My home is located in an extremely safe neighborhood, and in a very wanted area in San Diego (where the median price for a home is nearly $700,000...don't worry, I did not pay that much!). I am right next to a huge park (that has a farmers market every week), and walking distance to shops and restaurants. It's in Central San Diego too (which is HUGE, since most affordable places are way north or south of San Diego!). It's only a 15 minute drive to work too.
It's a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath 2 story home, and it even has a cute little backyard (which is rare for townhouses in San Diego). It even has a 2 car attached garage (another thing that is rare for townhouses in San Diego).
The escrow process was probably one of the worst parts of the experience. I told my realtor at one point that I could handle helping a person in a medical emergency a whole lot easier than being in escrow. The company that I received a loan from was extremely strict (I suppose that's the price to get a low interest rate), and because of that I got the keys to my home two weeks late.
Being a homeowner hasn't always been peachy. I had horrible water damage in my kitchen, then a bad leak when remodeling the bathrooms, my garage opener broke, and at times I was living in a construction zone (minus the hard hats and orange cones). I didn't expect to have to make a claim through my Home Insurance, or use my Home Warranty the first year, so I definitely got a crash course in being a homeowner!
The second part of this goal was to decorate my home. I am not 100% done, but I could say in confidence that I am pretty happy with all that I have been able to accomplish in one year.
I can't leave without sharing some pictures. The BEFORE photos were taken before moving in, the people that owned the house had the home professionally staged (they were not even living in the house), so that's why it looked model home'ish like no one had ever lived there.
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My Dining Table. I got it at Cost Plus and it expands to seat 8!
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My Dining Table. I got it at Cost Plus and it expands to seat 8!
Living Room & Dining Room- One of the things I loved best about my place was the open floor plan. Before moving in the owners put in new Berber carpets throughout the home.
What I did: One of the first things I did was buy blinds. To save money my dad installed them and had them cut at Home Depot. My dad also put in new baseboards. I also got a new flat screen TV and had a company mount it to the wall as well as placing a new electrical outlet behind the TV. My dad put shelves to make a little entertainment center. I spray painted the gold trim around the fireplaces to satin nickel. I got new satin nickel door knobs for all doors to get rid of the dented gold ones. In the dining area I changed out the light fixture, and since the original light fixture was still new we used that one to replace the ugly old one in my walk-in closet. The tile in the entry way was also changed.
What I still want to do: I want to change the tile around the fireplace. It's in good shape, but I hate the color. I also want to update the ceiling fan. I am also planning to get a new sofa to add more seating for guest.
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The Guest Half Bathroom- I'm having difficulty finding the Before Picture.
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The Kitchen- I love white cabinets, and I fell in love with all the cabinet space. This part of my home has gotten the most upgrades. A lot of the upgrades had to happen because of the unexpected flooding in my kitchen. The owners had put in a new stove and fridge before I moved in.
What I did: One of the first things I did was put in handles for the cabinets (got them on EBay for cheap!). When the flooding happened they had to rebuild my lower cabinets, and pretty much had to reconstruct my entire kitchen. I got new granite countertops, a new sink, and at the end of 2011 I sold my old appliances on craigslist and got new beautiful stainless steel appliances for a steal (stove, microwave, fridge and dishwasher). Some of the tiles got damage from the water damage, so I got new floor porcelain tiles. I also put in new light switch plates throughout the house. I LOVE them. You can see them better in one of the pictures above. I spray painted the existing paper towel holder satin nickel to match the rest of the appliances (and save money!).
What I still want to do: Not much. I eventually just want to add some nice trim at the top of the cabinets to make it prettier. I want to get a new faucet, but the one I have is still good and a great brand.
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The Guest Half Bathroom- I'm having difficulty finding the Before Picture.
What I did: I replaced the towel rack and toilet paper holder. I got rid of the hideous plain mirror that was glued to the wall and replaced it with this mirror I found for $5 at Home Depot! I got new light fixtures, new floor tiles, new baseboards, and a coat of gray paint (the walls were white before). I also got a new water saving toilet (it has paid for itself since my water bill is half of what it was). Behind the bathroom door is a chalk board decal I got at Kohls that I use as a guestbook.
What I still want to do: Nada. It's done.
Now onto the second floor.....
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The Hallway and Stairway
What I did: I didn't do much. I put new handles in the hallway cabinets.
What I still want to do: Gotta finish the baseboards, and I am currently collecting frames to create a Stairway Photo Collage.
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The Master Bedroom- I love my view of the park, the vaulted ceilings and having a walk-in closet.
What I did: Besides decorating, and putting up curtains using the rod the owners left behind, I have not really done anything to this space.
What I still want to do: Finish the baseboards and get a new ceiling fan.
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The Master Bathroom
What I did: I painted some gray trim in the main area of the bathroom, and then all gray in the room with the toilet. I got new towel racks and toilet paper holders. New Tiles. New Baseboards. I got some handles for the cabinet doors. New Water Saving Toilet. New Light Fixtures, and I got molding to frame my existing mirror at Mirror Mate. I also put a shelf above my toilet and jazzed it up with cheap accessories.
What I still want to do: Nothing. I'm done...for now.
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The Guest Bedroom and Office
What I did: Besides decorating, I really didn't do anything.
What I did: Besides decorating, I really didn't do anything.
What I still want to do: I have to finish up the baseboards, and in the other corner of the room (that you can't see) I want to possibly get a nice chair to make it into a reading corner. I also want to get a nice wooden daybed frame, and a new computer chair (preferably a pretty upholstered one).
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Brother's Bedroom- My brother rents a room from me. It helps to pay the mortgage. :)
What I did: My brother's room tends to get the hand-me-downs that I no longer want. For instance the lamp on the dresser, and a few other pieces there were once mine. Since he has no desire to decorate his room, his past two Christmas presents from me have been practical purchases for his room, for instance the comforter set for his new bed, and a wooden dresser and plastic storage dressers for his closet. The huge New York painting I got for $20 at Ross. What a deal!
What I still want to do: New Baseboards. The walls on the left are in dire need of some art pieces.
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Brother's Bathroom
What I did: I took some leftover paint my parents used for their guest bathroom to paint my brother's bathroom. I got new light fixtures, new floor tiles, new baseboards, handles for the cabinets, new water saving toilets and shower head, new towel rack and toilet paper holder, and mirror molding from Mirror Mate.
What I still want to do: Nothing. I'm done. Woohoo!
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The Backyard
What I did: I got a new grill, it is on the other half of the backyard. I got a lot of the plants removed because they were growing like crazy. I got a patio set and an umbrella to relax.
What I still want to do: Continue pulling weeds (that's my brother's job). I eventually want to just put concrete throughout to make the usable space larger, and then scatter potted plants around.
Even though I listed a ton of changes since buying the house I really didn't spend very much. I bargain hunted, and found most of my decor at Home Goods or online. I used a lot of coupons, and got some things for free or ridiculously cheap! Thankfully my dad is really handy so he has saved me thousands of dollars since all I have to do is buy the supplies. Being a homeowner is not easy, but through all the sweat and tears I do have to say I love my home.
Date Accomplished: November 23rd, 2010
4 comments:
Congratulations! It looks so great.. you wouldn't be able to tell your decor isn't the model home. And on a budget; I need to take notes!
Wow! you've done a lot to your place and it looks great!!
I read a lot of design on a budget or diy type blogs. So it is definitely doable!
Thanks! It's been quite a busy year!
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