Hey all. My house has sold and we have moved into our rental! Here’s what’s new.
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The internet just got connected so I’m back in business. I’m working on setting up my office today so I should be back to blogging normally.
We have been moving for the past 4 days!! We had 2 trucks and a crew of six move the main stuff and then we rented a U-Haul and made numerous trips ourselves. We have a lot of stuff. Way too much stuff!
I will be getting rid of lots of this “stuff”! This is a small two car garage and it’s so full we only have a narrow path to the door that goes inside. I had a huge garage sale before we moved and we’ve been donating to Goodwill since January. I didn’t realize we had so much storage at the other house but apparently we did.
I couldn’t take the color in the living room – it looked like a army green to me. So when we had our walk thru with our landlord I begged him to let me paint (even though it says we can’t in our lease) and he said ok as long as it wasn’t a weird color. If you ask me, the color that was there was weird.
So I chose to paint it Bistro White by Valspar. I only had time to do the fireplace wall because I knew I didn’t want to have to move those bookcases to paint. It took a coat of primer and two coats of paint with primer. I have the other 3 walls to do (they have been primed). I think this will be better color for a rental anyway. I also have another room that I need to paint.
We won’t be using this room to watch TV so I’ll have to think of something fun to cover up that mount.
We’re going to use the breakfast room as our dining room. We don’t have a table yet since I had to sell my old one (wouldn’t fit in this space). We’ll be removing the ceiling fan and hanging the chandelier from the dining room (I think – it seems big so I may have to box it up and get something different for in here).
The kitchen is so much smaller than my old one that I really don’t know what to do with half of our stuff! I’m going to have to implement some of the ideas I’ve found on Pinterest to maximize that small space.
I’ll of course blog about the changes we make to the house and yard but don’t expect to have everything perfect right away. I intend to take my time with things and to enjoy the process instead of hurrying up just so I have some decorating photos to post. But I’m sure I’ll have at least one decorating post a week 🙂
it looks wonderful! Exciting times or sure, we sold our home a while back and we are renting for the first time in our lives, the fact the land lord let you paint sounds like the beginning of a great relationship, wow, you do have a lot of stuff, I know just what you are going through except we got rid of ours before we moved, our home is a lot smaller now, but I have only missed a few things, most of what we parted with I never missed, smaller living has been wonderful for us! Best wishes to you in your new home!
Hi Laurie! Thanks! We haven’t rented in almost 20 years so it’s a new experience for us. But it’s nice to know we don’t have to fix things when they break. The landlord is very nice and pretty easy going so far.
I actually had a huge garage sale before we moved and we’ve been donating and purging for a while. I just have a lot of decorating stuff 🙂 When I first started blogging I was basically only doing DIY, crafts and decorating. So I have tons of thrifted/clearanced stuff! But I’ve changed my focus so I will be getting rid of lots of that. I still love decorating and thrifting but there are other things I want to do with my time these days.
Congrats on your closing and move! I am looking forward to seeing the special touches you will bring to this home. Our house is under contract, but there is a 60 day contingency and if all goes well, we will close Jan 9th.
Thanks Penny! Congrats on your contract! That gives you plenty of time, but you guys are such pros at moving you don’t need it.
Whew! That looks like a job, I admit I don’t envy you in this phase. I laughed out loud about the landlord letting you paint as long as it wasn’t “a weird color”, how could it be weirder than that green? The white looks 1000 times better.
Right! That color was so weird. I was thinking of all kinds of crazy ways to temporarily cover it up. The landlord is really nice. Very easy going but he makes me laugh. I asked him if it was ok to trim back some of the trees and he said I could cut down trees as long as I don’t let them fall on the house! As if!
My husband and I figure that we will probably downsize even more in our next move so this is a good half-way house. It forces us to look at what we have but it’s not too teeny that we have to get rid of everything right now. You know I used to change out my china cabinet constantly – I’m not doing that anymore. I gave a bunch of my soup tureens to a friend who will actually use them and I’m going to downsize my collection of plates (that’s a hard one for me…you know how I love plates). 🙂
Congrats on the sale and the rental looks like a great place.
Hi Marty! Thank you – we were lucking and the right buyer found our house quickly. We’re excited about the rental – it’s a newer build so we’re very happy with a lot of features we didn’t have in our older home!
Congrats on the new place!! Can’t wait to see what you do with it…loving that new paint so much better than that “green”!!
Thank you Cheryl! I’m loving the new paint color so much more too!
Hi Manuela, Congratulations on your house sale and move. I like that you could paint the living room and it looks much brighter. You will be busy unpacking and decorating for sure. Looking forward to seeing what you do. All the best to you. Pam
Thanks! I’m so happy I could paint that living room!! That color was driving me insane. Plus that room has narrow windows and doesn’t get as much light as my last house (and I crave bright sunny interiors). So the lighter color really helps. Plus don’t you think it’s a better color for a rental? It’ll go with everyone’s decor.
I am happy to hear you are moved and making it work for you! I know it will be perfect when you are finished:) Have a blessed day! HUGS!
Thank you Theresa. I’m going to enjoy the journey of transforming this house and it’s good that it’s a rental since I won’t be doing anything too major!
What is that black and white thing above the mantel. I can’t stop looking at it because I can’t figure out what it is. I’m probably going to feel really silly. I’m so glad you’re moved in. Believe me, there are many good things about renting. For instance, I got a notice that they’re coming to clean all the gutters at the end of the month, so to move all stuff away from the walls. Well, on the patio I have a LOT of stuff against the walls. So I’m glad they warned me. Every time I call and say I want my filter changed, which is every month, they send Volare down here to do it. I can’t wait to see what you do. Remember I pretty much “contact papered” the whole kitchen here and painted the fridge with wall paint!
Brenda
That’s a mount for a flat screen tv which we are not going to use. I will pop a mirror in front of it until I think of something else.
Yes, it’s nice not to have to be responsible for some of the maintenance but since it’s a house we still have to mow the lawn etc. Although this lawn will take about 45 min front and back whereas the old lawn took hours.
The kitchen is pretty new and has granite counters. It’s just smaller than my other kitchen so I don’t have as much cabinet or counter space (or even wall space). So that’s my problem with it. We cook a lot and make quite a few things from scratch so we use quite a few pots/pans/dishes etc. I’ll probably keep the least used items in a cabinet in the garage.
Congratulations, Manuela! I’ll bet you are glad to have that done even though you are now surrounded by boxes. 🙂 It sounds like your landlord is a flexible person as far as doing things is concerned. How much leeway do you have to do things around the house and garden? Looking forward to seeing how you put your stamps on your new home.
So glad for you. Still nothing here. Do you plan on being there for awhile. Can’t wait to see what you do..we have done the downsizing two times….not moving but seriously getting rid of many things. Rest up soon.
Hi Debby, we plan to be here a year maybe even less. We’re sort of waiting to see where our daughter lands now that she’s done with school and looking for a job.
I know you are glad to get into your new place. I know you will make it into your own personal space. Your paint choice over the green is a big improvement!
My next move will be into a rental as I am tired of dealing with the upkeep.
Beautiful weather here this weekend and hope it is where you are also!
Have a great weekend!
Congrats on the sale, Manuela…looks like you are already settling in well! The new paint color looks great!
I’m so glad someone loved your last home and that you are starting a new adventure! It’s always exciting to see the possibilities in a new place. Enjoy! And wishing you a garage free of moving boxes!
Manuela,
I noticed you said rental….is this your home that you all purchased or are you just staying here till you move in to the home you bought….I love the place you just moved in to..
Hi Elanor, We haven’t bought another home yet. This is a rental for the next year while we look. Our home sold in 7 days and we didn’t really expect it to so we hadn’t seriously looked for another. Also our daughter is finished with school and looking for a job so we’re sort of waiting to see what state she lands in before buying another (in case it’s outside of Georgia). She’s our only child and we really can’t imagine being far from her (like her being in California and us in Georgia). We would at least move to somewhere on the West Coast. This house is a little further out of Atlanta (as a matter of fact we woke up yesterday with a wild turkey sitting on our front lawn!). So although the house is newer and has many nice features (granite counters) it’s also waaay cheaper than the house we owned. So we feel we can pay off the balance of our rental agreement if we have to move before our 12 months are up.
Manuela, your posts are delivered to my inbox and I usually am so lazy that I don’t take the time to comment, but today I have made the “effort.” You are such a whirlwind! Not only have you sold a house, packed up, and moved, you’ve already painted! Looking forward to seeing all the charming things you do with this “between” home.
LOL! Well I appreciate the effort! We had the rental start 5 days before our closing so I was able to prime the living room and paint the tv wall. I still have to do the other three walls. That will have to wait until next week. I have to unpack some stuff first!
Happy your home sold!
Welcome to your new home, sweet, home!
Hugs and happy highways,
Kelley~
Congratulations on your new home! I look forward to seeing what you do with it. It’s kind of like handing you a blank canvas and saying, “Let’s see what she paints!” I’m sure it will be lovely.
I understand about wanting to be near your daughter. My son graduated from Berry College this year and we just moved him back to Rome last weekend for his first “real” job. He’s five hours away from us and my daughter is in college one hour away. I’m sincerely hoping they land somewhere near each other once she has graduated and that we are in a position to be close to both of them.
Enjoying your new home/canvas!
Thank you Bonita! So many people don’t get it. I suppose it’s normal for families to split up these days but we’d like to at least be close enough to make it relatively easy to visit 🙂
Congratulations!! Can’t wait to see what’s ahead. 🙂
I’m looking forward to following along as you make this house your home! The fireplace wall is coming along nicely!
I know how stressful a move can be but inside my heart is doing a happy dance because I am excited to see you create a home from “scratch” since I came into your blog a little late. Best of luck!
Congrats on the final sale and move. The paint you chose is so much better than the green. The landlord didn’t think that was weird?
Cindy
I have been a “here and there” blogger due to poor health so I am just catching up. I am glad the house sold and it looks like you have already put your “nesting” touches on the rental. Have fun making this new space yours.
Good to catch up! I was wondering if you had moved yet! Good to see where you are and am so looking forward to watching your decorating!
Peeks into a fun LOT of decorating posts I hope! I’ve been playing in my guest craft room and am frustrated in my desires, but after a month of butting my head against the walls I’m ready to use what I have and get it done…but only so I can start somewhere else, lol. It’s just contagious this self-expression via a home, isn’t it?
I agree that the army green color was weird. Or, at least not pleasant. You are amazing for doing that painting so soon. My husband and I are such procrastinaors! I didn’t realize you were only going to be in this house for a year or less and than have to move again. That’s exhausting! But I do understand that you want to be close to your daughter. I will be looking forward to seeing your posts about your new home. God bless!
The plan is to only be here for a year, but you know how that goes…. 🙂 If Savanna finds a job in Atlanta we could stay here because she’ll move into a place of her own at that time and we’ll be close by. Downtown ATL is about 45 min away in good traffic. If she moves out of the Atlanta area then we’re looking at moving. But it all depends on where she finds a job and whether or not it’s the type of company she sees herself staying at for a few years (I’m not moving every year following her around!). Otherwise we’ll look for a place that centrally located where it’s easy to catch a plane etc.
I’m getting excited about decorating this place since we’re finally making a dent in unpacking. There are still things we can’t find though!