Pretty in Pink

Do you know how frustrating it is to decorate a house that you don't officially own yet?!?! I have been losing sleep over this project because I am so stinkin' excited!

I am just sitting here dreaming of our future home, specifically Bathroom 1. I know after seeing this gem of a bathroom people will be questioning our decision making skills. This is what we bought!  A bright pink tiled bathroom! Since bathroom renovation is in phase 4 of the house project we are making this pink tiled bathroom work for awhile. I don't hate it, I like the idea of a little retro bathroom.

I've become a little obsessed with wallpaper lately. Who knew Anthropologie had wallpaper and didn't tell me? No really, who knew? I have been digging around different sights today and I am giddy at the possibilities. This is not your granny's wallpaper! (Your granny's wallpaper is what is currently in this pink bathroom.) I feel like just paint is not going to do this 1950s tile justice. There is such a little space that actually needs to be papered so I am going bold. Has anyone put up wallpaper?

For now I am enjoying these last few renovation free weekends with my man.

Dreamy Street

I know everyone is on pins and needles waiting for our decision. We are very happy to share that our little family is growing by 1,800 square feet! 

We originally put an offer on house #1, "Little House on Winnetka", but we….eeerrrr my dad and the other realtor could not agree on price per square feet. After a day of feeling like we lost something that was never ours we actually felt relieved. "Little House" had no outside storage or covered space for that matter, not even an inch of porch. I told Scott that everything in our garage now would have to be in the house. If you know me at all you know I have A LOT of random stuff! The globes alone will take up two closets.

From "Little House" to "Dreamy Street" we go. I will have moved three times in the last 4 years covering a whopping 1 mile radius. Gosh, I love Oak Cliff! I can't imagining living anywhere else in Dallas. Having our friends and family here is a huge sell but we love this neighborhood. I want our family to grow here and ride bikes up and down a street where the trees are a hundred years old. I want my niece and nephews to meet me half way between our houses. We choose you….house #2.

And it went a little something like this……

Scene 1.

Me: Daddy, I like this house I saw on the internet.

Realtor (Daddy): What are you doing this afternoon?

~ see the house

Me: Daddy, we want this house!

~ approved for loan

~ sign a contract

~ can't agree on price (we are sad for about a minute)

Scene 2.

Me: Daddy, I like this house I saw on the internet.

Realtor (Daddy): What are you doing this afternoon?

~ see the house

Scott: Stop jumping up and down the owner can see you!

Realtor (Daddy): Ill write up the contract.

~ put in an offer…..ACCEPTED!

~ inspection
~ sign a contract

~ an afternoon with the loan guy 

AAANNNDDD Curtain.

Which brings us to today. A 30 day waiting game. We have a tentative closing date. Our minds are racing with renovation budgets, and furniture, and tile samples, who can we bribe into helping us move….or paint….or re-upholster chairs? We are so happy though. Driving up to our little house you literally start humming Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. It's beautiful!

House Hunters Oak Cliff

We dated for a year and were engaged for 5 months, so its not in our nature to wait for things. We knew that buying a house was not far off for us. It felt like one day we were just browsing websites and the next we were getting pre-approved for a loan. We have been very fortunate in that my family is in the "business" and I have a small addiction to HGTV... all things home/garden/reno/crash/hunters...as in house hunters.

Through this very fast process it is hard not to play "House Hunters".  This is a show that is on all weekend every weekend in our house. We find ourselves yelling at the TV if the couple chooses the wrong house. We roll our eyes when women complain about paint color and door knobs. Don't they know that's cosmetic?!?!? So naturally, all of the houses we looked at soon had pros, cons, and a catchy title just like our TV favorite show.

Our wish list is pretty short. Two bathrooms with the zip code 75208. Only two teeny tiny must haves in an area where million dollar homes are surrounded by trendy restaurants, boutiques, a golf course, and our closest friends. Did I mention we are on a budget?

House #1: Little House On Winnetka
Built in the 1920's on a desirable block in the heart of Kessler Park. Newly renovated with cheap features but move-in ready. 2 bed/2 bath/tiny living room/no garage. The best part about this house was it two blocks from our best friends. Top of our price range and our bikes would have to be stored in the kitchen.

House #2: Fixer Upper On A Dreamy Street
Built in the 1950's on a gorgeous street in Stevens Park Estates. Not that impressive from the street but has good bones and a two car garage. 3 bed/2bath/lots of room to grow/pink bathroom. Driving to this house we feel completely out of our league. You could literally throw a rock at some of the oldest mansions in Dallas. We have no business on this street! This street is for characters from Dynasty. Top of our price range with lots of projects.

House #3: Church Annex We Can Afford

Cute house with an inviting porch on the south side of Winnetka Heights. Updated with large bedrooms and closets. 3 bed/2 bath/weird converted attic/shed. Great house across from a vacant church. Next to an empty lot and a vacant shack. No wonder this house is so cheap! We can afford it and it's move in ready.

We still feel very "first trimester" about the process so we are not getting too excited just yet. When I have the keys in my hands I'll relax (along with my paint samples, fabric swatches, and tool box).
Stay tuned!