Day 9; Our New House
So we moved from Texas.
That much you may know, but where did we move?
Utah.
It is SO nice to be back near family again. It is funny how life happens. Just 3 months before the move, we had just settled into the idea that we would be in Texas for another 4 years. Things didn’t work out exactly as planned, but life is just as good.
Some back story, Justin quit his job to work on our own personal businesses in May. But then we got offered a job in Utah. This threw a wrench into our 4 year plan. We decided, okay, we’ll try it out, that way we can buy a house (sooner than we could with self employed tax returns )… Then 4 days before we drove a way from our packed and already rented Texas home, the job we were moving for fell through- uh yeah, that bites!
Well, we changed plans and here we are, living in my parents basement. (I know? right? Can a home blogger, live in thier parent’s basement and still be taken seriously? I guess not, if you must click away from the site right now, I will let you- actually there is no way for me to to stop you.) We are making it into it’s own apartment (and I will show you what we do)… but still.
Okay, so one of the MAIN reasons I haven’t had the chance to blog about the projects that we worked night and day for two months on in our Texas home, and what we’ve done in our new home is we are just barely getting out of boxes. We’ve had to do quite a bit of menial things just to make life livable, including moving all my parent’s stuff to storage, and moving our stuff in.
Right now the project we are working on currently has my brain about to explode. It is a HUGE mess, and well, just plain annoying, but ultimately a great change, (once we get there). Wanna see picture of the mess, I thought you might.
Living in a Remodeling Project 101
The worst view… yeah! Forgive the camping kitchen that we have going on. This used to just be an underutilized, unfinished mudroom of sorts.
This “apartment” we are living in is about 1200-1300 square feet, so not small by any means. When we moved in it had 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 2 family rooms and a mudroom (along with a shared laundry room and a cold storage room).
Since we moved in we’ve made the second family room into a 3rd bedroom, took a portion of that room and created a storage room. We moved a few doors into better, more logical locations and are currently combining the family room and the mudroom (or future kitchen) into one great room.
And the projects are whipping me! My desk is a mess, my house is a mess, my laundry is undone, and everywhere! we have no office storage at all, my living room is a mess… the girl’s rooms are actually clean, but that only lasts 4.7 seconds on a good day! Our bedroom has teetering stacks of all the office boxes I have yet to find a home for.
I guess the truth is I just needed to get this all off my chest.
I am not the best blogger about my personal life. I think I am better at running the business side of blogging, but day to day, I am hopelessly overwhelmed by two really young children who tag team me, keeping my house clean (which I don’t do well when everything is ripped apart) Organizing my junk into 1,000 less square feet than we used to have… okay I will try to stop dwelling on the negative.
Anyway, overall
I am really comfortable in my home, I like that it is smaller.
I am excited about the possibilities.
I will hopefully be able to show you a bit more actual house soon.
Living in a remodeling project can be really hard, but I am thankful we have the ability to make our spaces nicer!
Lastly, don’t hate me. I am boycotting Halloween decorations. I know I must be totally crazy, but with the construction, I can’t bring more items into the mess, don’t hate me cuz I am overwhelmed!
Cassity Kmetzsch started Remodelaholic after graduating from Utah State University with a degree in Interior Design. Remodelaholic is the place to share her love for knocking out walls, and building everything back up again to not only add function but beauty to her home. Together with her husband Justin, they have remodeled 6 homes and are working on a seventh. She is a mother of four amazing girls. Making a house a home is her favorite hobby.
Wow! this took a lot to share with the world. I can only imagine how crazy things are for you. You are a trooper. I can completely empathize with you. I have a basement very similar to what you are living in, but completely unfinished. I am sure that you will really make a difference in the space because you see it everyday. You will take every detail to heart. I wish you the best of luck and look forward to seeing your progress!
Thanks Christine! Sometimes it is hard to share the not so beautiful things, but that really is about 50%-90% of a project. It doesn’t make for a really great post in itself, but I do enjoy seeing the whole process, so i hope you all do to!
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I agree with you. I recently started blogging for my own sanity, but I almost titled my blog “Between the Befores and Afters”.
hang in there! I’m sure you’ll get it to where you want to be! My worst remodeling experience was deciding to remodel my only bathroom (well, there was another creepy bathroom in the basement too) 4 months before my wedding. I thought we would have plenty of time to finish it but we didn’t. The day of my wedding I had to shower in the creepy basement shower….not the glamorous way I had pictured my wedding day starting out! haha. Luckily it was finished up shortly after the honeymoon and it’s a funny story looking back.
Good luck!
Laura
http://www.happyroostblog.com
Why do we do these things to ourselves? I do things like that ALL the time! The funny thing is that while it may not be the most glamorous stories they do make the best stories, and it is always fun to tell those stories!
Give yourself a break. Life is way hard during construction or a move and you have both. When moved into our house in the month of December. We put up a one tree with hardly any decorations and called it good. It will all be a memory next year!!
Ronda, you are so right! And you are the queen of AWESOME projects, so I will totally take your word for it. It is a funny phenomenon, during the project, we usually just survive (this time I’ve hardly survived), and afterward the whole yuckiness of how much work it was really presents itself, and we always think, we’ll never do that again. And since it is done, we don’t have to – at least that is the good thing about projects. Of course I don’t think we are learning form our lessons, since we keep doing this to ourselves!
Thanks for this 31 day series. I’m sick in bed so I’ve actually has time to read them all. I’m sorry to hear about your husband’s job but luckily you have family to help out. And don’t be hard on yourself for not posting your 31 days series in 31 days! It’s real life right? 😉 loved the first date costumes. Very fun. And to see the pics of both your parents wedding days is very cool. I have no idea where my parents wedding pics are. Sad. Anywho-fun series! I’m wishing I had some fresh peaches about right now.
Jennifer! Thank you for reading them all! And I truly mean that! I hope you are feeling better, there is nothing more frustrating than being sick in bed. I wish I could bring you some fresh peaches right now! I hope you get better soon!
Wowza! That both sucks and is awesome. I too am learning to live in a smaller space, and it’s been, well, interesting.
If anyone can pull this off, you can. Things will start looking up soon – just have faith.
Julie! THANKS! I will try to have faith and a positive attitude… sometimes the little things add up to big stress, I just need to learn to see things as they are and or as they will be! I know it will work out!
Bless you for sharing the nitty-gritty. It’s good to know and see. Keeps me honest as I consider doing the same thing. Thanks!
Thanks Cookie! It is an interesting process that is for sure. We’ve been doing this for 10 years, and it has never bothered me. Without kids it was fun and totally easy, but with kids it is a logistical nightmare… I am SO happy to have my sweet babies, but I am definitely rethinking how we do some remodeling things! My biggest advice is have a plan, and have a back up plan, a worked out schedule and a back up schedule. Good Luck on your projects, it is worth the work, but hard in the process!
Your story is amazing! One day – one step at a time, right? I pray things go well with the basement remodeling and your job situation. God is our Provider! Thanks for the update. I’ve enjoyed reading.
Calista, thanks for the prayers. Things are moving right along here with all the projects.
Well, that’s a lot for anyone to take on let alone someone with 2 small children. You’ll get through it! Just do what you can each day and try not to stress too much. Good luck!
Thanks Maggie for the encouragement!
Oh my goodness!!! I am feeling for you and sending you lots of positive vibes and thoughts. As another commenter said, this will all be a memory next year. And as you said, you are closer to family … And nothing is more important than that. It will all turn out great!!!
And I can’t wait to see what you do with the place!
Sam 🙂
Samantha, we can’t wait to see how it turns out either. We are excited for the things we are going to do.
I’m sending you good vibes and energy all the way from France. My small house is under renovayion one phase after the other and I know how it can be both exciting and discouraging or overwhelming at times!
bless your heart for your honest post! my husband would have a cow if i even thought about posting pics during construction. it is miserable- especially if you are living in the space during this time… so hard. sounds like you have a great plan and look forward to seeing your progress.
Thanks for your comment!
Sorry to hear about the job. Envious you get to be close to family (even if it may feel TOO close at times). I am looking forward to see what you guys do with the space. I don’t doubt it will be amazing!
Good luck. 🙂
Janet, it is nice to be close to family. Thanks for the comment.
Hey dear friend. I think of you often! And I have totally boycotted halloween decorations as well…we are finishing the basement and it was just one more thing. So we can be holiday boycotters together. I truly wish you would come do a serious design consult on my house one day-I have been thinking about asking you for forever (paid of course!). Totally bad timing, but I’m putting it out there. Love you lots and so glad you are back in good ‘ol UT! You need to come for a visit. We would love it.
Mandy, good to here from you. We would love to come up and visit. That sounds exciting about your basement remodeling. We love talking about ideas with people and how they can remodel. We will need to plan a trip.
I’m boycotting Halloween decorations too! And probably Thanksgiving. My entire main floor has been torn up for new hardwood flooring to be installed. And now that that’s done, every square inch of my house is covered in dust and grime. So that has to be cleaned. Then I need to start on the wainscoating, building the new cabinetry for my laundry room, patching walls, yadda yadda yadda. I am hoping to be done by Thanksgiving so I can decorate for Christmas, but until then, not even a pumpkin on the porch. Can’t. take. any. more. junk.
OH MY! You left that lovely wall of storage, new fireplace and everything. Bless your heart. Oh! and the girls left that sweet little play house. Bless their hearts.
Saying all that. I know it was hard. But you guys will make this place just a lovely whilst you are there. It’s what you do.
Blessings in your new home!
Looks like some good progress is being made. I remember when we went through a remodel and how stressful of a time it was for me. Can’t handle chaos to well.
Lauren, it is a huge challenge. I just can’t wait until it is over and clean.
We have been living with my in-laws for 6 months (trying to buy a house that was in short sale, fell through…still waiting to move on…) so I feel your pain! We have all of our stuff in my sis-in-laws basement except the things we need on a daily basis. I literally went over today to find the box with the coats in it-we never thought our winter clothes would be any where but in the drawers, in our home. The end is in sight though: Jan we will be moving…hopefully. It is soooooo hard not having our own space to decorate, and love. I am glad your were able to have a home back up plan and that it is working out for you-even if it is slower progress than you would like. I will totally still come to your blog to check out all your amazing home enchancing ideas. 🙂 Good luck with the reno. If anyone can do it and make it amazing it is you!!
Carrie! Thanks for being so understanding! The winter coat things makes me laugh, because I packed mine up and they are somewhere in the storage unit… unmarked because I was So sick of packing and unpacking that I didn’t mark any boxes… it’s like shooting yourself in the foot! I hope everything goes wll fou your guys! You can make it through too!
Don’t be crazy… Great Post!
And how exciting a new place and new possibilities! New material to blog about and new found interest to work with organizing for smaller homes.
Best part bonus grandparents just steps away 😉
Congrats and good luck.
Thanks Lizz! I appreciate the support! We really are excited to be making this change, and i think we are getting settled in quite nicely!
Cassity,
I’m sure this is an older post, but have recently discovered your website and have been devouring it ever since. I just made myself some Top Ramen while my crazy toddler is asleep for a few moments and was totally overwhelmed with how people do it all, including you and your family! Hands down you are the most talented people I’ve ever come across on the internet, and I mean that! I stumbled upon this post and realized, “oh, you’re a real person too!” Thank you for being so honest and sharing your up and down days. It for sure makes me feel better, especially as I think of the 1001 things I want to do to my new house and how I wanted to do them all yesterday!
Lara,
Welcome to the blog! I am so happy to have you here! And thanks for your praise… if you saw my house right now, you would die of disgust! When we work on projects everything is out of control, I simply cannot do it all! But besides the occasional frustration it is usually something I’ve learned to live with! So yea, don’t worry we are definitely human, and our projects take a LONG time! (a blog post is so fast to read…, but real life takes forever!)
Thanks for posting, I must say your honesty is refreshing- It is too often that I find myself comparing my life to the lives of others and thinking to myself I do not do enough, etc. So, It is nice to hear that there are other people out there who are dealing with similar issues and are still making a good go of it. Life is not perfect, I find myself completely overwhelmed at times, I try to make the most of it and do the best I can, So thanks for sharing, it sounds like you have a great life in spite of your challenges- this speaks to your strength and I am assuming your great sense of humor…take care and keep blogging
Thank you Kara!! That means a lot, it can be hard to put it out there, but you are right that we all feel this way!