Greetings from Panera — we still don’t have internet at the new house, so we stop in for hot chocolate and use their WiFi to put together a quick update. We know many of you have been waiting for interior photos of our new place now that it’s empty and move-in ready, so here they are. I hurried through the house to snap these shots while our friends and family waited outside in the snow to start bringing things in, so some photos aren’t perfect and a video will have to wait. That said, this blank slate has so much potential and we’re thrilled to share it with you.
The house comes with a lot of character: original paneling, a yellow-beige bathroom, dark wood trim, a variety of flooring, a brick wall begging to be painted, some off-center windows, compact boxy rooms in places, walls that should be opened up, and even a sink in the master bedroom. We can’t wait to make it feel like ours, which always seems to happen once the paint brushes and hammers come out. We’re incredibly grateful to the previous owners — buying their home was a pleasure. They even hosted a welcome party and were enthusiastic about our plans for updates and changes.
To help orient you, we’ve put together a floor plan description that explains the layout and our initial ideas, which should clarify the room flow and our renovation goals.
Outside, the house looked charming under a surprise blanket of snow, giving the backyard and exterior lines a cozy, storybook feel. We’re already imagining updates to the front exterior someday so the whole house feels cohesive.
Inside, the room that grabbed our hearts is the formal living room at the front of the house. It sits beside a formal dining area that shares built-ins. Our plan is to convert part of the formal living room into an inviting entryway and dining space, creating a large opening on the left wall that will lead to the eat-in kitchen. The current dining room behind those built-ins will become a home office with pretty French doors — a perfect spot for work and homeschooling down the road.
The eat-in kitchen is long and full of original paneling that we can’t wait to paint. Cabinets will be refreshed with new color(s) and we plan to add a large island for prep, storage, and gathering. The new opening to the front dining room will aim for at least a five-foot pass-through to create an airy connection between spaces. We loved the wide doorways throughout the house from the start — they give the home great flow and make it feel more open.
The main living area is generous and designed for everyday life rather than formal entertaining. We prioritized finding a home with one large, flexible family space that can fit a sectional and larger furnishings so the whole family can gather comfortably. Sliding doors open to a raised patio on one side and a sunroom on the other, bringing in light and a strong indoor-outdoor connection. We’re planning a double-sided fireplace so it can be enjoyed from both the living room and the kitchen, and we’ll widen the doorway to enhance the connection between those rooms.
The sunroom addition feels more modern than the rest of the house, which was mostly built decades earlier. Our goal is to integrate its look with the original character, making it feel like a natural extension rather than an afterthought. There’s an off-center window and a darker brick wall there that we’re excited to transform and soften.
The master bedroom is spacious with reclaimed pine wide-plank floors that are truly special. The room includes a sink area along one wall, with a shower and toilet in a separate room to the right and a walk-in closet to the left. Designing the layout so the sink fits aesthetically and functionally into the space will be a fun challenge.
The hall bathroom near the other bedrooms has a classic feel similar to our previous home’s full bath, and fortunately the tile is in good condition. Clara’s nursery is nearly the same size as her old room and will be a cozy, updated space. The middle bedroom will serve as a playroom for now and can easily become another kids’ bedroom in the future. We also have a guest bedroom ready for visitors — once we get a bed in there.
There’s a quirky yellow-beige bathroom suite that used to serve as the master before the new master was added; it’ll be a satisfying project to update. A small laundry room off the back will become a functional mini mudroom with plenty of storage, which is a practical must for our busy family.
Overall, it was love at first sight for us. We’re so glad our buyer’s agent encouraged us to see the house — we almost passed because it had a carport, but the sellers offered a credit to convert it to a garage. That little twist meant we didn’t miss out on a home we truly adore.
We’ll keep sharing photos and updates as projects progress. Since we don’t yet have internet at the house and want to spend time working on the space, responses may be slower for a bit, but we’re excited to chronicle the process in real time. Expect diary-like updates as we tackle everything from paint and trim to structural changes and styling. For now, make yourself at home — we’re so glad you’re along for the ride.