An Updated Tour of our Farmhouse
posted by Andrea | 10/23/2017
Welcome to our Farmhouse!
established 1890
It’s been 3 years since my first farmhouse tour post… and as many of you know, we’ve made LOTS of changes and updates in the last 3 years!
So today, I’m sharing an updated tour!
First, let’s see some blueprints.
I made these blueprints via FloorPlanner.com — they are not 100% to-scale, but they are close.
MAIN FLOOR:
SECOND FLOOR:
BASEMENT:
Front Entry:
What We’ve Done:
- Power washed, repainted, and decorated the front porch
- Painted the interior of the entryway
- Closed off a wall that led to the kitchen (which now makes the front door open the wrong way)
- Installed a new front door that opens the correct direction — also, new hardware
- Updated the trim around door and base
- Installed hooks and put a bench behind the door for guest’s coats and bags
What We Want to Do:
- Install reclaimed barn wood floor to replace the old, stained tile in the entryway
- Repaint whenever we repaint the living room
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Living Room:
What We’ve Done:
- Repainted
- Widened the opening to the bedroom “wing”
- Knocked out a large opening into the office
- Knocked out a large opening into the dining room/kitchen area
- New trim around all the doorways, windows, and baseboard
- Added a huge wood “wall feature” to hang family photos over the couch
- Installed a new front window
- Added can lighting
What We Want to Do:
- New carpeting
- Possibly hang wainscoting on one or more walls
- Possibly knock down the 2 ft. wall between the living room and front door
See more photos of our living room in this post (although I’ve never actually done a full living room tour post as we still have more to do in this room)
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The Office:
What We’ve Done:
- Closed off the door into the hallway
- Opened up the wall into the living room
- Ripped out the old carpeting and installed reclaimed barn wood floors
- Fixed the sagging ceiling and installed a new light fixture
- Repainted the entire room
- Ripped out built-in desks
- Repainted built-in cabinets
- New closet door
- Turned the closet into a mini kids’ playhouse.
- Painted the French doors and installed new doorknobs
- Installed huge barn beam shelves that run the length of the room (you can see more photos of the shelves here)
- New electrical outlets
- Hung a removable screen door outside the french doors so we can leave the doors open in the summer
- Revamped the closet to store all our puzzles and games.
What We Want to Do:
- Nothing at the moment
See more photos of our office in this post.
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Master Bedroom:
What We’ve Done:
- New doors and windows
- Repainted all the walls and the ceiling
- Ripped up carpeting and installed reclaimed barn wood floors
- New trim around windows, doors, and baseboard
- Ripped out 2 small closets and installed one larger closet.
- New light fixture, new electrical outlets, and a cable hook-up in the closet π
- Fixed a spot in the ceiling where water leaked in a few years ago
What We Want to Do:
- Nothing at this point!
More pictures of how our master bedroom was previously set up.
This post shares how we gave our bedroom a mini makeover just by moving the furniture around!
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Master Bath:
What We’ve Done:
- Completely gutted the entire thing!
- Removed all old plaster, bulkhead, ceiling, floors, etc.
- New plumbing and electrical
- New window and door
- New walls, ceiling, and floors
- New custom double vanity (built by my uncle)
- Tossed the old tub and installed a new walk-in shower (“stolen” space from an extra closet on the other side of the bathroom)
- New reclaimed barn wood floors
- New toilet (and new toilet location to accommodate a larger vanity)
- Widened the door opening and installed a pocket door to replace the very narrow swinging door
- Added a large bank of built-in shelves
- New lights, new fans, new electrical outlets
- Added an in-wall heater (it works on a timer) to make our bathroom toasty warm in the winter
What We Want to Do:
- Nothing at this point!
See more pictures in this post.
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The Nursery:
What We’ve Done:
- New doors and windows
- Removed one closet to make a walk-in shower in the master bath
- Installed wood paneling (painted white) over FOUR layers of wallpaper
- Removed carpet and installed reclaimed barn wood floors
- New trim around doors, windows, base, and crown molding
- New light fixture and electrical outlets
What We Want to Do:
- Nothing at this point!
View all 4 of our Nursery Renovations:
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The Hallway
We have a tiny little hallway that connects our bedroom and bathroom with the nursery — it’s one of my favorite places in the house (weird, I know!)
I don’t have any before pictures, but I thought I’d post an after picture here anyway.
Read more about our hallway in this post.
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The Kitchen + Dining Room:
What We’ve Done:
- Completely gutted the entire thing!
- Removed the wall between the kitchen and dining room.
- Removed the wall between the dining room and the living room.
- Added a new wall between the dining room and front entryway
- All new plumbing and electrical
- All new windows and doors
- All new insulation, drywall, wainscoting, paint, etc.
- “New” reclaimed barn wood floors
- New cabinets and appliances
- Huge new island
- New light fixtures and recessed lighting throughout the entire two rooms
- Added about 10 new electrical outlets (there were only 3 total in the entire kitchen and dining room before)
What We Want to Do:
- In the future, we love the idea of doing a built-in bench under the double window in the dining area and then building a custom table to stretch almost the entire length of the room. This would mean removing the red hutch though — so I’m not in a huge hurry to do this!
Read all about our massive 5-month-long kitchen renovation here.
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The 2nd Main Floor Bath:
What We’ve Done:
- Changed the curtains
- Added a chair so we can sit while we wait for our potty-training children to finish going to the bathroom π
What We Want to Do:
- Remove wallpaper and paint in a neutral color with wainscoting 3/4 of the way up the walls
- Remove old shower, sink, and toilet
- New flooring
- New trim around windows, doors, base, and crown molding
- New claw-foot tub with an option for adding a shower down the road
- New sink and toilet
- New light fixtures
- Old fashioned shutters on the windows for privacy (instead of curtains)
Obviously, we haven’t done much to this room yet — so you guys will all get a front-row seat to this project whenever we finally get to work!
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The Laundry Room (now half bath):
What We’ve Done:
- Moved the washer and dryer downstairs (for the time being)
- Completely transformed this space into a super cute half bathroom!
What We Want to Do:
- nothing!
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The Mudroom:
What We’ve Done:
- The mudroom was a totally new room for us so everything is completely brand new.
- We basically turned a covered porch off the back of our house into a fully enclosed mudroom area!
- Redid the landscaping around the mudroom
What We Want to Do:
- Possibly add lockers to the wall where the black bench is now — whenever we need/want more storage
See the original mudroom before/after post here.
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The Basement:
Since the basement is right off the mudroom, I figured I might as well mention it — even though we don’t plan to do anything down here for several years.
Our basement is not a “nice” basement — but it is nicer than most 127 year old home basements π
What We’ve Done:
- Put new glass block windows in with vents
- Cleaned it up and put 2 storage shelves down there
What We Want to Do:
- Remove all the old barn wood (we plan to sell most of it and use some of it to make stuff
- Waterproof the basement and get rid of the musty smell (hopefully this can be done!)
- The rest will be storage
See the post about our basement here.
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Let’s go upstairs!
The Landing Area:
What We’ve Done:
- New windows
- New trim
- Leveled the floors
- New carpeting
- Removed wallpaper and repainted walls
- Removed spindled banister and added a half wall instead
- New electrical outlets
- Turned it into a fun playroom for a few years
- Morphed it into a sitting area with 2nd-floor changing table
What We Want to Do:
- We hope this room will continue to “morph” as our children get older and eventually see it serving as a study area, a library, a computer center, and more.
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The Boys’ Bedroom:
What We’ve Done:
- Repaired some cracked drywall
- Repainted everything (4 coats of white to cover all that purple!)
- New window and door
- New trim and baseboard
- New electrical outlets
- Removed the closet doors
- Transformed this room for Nora’s first “big girl room”
- Morphed it into a boy-girl shared room for both Nora and Simon
- Transitioned it into a room for Simon and James to share.
- Turned it into a playroom for all the kids to share.
- Changed it back into the boys’ bedroom! (watch the video tour!)
What We Want to Do:
- Nothing right now.
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Nora’s Bedroom:
What We’ve Done:
- Totally gutted the entire room — all new insulation and drywall
- New windows and doors
- Raised the ceilings by 14″
- Added a 2nd closet
- All new electrical (including extra outlets) and a new HVAC vent
- New light fixtures and ceiling fan
- New carpeting
What We Want to Do:
- Nothing!
This room used to be our guest bedroom.
Then we transitioned it into Simon’s big boy room.
Then it was the bedroom all 3 older kids shared.
Now it’s back to just Nora’s room!
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The Upstairs Bathroom:
What We’ve Done:
- Removed wallpaper
- Painted over the brightly colored fish/ocean theme
- Removed the shower and added a bathtub
- Added additional storage
- New light fixture and larger mirror
- Added towel bars and some storage furniture
- Added a shower curtain
What We Want to Do:
- Completely gut this room and start over with a new layout
- New double vanity
- New floors (hopefully with radiant heat)
We still have big plans for this bathroom, but you can read about all the progress we’ve made in this post.
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Let’s go outside…
Here’s a bird’s eye view of our property so you can get a feel for where our outbuildings are.
The Garage:
What We’ve Done:
- Removed old storage shelves and hooks
- Repainted all the walls, ceiling, and trim
- Installed a new Monkey Bars organizing system
- Had the floor coating professionally done (also by Monkey Bars)
- Repainted doors
- Added a bajillion kids toys, bikes, scooters, etc.!
What We Want to Do:
- New windows as ours are all “fogged” up since water vapor got between the glass at some point
- New garage doors that look more like old-fashioned carriage doors
See our garage before and after photos here.
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The Extra Garage / Outbuilding:
What We’ve Done:
- Put furniture (and some storage junk) inside
- Removed wood burning stove (for insurance purposes)
What We Want to Do:
- We have big ideas for this space — but nothing that will be implemented any time soon
- I know this space is VERY outdated and definitely not my style, but since it’s a nice heated outbuilding, we’re content to simply use it “as is” for several years until we have the cash to renovate it the way we’d like.
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The Sheds:
In the Spring of 2014, we built a small “outhouse looking shed” on the side of our property. It is mainly just for looks — but it is a nice place to store yard tools, kids, toys, yard games, etc.
You can read more about the outhouse shed in this post.
We also built a larger shed in the fall of 2015.
We planted a vegetable garden to the left of the shed.
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Landscaping:
What We’ve Done:
- Had over 20 trees removed and the stumps ground out
- Removed and sold over 600 landscape pavers
- Installed 500+ feet of privacy fencing
- Changed the design of our landscape and planted hundreds of new plants, bushes, and trees
- Removed a huge cement slab from the back yard
- Added a swing set and kid’s play area
- Grew lots of grass
- Built an outhouse garden shed
- Built a storage shed on the back of our driveway
- Removed several trailer loads of landscaping stone and spread over 50 yards of mulch
- Installed a MUCH larger deck off the back of our house
- Planted a vegetable garden
- Finished planting along the East side of our house and fence line
What We Want to Do:
- Relandscape the area by our mail boxes and get new mailboxes
- Add a few nice planting beds in our front yard to break up the huge amounts of grass
- Potentially add a swimming pool
Here are the links to our summer makeovers:
You can read ALL our landscaping posts here.
OK, I think that’s EVERYTHING… for now!
I Hope You Enjoyed the Tour!
Filed under: Home • Our Farmhouse • Before & After
Debra Martin
10/24/2017I am totally impressed when I look at each room inside, the garages outside and all the landscaping projects you’ve completed in such a short period, then when you add in the 4 children born during this time frame and you have also paid off this house and all these projects….it is totally amazing. I get decision making ‘paralysis’ when contemplating major projects. You gutted rooms, removed walls, chose appliances, flooring, finishing, etc. like a champ! Good for you guys!!!
[Reply]
Andrea Reply:
October 26th, 2017 at 6:06 am
You are not alone in your “decision making paralysis” –so many people I know have this! Thankfully, I don’t because I need to “work quickly” in order to accomplish everything π
Thanks so much for your kind words of encouragement!
[Reply]
JoDi
10/23/2017Loved the updated tour!
I bet I’m not the only one who doesn’t think you’re weird for loving that hallway! I love the upper hall that leads to the bedrooms and main bath in our house. It’s partly because I love the artwork I have on the walls, and partly because you get a view into our guest room at the end of the hallway as you walk down the hall, and I just love how that room turned out!
[Reply]
Andrea Reply:
October 26th, 2017 at 6:05 am
sounds lovely!
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Jennifer K.
10/23/2017I just love your style! Thanks for sharing all the updates π
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Barb
10/23/2017Enjoyed the house and yard tour, everything is beautiful and well done! What kind of wood is used on the office/table?
[Reply]
Andrea Reply:
October 26th, 2017 at 6:04 am
Thanks Barb. Believe it or not, the office table was a fabulous Craigslist find — EXACTLY the right size to squeeze in our opening. So, I have no idea what kind of wood it is — sorry!
[Reply]
Kimberley Carlisle
10/23/2017Love your house! Thank you for sharing!
[Reply]
Andrea Reply:
October 26th, 2017 at 6:04 am
Thanks Kimberly — we love it too! π
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Katie
10/23/2017Hello! Do you mind if I ask how many square feet above grade level your home is?
[Reply]
Andrea Reply:
October 26th, 2017 at 6:04 am
I believe it’s about 2600 above ground. We’re not sure if we can ever realistically finish off the basement, but that would add probably another 600ish.
[Reply]
Myka
10/23/2017Wow, I remember when you first moved into the farmhouse. Love all the renovations, it looks stunning, Andrea!
http://www.supersimpleways.com
[Reply]
Ashley
10/23/2017How fun to see your house! I should be better about taking before and after pictures π Have you thought about doing an “L” shaped bench/banquette in the corner opposite your red hutch? You would gain a bunch of seating by get to keep your beautiful piece of furniture!
[Reply]
Michelle Reply:
October 23rd, 2017 at 9:15 am
Oooohhh! I like that idea! I like the hutch also and wouldn’t want to get rid of it so I was checking out the area to see what else would work to get her the seating she needs and still keep the hutch. Great idea!
[Reply]
Andrea Reply:
October 23rd, 2017 at 9:33 am
Yes, we’ve definitely talked about doing an “L” bench in the dining room — and actually, my uncle is currently making us a couple of benches right now. We’ll see what we do with them!
[Reply]
Dawn Kaestner
10/23/2017I am curious if you will leave Clara in the downstairs bedroom when she gets older or move her upstairs with the other kids?
[Reply]
Andrea Reply:
October 23rd, 2017 at 9:32 am
We’ll just have to play it by ear and see how the next couple of years go — but our plan is to move Clara in with Nora (we will put the bottom bunk on her bed so it won’t be a loft anymore). Then we’d like to turn the nursery into a little den area and maybe get rid of the TV in our living room.
[Reply]
Luba @ Healthy with Luba
10/23/2017Andrea, you and Dave have really transformed your entire property and home to make it “you.” The inside of your home looks so fresh and clean, and I love the vegetable garden too.
As I looked at what you still want to accomplish, it was refreshing to see that you are still paying cash for everything!
I trust you and Clara are both doing well.
[Reply]
Andrea Reply:
October 23rd, 2017 at 9:31 am
thanks Luba! It’s easy to look ‘fresh and clean’ when I paint everything white π But yes, that’s the look we were going for!
And yes, Clara and momma are both doing well!!
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