This Old House - Downstairs Part 1

In May of 2008, about two weeks before I even met Chad actually,  I closed on my  first piece of real estate.  Not having a significant other, nor family (obviously) at that point in my life.. My criteria for my first home was pretty simple.  Bigger than my 800 sf, one bedroom apartment... A garage to protect my car from all the freak hail storms and crazy weather we can sometimes get.. And something very low maintenance.  It took awhile...but after several weeks of searching, I finally found this old house.  At 1788 sf, it was plenty for little 'ol me.  Lots of charm, cute older neighborhood with huge trees and grass I didn't have to maintain myself!  Perfect!  Right from the start, these walls have seen my life unfold in the best possible way.. 

On May 25th, Mr. Kelley walked into my life and right from the get go.. (knowing almost immediately that he was "The One")... I reeled him into house projects.  It's almost like I could already see my future in that house with him in it.  He helped pick paint colors... (and of course...I put him to WORK right away!).  He helped paint, pack and move me (and all my 800 SF worth of stuff) into what would soon become OUR new house.  It was perfect for us.  

Now before you look at these "before" pictures and think... "WHAT THE HELL WAS SHE THINKING?!?".. let me just say that this house was a foreclosure.. and a STEAL!  A deal I couldn't pass up.  I knew I could make it mine with a little elbow grease and some vision.  And because the price was so great.. I knew when it finally came time to move on to the next house, I'd make a little somethin' extra for the savings account.  ;)

With plenty of projects to tackle, and LOTS of imagination...

Our house went from crazy fun house-land...

To comfortably OURS...

Not everything is perfectly set up for pictures.. these were just snaps I took randomly one day.. 

From YIKES....

Obviously a BEFORE picture...

To very much US...

Kitchen tile is a bit YIKES for us.. but.. hasn't really ever been a priority to change..

Same goes for the cabinets.  That and our budget hasn't stretched that far.  ;)  

There's obviously more to the downstairs area but due to the packing process we are in right now.. more pictures of our current house will have to wait.

Here's a looksie around the front and back of our townhome though taken back in 2008 when I moved in..

Community Pool and Clubhouse just steps away.. :)

View from our back patio...