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A Diamond In the Rough

Disclosure:  This post was sponsored, and paid for, by SunTrust Mortgage. All opinions are my own.

When we found the 70’s Landing Pad, it was not perfect…by any stretch. In fact, it was downright ugly inside and out. 

The 70's Landing Pad

We weren’t necessarily looking for a new home, but this one was in the perfect location. We wanted to get my in-laws moved closer to us either by finding a home that would fit us all in it or finding a home for them in our current neighborhood. We looked at lots for building a house for all of us, we looked at a couple of homes that would house us all and we looked at houses for them in our neighborhood. Nothing though was quite right. 

As it turns out though, the 70’s Landing Pad was just right for us, after a little work, and our previous house was just right for them, after they made some changes to it. 

Funny how things work out, right? 

If you’ve been around here for the last two years or so, you may remember just how much work the 70’s Landing Pad needed. A lot. And most all of that work had to be done by us because there was a tight budget. With the exception of the master bathroom remodel and some drywall work, we DIYed everything in this house. That would include a kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel, new flooring throughout, painting every single wall, and a hundred other small things. I get tired just thinking about it still. But you know what? It was so totally worth it. 

That’s what our kitchen looked like when we first got it. 

And this is where we’re at now. 

It took time, and a seven man band of friends and family to get it done, but it’s now completely “us.” 

With a little Johnny and June thrown in. 😉 

The hall bathroom was another project that we DIYed…

With the exception of the new tile flooring, the rest of the makeover was just paint. We painted the existing vanity and switched out the hardware and faucet and then of course painted the walls as well. We also upgraded the old lighting fixtures. The updates were pretty easy, but had a big impact. 

We also DIY-ed some reconfiguring of the master bedroom. 

This bedroom is honestly too big. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice, but a lot of the space was just wasted. We ended up taking part of the bedroom and turning it into a closet and turning the previous closet, which was conveniently located on the backside of my daughter’s room into a playroom for her.

It took time, but we were able to take the not-so-perfect home and make it the perfect home for our family.

While we DIYed a lot on this house, we did leave things like plumbing and drywall work to the pros as that’s not our specialty. I think whenever you take on a whole house remodel, it’s important to identify what you know you can do yourself, what you think you can learn to do and what most definitely needs to be left to a pro and then budget accordingly.

All that being said, when you’re looking for a new home, try to look past that ugly wallpaper circa 1993 and the disgusting puke green paint that graces the master bedroom and instead envision it with your own personal touches. Those rooms are just waiting for your magic touch. 😉 

When you’re ready to purchase that diamond in the rough, you can start at SunTrust Mortgage where their team of experts can help you find the right kind of mortgage that fits your lifestyle. They have a whole library of resources and tools to help turn that lump of coal into a diamond. 

If you’re a new home buyer, then also snag this Guide to Home Buying here that walks you through the process step-by-step. Then, start dreaming and scheming  about that new house! 

You can take the full “before” tour of our 70’s Landing Pad here and then see how far we’ve come here. 

 

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Talk with a SunTrust Mortgage expert today. 

This post was sponsored, and paid for, by SunTrust Mortgage. All opinions are my own.

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Comments

  2. Stephanie Sheridan says

    It is amazing to see those pictures of the house and what great work went into it. Love all the colors you used and the decor. Hope the farm is going well and your summer.

    Reply

    • Jenna says

      Thank you, Stephanie! When I look at the pictures side by side like that, I can’t quite believe we did it all! The farm remodel is going well and I’m so excited to show you guys some of it soon!!! It’s so different than the Landing Pad, but still really good I think!

      Reply

    • Jenna says

      Thank you, Brigitte! We have actually been plotting out the exterior makeover. That green has to go! We’ve already installed new windows and are about to install new shutters! We’ve also got to do some serious landscaping as well!

      Reply

  5. Mary Beth says

    You all have done an amazing job on your home! It looks stunning. I have some painting to do, lots of painting to do, but the power of paint is truly awesome.

    Reply

  6. Susan the Farm Quilter says

    Some people can’t see beyond what is to see what could be. Feel sorry for them because they are so limited in so many ways. Love how you could envision turning a closet into a play room and part of your huge room into a closet! You are very creative and original in your approach to life!

    Reply

  12. Carol ("Mimi") says

    Amazing before/after photos! I love your bold use of color. It looks like you’ve done a tremendous amount of work, but the results are stunning.
    Carol (“Mimi”) from Home with Mimi

    Reply

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