Guest Post: My First Home

Please welcome Allison Lundstrom from Whatever the Circumstances blog... I think you'll have fun reading about her new house and all that she has planned for it! Allison and I decided to do a guest post swap today so I'm over there posting about taking on a budget kitchen makeover!
Hi readers of Migonis Home! I am so happy to be here today. Jen and I go way back, her sister was my college roommate for all four years of college and is now one of my very best friends.  Not only that,  but Jen's husband AJ was our real estate agent who helped us score this fabulous fixer upper! And although I know pre-baby, pre-AJ and pre-house Jen, one thing has not changed, she is still (and has always been) a real life Martha Stewart. I don't know how she does it!?

I am thrilled to be here today on her FABULOUS blog sharing a little bit about my new home. I blog over at Whatever the Circumstances where you can find everything from my daily adventures to sewing and DIY projects. My husband and I just bought our first home, so I am going to start doing home project posts. We are also expecting our first baby in September, so lots of changes for us in the future!

Today I am here to talk about my new home. I am going to share some 'before' pictures with you a long with some inspiration I have been collecting for a few of the rooms. I hope you enjoy, and I would LOVE suggestions and ideas. BUT, before I show you the 'problem areas' and possible projects I wanted to share with you why we fell in love with this house in the first place.

1. It has the most wonderful backyard, over 1/3 of an acre, which for the North Shore of Boston is actually quite a lot! There are a number of magnificent mature trees and lots of vegetation. Can't wait to watch our littles running around back there!

2. I love the light in the living and dining room. There are beautiful large windows in both rooms that let in a lot of natural light (we will be painting these walls).

3. It has lots of character. Because the house was built in 1900 it has wide planked pine wood floors, built ins and wide moulding (though the moulding could use a fresh paint job and some cleaning, along with just about everything else in the house).

4. I love the little entry way at the front of the house, the three-season porch at the back and the two decks. For those of you not familiar with the term 'three-season porch' it is a room or porch that is not insulated and has windows all around (aka a sun room) but it is only used for three seasons when you live in a colder climate like New England (I explain this because my aunt, who lives in Georgia, was very confused by the term).

Okay, so now on to the projects. Let me tell you, the 'honey do list' is getting longer and longer. Part of the problem is I can't participate in several projects due to the little growing inside of me.

Kitchen

Besides the fact that our kitchen needs totally new cabinets and a new counter top, the biggest problem is a lack of storage. So I have been searching for storage inspiration in the kitchen. What you see is about the entire kitchen. There is enough room to put a table or a island in the kitchen (see project idea below) and their is one bare wall we can use for creative storage.

We will be painting the cabinets and probably even the countertops for the time being to make the kitchen look more fresh and clean. I am so excited about the paint color we chose for the walls and can't wait to see the final product with the white cabinets and vibrant paint!

From RHBC

We are definitely going to have to be creative about the wall space. I love the use of the wall (and the color of the tile, but that is sort of out of the question right now)

From Allison Lundstrom on clipix.com (via hgtv.com)

A pot rack is also a MUST. What a great way to store pots. I am not one of those hide everything from sight decorators, I like form and function to make sense.

From Allison Lundstrom on clipix.com (via houzz.com)

We are going to put in an island at some point. I like both of these island ideas (not sure of the original source of the first one)

From Allison Lundstrom on clipix.com (via blogspot.com)

From Allison Lundstrom on clipix.com (via thisoldhouse.com)

Bathroom

Lets just be honest, we are going to have to make los of bathroom compromises and be very creative. But I am up for the challenge.

I am thinking an above the door storage solution is going to be a must (husband is already on board with this one).

From Allison Lundstrom on clipix.com (via apartmenttherapy.com)

From Allison Lundstrom on clipix.com (via marthastewart.com)

I love this simple and clean way to store towels and other small items. Like the kitchen, I will be utilizing the small amount of wall space in the bathroom.

From Allison Lundstrom on clipix.com (via bhg.com)

Once we put in some sort of vanity or cabinet in the bathroom I may try this project out. I love how everything has its own space.

From Allison Lundstrom on clipix.com (via bhg.com)

Sewing Space

This room is by far my favorite room. Notice the deck off the room (this is on the second floor and there is a lovely dogwood right off the edge of the deck) and the amount of light that seeps into the room. Love it!

One of the things I am most excited about (besides having a room for the nursery) is having space for a sewing desk. We won't have lots of room, but I am going to have a space in the guest bedroom for my sewing machine and projects.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this space from Oh! Sweet Joy.

From Allison Lundstrom on clipix.com (via blogspot.com)

Great storage ideas on this desk, and not cluttered!

From Allison Lundstrom on clipix.com (via sfgate.com)

Allison, thank you SO much for joining us and giving this tour of your new digs! Maybe you'll stop in later with some before and after photos? :) Migonis Home readers, make sure you check out Allison's blog!