First I want to say a huge thank you to..... YOU -- yes, YOU -- all you who read this little blog and leave such sweet comments of admiration and encouragement. So today, I thought maybe I'd catch everyone (new and old followers and readers) up on what exactly the "Hand Me Down House" is. We call it the "Hand Me Down House" because it was in fact handed down. Not quite the same as getting a hand me down sweater or something, but along those lines. :)
In fall 2008, Kevin & I bought my childhood home, the hand-me-down house from my parents, who moved farther out of the cities. And ever since then, we've been working like CRAZY to change it from our "hand me down" into our "dream home". We love watching it change and transform into what we want -- and I'm SO excited that you all have decided to come along for the ride.
If you want more "backstory" on our house, you can go here.
I thought it would be fun to give you a little peak at the WHOLE transformation (yes from way back in the nineties with it's lovely decor!):
Ahhhhh....Christmas Morning (one of the only photos of the whole room I could find). Gotta love the wallpaper and drapes -- really brings ya back, doesn't it? But there it is -- the dining room and living room in all it's grandeur! This picture is from Christmas of 1995 ... almost 15 years ago. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has a picture of their house growing up with Berber carpet, wall paper, and some brassy light fixtures. But I feel like I'm extra blessed that I got to change my great room into what I wanted, yet still have the memories of things like Christmas morning in there, too. (And in case you were wondering, that's my "little" brother standing, and there I am sitting near the couch playing our new Battleship game).
So after seeing the picture above, I had to take a picture from the same spot (nearly 15 years later!)
Granted that is a 15 year difference -- but still fun to look at!
And didn't I tell you the other day how much lovED beige?!? Believe me you'll see this room transform again -- I'm beiged-out and need a change. :)
Wow what a nice change. I love all the beige
ReplyDeletein the room. I love redecorating my house
ALL the time. Its so much fun. I also love you canister redo you have on your blog. Very cute
green around the lids (:
Samantha
samanthasaccessories.blogspot.com
Very interesting to see how the room was transformed! It takes a special eye to be able to look at something you know and see every day and then look at it critically to see what can be changed. Know what I mean? Looks great : )
ReplyDeleteThat's so fun to be able to see how the house changed over the years! And I didn't realize that it was the house you grew up in - how special!
ReplyDeleteAww I loved this post. I would love to have the house I grew up in and it was nice to hear your story as I am a (fairly) new follower :)
ReplyDeleteAMAZING transformation!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, it was fun to see. What really caught my eye was how the old lights point down and the new lights point up - funny how things change.
ReplyDeleteIt is so great to see how things were decorated in the past. I wouldn't want the house I grew up in so much, but I have always wanted the house my dad grew up in. Love your transformation.
ReplyDeleteYour blog title is one of my favorites out there!
ReplyDeleteBeautimus!! Great transformation!
ReplyDeleteHow amazing to be able to have generations worth of memories in your home! So special to share that - and not the decor! ;) Looks great!
ReplyDeleteWhat a special place to call your own and be able to make it your own. It looks great!
ReplyDeleteThat is just wonderful! Such a special home for you guys to make your own.
ReplyDeletelifeofperks.blogspot.com
I bought an hand me down house too! No one believes it's the same place!! Great job!!
ReplyDelete