Beginning the Decorating

I feel as if we just moved in and finished unpacking and organizing. Now it is time to decorate for Christmas!

After being in the former home for 39 years I was in a comfortable position of knowing how and what I would do. Now with the new home I am a newbie!

The open spaces do give a bit of freedom of not feeling closed in by too many items.

I began in the dining room and put up my "woodlands" skinny tree. Since it has a bit of autumn colors it seems only proper that this tree gets to be the leader.

The ribbons were from Hobby Lobby and most of the other decor have been in my stash from previous years of Walmart. Nothing can beat the burlap poinsettias!  A few pine cone picks and birds add to the woodland theme.

A country and East Tennessee Christmas seems to bring back memories of cutting an evergreen pine to be used as I was growing up. In the first years of our marriage we tried the purchase of live trees that could be planted in the yard after the holidays. The trees became a bright Tennessee orange--meaning that they promptly died.  

The Farm Fresh sign was this year's find at TJMaxx during our last Florida visit. A couple of Target dollar spot trees add to the buffet. 

Now on to the next tree that welcomed our first Christmas at 151.

After all, these skinny trees become a quick addition. Using red ornaments, plaid ribbons, and several memories from my teacher gifts has brightened up even the cloudiest of days!

What would Christmas be without a little cooking and baking? This nook area is definitely one that I enjoy. The World Market everett sofa table is a joy to display items from Rae Dunn, Possible Dreams Santa, and more things I have collected over the years.

A quick peek into the living area reveals I have more time to enjoy exploring new options in sharing my Christmas decor.

New House Kitchen

When we decided to build one of my first priorities was open space kitchen with a breakfast nook. To say that I spent time looking on Instagram, Pinterest, and blogs would be a slight exaggeration! I was definitely inspired by wowilovethat.design. I had saved pictures of that kitchen two years ago and definitely before we planned to build.

To see the inspiration become a reality was the favorite dream in my eyes.

Our walls are painted on Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray. This home has an abundance of windows and this choice seems to be a great one.

Moving day brought a quick decision on arrangement of dishes and pantry items. Since the sink is in the island the dishes needed to be in close proximity. And since there is a Rae Dunn obsession from someone in this family the extra counter space has delivered!

Our cabinets are a creamy white from Armstrong.

The nook is a favorite place to grab a quick meal.

Today I am blessed! 

We Arrived

Finally we could walk in the front door or our house! The shiny hardwood floors and Agreeable Gray walls shouted a warm welcome! To the left of the foyer is the dining room. It definitely is an open space home.

Straight ahead is the family room, kitchen, and breakfast nook.

The fireplace with built-ins flanking both sides were an upgrade from the original plans. Originally the fireplace was to be centered on the far right bookcase. Symmetry is part of my brain so I asked that the fireplace be shifted to the left in order to have small bookcases on both sides. This was a great change as the fireplace now is centered in the cozy family room space and a straight view from the kitchen island. (Can I say I can watch TV while washing dishes?)

I can already tell the second bathroom/powder room door will need to remain closed! Nothing like a potty view from the dining/living room! The back wall of the family room looks outdoors on the screened in porch. I love the amount of light that can stream into our home! The TV is to be mounted over the fireplace so the outlet and video stream cable will be hidden.

The dining room has an astounding view of the mountains. I may add wainscoting later. As for now, I am just excited to see the clean, finished house!

A study is on the front of the house and access is from the foyer. This was one of the selling points of the plan. I wanted a small room I could use as a library, my office, or "baby room" since we found out we will be having a grand baby born in December! The mountains can be seen in the distance above the homes in the neighborhood.

I am totally in love with the creamy white kitchen. A small eating area will probably be used much more than the dining room. Selecting all the lights for the house provided me with sleepless nights and much time surfing the internet. I selected a oil rubbed bronze in all the areas.

I had a special order french doors that would open out instead of in gave extra dining space to the breakfast nook.

The screened in porch provides a view of country living with the mountain view in the distant view.

The master bedroom (complete with internet and cable already installed--husband's needs can I say?) is a welcome retreat. The builder added additional square feet and he was right on in that decision! It is spacious and the tray ceiling gives added dimension.

Our master bath is definitely easy to appreciate. A separate toilet room provides privacy.

The other side of the house contains two bedrooms and a bath. One bedroom will become the guest room and the other will be Mr. Spouse's office.

I am ready to get this house filled with our belongings!

Outside Progress

151 Home Calling

Who knew what the outside would finally resemble after some slow days of adding the siding? I never realized a month would go by before this portion of the house build could be called finished!

All in all, the selections of roof, siding, and brick seem to satisfy my choices.

The back screened in porch were one of the things that drew me to this plan. There will be a small open area beyond the roof that can house our grill. The breakfast nook and living room will provide a view to the outdoors.

Can you imagine the farmland view?

When the garage door went on it really began to feel like a house. I will be happy to pull my SUV into the one level home!

A front porch just calling for a couple of chairs or a bench will be delightful. There always seems to be a breeze on top of our hill. It won't be as long as it has been is the way my non-patient mind is telling myself every single day now.

It is confusing that the back also resembles the front!

We need a little grading and yard work!

Selling Our House

Our home. 39 Years.

So many memories are enclosed within our half acre lot. When we moved into this track home of four bedrooms we had one son. Little did we realize that I was pregnant. Only a few days later the wonder of adding to our family and needing a third bedroom became our life.

Now that the building of a new home is progressing it had finally become the time to put our house on the market. Empty nesters don't need four bedrooms and two levels. 

Social media and the internet has drastically changed the realty world. The realtor used a fabulous photographer. These pictures are some of the ones that were used on the posting. I have to think that they are part of the whirlwind we jumped into.

The living area that have provided family times over the years.

Many changes have been done over the time since the beginning. Open space living was gained and lost through my DIY projects. Build a wall. Tear down a wall. Extend a wall. Add wainscoting.

Memories of family that gathered around the dining table--some that are no longer on this earth. How many meals?

Oh, and the kitchen. Dark cabinets were transformed by MY painting project only to be completely replaced with the beauty of solid oak cabinets and hunter green countertops. Yet, the next painting was done by a professional that created a dreamy white kitchen. And the green countertops said goodbye to granite. My kitchen I will miss!

Can you envision the floor that looked like vinyl bricks? Thinking back to the years of harvest gold, rust and brown wallpaper, darkness that is thankfully a memory and not reality.

 The three bedrooms on this floor have gained various sons. Mr. Spouse and I kept the same bedroom since are the "masters" of the house.

Each of our three sons had a turn in the three additional bedrooms. As a new baby was added the room shuffling began.

Downstairs offered the final stop of our kids as they matured. The last bedroom they occupied before moving onto adulthood.

To my astonishment the downstairs "den" of the 90's became one of my favorite rooms. The cozy size is a great place for afternoon naps!

Privacy abounds in our backyard. Memories of the kids playing, riding big wheels and bikes, laughter, arguments, neighborhood kids--these will live in my heart as we exit our family home.

Our house was under contract the first day on the market. Hopefully, a new family will create their memories and enjoy the country living. 

So, goodbye 152 Highland. You have served us well.