guest post: Beth from Dot in the City

 I have a major treat today-- a guest post from the sweet Beth. I love her blog-- especially her posts about the process of making her new house a home!

I'm so excited Erika invited me to guest post today.  I'm Beth and I blog at dot...in the city.  Erika and I "met" through the blog world and have bonded over our shared love for many things, but mostly our dogs, coffee and city life.  We love our cities, although my husband and I moved outside our city (Boston) last spring when we bought our first house.  Here we are...happy homeowners...

me and the mister soon after buying our home

We both lived in Boston for a few years, and loved the idea of having our own yard and driveway (among many other urban traits).  Additionally, I had lived in several parts of the U.S. growing up, while my husband is from Tennessee, so agreed we wanted our house to have a New England feel and look.  After looking at houses in January/February and trudging through A LOT of snow, we placed an offer on a 89 year old colonial that fit our "must have" list:

1. More than one bathroom (most homes in Massachusetts only have one)
2. Formal dining area
3. Three bedrooms

The actual home buying process was pretty difficult and quite drawn out since the property was a foreclosure.  Following two months of waiting, we finally closed and were able to move into our first home.

the house in April, just after we bought it (at least there wasn't any snow when we moved in)

Thankfully, my husband is very skilled and truly enjoys carpentry (sidenote: I learned this when were dating and he offered to build a TV stand for me and my roommates...it turned out beautifully).  In the first six months we were married he built this table out of an old window!  We use it as our coffee table with storage inside (sorry I don't have a better photo).

coffee table, the top made from a window

Since we moved in, four months ago, a lot of work has been done, and all by my husband.  I often say "we" but I mean him (...I'm working on that).  Unfortunately, we he (now it sounds like I'm blaming him) has not completed one room yet, so there are no true "before and after" photos.  But the kitchen has come a long way!  We both love to cook and felt it was most important to start there.  We have new cupboards and counters and are waiting to refinish or install a new floor.

photos of the progress: (1) widening the doorway between kitchen + dining room
(2) pulling up three layers of linoleum over hardwood (3) new cabinet + pantry from
IKEA and counter before it was cut (4) laying tile in the second bathroom/laundry room

We've learned a lot in the process of owning a home in five short months.

• It's a lot of work...but you can do whatever you want (paint, knock down walls and rip up floors) as a homeowner...if you're up to the job.
• The yard (among other things) can wait.  Decide what your priority(ies) is/are and focus your efforts there.
• There are discounts + sales to take advantage of!  Sign up with Lowe's for their coupons by filling out an online form telling them you've moved (which Home Depot also honors).
• Don't be afraid to return it if it doesn't work out.  Home Depot has a very liberal return policy; you may wind up with store credit but that's better than having something hang around you won't use.
• Almost anything can be undone or redone.  I'm talking moving doorways and I first learned this when we started gutting the kitchen...down.to.the.studs.

Thanks for letting me join you today and a special thanks to Erika for inviting me.  I hope you will come by and visit!

oh my gosh Beth! I love your house (and how old it is!) And by the way, does your husband sell those window-tables? Because I think I would take one for sure.