Yes. What could be more exciting, save winning the Nobel Prize — or perhaps waking to discover that my body is 18 again yet my mind is still 35? Those two things will probably never happen, so new house wins. In all seriousness, we are uber excited but also having some bittersweet moments. We miss our fabulous neighbors already, and are plagued by sad musings about our good ol’ 60s rancher.
Plus we are exhausted and my back is broken (18 year old body? please?). We have lots of work to do here before our house goes on the market early next week (gasp!), plus we have renovations to schedule and complete on the new house. The new house that closes in a week. Now you know why my posts have been so short and shitty of late. Sorry, dudes. Did I mention that new house wins?
Speaking of, let’s tour that sucker and think about what must be done to make it habitable.
Yep. It’s that one. So, I got the 70s house I always wanted, except that it’s not exactly the 70s house I always wanted. What can I say? The extra bedroom, culdesac, greenbelt, and schools, appealed to my 35 year old mind. Being able to walk to Whole Foods doesn’t hurt, either. Someone please send me a new paint scheme. Stat.
It has 20 foot ceilings and nice big windows. With bars on them. Because the sellers are NUTS. So, the floor is coming out — natural oak, yes? I am repainting, including the fireplace. Neutral color suggestions, please????? And I’m on the fence about the fans… It is very hot in Texas, ya’ll. Should I raise them? Get white fans? Burn them?Just kidding. The last one is not an option.
Oh boy. This is a biggie. I would love to rip it allll out, but… I can’t. I have to prioritize, and the new wood floors are going to kill us. So, do I paint the cabinets white, change the backsplash and live with it? Do I spend a little more to reface the cabinets? Or do I save for the next FIVE YEARS and rip out the whole thing? ps: the tile and granite are not awesome but not horrible, either.
I’m considering using this as our main dining area and using the real (and small) dining room as a study/library. What do you think? Are dining rooms a colossal waste of space? And don’t worry — THE BARS MUST GO.
Tim Gunn would be concerned about the taste level here.
The master was horribly photographed, but it has a huge window seat. New floors are coming.
The master bath is actually enormous, with HUGE closets. Yay!!! Paint the cabinets, new tile (someday).
Detached garage, covered patio with skylights.
I am a sucker for a huge shady yard.
Ok, that’s the tour. My mind is whirling with possibilities. I am thinking 20s as inspiration — a mix of dark antiques, classic deco, and some leggy Jacques Adnet type pieces to lighten it up. Ok, and maybe the odd 50s Guariche. And maybe some brassy chromey 70s pieces.
Who am I kidding? It will be eclectic. Whatever that means.
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Looks fantastic! I can’t wait to see what you do with it! Good luck with all the moving/house selling!
Congratulations! In my opinion, I would leave the tile and granite (at least for a while just because it is in decent shape) and paint the cabinets a dark gray like “C2, Barnacle” – This colour is a warm gray with green/brown undertones that would compliment the off-colour of the tile & stone whereas white would just make it look pinky & yellow. (Search ‘gray kicthen’ in photos on Decorpad for some ideas)
As for the bathroom, why not paint the cabinets black or navy?
I would do the outside of the whole home in a dark charcoal, like “Behr, Intellectual” or something similarly rich and dark. There are some historic tudors in our neighbourhood done in dark charcoal and they look AMAZING!!
Good luck and have fun!!
LOVE the charcoal exterior idea… would it be weird with that brown roof?
And good ideas on the cabinets. White cabinets with lots of detail are certainly not fun to clean.
Thanks for commenting!
Wahooooo!!!! Oh, I know you must be a big ball of excited and exhausted nerves, but it’s all good! Is there a grey color in those counters you can pull out and paint the cabinets? I think painting the cabs and backsplash will make that kitchen just fine for a few years…no need for total rehaul now, just lipstick. Congrats to you!!!
Looks like Lawny and I agree!
Erin…I am beyond excited for you. I love this house. I really like the charcoal exterior idea as well. I vote you use the pictured area as the dining room (I’m assuming it’s in the kitchen?) Dining rooms seem so formal and passe these days…and yes, a colossal waste of space. Can’t wait to see what kind of magic you wield on the new spread!
Ok, I’ll be waiting out front on closing day to do a walk through. Big ideas, Erin. Big.
PS, I really like all the paint suggestions from Lawny
Congratulations! I’m glad you found “the one.” I like the exterior and interior color suggestions. One dining area is enough. Use the formal dining room as an office or play room for Ike. I’m looking forward to watching the transformation.
Congratulations, lady! 20 ft. ceilings and tons of light — le sigh!
I like it!!! Do I spy a pool behind the gate behind the patio? Maybe it’s my eyes & its the driveway. It looks great, anyway, & I can’t wait to see the changes you plan to make. Wood floors would look great throughout!
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE THE YARD!!!
I say paint the kitchen cabinets for now, the appliances looked like they were in pretty good shape from the pics.
p.s. Had to google Jacques Adnet…LOL
but thanks for always opening our eyes and minds to new and amazing things.
Congrats again
Congratulations! What I would give for that backyard *sigh* Excited to see how you transform the place.
Thanks for the kind comments, everyone! We really, truly appreciate them.
Cool! Congrats! We ran out of money after renovating the master bath so we just gave the guest bath a facelift by papering the walls (walls were in bad shape) and repainting the exciting vanity dark navy called Black Corduroy almost looks black but its not. It’s a mind f*ck!
And it worked great with the existing tile (similar to the one in your kitchen). Oh yeah and we changed out the fixtures which didn’t hurt the bank.
Back yard is the shit!
Beautiful yard, beautiful muchness! Congratulations and happy happy decorating!!
Congrats on the new home! Cannot wait to see how you make it your own!
Whoa, awesome house, lots of possibilities!! Congratulations! Can’t wait to see what you do to it
And that backyard… wow.
I live in AZ and agree you MUST have ceiling fans even though they’re fugly. We have the Westinghouse and love it. $80 on Amazon- can’t beat that. It’s simple, stainless, and will hide rather than stick out like a sore thumb. http://www.amazon.com/Westinghouse-7861400-Industrial-Three-Blade-Installation/dp/B001B1C8Q6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315429800&sr=8-1
Congrats Erin!
I would definitely paint the cabinets a gray not white. And save up for new kitchen. Also consider getting new shaker style doors and drawer fronts-this will be cheap-but still paint.
Please promise me you will rip off both crowns in the fireplace.
Hi there Erin,
Congrats on the new house. What great fun. I think you are putting your money to good use by installing hardwood floors. Kitchen too? I love hardwoods in kitchens.
I am so not on board with the charcoal on the outside… with a brown roof. Ugh. You are not replacing the roof are you? I would say cream up the outside, using a slightly darker cream/camel/taupe, keep it somewhat close in value on the batten boards. Then give yourself a fabulous color on the front door. Something wonderful, your options would be endless.
Kitchen… paint your cabinets in some midtone warm gray. Backsplash tiles are really easy and fairly affordable to replace. If you can afford it, do it.
Where are you in Texas? I am the gal in Dallas who had her house on Head Over Heels blog on Monday. If you are in Dallas, I would be happy to come over and give you some paint suggestions It was, and still is what I do.
Ceiling fans are fine. They move air around. Good in Texas.
So many others have said to you that the road to your salvation on the short term is with paint. I couldn’t agree more.
Enjoy this fun time of your life.
mb from Dallas
Look at that YARD! Gorge!
And I’m sure the interior will be fabulous in no time. Congrats!
OMG you have no idea how much you’ve inspired me to suck it up and continue the search!!! what a gem! love your ideas, and can’t wait to see how you transform that beauty.
fellow house hunter, BIA ox
Ha! Congrats! Total huzzah of a house!
I have no doubt you’ll work some decor magic up in there fo sho!
Paint the kitchen cabinets and don’t stress about a total facelift — after all, it’s sort of like that 18 year-old body that keeps evading you — it’s out of reach right now, so enjoy it for what it is, namely, a place to cook up some good grub.
What a gorgeous yard too.
Wow, this is a godsend — further proof that you’re going to have lots of meaty posts to grace us with over the next few years.
Cheers, Alcira
nerochronicles.com
Fabulous! I cant wait to see what you come up with!
Um, girl, you’ve been holding out on us! Congratulations!!! I love it. That backyard is ridiculous. It’s Eden, I tell ya! I say make paint your best friend in the kitchen. Save the bucks for when you’re ready to make it just like you want it. And yes to making the dining room into a functional room you’ll actually use! As for the exterior, I kind of love the idea of a solid charcoal or mushroom with a rich, bright front door…peacock blue, kelly green, chinese red??? You need to ask Susie for a pic of her MIL’s neighbor’s house. They painted their 70s ranch/cottage a solid mushroom on every exterior surface. It looks amazing.
Congratulations!!! So excited for all the changes to come!
You know what, on second thought, maybe go light on the exterior. What about a really clean, stark white on the entire exterior and the barest, pale, soft gray on the woodwork details with a simple, almost shaker door in the same very light gray. Might be a very modern update to the traditional exterior.
Ooo, like this:
http://projects.ajchomefinder.com/gallery/view/homes/private-quarters/classic/pq_hoath_0806/
Congratulations!!! It is a fantastic house!
I can’t wait for all the amazing updates you’ll bring to it.
Total score; so happy for you!
Dang I’m late to the game!
congrats again. Love the idea of turning the dining room into a library. I’d pull a color out the granite to pick the cabinet color. And why not do a white subway tile? I like to think they go with everything. What color is the floor tile? Is that staying?
As for the outside, I’d go for a less harsh color contrast to play down all those tudor boards.
Yippee much fun to be had!
OK, after reading mb’s post, I am totally swayed on the exterior paint colors. Loving the cream/camel/taupe with a bold door. So much to play with!
Back to the house colour, the updated Tudors in our neighbourhood are all one colour – boards/brick/house. They really do look fantastic like this.
As for colours, I hadn’t looked at the roof until you mentioned it! It really reads orange/rust/brown in the photos. I figure if you like the idea of a gray then why not try a sample of a slate/bluish gray – since orange and blue are complimentary.
I also love the idea of a light colour as well, but it might make your roof ‘stand-out’. Also, light is difficult for upkeep with lots of trees since they like to drop things all over your house
I would be tempted to try some exterior colours on the low section on the right side of the house, where the roof meets the window that way you can really see what works.
So exciting! Can’t wait to see what you decide
Congratulations! I know that your search wore you down at times… I hope that even though bittersweet the thought of moving that you remember to take what you love about your current place with you (colors evoke emotions, after all). And I completely agree with everyone above about a grey cabinet paint, just to stave off the total transformation that will inevitably come (40th birthday present, along with 20 year old body?). I also like the look of a darker grey on the lowers, and maybe a lighter one on the uppers? Maybe? Maybe painting the ceiling and soffit the same as the uppers to make it disappear? And as for an exterior color, we have some stunning homes near us in a deep, cool, bittersweet chocolate that’s crazy beautiful. But I say use your trees and yard as inspiration – just match the darkest shade of bark and you’ll harmonize that house with your surroundings.
Really, though, I’m so glad you finally found a place. Good luck with the sale/move/close, etc. Can’t wait to see your transformations! xoxo
Oh my gosh, how exciting!!! I am so in love with all the room you have. And that yard is amazing!! A huge flat backyard was a priority when we bought our house — and we ended up living on a wooded hill with only 20′ behind the house. I’d LOVE to have your space!!
Around Atlanta, I’m seeing lots of tudors painted all taupe. Sometimes dark mushroom, sometimes creamy beigy taupe. They look stunning. And YES to a killer kelly green, ykblue, lemon yellow or orange door!
As Nelya said, my MIL’s next door neighbor has a gorgeous cottage. “Before” is was really ugly — but she transformed it with darkest mushroomy blacky brown paint and some well-placed plantings. I’ll shoot some snaps and send them to you.
Congratulations Erin! I just love it! Can’t wait to see the inside when you’ve Erin’d it up!
WOW! Great house! I’m originally from Austin too, and thought I knew every neighborhood, but I can’t place where this could be — SW Austin?
Congrats!
Congratulations! I hope this house will be a blessing and place of many happy memories for you and your family in the years to come!
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG. Erin congrats!!!!!!!!!! This is so exciting! Except the bars on the windows are not exciting. You have quite a load of work ahead of you…
Kitchen cabinets might get dark charcoal paint??! … and use the same charcoal on the exterior timbers.. and paint the stucco off-white.. keep that ish traditional and how it’s suppose to look or else it won’t look good. no room for creativity there. (Ps I grew up in a tudor home!)
And um please don’t get caught in wild austin fires. I mean I know it’s been hot there.. but c’mon. Catching on fire is just dramatic.
also, since I just went back and looked at the pictures.. I wonder if you can sandblast the exterior bricks to make them less.. um.. bricky. or soemthing. Less new? I dunno. Something needs to happen. What if you painted them white and then had them sand-blasted so only some of the paint came off. Now I’m just getting complicated.
I’d rather have margaritas in your in-laws pool. gracias.
I think I have expressed my excitement via text but just to make it internet official: HURRAH!!!!
when a design blogger buys a house an angel jizzes in all our faces.
Congrats on the new house! You must feel like a kid in a candy store — endless possibilities!
Holly Molly! WOW! what a house! I envy you for that yard (hey, glorious trees not IN the house)! and OMG window seat, I’ve always wanted that! You’re very lucky, I cant wait to see what you’ll make out of this jewel.
oh and I feel with you with the body change thing, when we moved I wanted an 18 young springy me too, and thats saying something as I am only 29, or was 28 when moved. Just, dont move/do boxes and dragging with lousy footwear, I trampled a joint while heaving something and did not care for it because, hey, moving frenzy. And it got back to me by hurting for one full month after moving and making me limp like Granma to the grocery store or station or job. Not fun. Now, enjoy your house. HOOOOUUUUSEEEE!
shes lovely cant wait to see what u do to her but i have a ? is it just me or do you also want to change those windows
okay, i’m on board now. that house is crazy and the yard makes it look like it canNOT be in tx! wowza! hope ya have some sprinklers! (i can joke as i just moved out of dallas last year).
yes, nix the DR for anything that you might actually use. paint is cheap so paint anything that is paintable….starting in the kitchen.
deeeeeep breath. one room at a time.
congratulations!
AMAZING! in vancouver where i live that would cost 1.5-2 million. As for the kitchen i would definitely paint the cabinets but why not just change the backsplash and hardware and leave the granite counters. they seem to be in a good shape and i actually like the color.
wait so they put bars on the back windows but not on the front haha that makes no sense.
I didn’t read all the other comments so maybe someone has said this already: definitely would put down hardwood floors. That wall-to-wall carpeting sucks. In the kitchen, painting the cabinets would be an easy fix, but lately, I am gaining a new appreciation for honey oak. I think you could make it cool by changing the door pulls and backsplash. Do you love the floors? I’d be tempted to extend the hardwood here too. There is certainly a McMansion-generic quality to the new place, but I guess that makes it a blank canvas for all your design whims. Change the floors and tackle everything else slowly. I sure it’s going to be a dream.
can’t wait to see what you do with the place. congratulations!
Hey!
I live in Austin too and my family is looking to move (probably next year). May I ask what general neighborhood this is in? Rollingwood/Westlake, Tarrytown, Spicewood, etc?
Thanks!!
(you could also email me if you don’t want to post that info online)
Hey ria, I wish! I looked in all of those hoods, but this house is in the 70s section of Western Oaks — JW Smith Western Oaks, or something like that. Good luck on the house hunt!
Love it! It’s such a blank canvas right now waiting for your decorating touches! The possibilities…
For the kitchen, my immediate thought was to leave the tile floors and granite counters. They’re pretty neutral and will be fine for a while, plus you might like them more once the cabinets are painted. I like another poster’s idea of painting the cabinets and dark gray/taupe. And, I would actually remove those two upper cabinets on either side of the hood and replace them with some open shelves. I really think that would do a lot to open up the space. As for the upper cabinets on the other side, you could even do a different color on those (white, paler gray/beige) to make them seem less matchy-matchy. I know I’ve seen lots of examples on Pinterest but can’t seem to find them right now.
Excited to see what you decide to do.