Skip to main content

Two Stories Forward, One Story Back

Contractor number one called and gave me an estimate on the two story house of fabulousness... it was so far past my budget I am still buzzing.

It hurt, it stung, but it will not deter me.

We talked on the phone for awhile and he and I tossed around a lot of different ideas. One of the biggest expenses came from concrete. It turns out, that where we live, concrete is at a premium. So with that being a key element to building, it drives up the cost of the whole house.

We talked options and landed on looking at a new floor plan.

My heart has been set on a two story house all along. It's just what I've always dreamed of. It's what I imagine my home looking and feeling like.

Since our budget is very tight, the contractor and I needed a compromise. He felt like he could come a lot closer on budget with a one story house, and so I went back to the drawing board.

I scoured the web and I found a plan that I like quite a bit. It's a cottage style house. It is only one story but i really like the layout and here is the best part, it has a lovely bonus room above the garage! So, although, technically it is only a one story, the bonus room would be my office/craft room!

This way I would have my second story that I crave, yet would drastically cut down on cost.

Aaaaaand if I work with a one story, I can play with pitched ceilings and opening things up a bit. Don't worry, I have plans people.

In fact the night I started looking for one story plans, I drove the hubs slightly crazy singing "you can't keep a good man woman down."

I'm feeling pretty positive about this change.

All along I have said I DO NOT want a large house. I mean, seriously, I hate despise cleaning. The more house you have, the more cleaning you have.

I like a quaint, cozy space that feels warm and inviting. As long as I have a bunch of storage space and closets I am totally down with small square footage. Plus there will be an unfinished death hole basement that could eventually be finished out if we ever needed the space.

Contractors keep telling me basements have come a long ways since the 1970's when my current basement was built. Supposedly landscaping, proper drainage, yada yada yada, will cut back on the risk of a flood of biblical proportions in the new house.

Hmmm I think I still have some resentment and anger over that last flooding.

Back to positive thinking. I hope to be hearing from my contractor with estimates on the new plan in the next week or two. Fingers are crossed that he has some better news for me this time!

One of the websites I like to look at to get ideas for floor plans is this one.

Here are some of my favorite plans.

Farmhouse

Bungalow

Large two story

Quaint two story

Have a lovely day!

P.S. Pictures like this keep me going! Beautiful inspiration!

 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Crate and a Challenge

One of my favorite blogs is having a Pintrest Challenge. They do it a couple times a year and its just a fun time to challenge everyone to complete a project they've pinned on Pintrest. I've been wanting to get in on the action, but never found the time. Oh yeah and a little thing called, I don't do Pintrest. It's not because I'm not interested or I don't think I'll like it. I'm terrified of it! I already spend too much time perusing my favorite house app and a bunch of blogs I follow, and Facebook. If I added something as captivating as Pintrest, my house and kids may just go completely uncared for. So in the spirit of playing along with the Pintrest challenge I thought I'd share our headboard that I made a couple years back, loooong before I started blogging. It is by far one of the projects I am most proud of! Almost three years ago, the hubs and I got a new bed, a giant sized, California King! It came with a frame, but no headboard. We had alrea…
3 comments
Read more

Summer Lessons

Making our house feel like home in the summer feels more chaotic to me than the slower months.

November through March, when its dark early and bedtimes come swiftly, meals are slow cooked all day long, and warm light comes from houses in the evening hours, just naturally lends itself to an aesthetic of quiet and calm.

At least for me.

Summer lends itself to late nights out, days where we are only home long enough to drop piles by the door, eat and leave a mess on the table, dirty more clothes than a small country in a matter of days, and the chaos of home just seems unsettled and rushed.

I am going in circles most days, feeling like I am not accomplishing anything and yet spinning and spinning and trying to not tip over. 
And yet...
And yet, a couple times a month someone asks me “How do you do it all?” 
I feel like I am that analogy of a duck on the pond, I look calm on the surface, but underneath my feet are kicking like crazy. And really that is just on a good day, most days I feel…
Post a Comment
Read more

When Marriage isn't Easy

The words that I want to say about marriage have been tumbling around inside my head for a very long time, but I have never hit publish because of fear.

Fear that you might think I am being judgemental. Fear that my words would hurt someone. Fear that you would see my vulnerability. Fear that I would be misunderstood.

Before you read on, know this: In no way do I think that someone in an abusive relationship should have to stay. There are MANY reasons people choose to leave a relationship, and I respect those who are strong enough to do so. Not every marriage will last and I do not judge anyones choices! This is intended for those who are dealing with the 'everyday' hardships of marriage and need a little encouragement that they are not alone.

 With that said, I have struggled to put into words the right mix of joy, pain, heartache and faith that it has taken to get my husband and I to every anniversary.
But what I have learned in my years of writing, is that every time I get …
Post a Comment
Read more