My favorite space in our new house is the sunroom.
It’s straight ahead when you walk through the front door, and our back door leads outside on the left side of it. On the right side of the room, there’s a large storage closet and a half bath.
Here’s a shot of the bathroom:
Can’t wait to cottage it up!
The first thing we moved into the sun room from our old house was our piano. And when I say, “we”, I mean- professional piano movers.
The second thing we moved in there was window treatments…a.k.a- a roll of brown Kraft paper and some painters tape.
There are a few important things missing from this house. None of the kitchen or bathroom cabinets have shelves in them, and none of the windows have window treatments on them. We haven’t decided how we’re going to permanently handle either of these issues yet, but the Kraft paper taped to the bottom half of some of our windows seems to be doing the privacy trick for now.
If you look to the left when you come through the front door, you see the living room.
And if you’re anything like me and Kev, you see a wall full of white-painted built-in cabinetry and a total fireplace makeover, too- ha!
If you look to the right when you come through the front door, you see the kitchen.
It’s small, but it’ll work fine for us, and there’s a generous pantry off to the left side of it. Right now, everything is pretty neutral, neutral, neutral, and new, new, new- so we look forward to injecting some cottage-style character in there in the future.
Our pets have been adjusting to the new house pretty well. They LOVE sunning on the sun room floor in the morning.
Tomorrow, Kit-Cat and I look forward to blogging about the upstairs.
He should have it all sniffed out by then.
So excited for y’all. And that back door – fabulous. Can’t wait to see what you do in each room. Your “make do” is usually better than my full blown plan!
I’m always SO JEALOUS of people with sunrooms! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! When I have my 3rd kid can I come use it for baby pics? I can’t figure out a single place in my home with enough light to do it! 🙁
Can’t wait to see upstairs!
YAY!!! Kit-Cat has a cat walk! I LOVE the tall windows and the sun room. I can’t wait to see what you do. Congratulations!
What a fun new adventure you’re on! It looks like you have a great blank slate to pretty up – looking forward to watching your progress…
gena
You’re new place is gorgeous! I can’t wait to see it once you’ve infused it with cottage personality!
Jane
Jealous!! 🙂
I suggest that since the cabinets do not have shelves in them it would be a great opportunity to build slide out shelves. Kevin might enjoy that and it would make a great blog post too. I want to make some for my cabinets. Yhe motivation of not having any shelves would maybe get me moving on that.
I cannot wait to see how you guys transform a new home to add (your)personality! Right now it doesn’t look TLC at all!
Congrats on the new home! I love it already! It has good bones and the curb appeal is fabulous. Plus what matters most is that you love the neighborhood. We learned the hard way that you pick your neighborhood first, house second. We are finally in a home that needs some updating but we know we will never leave because we love the neighborhood so much. Our last home was the opposite. We loved the house, but no matter how much improvement we made, the neighborhood just ruined it for us. So happy for you guys! Looks like the perfect place to build your family.
We are in that situation right now Shelly. We love the house & hate the neighbors/neighborhood.
Yes Shelly. “Location, location, location” is sooo true. We thought about selling last year (so glad we didn’t!!) but after looking at over 1000 places, online and/or in person, we found 1 place we loved and would have been perfect for us in every way. Except the neighborhood. Just couldn’t get past it. Now that we have our major “issues” taken care of here we are so happy that we stayed. We would have been kicking ourselves for letting our gem go. I’m talking major kicking! 😉
It’s gorgeous! Can’t wait to see what you do with it! Thanks so much for sharing these pics! Your blog is incredible! Don’t understand how you find the time to put it all together!
The piano looks perfect in the sunroom. Just lovely! Congrats!
With two little ones, window coverings were a must when we moved, so got temporary paper accordion blinds from Home Depot for windows that didn’t need blackout, and then the blackout version for the bedrooms. They’re usually near the paint section of big box stores. Not as inexpensive as kraft paper, but they did the trick for us…actually took us 3 years to get them down from our bedroom windows (oops).
It’s beautiful but does need your personal touches… Can’t wait to see them start! Congrats!
WOW! What a beautiful house from the outside. Can’t wait to see your updates to the inside and see your visions come to life. Have fun making this new house your “home”.
I absolutely CANNOT wait to see what you guys do with your new home – it’s beautiful! And you’ll make it perfect :>)
Beautiful!! I’m so excited to see what you do with it!
wonderful new home! – I had the same thoughts when I saw the fireplace wall – can’t wait to see the rest of the place – congrats!
A blank palette that is livable in the mean time….ah, the dreams to dream and magic to create.
Oh my goodness – it’s gorgeous!!!!! I think it’s great the way that it is, but I know you and Kevin are going to bring that place to a whole nother level!!! Can’t wait to see!!!! I’m on the edge of my seat 🙂 Congratulations <3
Can’t wait to see what you all do! It’s a pretty house and will be even better with your cottage touches.
Wow – neutral is good to start with, right? The house has great “bones” – I know you will wave your magic wand and make it a cottage-y home. Can’t wait to see the transformation to The All-New Lettered Cottage! =)
Oh this house will be lovely. All it needs is your personal touches! Love the sunroon!
omg.. it’s gorgeous already!!! I cannot wait to see how you both spruce it up even more! Yay! So exciting!!!
I love the sunroom. I can’t wait to see what you do with all that space!
Looks exciting. Congrats to you! 🙂
The house is gorgeous. Can’t wait to see how y’all cozy it up 🙂
It is already a great space, so I know it will be amazing when you are done. Excited to see the progress!
I can’t wait to see how you transform this house to a home!
Your new home is truly lovely! It’s so new and nice and even though you want to make lots of changes, you have sooooooo much to work with! Have a ball doing it!
so cute I love your new home so far. Congratulations, and many blessings to you and your husband.
All those windows!! I am soooo jealous. I can’t wait to see what cottage touches you have store for your new home!
So nice! Our house came with a perfectly new and nice and oh so neutral kitchen, too. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to bring myself to rip out something so….not bad and serviceable. Looking forward to seeing what you do with yours and working up my bravery!
it looks like a fabulous house!
I’m so excited to see how you bring cottage character to this new home! Congrats!
Love your new house! Congratulations! I can’t wait to see how you make it your own. I know it will be WONDERFUL!!!!!! We have a “new old” house in Arkansas. Your house would fit right in. Enjoy! Post lots and lots of pics!
Beautiful, love all that natural light! And the hardwood flooring.
THIS was a a foreclosure?? That word means something extremely different up here in New York! Congratulations and many blessings!
Congratulations! I love all the windows and the open concept. Wood floors are great. I’m not a fan of carpet. The sink in the half bath is so unique and lovely.
Ooo, I just love the house. I would love to see what is done there. I see rag rugs, bead board, lovely shelving, repurposed lace tablecloths in the windows. The best part is that you have a clean slate to do whatever you want with it. I love the little windows on the fireplace wall, and the lovely hardwood floors. You do such lovely work I know it will turn out just great.
I feel like we’re ALL about to embark on a fun new adventure with you! Can’t wait to see what you do to ‘cottage it up’ …hopefully it will impart some bravery on me to begin my own cottagey makeovers! It’s the look I love, but for some reason I’m scared to begin!
I think some “Pick My Presto” virtual make-overs of your new house should be next!! 😉 That white wall of bookcases and the fireplace makeover would be a great place to start!
Have fun on your new ‘adventure’!! 🙂
I’m with you on the built in cabinets, they left the perfect space for them! We have them in our house and I love them! Can’t wait to see all your creativity 🙂
You can definitely tell the place has “good bones” – and I’m totally excited to see what you two do with it! I know it will be gorgeous. Congrats to you!
Emily
I love your new space and can hardly wait to see what you guys do to it!
Congrats on the new house! That wall of windows in the sunroom is simply stunning, I can see why it’s your favorite spot, Layla. 🙂 Do the windows happen to have a manufacturer name on them anywhere? I’m on the hunt for classic-looking 2-over-2 windows for an upcoming farmhouse reno and I’ve not had much luck trolling the Internet. Thanks!
LOVE IT! And love that it’s a two story 🙂 we’ve decided our next house will be as well. Can’t wait to see photos of your style infused into the house. Congrats again!
Layla, I could hardly wait to see your pictures. Now I’m equally anxious to see what you do first!!! Now, a question. Why do you think none of the cabinets have shelves, for heavens sake….wouldn’t those be important?
Exactly the question I had! Seems weird…
Hi Aimee!
I just left a reply for Ms V, but wanted to leave one for you too! 🙂 We’re assuming the builder didn’t completely finish the house, and then it went into foreclosure. We bought it “as is”, and we’ve definitely got our work cut out for us in the cabinet/window department! 😀
Oh, I’m sure it’s because the builder didn’t finish installing everything and then it went into foreclosure. I guess things like this happen when you buy a house “as is”! <:-)
Well of course that makes sense now. How brilliant were you guys to take advantage of this foreclosure situation. Only the 2 of you have the talent, vision and skills to turn this lemon into spiked lemonade! I’m so happy for you and send you warmest wishes for happy days and nights in this beautiful space. It will be more than a house…it will be your home…..
I like it but I know I’ll love it more once you put your stamp on it!
It’s a beauty Layla! So, so excited for y’all!
Congratulations again! I cannot wait to follow along the ‘cottage-her-up’ journey with you! =)
Hi Layla and Kev,
How wonderful and exciting for you both! so many happy memories are and will be made in your new home.
I can see so many possibilities and what fun you are going to have making all your dreams of the perfect family home come true.
I will look forward to visiting often.
My husband and I just completed all the crown molding and casings throughout our home. What a huge difference all the wood trim makes. Come by and see it sometime I have two posts about the trim.
Have a sweet day, Elizabeth