the little ranch
It's hard to believe I've been living in my house for over a year. You've probably gotten a sense if you know me that I have an affinity for things from the past. I'm a history teacher and I'm totally a plaque reader (you know those plates on the sides of buildings that everyone walks by that tells you what happened there one hundred years ago?), yeah I love those. I always sensed that I would live in an older home (of course I was thinking more Victorian or Craftsmen but we never end up where we think we will in life, right?). So when the chance for my boyfriend (henceforth known as bf) and I to purchase his grandfather's home came up- it was a no brainer.
After World War II, spurred in part by the GI Bill and in part by a desire to start families and move on from the war, there was a housing boom in many suburbs. Rows of identical Levittown style ranches began to pop up. Our neighborhood was built around that time. In 1954 my house was built. Interestingly, there had been a problem with the developer, who left before the project was done. As a result, bf's grandfather finished much of the interior work himself. This means that despite our identical exteriors, the interior of my home has a slightly different layout than my neighbors, including a central fireplace. So I feel pretty lucky about that.
I love that there is a family history here and despite the fact that I never thought I believed in this kind of thing, there really is a "happy vibe" inside the house. You definitely feel calm when you're here.
We have a great yard (the only flat yard in a street of sloped yards, score!), privacy from many trees, and well...basically we're on The Wonder Years...you get the idea. I definitely consider myself more of a city gal (I love the smell of concrete while I walk to get my coffee...weird I know), but I think I'm settling into this quieter pace. I LOVE to entertain, and we definitely have a great set up for it.
As idyllic as the exterior and neighborhood are, and as much as I love the layout, the house itself needed updating. Walking into it was like walking into a time capsule..which is great to visit and reminisce... but not so much for day to day living.
There hadn't been any major updates since 1954, I regret to tell you there had been a few cosmetic updates in the 1970's.What was going on in that decade? Avocado green? Orange? Really? So my idyllic little ranch had a bright yellow bathroom, orange-ish kitchen floors, and five layers of wallpaper in almost every room.
Despite all of that, I knew it had potential. I also knew that we had no money (you know, having just bought the house and all). I knew any updates that we made would have to cost hundreds NOT thousands. What's that? You can't update a kitchen for a few hundred dollars? Watch me!
I've learned a lot over the last two years. Mostly that white paint fixes everything and that there isn't a whole lot that can't be painted. I've learned that bf and I have totally different taste (as in he actually liked the avocado greens and yellows and I would rather have everything white and gray). I've learned how to use a drill, tape measure and circular saw. I've learned that you really do need to prime even it it says "paint and primer" on the can. Did you know that looking at Pinterest for hours doesn't suddenly mean your house will transform? I do now. Yes, I have learned that sometimes out of sheer necessity, you can redo an entire bathroom in one day.
I've learned that home makeovers don't have to cost a fortune and that if you're willing to put in the work and elbow grease yourself, you can have the look you want for a lot less. I've learned that bf is a very patient man who no longer thinks twice when he wakes up to find me in the backyard with a pile of wood that I swear will be a couch, or when he opens the bathroom door to find the tile completely painted over while he was napping.
I've learned a lot, and I want to share it with you (mostly so you can learn from my mistakes) in hopes of inspiring a few people to embrace a home that has all the right pieces, but maybe just needs a little elbow grease and paint. Let's be honest, I'm in no way a perfectionist. In fact I think I'm quite the lazy DIY-er. So I'll tell it like it is. No room that I re-did cost more than a few hundred dollars, including the kitchen. You can be frugal and still a bit fancy! My home is in no way perfect or by any means "designer" but I did it ALL myself (minus one clogged drain that was out of my expertise). Trust me, if I with my level -6 experience can do it, you can too!
The most important thing I've learned? Embrace what's in front of you, because even if it isn't what you thought it was going to be, it can be pretty great!
The most important thing I've learned? Embrace what's in front of you, because even if it isn't what you thought it was going to be, it can be pretty great!