[new home thoughts]

Now that Christmas is over, my thoughts are turning towards our new home we purchased recently. No, I didn’t get the house with a lake view. I also didn’t get the brand new home I wanted (no renos!). But it’s ok. Because I know that we are supposed to live in the old house we purchased (built in 1978, how’s that for brand new! J). I fought against the strong feeling that we were supposed to buy this particular house. I honestly did not want to do any renovating. But eventually I gave in. I knew this was THE house we were meant to live in.

It will require lots of tender care and ton of sweat inducing work, but I do believe that after all that, it will be a wonderful home. We will have good neighbors: we know two families in the same quiet cul-de-sac. Sienna will have a good friend as they will be the only girls midst many, many boys.

I can also see in my mind what the house will look like when it’s all done. Here’s a list of things we’ll have to do:

Rip down some walls.

Replace flooring downstairs.

Replace the brand new kitchen with a kitchen we like.

Paint all the walls.

Replace railing.

Get rid of carpet upstairs, replace with laminate flooring.

Replace all windows upstairs.

Redo master bathroom which will include ripping down walk-in-closet and replacing it with floor-to-ceiling closet.

Replace all the light fixtures.

Get rid of 13 huge evergreen trees.

Paint the house.

Build a deck in the front.

Landscaping.

New fence.

Build the basement: two rooms, replace windows, build a bathroom…

Replace the gas fireplace.

New lawn.

I know I’m forgetting something but you get the idea, right? Not a small undertaking. Sigh. But it will be great when it's all done. That's what I keep telling myself anyways. What is nice is that we won't have to move in until the basic renos are done. Thank goodness!

I’ve been collecting decorating ideas on Pinterest. Here are some of the pictures that will inspire our new décor. More here.

I’m returning to my Scandinavian roots and going with white interiors again. The home will have white, gray, silver, black, light wood, brown wood, some muted purple and green.

I will miss the warmth of yellow walls in the winter but look forward to a more neutral color palette. The warmth will have to come from fake fur blankets, the fireplace, etc.

The house won't be a minimalist, modern black home but we will paint it gray and make it as modern looking as we can.

I will post before and after pictures as the renovating progresses.

Exciting! I will miss this home too. So many wonderful memories made here. ♥

I'd love one of these. But our cat is old and no more pets after him. I will miss having a cat but mild allergies will prevent having another pet. We will have to visit pet stores often...

I want a fire pit in the back yard.

I'd love this wall clock but only if it doesn't make ticking sounds. Can't stand ticking clocks.

Perhaps a small sauna...

This would be fun!

We already have a mailbox like this but will need one for the new home as well.

No wonderful views from our windows but it's ok. What matters is the love in the home. ♥

[all photos via my Pinterest board "Home"]