Cottage Update

Hi Everyone.  
Hope your new week is starting out to be a good one.  Just moving along on trying to find senior living for my mom and also working on getting bids etc. on a new garage and basement refinish on the soon to be new cottage.

We have a graduated side walk that goes to the street on this house.  It needs some repair and hopefully maybe even some brick pavers to tie into the cuteness of the brick home.


I had to laugh when we saw all the welcome mats to the front of the house when we came to look at it!!!  I guess they really wanted to welcome us in.
I will be putting up a cute new vintage mailbox for the mailman to put our mail in and also we need a pretty new porch light.  Just little things but it will make a difference.  I see lots of cute flowers adorning the porch.
We will be adding a nice deck and garage off the back of the house.

This is a picture of the back of the yard.  When the trees all fill in it will be so pretty back there and gives lots of privacy.  Not sure what perennials are planted back in the beds yet with things just starting to pop up.   I will be working on that this summer.

The pictures do not do this pretty yard justice.   The buds are just beginning but I can see that when these trees and flowers fill in it will be so pretty.

This is the basement that will be finished off for living space.  This corner will become a storage area.  New walls, new ceilings and lots of new lights will be added.

These steps will be carpeted and finished off.

New bathroom added to this area.  Loved the little hanging monkey that was left there!!!!  I guess he was the tour guide of the basement for us!


This area will become the new family room/ fireman cave and office for Terry.  So lots of work to be done in this area of the basement.  Since the cottage is only 900 sq. feet upstairs we really need this additional 900 sq. feet from the basement for more livable space.

We close on this home at the end of May and then the construction will begin.  I will bring you along on this journey with us.

 The upstairs will need some work too.  Expanding the kitchen will be entirely done by Terry and I.  I have a vision and he has the tools lol!

The basement area will have a contractor do the electrical, walls, rough in plumbing and ceiling work and then Terry and I will do all the finishing touches to the spaces.  Adding trim, doors and bathroom fixtures etc.  So there is a lot of work ahead to get this cottage ready for us to move into.  We will be staying with my daughter for a month while we do a lot of the work.

It is easier to do the construction when you are not living in the house.  Then we can move in after that.

Stay tuned for more news in the coming month.
Hope all of you are doing great.
Enjoying that Spring has Sprung here in Illinois.
Hugs,
Kris

45 comments

  1. Wow....so much planned that needs doing. Awesome, it is fun moving into a new place and making it your own with your touch! Enjoy and have a great time doing it.

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  2. It's going to be so interesting to follow your changes. I'm excited and it's not even my house!

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  3. SO EXCITED FOR YOU!! I did most of my work on my house before I moved in and it made it so nice!! So glad your daughter is close and you can do that. I am so anxious to see all of your renovations. I know they will be just gorgeous and so "Kris". Congratulations again,

    Judy

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  4. Love all your plans!!! The basement is really nice for an older home. I think it will be the perfect size for the two of you once you get it all done. Fingers crossed your find an assisted living facility for your mom very SOON! Have a great week :o)
    ~Des

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  5. Can hardly wait to come along with you and Terry put your mark on your new cottage. I feel you have found your forever home and I know that it will be beautiful when you and Terry finish.

    Hope you find a great Senior home for your mother. I am sure she will make friend very quickly.

    Enjoy your week and welcome Chicagoland with Spring.

    Hugs,
    Mary

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  6. I'm just so excited for you both! Terry got a job he likes and you found a new to you cottage. It will be so fun to see what you guys do! Oh, and Cooper of course.
    Brenda

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  7. I was about to ask you if you would be living there whilst construction is happening, but then I read that you will stay with your daughter. I'm very impressed with your ability to envision what your house will look like! -Jenn

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  8. All wonderful ideas! I am looking forward to following along!

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  9. It is a super charming house, Kris. I can't to follow along and watch you two talented people transform the place!!

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  10. I am so excited for you, Kris. I can't wait for you to get it all done and get moved in. I know you will work your magic on it and it will be just perfect. You and Terry will work your magic on it and it will look like a totally different place. Can't wait to see it in person.xo Diana

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  11. So excited for you! The yard is really very nice sized with mature trees the privacy will be nice. Fingers crossed you find an awesome senior living for your mom.

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  12. Hello Kris, congrats on selling your home and finding your new one so fast! Your new house will looks so nice when you are finished with all of your renovations. I can't wait to see you process with this one. Good luck also with your mom.
    Julie

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  13. I hope you had a lovely birthday! It will be fun to follow you guys thru this journey.
    deb

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  14. Your new home looks like it was well taken care of, so once you add your personal touches, it's going to be oh-so-charming! I look forward to following you along on your newest journey, Kris.

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  15. Love all your plans and can't wait to see things start changing!!! Enjoy your beautiful back yard!

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  16. Oh, this is going to be fun to watch! You'll have it all dolled up before long. It's a pretty home.

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  17. I can already see your porch adorned with pretty flowers! And you're right...with your vision and Terry's tools, you'll make that house into a home in no time. Can't wait to follow along!

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  18. YAY! I'm so happy you found your cottage, Kris!! I think it's absolutely adorable and will be even more so when it's all finished. I know you must be so relieved.

    I'm glad your mom is close by now and I hope you find her a new place to live soon.

    I'm just really happy for you and your husband, my friend.

    xoxo,
    rue

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  19. This is SUPER exciting!!!!!!! This house has a lot of potential, and I know you'll make it just like the way you want it. I am so happy for you, Kris!

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  20. Yay! I love that yard and that basement! They both remind me of the last house I owned before moving in with Mr. P. That sentence, "it is easier to do the construction when you're not living in the house". Word.
    Have a great week. I hope you're getting close to securing your mom a place and getting bids in.
    Rita

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  21. Goodness me, you have a LOT of work to do, but just think of the lovely, home you will have when finished. You will have such fun putting your own stamp on it, inside and out.

    I pray you'll find the perfect place for your mom.

    Have a great week ~ FlowerLady

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  22. You have a very big list of things to do with this home already! I hope you can find a place for your mom- I'm sure it must be stressful especially if you aren't finding something easily. Keep the faith- something will unfold and you'll know it's the right thing for her.

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  23. Oh what a lovely cottage it will be! Can't wait for the fun to begin. I love your visions for it.

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  24. Good Morning Kris
    I just love your sweet new cottage. All the fun things you will be doing to it. Can't wait to see. You have a nice size yard also. Good luck with your Momma and finding her a new home also
    have the best day Kris
    deezie

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  25. Kris, thanks for the tour! You and Terry have lots of good ideas and it will be fun to see the changes. That is a very nice blank space in the basement to convert into Terry's fireman cave. The backyard looks great with lots of mature trees. And a fence for Cooper! Good luck on finding a place for your mom to live. xoxo P.S. Is the knee holding up okay?

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  26. Looking forward to seeing you two put your magic touch on this cottage. Wishing you luck finding the perfect senior's residence for your Mom. Exciting times ahead for all of you!

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  27. It's going to be great, Kris. I'm excitedly waiting to see it all unfold. So, so happy for you, my friend. Praying you'll soon have mom settled in. Hugs, Nancy

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  28. Hi Kris, what a wonderful journey. I know that this will be a home of peace for you and Terry. I'm looking forward in seeing the beautiful new changes you make. Hang in there and take a deep breath.
    xoxo Jo

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  29. Kris,
    Prayers for Mom. Wow that's a lot of renovations, pace yourself ... you and Terry will achieve a beautiful home, a house filled with memories and dreams for the future. The brick cottage is adorable!
    xoxo,
    Vera

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  30. Hi,
    I am so excited for you. I am so happy that you take us along, because I learn so much from you. Looking forward to the next steps of making this your Home Sweet Home.

    Sending Hugs for your mom.
    Carla

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  31. I'm so excited for you and i'm looking forward to seeing the start of your changes
    Hugs Alessandra

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  32. How exciting and I'm excited to see the changes and updates. I can tell the backyard is going to be pretty. Nice size but not too much to care for.

    Cindy

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  33. Wow Kris, You always have things under control. Good luck with all the decisions and moves in the next few weeks. Milena

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  34. I always love getting a new post from you! And praying you will find just the right spot for your mom. Loved your add'l pictures.. that yard is gorgeous and a blank slate for making it wonderful. If you redo the front walk, an FYI is (per Feng Shui) that the path to your door should not be straight like that, but more curved and from the side... supposedly you lose energy from the house down that walkway straight to the street! A curved path is much softer and keeps the energy in the and at the house. Just something I've read and been told with my Feng Shui studies! Will be so fun to follow along in your adventures... so much work ahead and so glad hubby can do so much of it, and you too! Thank you so much for sharing! Hugs.... Marilyn

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  35. Lots of projects on the horizon! Sounds like the rest of the year will be a busy one.

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  36. Such an exciting time for you both!! I look forward to watching the transformations take place on what I know will become a gorgeous cottage and garden. Hugs, Kerryanne

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  37. This is so exciting, Kris! You and Terry make the best team. Can't wait to see how this progresses. :)

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  38. I can't wait to see how you transform that sweet cottage, Kris!

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  39. Hi Kris,
    All the changes and add on sound charming. I like the wood steps. How about resurfacing the wood steps and adding a cottage Chic style iron stair rails leaving the steps a cottage style worn wood look?
    The walk way and brick vaneers paved will really charm the cottage feel, or even cutting out sections and adding a few rows of brick breaking up the long run of cement.

    I can so see this home finished and an addition of a garage will push your comps and the value of your neighbors home up will all your doing to your home. Don't forget a cupola on the roof of your garage. Seriously your one to follow for sure watching all the changes take place.

    Xx
    Dore

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  40. I'm so excited for you Kris--and for myself and other readers because of future posts reveals!

    Your yard already is beautiful, so much there to start with. I predict it will be a glorious haven for your family when you're through with it. The lawn looks lush! Whatever is that intriguing thing in the middle that looks to be covered with moss?

    Husband's calling--he's painting my bedroom and needs me so goodbye for now and good luck,
    Dewena

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  41. So cute! Looks like you found the perfect cottage!

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  42. So happy for you guys! This is a pretty house! What are you doing with the stoop? There are so many wonderful entries on these gorgeous cottages. I love the backyard. My great grandma had a cottage in Lexington MI where so many of my childhood memories were formed.
    https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e0/1f/fd/e01ffdb970e755a18233626686fb898c.jpg Hopefully the link works it is a pretty little entry reminds me of my childhood! Take care sweet friend

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