Then & Now Part I

Talk about change! The pictures that I am about to share with you show what the changes in the past 10 years have been, from what it looked like right after we moved in,
to what it looks like now.

However, it also shows...

...It shows just how much my decorating style has evolved
...It shows my maturity in taste as I am aging
...It shows how cameras have improved
...It shows how DIY and garage sales CAN improve lifestyle
...And so much more!

Let's take a look at the outside of the house and the main floor in Part 1 of Then & Now shall we!
(Warning...20+ pictures long, but well worth the fun)

The upper two pictures show how the landscaping has grown or changed, it also shows the transformation from white siding and two car garage to tan siding and four car garage!

From a dead space alcove in the back to a perfect spot for a hidden shed. Plus the new garage and siding.

We all know that 10 years can do wonders for landscaping. Here we added the pergola and tons of landscaping. In the photo on the left you can see where we were just building the huge burms at the back of our yard, now they are fully grown and beautiful.

Now, step into the house...

The change right as you come in is amazing in itself. I used the same door and just had the glass guy cut a section out and add decorative leaded glass. The side lights were changed to match. Then just some black paint to finish.

You can see we went from builder's white walls to color. Hubby built the faux fireplace that I have fun decorating from season to season.

This room is to the left of the entry. It was built as the formal dining room, but we converted it into our study as soon as we moved in. The wallpaper was changed. The box trim below the chair rail was added. We added the walnut hardwood flooring from carpet too.We even laugh now when we think back to loving oak furniture soooo much and how we have moved on from that.

The living room is to the right of the entry. We added walnut hardwood floors from carpet. I made drapes and painted the room and have all new or different furniture except for the high quality sofa I bought right when we moved in.

I'll never forget the month after we moved in, it was the day before Thanksgiving. Family was due to arrive the next day. I looked up at the boring ceiling and 1 1/2 hours later, I had painted this wreath on the ceiling. It never occurred to me that I might just mess up and may have to repaint the whole ceiling! The ceiling fan stayed for a few more years until I could talk Hubby into a chandelier!!! This one is the second one.

So the fireplace has changed some too. I finally found a huge leather mirror to fit the space. We had the gold surround removed and the firebox enclosed with a more efficient gas burning system. I still need to trim the newly painted white above the mantel. Does it ever stop changing?

We used what we had and we had a bookcase that I was able to put the TV in at the time. The shutter's you see on each side became part of my headboard that you will see in Part II. Haven't TV's themselves really improved?

From the living room, you can enter the dining room. The builder's family lived here for the first 5 years of this homes life and she painted the walls in here a plum color. After a year, I painted them red and now they are gray. The chandelier came from the formal dining room that we converted into the study. Gone now is the oak we had yet again.

I still love my antiques but have refined my taste wouldn't you say! This is the only windowless wall in this room. I adore my newly painted buffet! The green Seller's cupboard was painted black before I sold it.

The kitchen was what I call lower builder's grade. The only thing we kept was the marble floors and cabinet boxes. What's new...white painted maple cabinet doors and hardware, quartz counter tops, stainless steel appliances and tiled back splash. I was lucky that all the crown molding was in the house and the marble floors are a neutral color.

This shows you even before I hand painted the back splash (pic below) until we could afford to have real tile! Gold was everywhere too. Knobs, hinges, shower doors and faucet handles...that all changed!

With the new doors came the new appliances. The new frig was too tall for the upper doors to open so off came the doors and boxes were built to house our wine mostly from my sister's winery in Oklahoma!

The laundry really went through changes for convenience sake. The open shelving changed to enclosed cabinets. Don't you find the laundry room too dusty for open shelving? The washer/dryer is our third set in 10 years...sad that appliances are not made as well as they used to be. Rods were added for hanger storage and for hanging clothes right out of the dryer. It's still a pass through laundry room from the garage to the kitchen and we hate that fact but some things you just can't change.

This room has been gutted. Beadboard was added. New toilet and sink, mirror, lights, the whole bit. The only thing original is the marble flooring and the crown molding! I just didn't like this tiny room. Now I do.

That concludes Part I. I hope you enjoyed seeing all the changes and had a few laughs along the way like I did!

Look for Part II coming soon.



These parties I love to link up to or check out my Blog Parties tab
Monday
Party Time @ It's So Very Cheri
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch
Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping It Simple  
Make it Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage 
Creative Blogger's Party @ Homemaker On A Dime
Making The World Cuter @ Making The World Cuter

Mop It Up Monday @ I Should Be Mopping The Floor
Market Yourself Monday @ Sumo's Sweet Stuff
Tuesday Cowgirl Up Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch 
Show Me What You Got @ Our Delightful Home
Knick of Time Tuesday @ Knick of Time
The Inspiration Board Link Party @ Homework 
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Time to Shine Tuesday @ A Diamond in the Stuff 
Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
From Dream to Reality @ The DIY Dreamer
Tweak It Tuesday @ Cozy Little House
Creative Tuesday @ The Rustic Pig 
Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life 
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home  
Wednesday 
Be Inspired Party @ Elizabeth & Co.
Power Of Paint @ Domestically Speaking
Swing Into Spring Wednesday @ DIY by Design
Wildly Original Wednesday @ I Gotta Create!
What We Accomplished Wednesday @ Green Willow Pond  
Adorned From Above Party @ Adorned From Above
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Piece of Work Wednesday @  Primitive & Proper
What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants
Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters 
Wow Me Wednesday @ Ginger Snap Crafts
Thursday
Creative Juice Thursday @ Momnivore's Dilemma 
Show & Share @ Southern Lovely
Show Me Extraordinary Thursday Party @ The 36th Avenue
Creative Things Thursday @ The Vintage Farmhouse
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Creek Cottage
100 Ideas Under $100 @ Beyond The Picket Fence
Blog Stalking Thursday @ The Crafty Blog Stalker
EBTKS @ A Little Knick Knack
Friday
Fabulously Creative Linky Party @ Jennifer Rizzo 
Free for All @ Five Days, Five Ways 
Show And Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed
Frugal Friday @ Shabby Nest
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home
Saturday
Any Link Goes Party @ Bacon Time With The Hungry Hungry Hypo 
Weekend WrapUp Party @ Tatertots and Jello 
Serenity Saturday @ Serenity You
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal 
Strut Your Stuff Social Hop @ My Crazy Beautiful Life
Show and Tell Saturday @ Sassy Little Lady
The Weekend Creative Saturday Party @ The Girl Creative and Reasons To Skip The Housework 
Sunday
Get Schooled Saturday @ Too Much Time On My Hands
Overflowing with Creativity @ It's Overflowing
Sunday Showcase Party @ By Stephanie Lynn 
Sundae Scoop Weekend Wrap Up Party @ I love Nap Time 
So Darn Crafty Party @ Sew Many Ways
That DIY Party @ DIY Show Off
Think Pink Party @ Flamingo Toes
Let's Get Social Sunday @ My Turn for us   
Sunday Show Off Linky Party @ Twigg Studios
Silver Pennies Sunday @ Silver Pennies  
It's Party Time @ Cupcakes and Crinoline