Aug
16
The new/old Little Yellow House was not love at first sight for me. I remember walking through thinking, well, this actually makes everything house-offer-decision-wise harder, not easier. Because it wasn’t an immediate slam dunk nor was it something I felt I could rule out. It wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t bad. It gave me a similar feeling to touring our family home back before we bought it: this isn’t GREAT, but I can live with it.
Yellow House was built in the sixties and boy can you tell, because no one has really updated much of anything over the years. Aside from a mid-grade stainless dishwasher and a heat pump, it’s largely preserved in all its vintage look and feel. Which did not initially appeal to me, having lived in an older home for years I was kind of hoping for some fresh surfaces that didn’t feel quite so much like your grandparents’ house, you know?
However, it has truly grown on me. The more I am in it, the more charmed I am by its sturdy qualities and quirks. I like the nostalgia and warmness of the wood cabinetry in the kitchen, the cheery old linoleum, the greenish-aqua toilet and tub, the spacious linen cabinets and closet built-ins, even the wood paneling in the cozy living room. I don’t particularly mind the chrome accessibility handles that are screwed in all over the place. It most certainly has an older person’s look to it, but I can easily imagine how getting rid of the fugly curtains and adding some fresh paint will liven things up right away.
It feels friendly and welcoming to me now, all the throwback touches offering a familiar sort of vibe for someone born in 1974 (if only it had a conversation pit!). The whole place has a ‘make it your own’ quality to it, it seems like it would be a crime to completely modernize it but you certainly could.
As for me, I’m planning to lean right in to the mid-centuryness of it all. I’m picturing an eclectic mix of old and new things that hopefully all work in a vintage environment. Wood blinds will replace the curtains, I’ll do a warm light paint throughout (it’s currently white except the orange-ish front room, but like…a grim icy cool tone white?), I have a retro fridge on the way (GOD it’s beautiful, in buttercup yellow, when it arrives I will not call it George but I will hug her and pet her and squeeze her every time I walk by), I’m keeping the wood finishes and flooring.
The bathrooms need some love but I will make do with cute towels and whatnot, I can picture wanting more updates in the future but they’re okay for now. I sort of love the greenish toilet and tub!
Here’s a look at it:
The front room, a large space that’s just to the left as you enter the house.
Looking into the kitchen, which you arrive to as you keep going from the front.
The back living room, with doors to the patio.
The cute backyard!
Hallway bathroom with toilet and bathtub (and detachable showerhead but weirdly no sign of there ever having been a shower curtain rod).
Extra bedroom #1, will be Dylan’s for the times he stays over.
Extra bedroom #2, not sure what I’ll use this for yet — reading room, writing room, storage, maybe.
Master bedroom.
Master bath, with standup shower only but a decent amount of space.
There’s also a laundry room (but no washer/dryer hookup, wtf) and half bath, two car garage, and a surprisingly huge attic that you can stand up in and goes the length of the whole house.
I’m not moved in yet, but that will happen in a matter of weeks. I bought a bed and had a wonderfully handy person assemble it for me (this was via Wayfair, they’re partnered with Angi for installs/assemblies and from my one experience I can say this was well worth the extra 80 bucks), so I can officially stay over when ready — but I do still need some furniture and appliances. I met with and booked an electrician, a plumber, a fence guy (there’s little privacy outside currently, with just a chain link setup on the back and righthand side of the backyard), a roofer, a blinds installation specialist, and a painter is coming next week. Fucking WHEW this has been a Whole Entire Thing and I’ve had to put my big kid pants on and TALK ON THE PHONE SO MUCH and I’m not even remotely done yet but it’s all happening, it’s all coming together, this sweet old house is well on its way to becoming my sweet new home.
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Mazel tov! You’ve got a huge plate and you filled it up!!! The first thing to put in your house before you move in is bread and salt! Move brooms mops etc in last and the youngest member of the family is supposed to carry those in.
Aww, it looks perfect and you will make it homey in no time.
I’m so incredibly happy for you. Welcome home.
Welcome home! May the goodness in the walls seep into new days!
Really sweet home and it feels open and inviting. Love the yard.
The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely. That’s not mine. It’s Louisa May Alcott. The expert of small females, like yourself. But you have a big brain, a bigger heart, and I know you will find peace there. I can’t wait to see it become yours.
Looks like it’s ready to be your new home. And I could swear we had those exact kitchen tiles when I was a kid.
It is going to be a beautiful nest/haven for you! Those mid-century items were build to last! Can’t wait to see a picture of the fridge!
The next chapter. It’s going to be the very best one, I feel it in my bones.
The house has good bones – cozy fireplace, nice size rooms, and a big yard. And its all yours! Congrats.
I love it. I especially love the kitchen.
Congratulations, welcome home! What a lovely place for a fresh start.
May you bless it with your presence and be blessed by its warmth.
I have ZERO to contribute of any value but I want to just applaud for you on every platform I find you!
Do you know the history the house? Feels like there have not been many owners, no half assed fucked up remodeling. Have fun making it yours!
Hell yeah.
¡Un artículo realmente revelador! Aprendí mucho desde tu perspectiva y aprecio la claridad con la que explicas todo.