Patience. I know the old saying, 'Patience is a Virtue,' seems a bit outdated in our fast food world, but it rang true for us this week. We have finally closed on our first pink house, the one we have been patiently waiting to clear title since last April. It has been worth the wait.

This fantastic home has been a Loveland icon for a hundred years. Many have added on here and there – rooms, a shed, newer fixtures – but the beauty of this house is that the old still remains. Our main goal is to acknowledge the beauty of the old, with the convenience & style of the new, to create not just a house, but a home for the future owners.

One of the best parts about rehabbing a house is the neighbors. They have kept an eye on the house for us throughout this entire process, relay the stories of the home's history, and are also really excited to see this home bring up the quality of their street.

Rehabbing homes is a very eco-friendly term. It's about taking something with character, a part of history, and creating it into something exceptional...one pink house at a time.

Fencing Myself In

My latest project was for Nina, my kids dog.  She only visits my house sometimes so we had to finish fencing in the sides of the house so she will stop running around the neighborhood looking for a playmate!  Can you see that little dog in the corner, they are so cute together.  

So I searched Craig's list and found this matching vinyl fence...when I went to meet the gentleman, it was all 16 ft lengths, yikes!  I can't transport that in my suburban, but I can fit 8 feet!  So he gave me some dirty used pieces for free!

Nothing a powerwash couldn't fix!  Yeah!  He also had some posts which he sold me for 5 bucks including the cap!  But they only had 2 openings and I need 3 for Nina the horse.  So I got them and figured I could cut a template and router the 3rd rail opening. 

  Not perfect, but not bad either.  I made the girls help me dig the holes, even though they insisted it's child labor! It's their dog! 



Setting the posts and pouring the concrete were the easiest parts!  They were level and even with the neighbors, so far so good.  I was just having trouble figuring out how to get the 3 rails in the posts.  I could do it if the posts could move a little, but I poured the concrete and if they set I wouldn't have that tiny bit of wiggle room I needed to get all three of them in. 

 I cut them the right length, put them all in the openings while the cement was wet.  It was comical, because I would get one in then one would fall out.  ugh, one even hit my head.  Then I got this scratch on my leg from one.  I was sure I wouldn't be able to finish this myself without asking someone for help.  And to top it off, it's been 90 degrees daily for the last couple weeks here.



But finally, they all stayed.  I made sure the posts were level and ran away...just kidding.    

It looks great.  I will add the wire next and Nina will be safe! 

Pine Fantastic

A big thanks to Pine Financial for hosting a beginners investment meeting in Northern Colorado!  We got a chance to pick your brains and realize that we have so much to learn!  But what that meeting also brought was realization that we love talking and learning and doing anything involved with real estate investing.  And the people that attended also have that love and drive.  So again, Thank You.  We think you are young, smart, fun, down to earth, did I say smart?, want success for your clients, humble and well, just truely Pine Fantastic!
-S

Silly Wabbit

In my attempt to stay busy and wait for our closing AGAIN; I have resorted to turning my small strawberry patch into a fortress. 

I feel like I'm living a Bugs Bunny cartoon.  I'mYosemite Sam being outsmarted by Bugs and I am not laughing.  Everytime I think I'll get to taste one of the ripe juicy strawberries, I instead find a small gnawed piece of it left dangling. 

It would be better if they at least ate the whole thing and left me wondering if I just imagined there where once strawberries there.  But no, they tease me and leave evidence of their cunning stealth ways.   Maybe it's time to call Elmer Fudd for help.  -S

The Ghosts of Maggots

I'm really wondering if anyone out there would have the heart to reuse - renew cabinets that had once had maggots living on the top of them? We've moved on to remodeling a home, and are all for restoring former beauty. However, would the ghosts of maggots always loom in a kitchen even if the cabinets were brought to better-than-new status?

Definitely a question you never expect to face, but actually something to consider.

-B

Lights!

In our recent weekend rondevu with our home, placing final touches in the living room was essential. It's currently the oasis in our renovation desert of complete possibilities. We found many options for lights. For example, our living room had no main light, and simply had one small can light built into the ceiling. It was not centered in the room, neither horizontally or vertically. Odd, yes. However, we came up with a great plan.

Our home is French Country style (I mentioned that before - it's been in an identity crisis for a while now. We're providing therapy.) We are working to blend French country with our modern love for art, and our eclectic decorative items. With the lights, we chose a light bar that is both modern in sleek style, but old-worldish in color and shape. Placing a darker colored light bar on a white ceiling was a little out there for us, but it absolutely worked. The light bar is centered vertically, lights up the bookcase and that side of the room at night, while our floor lamp takes care of the rest. It is absolutely soothing and French Country stylish.

- B

Is the Living Room Really Living?

While we're waiting for the Pink House to close, my family is actually remodeling our personal home as well. We recently purchased a French country style home with an identity crisis. From the outside, it's gorgeous - brick with shutters. Inside and around the yard, it's in need of love.

I hadn't realized how much I'd need a finished space to find peace until now. We've got open walls, missing cabinets, outdated wallpaper coming down by the day, and it has been very hard for me to find peace. Recently while on a night away, I spilled this to my husband. My desperate need for a finished space in the chaos to bring calm. I can see the big picture, I love the energy of the home, but I need a refuge.

My new definition of a living room is actually: the room that helps me feel truly alive. It is our first finished space, not the one needing the most work, but the first finished. It is amazing. It's gone from the color of granny pink blush to a beautiful brown butter with all the tchotchkes that make it our own.

I have to say, I am now in love with living again, thanks to my living room. –B