Saturday, January 05, 2008

Look! I have pictures!

We have been searching for a home in Atlanta and after a marathon weekend of home searching we found one! We drove around Atlanta for three days looking and walking through house after house after house. I was getting so discouraged thinking that we would just go back to Tennessee and Emma (my mom babysat for us) and try again another time. This was one of the last neighborhoods we drove through and saw this house that was for sale by owner. We walked through the house, typed up and delivered an offer, and the home owners accepted it within an hour and a half. We close at the end of January and I spent all day there yesterday having all the inspections done. While I was there I took some pictures of the home.

This is the front of the house. The lot is 9/10 of an acre and has been beautifully landscaped. The trees are huge hardwood trees!
This is the back of the house. The home owner said that in the summer when all the leaves are on the trees, the house is completely shaded and their electric bill is minimal. They are leaving the little turtle sandbox for Emma.
This is the kitchen. It was remodeled in 2005 and had custom cabinets installed and the counter tops are granite. I fell in love with this kitchen the second I walked in the door. Oh and they are leaving the chairs for me!
Here are more of the cabinets and the built in china cabinet. The appliances stay as well! (Notice the solid surface cook top at this end of the counter.)
This is the living room. I don't know if it is obvious or not, but the kitchen and living room are all one big open room. We are excited about that so I won't feel like I am trapped in the kitchen, away from all the action. Plus, we spend most of our time as a family in the kitchen and living room.
Here is another view of the living room. The homeowners are leaving all the window treatments, matching throw pillows, and the lamps (they kind of match the design on the drawer hardware in the kitchen). Ironically enough, the homeowners couches are the same color as mine, so I could easily picture my own furniture in the home!
And we have the hall bath. I am not crazy about the pink tile in there, but the way the lady has decorated it makes it so cute! She is also leaving the custom shower curtain and window curtain for me. I don't think that I could have ever found anything to match as well and even if I did, it wouldn't look this good!
This is the master bedroom. There is a small bath off this room with a shower (no tub). The picture that I have isn't great so I am not posting it.
This will be Emma's room. All the upstairs rooms have hardwood under the carpet, but this is the only room that doesn't have carpet. Emma was at the house with me yesterday and she was so excited about her room! My mom bought her a really cute bedding set for her new big girl bed. (She will get our full size bed and Aaron and I will move up to a queen size. Yay bigger bed!)
This will be the boys' room. (Or baby brudders room as Emma calls it.) I want to pull the carpet up in here as soon as I can and have hardwood in here, too. Any ideas for paint colors in here?
There is also a partial basement under the house which has a laundry room, work bench for Aaron and a bonus room that I have designated as my craft room. It has a long built in bench/counter type thing. I am having visions of setting my sewing machine up in there, laying out multiple scrapbook pages at a time, and becoming craftier just because I will have a place to be crafty. The craft night girls will understand.

We are so excited about this house. It is making me crazy that we have to wait almost a month to move in and make it our own, but I guess that is part of buying a home (waiting to close, etc.). I feel so lucky to have stumbled on such a home. The home owners had just put the sign in their yard a few days before, so I really feel like this is a blessing.

The home owners have been so kind to us through all of this as well. They were there yesterday during all the inspections, had a little gingerbread house making kit for Emma, and the husband walked all around the yard with me talking to me about the trees, things they had done in the yard, etc. They are only the second owners of the home and have lived there for twenty years. It feels good to be purchasing a home from someone who has lived there and loved it and put so much of their time and effort into making it beautiful and keeping it that way. I am so excited!

18 comments:

Lindsey said...

That is SO COOL! I'm so excited for you guys. It looks like a really good fit. I can see lots of fun with you and your kids. Plus, a CRAFT room! I think you should make sure it's finished before your little boys come :) I miss you so much but am excited that you found something you love! I can't wait to see it after you make it your own too.

Sarah said...

Haley, What an adorable house! I love it. We are also in the process of looking and I hope we have as good of luck as you did. Congrats on the 2 boys as well. They are a LOT of fun. Adam and I actually have a whole list we made up of boy names, if you want to see it. Let me know. We sure miss you guys! Love, The Egberts

Unknown said...

We're so excited and happy for you! We'll really have to come and visit you, and see friends from Atlanta and other close by towns. We needed an excuse to come and you will be it.
Wish we were there to help you move in. Take it easy, Halley. You don't want those twins coming before their time. Love, Grandma and Grandpa Jones

Michelle said...

Haley that is a beautiful house!! I am sure you are so happy to be moving so much closer. I think a light blue and chocolate colors would be nice in the boys room. :) I know whatever you do will be awesome though!! I am so glad you are going to have a craft room!! I have the space for one, just haven't got it set up!!

Melissa said...

Haley, I love it! You're so lucky to move right into a beautiful house! I can't wait to see what you do to the place. Keep us posted!

i'm erin. said...

ooohhhh Haley! This house is beautiful! You guys got a rockin' steal compared to what you would have bought in utah for the same price. I am soooo proud of you. What a beautiful home...

and by the way, I didn't quite see the guest room where I will be staying every other month or so and for a month when you have the babies?!?

hahahaha

Emily G said...

The house looks great!! Chad and I are really excited about you guys moving down here. We are glad Abby will have cousin playmates!

Angie said...

Wow! What a find. I am so glad for you guys. And at the same time sad that we didn't get to spend hardly any time together while you've been in UT. Your house is super cute--what a great place: Congrats!!

Justin & Heather said...

It is so cute! I am so happy for you guys! It all sounds like it fell together perfectly. Craft room...hello! That's the best room idea ever:)!

Annie said...

Oh it is so nice! I love that you have that huge yard! I miss you guys already but am a lot happier knowing you will have such a great place to live.

Shelby said...

OM!!! Haley, this house is amazing!! Do I have to tell you what the 9/10ths of an acre DOES TO ME?!?! I miss you and am still envious of your twin-ness!!

Cynthia said...

The house is so beautiful! I am so happy for you guys, and being so close. I wish my family would move to Atlanta. (any closer might be a little too close {-: )

Oh, a craft room?!?

Sorry, but that kind of makes me laugh. I had a two year old and a set of twins. Yeah, you will be crafting up a storm in all your FREE time.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

When my kids were all little your mom told me that when they got older I would really get busy. I thought she was crazy. She was actually so right. of course I still find time to blog...

Marjorie said...

WOW! I love it! But what I love most is your beautiful kitchen! Gorgeous! I just keep telling myself, Someday:) I hope everything is going well. Miss you!

The Walkers said...

Haley I miss you!!! I can't believe that you're across the country now. Over the holidays all of the Craig Hale family came over to our house and it didn't seem right without you guys there. I'm so happy that you found such a beautiful house to live in. I'm a bit envious. We are pretty much going to be living with my parents for the rest of our lives. Love you!

Jillian said...

Haley, your house looks so nice! I'm especially jealous of your kitchen. I must say, though, that I think you're a little spoiled getting such a nice house right away. Most people start with a beginner home ... and, no, living in small apartments for five years first does not make it any better!

Your story about Emma, that you left on my blog, is too funny!

Laura is right; things don't feel the same around here without you guys! We miss you!

Wendy said...

We miss you on craft night! The house looks amazing! I am so jealous! Adam and I were just in Savannah GA a few weeks ago and fell in love with that area of the country. You are a lucky girl! And the craft room sounds amazing! We just might have to have a traveling craft night someday and come to your house to do crafts! (That would be a long drive!)

susie&dick said...

Wow! We love it! What a nice place to settle into. That kitchen has us all wanting to move in...And, looks like there's plenty of room to start your own little daylily nursery in the backyard! I don't think you could have ever found anything more perfect. Richard & Sarah sure hope they can find something like that when they make their next move. Best wishes as you make this big move! love, Uncle Dick & Aunt Susie

Sarah (and a few others) said...

Your house looks great! Nanny told Suzie, who told us, and thus the family news spreads. We've got a blog, too-
http://bannanapudding.blogspot.com
see ya!