I have been making plans on how I want to change my home.
I will have lived there for 10 years this May. It seems amazing to me that the time has just flown by. I have lived in this state for 17 years. Sometimes it feels like I just moved here, and two months later I bought my home and I have only just finished moving in.
Now, I am making plans to make it look more attractive and pleasing. The home itself was built with some love and care. that has been obvious since I first saw it. The builder did things fairly inexpensively, but still managed to add to it and make it lovely with various textures, crown molding and other touches that put that extra element in it. There was a lot of love put into this home that was definitely done on a budget, but still with care and details.
The first thing that I’d like to do it get rid of the plain beige paneling on the outside and replace it with paneling that looks like stones on the bottom and then wood on the top. To give it all a more rustic look and more “cabin” like. I also would like to put stone around the covered deck posts to not only strengthen the bases, but make them look more cohesive to the overall look I want to achieve.
I want to change out the wood steps that are starting to decay and put in stone steps with potentially wood railings. At least until it gets to the part that goes from the garage to the upper deck. I am not sure how to handle those, but I also know I want to change the layout of the steps as they are way too steep and need to be better done.
I also want to change the garage. I want to create an open underneath and a room above. It may be better to have the garage fully enclosed, but I have to picture it before I go to work. I may end up just making it a granny apartment. I don’t anticipate using the garage as a garage, so I’m not worried about that a great deal. I also want it to look more like the house and have a better roof that isn’t prone to leaking. Again, not something I have put a lot of thought into yet, as that will be the most expensive change I’ll make to the property, but one that has to be done.
I have already decided that the roof is going to be getting brand new shingles that are the ones that last for 50 years and look amazing. I know that is a huge expense, but the way I see it, it is one less thing that I will need to worry about. It will also improve the house completely. I saw them used on a “This Old House” project and immediately knew that was what I was going to do.
I also want to redo the decks. The large deck and the small one off to the side. I want the large deck to have planters and a built-in space to sit and enjoy the space. Lights built into the railings and along the floor. The side deck I would like to have a covered space with a pergola between the house and the sitting are that has lovely plants growing over it. A lovely wisteria would be perfect there.
I want to add some river stone walkways that have designs in them to add a bit of whimsey to the home up the back entrance and by the well next to the house. I’d also like to add a river stone pad in front of the basement.
Then onto the terraced gardens.
My home is on the side of a hill/mountain, and so, there are various levels to my land. I want to have a cascading garden that is both functional with vegetables and herbs, but lovely as well, with beautiful flowers. I want to add fruit trees and berry bushes. I want to have several levels where a person can sit and rest and enjoy the garden and the space throughout. This is also a huge project, but one that I have a 5-year plan on. I won’t be able to start it this year, but I do hope to get the ground prepared this spring through fall. I am planning on renting some goats to help keep the foliage from getting out of hand. They will also add fertilizer to the ground. I am also hoping to let my chickens range a bit more, particularly on my days off.
I plan to take care of the outside before I do anything on the inside. Once those things are accomplished and/or in the works, I can start to take care of things inside that I want.
I want to change the master bedroom and bath to have a smaller space with a walk-in closet that leads to the bathroom. I want a large tub and a multifaceted shower. I can expand the space into the bedroom without any trouble. I have been considering moving it all the way into the guest bathroom and engulfing that part into the master bath as well. That way I can create a cabinet to put my laundry in that has a door in the master bath and in the laundry area so I don’t have to haul laundry between the rooms. I’m thinking if I replace the shower with a toilet and a sink only in the guest bathroom, that will work for me. I know it is inconvenient for future buyers, but honestly, this is my home and I want to make it a home for me, not for future buyers.
I also want to get rid of the door to my bedroom, put in a cat door for Roger and make the entrance to the master bedroom a hidden door that goes into a small sitting area, then into the bedroom. I already have the appliance to get the secret door going. I just have to work out how to do the rooms. I could also make the current doorway into another secret door. I may do that as well. I haven’t decided.
I would love to remove the floors and add a hot water floor heating system in both the bedroom and the living room. That would be amazing. My bedroom floor is often really cold in the winter due to it being close to the stones in the ground. It would be nice to have a bit of warmth there in the mornings.
I don’t know that I want to finish the basement. That is in the long future plans really. I don’t know if that space could be used for anything worthwhile.
There are other things here and there that I want to take care of, but these are the main things that have been in my head for the last couple of years. Things that I know I want done. Things that I know as time passes, will be easier to take care of and do.
It’s nice to have things to look forward to.
Goddess of Foxes 