We love looking back at the empty photos of our first house because, as bittersweet as they are, they’re a joyful reminder of how a house becomes a home. The structure is just walls and floors until the people, pets (and yes, the chihuahuas) fill it with life and memories. We took the same approach with our second house and snapped empty-room photos the day we left. I expected all the rooms to blur together without furniture, but each one still carried its own personality — a comforting sign that we had left our mark.
Below are a few of the rooms in their before-and-after states. I don’t always have every “before” angle, but the empty photos do a great job of capturing what we were walking away from.
Dining Room and Office
Here is the dining room and office as they looked when we moved in. The rooms were full of furniture, curtains, and the usual personal touches that make them feel lived in. When we cleared everything out, the spaces felt quite different — larger, quieter, and more open, but still unmistakably the same rooms where we celebrated meals and worked on projects.
Frame Hallway and Other Passages
Our frame hallway, which had been lined with artwork and photos, looked bare at move-out. We took care to fill and smooth the nail holes, leaving a clean slate for the next owners. Spackle was our unsung hero in that process — it patched the walls and made the house look polished again.
Kitchen
The kitchen saw the biggest transformations while we lived here. The kitchen we left was much cleaner and more open than the one we moved into, and a lot changed during our time in the house. Even so, we left the built-in fixtures and most of the appliances in place because they were selected and sized for this space. Many appliances and light fixtures don’t translate well from one home to another, so leaving them behind made sense for both practical and regional custom reasons.
Laundry Room
Before we began using the house, the laundry room had a different set-up. We left it tidy but largely as it had been configured for this home — including the clothespin chandelier that belonged perfectly in its space. These kinds of fixtures often don’t transfer well to a new home, especially if the layout or overhead lighting differs.
Living Areas and Sunroom
The living room and sunroom both felt distinct when empty. The light, the floors, and the window placements all contributed to each room’s character even without furniture. Those quiet, empty moments made it easier to remember the occasions and small everyday moments that had taken place there.
Bedrooms and Nooks
Our bedroom changed a lot over time; I wish I had a better before shot from one angle, but the empty-after photo still captures the essence of the space. We also have a before shot of the little sink nook that reminds us of how much character these small details brought to the house. Clara’s room in particular evolved from a simple starting point into a cozy, personalized space — and though the room is now empty, Clara came with us.
Guest Room
The guest room ended up looking quite different after we painted it a deep teal and added crown molding. Those updates gave the space new life and a personality that felt distinctly ours.
Thoughts on What We Left Behind
People asked what we sold with the house. Short answer: most of the permanent or attached items stayed. In our area it’s common for light fixtures, blinds, curtains, mirrors, and built-in shelving to remain unless a listing or contract specifies otherwise. We did note in our listing that we were taking certain curtains, but we left the majority of attached items so the next owners would have a functional, attractive home. It also makes practical sense: many fixtures are sized or styled for the specific rooms here and wouldn’t necessarily work in a different house.
Looking back, our biggest regret was not refinishing all of the old orange oak and the faded parquet to match the rich mocha tone of the kitchen’s cork floors. That would have tied the whole house together beautifully — perhaps a project for the new owners someday.
We’re going to miss this house and the memories we made here — three Christmases, several birthday parties for Clara, writing and shooting our book, and watching Clara hit big milestones like crawling and walking. Those memories are what make a house a home. Now somebody pass me a tissue.
Psst — we also shared a funny picture comparison on our life blog the same day. Time really does fly.