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The before

Is there anything more stressful than a blank canvas?

By Life & Muse

May 29^th, 2019

Home sweet home

It’s official – we’re home owners! A month ago we officially moved into our first home as husband and wife. There are so many words in that last sentence that still blow my mind.

And just like that, a new creative project is born. With a measuring tape in one hand, Pinterest boards in the other, and retargeting ads from every furniture store sprinkled everywhere in between (seriously, they’re everywhere), I think the weeks (months? years?) to come will certainly be an adventure.

And of course, my natural tendency is to capture and document as much as I possibly can. Not for you, the still non-existent reader, but for us, the 30-somethings accelerating into a world of adulting like a Californian driver trying to beat the yellow. We just want to be able to look back and cherish all the moments of joy, fear, frustration, and sheer, sheer awe that we’ll experience every step of the way.

But for you, the future and totally subscribed reader, we hope you’ll find, at minimum, insight and entertainment as we go through the rollercoaster of paint swatches, furnishings, and all the little big things that make a home feel like home. There’s something very different about waking up in between walls that you own, and dammit, we’re going to make these walls beautiful!

For now, enjoy some before shots from the weekend before we moved in and bask with us in the new reality that there are few things more stressful than a blank canvas.

Hallway

One of the things we had to learn to embrace was the long and narrow structure that is typical of old victorian homes. That said, what we traded in large open spaces, we gained in end-to-end character. Nearly all the trims, molding, and millwork was built with the home in 1909. That chandelier is an unforgivable exception.

Living room

This is one of the rooms that helped us fall in love with this home. The flood of natural light coming through the massive bay window, the humble little fireplace, and even the bookshelf the previous owners installed leaves us with no shortage of exciting ideas. We can definitely see ourselves sinking into a comfy couch, kicking back with some scotch, and unwinding after a long day here. Netflix or not, this room will be full of chill.

Guest bedroom

A simple and beautifully lit bedroom at the front of the house. Lots of potential, despite it missing a full closet. That said, the integrated shelving leaves us with a ton of utility.

Master bedroom

All the bedrooms in the home are actually about the same size, but what makes this the master is the ensuite bathroom. The previous owners renovated the bathroom in 2014 and man are we glad they did it tastefully. Natural light, bright white marble and tiles, dual shower heads, his and her sinks, plenty of storage, and – probably the best features that we’d never thought of before – heated toilet, towel rack, and floors. Oh. My. God.

That said, the closet is probably our least favorite part of the home. It’ll be interesting to see how Hanna and I will fit everything in there. (But seriously, what’s up with the choice in finishings in there?)

Den

We’re almost certainly extending our master closet into this random nook.

Guest bathroom

Nothing too special here beyond the deep tub, double sink, and… bedet? That’s a life we do not know and may not ever be curious enough to explore. That said, Hanna’s pretty stoked about the possibility of taking baths again.

Office

We’re calling this the office but it’s really just another spare room. Can’t get enough of those windows though.

Kitchen

Renovated in 2007, this kitchen is visually clean and beautifully functional. There’s more storage space than we have things to store and more features on that stove than we know how to cook with. With bar seating on each end of the counters and a breakfast nook, this is a space we’ll certainly need to grow into over time. Can’t wait!

Dining room

This is the room that really sealed the deal for us. While we'll need to get used to the idea of separate living and dining rooms, we’re extra thankful of having two corner bay windows in this home. Complete with a second fireplace and the original liquor cabinet from 1909, I think we’re going to grow to love hosting friends and family even more than before.