happy birthday little house.

On Monday, August 9, 2010, I closed on my first house and officially moved to Shreveport. Just two days prior I had driven away from Birmingham sobbing all the way across I-20 through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. I stopped in Shreveport for my final walk through on my house right after the conclusion of the estate sale there. I couldn’t even look at it. It was old, dirty, trashed and disgusting – sick. I spent two minutes inside, walked out and the tears continued. Praise the Lord for Dad who will always be needed to assure me everything is going to be okay no matter what age I am. This was a meltdown moment. Who could have guessed how many more would come with the renovation of the house. The last year has been a rollercoaster. But this last week, for the first time in a year, I’ve had my first dinners and brunches at the house. In my dining room. Minus one bathroom and few more finishing touches, the renovations are complete. So, in our honor of our one year relationship little house, let’s show my 15 blog followers how far we’ve come!

A few of the before pictures...the kitchen, one of the bedrooms, bathrooms...I was so overwhelmed I couldn't even take lots of pictures. This was place was nasty. Though I'm sure there's been worse!






Now onto the fun...the dining room & kitchen...
I hosted my first dinner here last week. Sadly, there has not been a dining room table in my house in a year. Mom cooked. Ryan took a break from studying. And my sweet friend Meggie, and her new addition Charlotte, were here. This table is also becoming the hot spot for Saturday morning brunch. Patrick and Ryan love them some late morning breakfast, and I love to bake it.





The house on closing day...


The sunroom. Still deciding on flooring...carpet? Fun painted concrete? Tile? Deciding on fire place paint colors. An old beam for the mantle?


The monogramming room. This is also my friend Mary Claire's room...see Watersound Beach Trip post for who MC is...


Back bedroom...there's a bathroom too but it hasn't been touched so we'll save that for another day.


Guest bedroom and bathroom.



My favorite room in the house for multiple reasons. Love the bay windows. Love the peacefulness. Love that it is the center of the house.




I know. I know. There are no accessories. No artwork. But those are the fun things. The reasons you take shopping trips to Dallas with you Mom. The reasons you go antiquing or West Texas junk shopping with your Dad in route to Colorado. I love to have pieces in my house that have fun stories.