House Tour

Posted on August 5, 2013 by prairiemoonquilts in Prairie Moon Ranch

I’ve decided it’s time to give you a house tour.

I was waiting until I had something to show you of the work we’re doing, but that’s going so slowly, it’s ridiculous, so I’m going ahead with the tour now.

This first tour is of the house as it was when we bought it.

These pictures are from the realtor’s listing.

We’ve done quite a bit of work so far, but we have soooo far still to go. After this initial tour, I’ll start giving you updates one room and one project at a time . . . the house has 11 rooms!

And I’m too busy quilting to paint!

I’ve really never wanted a large house. Reason being, I hate to clean. My logic about that is: Life’s too short to spend it cleaning house constantly!

My grandmother was renowned for her housecleaning abilities. We used to joke that she never even let the dust fall! Evidently, I have not inherited that trait in the slightest. And I’m not upset about that!

However, there are certain things that DO have to be done routinely, just to prevent complete slovenliness. Sometimes I feel like I’m bordering on that, and then I have to set in for a serious session to pull myself out of it! And of course, I grumble the entire time because I’d rather be quilting.

But on with the tour (because I have to get downstairs and clean the bathroom!) . . .

The house was built in 1921. The couple we bought the house from is Ron and Diane — Diane’s grandfather built the house — and her sister still lives just about a mile away, and so does their brother. There was an addition built on to the house in the 1970s.

We’ll begin outside.

Here’s what you see as you turn into our driveway:driveway

This is the front of the house. Weird because there’s no front door. An oversight I hope we can someday remedy, but I’m sure it will be our final project, due to everything else we want to do. front

There was a front door on the other side that opened out onto a porch. The porch was where the addition is now, so there’s no more porch, and no more front door. Oh, how I’d love a porch, but I’m not sure that’s even in a plan at all right now.

We also need to remove that broken air conditioner that’s not even needed, and patch the hole.

This is the back of the house. We’d like to put red tin on the entire roof. Another project that will have to wait awhile. And we need steps into the mudroom.back

Here’s looking at it from the southwest corner . . . it’s a BIG house!SWview

And what you see when you’re standing down at the barn looking back up toward the house:barnview

And this is the barn. I love this barn. The barn needs a barn quilt, another project I intend to tackle.barn

OK, so I’ve already listed several projects and we haven’t even opened the door yet. See my problem? When am I going to find the time for all of this? Ugh!

Let’s go inside . . . There’s a tiny “foyer” and the bathroom is on the left. This section containing the bathroom and living room is the newer added-on part. This picture of the bathroom from the realtor’s listing almost made me not want the place at all, but . . . it really wasn’t as bad in real life as it is in this picture, thankfully. And we’re redoing it top to bottom . . . slowly . . .bathroom

Here’s the living room:livingroom

Bamboo wallpaper on TOP of dark paneling. Both have to go! So does the carpeting. I hate carpeting. We think we know what we’re going to do in here, but we’re a long way from starting it. But we have a fireplace!

Right now you can’t see it because of the unpacked boxes piled in front of it, but one of these days . . . fireplace

Have I mentioned that we’ve now lived here 7 months and are still not unpacked? Yeah, it’s getting old . . .

From the living room, you enter the dining room. The piano is no longer here. Good thing, because I wouldn’t know what to do with it. This is the room where we’d like to put a front door someday. We’ll see . . .diningroom

Then there’s the kitchen. I love the old-fashioned cabinets, and to even HAVE cabinets is a plus for me, because the old ranch shack didn’t have any. I’m currently in the process of repainting them all, and replacing the hinges and knobs. I’ve been working on this since we got here, that’s how slow I am. My first major project in here will be to get a new countertop, sink, and faucet. I can hardly wait!  And I want Pergot flooring, too. Long list of wants, long time a-comin’, I fear . . . kitchen

The mudroom/utility room. We’ve already done quite a bit out here. Finished a wall, replumbed the washer . . . next is painting and re-doing the floor. Don’t hold your breath for any after pictures, OK?mudroom

The bedroom. This room was actually quite live-able without a lot of work, thank goodness. Although I lay in bed and imagine what all I’ll do to this room when its turn comes up in the rotation. bedroom

The spare bedroom. This is also where My Cowboy will have his “office”. He needs a place to keep all his stuff!NEroom

Then we have the upstairs. Here is the staircase. I love the woodwork, but those stenciled hearts have gotta go! But they will, because I have a plan . . . I just need time to execute it.staircase

The upstairs is 4 bedrooms. These 4 bedrooms are becoming my studio. This room is the office:office

This room will be the sewing room, where my sewing machine, ironing board, cutting table, etc. will go:sewingroom

This room will be the longarm room, where Ivy (my longarm) will live and work:LAroom

And there’s still one more room to decide what to do with yet up here! Isn’t this awesome? I’m hoping it makes me much more productive and organized. There are lots of closets in this house. Wonderful storage.handroom

So there you have it — the initial tour. I’ll tell you more about it all, little by little, as I show you the projects I’m working on, so stay tuned. And wish me luck. And if you know how to strip old wallpaper easily, or refinish wood floors, come on over!

15 responses to “House Tour”

  1. Deanna says:

    That is a terrific sewing space with a small house attached! How lucky you are to have a house so close to your work. 🙂

  2. Cindy says:

    You know they say that dust is a country accent!

  3. Jean Enright says:

    Love Love Love your big house. You are lucky to have closets. Seen so many farm houses without them. Your are amazing with all that you do. And Yes I still want to be you when I grow up!!!

  4. Ron and Diane Davis says:

    We are thrilled you love and appreciate the old house!!

  5. Sandi says:

    I love your house! You have so much room. It might take awhile to get it where you want but it will be worth it. I look forward to more pictures. Have a great week.

  6. Debbie says:

    Beautiful hardwood floor and railing!

  7. So where do you work now? I thought you were in this space. It is going to be a wonderful place to sew and quilt! I love the barn too, and yes it needs a barn quilt!!!

  8. Doris says:

    The wood floors are great (always hard to believe someone thought covering them in carpet was a “good” idea?!?!) and the staircase is wonderful… Looking forward to seeing after photos, but I completely understand how long they can be a comin’…

  9. Jocelyn says:

    What a great old house!!! 11 rooms!!! How many square feet is it? I know, you can make the extra room upstairs as either a retreat center, classroom or a guest bedroom You know we will all love to come and visit you 🙂 I know there is a lot of work ahead, but it will be worth it. Do you still have the horses? Don’t beat yourself up about the boxes, we still have boxes in our garage since we moved 3 years ago 🙁

  10. Bev J says:

    Love the house- so much character! Can’t wait to see the updates! Thx for sharing!

  11. Great house and you have wonderful ideas…have patience – our “remodel” took forever but was worth it.

  12. Susan says:

    What a wonderful house. I can just see a door with a terrific veranda all along that front side of the house. I think that 4th room needs to be the fabric room! Gorgeous fireplace.

  13. Hope says:

    Love the house. I think it is perfect for you two!

  14. Bari says:

    I love your house! So much character and room! A huge improvement over the shack….does this have the spiders that the shack had? We have hedge apples coming on if you need me to ship some up there….LOL. 🙂

  15. Wow! What a great old farmhouse! I love it! I would have fun planning all those rooms. My house has as much work to do. Trust me!

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