bit of privacy from the trees.

This is the walk up to Hazel's school.  It is so lovely to walk through everyday.

The best parts are the trees all around, the creek (which only has a little water after it rains so it's not a worry), and living two blocks from the elementary school.  I also like that there is a flat driveway and a basketball hoop.  There are two swings hung under one of the decks. (Always wanted to put up swings for the kids). My kids love to ride bikes around the block, walk to their friend's houses (who all live very close) and there are plenty of squirrels, birds, trees, rocks, and sticks to entertain them endlessly. 

The leaves are falling off the trees.  But the weather has been beautiful and we are enjoying our new hometown.  Now, if I could find some good mexican food, it might be worth staying for good.