Creme Puff

I have wanted a fresh start. On my blog. On a new home. Need to get back on track with being a “green” family. And I have wanted an excuse to try a different approach to usable crafts and sewing projects. Well, here we go. Starting this week (I started this post July 9^th), a new adventure! Well kinda. For those of you who know me, this post may seem funny since you already know our history with this house. I have not documented the ugly of the start of this project. I haven’t even documented the bad with this project. I don’t even want to share it with you since it’s totally disgusting to know how some people obviously don’t know that you are supposed to clean house.

Anybody ever heard the term bigger is better? How about everything is bigger in Texas? NOT! Let me share with you a brief history. When I met my husband, he was truly living in a bachelor pad. A minimalist, I might add. He owned this cute little “crème puff” house in a great location in our town. We met, got pregnant, got married, and turned the extra room into a livable nursery. Until…our little one was not going to be the only little one anymore. With a toddler and a baby on the way, we decided “crème puff” was too little. So we rented a house, fixed up “crème puff” and rented her out as well. This was 4 years ago. After having 2 tenants, and realizing we had to dump another few thousand dollars to fix what someone else had worn out, we decided to reclaim her. We wanted a new house anyway. We were on the market shopping. Almost had a contract! Then all this.

Crème Puff is only 788’ sq! Yes, I said it. I am going from approximately 1400’ sq. to way less. Ouch! But wait…we are excited about this. Even though the neighborhood has turned into not so great, we are in town again. Close to everything. I can ride my bicycle to the library (and I tried it already, so fun)! And the grocery store! And the park!
Please disregard the mess in front of the steps. I am in the process of changing the rock walk.

Before we started putting all the new flooring down, I took measurements of every little nook and cranny trying to decide what to keep, what to store, and what to give away. Once we get everything squared away, we intend to build are building a deck and a storage shed so we don’t have to continue to rent a storage unit. Let me tell you, less is definitely more! This will be a challenge in some respects, but I am willing to tackle these challenges.

 This picture is my sewing room nook. I got rid of three 33 gallon trash bags full of fabric. I think I may have a problem! Haha! This little nook behind the front door is 35 inches wide and I think 15 inches deep. I think I measured the shelf unit (hiding under the patriotic material) about a hundred times just to make certain I would have a home for my sewing machine and all the lettings. With the trim on the door, it fit with about 1/2 inch to spare! Whew! 

  

This is my living room looking toward the front door. The entertainment center is to the right. Yes, we still have one of those! We refuse to buy a new TV until the tube gives out. We have a very rowdy 3 year old and fear buying a new TV for him to destroy. The dog bed is under the end table to the left of the love seat. Yeah, the one you can't see. Its like her little indoor dog house. 

 

Turn around and you will see the entryway to the kitchen. I bought a cross to profess to my house guests that we are Christian and admire His love for us. In the kitchen is the back door...well, side door. And yes, it is also my laundry room. See...

 This little booger is called a THIN TWIN. And baby, it is! But it works very well. A large load in this thing compares to medium load in a traditional top load machine.

To the left in the cubby where it sits, I put in an organizer for my plastic wrap, wax paper, freezer bags and sandwich bags. Under the organizer, I tried hooks for the broom, mop and dust pan, however, I found that with the lack of space that 2-1/2 nails worked just fine.

On the right, I hung 3 nails up top for my flyswatters, my lint trap cleaner, and my laundry bag for my delicate laundry. I was also able to slide my folding sewing table in on the floor in between the wall and the washer.

 This is the farthest I could zoom out on the kitchen with the door closed. It's about 14 feet from the door to the wall. This is the view from the back door looking in. In the very right side of the picture, notice I used an under the counter paper towel holder. Not that I use that many, but it keeps from using counter space on the other one. I also had a 3 tier hanging basket that I took apart using my jewelry tools, and I  hung 2 baskets to the underside of the cabinet. Currently I use a diaper box for the bread box. I made a cover for it today and I took the picture yesterday. Haha!

And finally for this post, my bathroom. Not too small. Bigger than our last one. There is a good size closet behind the door to the left. I made the toilet lid cover today because they didn't have one to match the rug I was buying. So I bought a matching towel and tackled it that way. It was cheaper than buying one anyway. I made the valence out of material that I have had for over a year now. Its a small print of acorns. We are doing a lodge theme to our house, so I thought it fit. Yes, there is a window in my shower...odd, I know. I am going to make a curtain out of a frosty shower curtain and get rid of the mini blinds. If the curtain gets mildew, I can just cut and sew another one. I will use tension rods at the top and bottom to keep it in place.

One day I will share the bedrooms. I am waiting to find the time to finish the curtains and wall decor.