Before & After: One Year In The House

Monday marks my first anniversary in the little Franklin house.  The time has flown by and I can’t believe how much has been done and how much is still left to do!  To celebrate the survival of this past year, I want to show you some before and after pics.  Let’s be honest, it’s no Better Homes & Gardens, but these pictures represent tons of work and love showered onto a little piece of land.  I’m also thankful to Rob for all his help every step of the way, none of these transformations would have happened without his support.  His time, patience, blood, and sweat have been poured into this place, and I really can’t adequately thank him enough for putting up with my insanity.  So here’s what can happen in a year with limited funds and a lot of hard work…

The first project in the house was the bathroom, which was taken right down to the studs and rebuilt.  Myrtle is excited.  The Bathroom: Before & After

Needed more storage in the bathroom and less oak ugliness.  Bathroom Vanity: Before & After

 

And we can’t forget our friends outdoors.  After the sad loss of a bluebird family-to-be, something had to be done.  Bluebird House: Before/After

The dining room is still a work in progress.  I am planning to add a wall of pallet wood, put down wood floors, and get some more furniture in there.  Dining Room: Before & Current Stage

My favorite part of this house is still the built-ins.  They transformed a dull room into a library that makes my heart skip every time I pick out a book.  Living Room: Before & After

I am so blessed by all the friends who came to visit in this first year.  It’s been fun having people come through to say hi, and I am reminded that a house is not a home unless people fill it with love.  Guest Room: Before & After

I’m still in the process of making the patio pretty. I removed the gravel next to the shed and am using the space to plant more herbs and small veggies for the kitchen garden.  Patio: Before & Current Stage

The side garden has been quite the project because I’m trying to add more perennials, plus annuals I know the hummingbirds and butterflies will be attracted to.  I’d also like to put some type of border on here, but I’m not sure what to use yet.  Side Garden: Before & Current Stage

And as for repairs…these may not seem like a huge deal because they aren’t cosmetic, but let me tell you, I am so relieved to have these out of the way. HVAC: Before (circa 2000) & After (circa 2013)