When A House is a Home
I bought my house in May of 2008. I had asked my husband for a divorce that January and was still sharing a house with him in an awkward and uncomfortable way. I knew I needed to start over, by starting divorce proceedings and getting on with my own life and my own place to live. I needed a place that was small enough to manage on my own and homey and welcoming for my son. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon I stepped into an open house that changed my life!
My little house sits in Land Park, one of the most magical neighborhoods in Sacramento. Built in 1937, it has two bedrooms and one bath, and is a whooping 980 square feet. Hardwood floors transverse the floors, like most homes in this area. It is on a dead end street that keeps the traffic to a minimum and neighborhood cats safe, and the little kids even safer.
The inside of the house is quaint and unassuming. The living room is a perfect size, with a fireplace at its center and plenty of room for friends to gather. I brought the living room and dining room furniture with me when I moved, so a quick coat of paint and those rooms were ready to go.
The bedrooms are not very big but the new IKEA furniture fit perfectly, both in size and their aesthetic. Unfortunately the hardwood floors are covered by wall to wall carpet, but some day that will change. My room faces the front of the house, with a view of the street and neighbors. The bright colors of the paint and bedding make the room sunny and cheerful, and I have some of my own photography on the walls. My son’s room is near the back of the house and is decorated in grey, black and red, perfect colors for a teenage boy. He enjoyed picking out his own furniture, which helped with the transition when we moved in.
The bathroom is tiny, but then again, is easy to clean! The best feature is that it has the original floor tile.
The kitchen is my favorite place to hang out. The galley style layout, with the laundry room at the end is small, which makes me take full advantage of the storage and counter space I have. There is no dishwasher and I doubt I will ever get one because I can’t afford to lose any cabinet real estate! The windows over the kitchen sink open out to the backyard and are often open to welcome the breeze and fresh air.
The small backyard is framed by my detached garage on one side and my neighbors on the other. The stucco sides are painted and vibrant colour that brightens up the small space. When the weather is nice, I have the table and chairs set up so we can enjoy al fresco dining as much as possible. Both the front and back yards are easy to maintain (with a gardener!) and some maintenance weed pulling.
From the moment I walked into that open house almost four years ago, to now, my little house has been a loving home for me and my son. It was the starting point for me to move forward in my new life and continues to keep us safe and sound and it welcomes my friends and family for meals, conversation and fun. I love my little house!
My little house sits in Land Park, one of the most magical neighborhoods in Sacramento. Built in 1937, it has two bedrooms and one bath, and is a whooping 980 square feet. Hardwood floors transverse the floors, like most homes in this area. It is on a dead end street that keeps the traffic to a minimum and neighborhood cats safe, and the little kids even safer.
The inside of the house is quaint and unassuming. The living room is a perfect size, with a fireplace at its center and plenty of room for friends to gather. I brought the living room and dining room furniture with me when I moved, so a quick coat of paint and those rooms were ready to go.
The bedrooms are not very big but the new IKEA furniture fit perfectly, both in size and their aesthetic. Unfortunately the hardwood floors are covered by wall to wall carpet, but some day that will change. My room faces the front of the house, with a view of the street and neighbors. The bright colors of the paint and bedding make the room sunny and cheerful, and I have some of my own photography on the walls. My son’s room is near the back of the house and is decorated in grey, black and red, perfect colors for a teenage boy. He enjoyed picking out his own furniture, which helped with the transition when we moved in.
The bathroom is tiny, but then again, is easy to clean! The best feature is that it has the original floor tile.
The kitchen is my favorite place to hang out. The galley style layout, with the laundry room at the end is small, which makes me take full advantage of the storage and counter space I have. There is no dishwasher and I doubt I will ever get one because I can’t afford to lose any cabinet real estate! The windows over the kitchen sink open out to the backyard and are often open to welcome the breeze and fresh air.
The small backyard is framed by my detached garage on one side and my neighbors on the other. The stucco sides are painted and vibrant colour that brightens up the small space. When the weather is nice, I have the table and chairs set up so we can enjoy al fresco dining as much as possible. Both the front and back yards are easy to maintain (with a gardener!) and some maintenance weed pulling.
From the moment I walked into that open house almost four years ago, to now, my little house has been a loving home for me and my son. It was the starting point for me to move forward in my new life and continues to keep us safe and sound and it welcomes my friends and family for meals, conversation and fun. I love my little house!
posted by Lulu Carmichael at
9:14 PM
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