Hey Tammy! Goodness. I feel like this is it’s own post, and just may become one because it’s kind of impossible to answer all that in a comments section thoroughly ;}

Because of our situation, we are not staying at the house. I detailed it at length in this post here but it’s kind of complicated because there’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all formula for anyone. So check out that link and you’ll see more in detail as to why we went the route that we did.

Once you read that, however… my views now have changed. We’re torn about the route we took. I guess at the end of the day, every remodel will have it’s own problems that rear their ugly head. You just have to take one day at a time. Our biggest struggle right now: We are currently staying in an apartment across town {my parents’} which we are very grateful for, but we are very much over since we wanted to get our kiddos settled before school. We know we can’t have our cake and eat it too. We’re just tired. So this is one of our biggest challenges, and probably doesn’t even apply to your situation. We have to do what we have to do, and we couldn’t get through this without family, with the cost of real estate and rent here.

Because of our situation, we are having to haul it across town each time and it’s a bit of a trek. Having them settled is not going to happen because our county and their regulations are kind of ridiculous. So this has been a more drawn out process than we originally intended. Like, months more drawn out. Such is the nature of construction, though… TV magic makes it look so easy, right? ;} Bottom line, all our feelings aside: Because of the extent of our rehab with the ceiling like it is with a false vault, it was impossible to live there. We could have covered things with plastic and shut off vents, but dust takes two weeks to settle after the initial demo. For the health of our family, we decided to take this route. It is the most important factor to us.

The initial remodel includes all three levels. Since we’re not in the house, we decided to knock it out all at once as much as possible. We plan to finish out the basement as soon as we get the green light from inspectors. Our septic tank has put an unbelievable kink in things, and speaking to our neighbors, they have had similar issues because of this little aspect. We will leave a few things outside the loan and add our own touches {like an additional bathroom in the basement} once we are in. The plumbers are taking care of the initial plumbing for us so it won’t be too much trouble to add the pieces to the guts already in the walls.

Then in a year, we plan to add an addition, so that all our children can spread out a little and we will have our own space as they grow older. {This will be added off our kitchen area} We will be taking on the addition on our own. We plan for this to be our forever home. Things change, but we do want to stay. Thus all our troubles. We had to go this {initial} route, because of the rehab loan which enabled us to include everything in our mortgage and get it all done at once. {Again, more details in that link above}.

At the end of the day, we know it will be worth it. It’s just that relocating has been the most ridiculous process we’ve ever been through. It took us two years to make the transition : Jamin quit his job and then a year to sell our house… and once we got here we were only half way through it. So we are coming at it from a tired angle. ;} We know that it will be worth it in the end. And we will LOVE this house because it is completely our own, from the studs up. With all the charm included. It’s just a process. And we have to appreciate that process.

This could be a post on it’s own. I guess just be ready with your county’s regulations and inspections and what will be expected of you. We were warned, but the waiting is what has gotten the best of us. Because of our children. And we’re just homesick. ;} But grateful too because really these are all first world probs. At the end of the day. At least we’re here!

You can read more about what we’ve been through, phase by phase in our money pit series here. I hope this helps!

Anna – you have so wonderfully articulated what I am trying to go for. It’s like I’m drawn to things, and I don’t even know why. I grew up very heavily influenced by my grandmother’s and aunts houses – both from different worlds in terms of time and location but both had this charm that just captivated me. And I think that’s what it is. So here I am, trying to build a story of my own, within a story. ;}

Awe thank you so very much, Anna. Comments like this are why we share – it makes my heart happy to know that it is appreciated by someone who may use these resources and ideas and maybe make them their own – thank you!

I house sat a number of times a while ago in a very lovely old house with a faucet system like that throughout the gorgeous, old house. It was actually quiet pleasant and convenient. I felt graceful and old fashioned every time I used water. Seriously, it was fun and made me slow down *just a little* and enjoy using the faucets! Btw, the house had TONS of marble and old tile and old windows and wood floors and all of these things probably fit into the European model from the other post. They had a lot of old art, vases, sculptures, books, all with weathered charm over time. The place was a gem. Things in it were real, rather than fabricated — stone, wood, glass, tapestry, brass, and iron (lots of iron).

I’m pretty sure it’s going to work just fine! It will be fun to see what you think of it after it’s installed. We move around quite a bit right now, but one day when we’re in our “forever home” it’s conversations and blogs like this that that I’ll calling on for inspiration. 😀 PS the image in my head of you “drowning in septic” isn’t pleasant. LOL