I promise, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth! What I have been doing is moving a zillion animals, children, and boxes from here to kingdom come. And by kingdom come, I mean about 1.5 miles down the road from our old farm. But Lawdy – who knew that moving 1.5 miles from one farm to another could cause such complete and devestating destruction!
It's old house renovation, friends.
(Don't mind me while I go and curl up in fetal position and cry for a few moments before we continue).
I have been so anxious to share these ‘before' photographs with you, but seeing as there is currently no internet access at the new farm, our online time has been limited to a few hours tucked away in a coffee shop – thanks to my Mother's helper who is spending a few hours with my littles so that I can come up for air. Mothers need helpers, man. Lots and lots of helpers.
Where do we start, now that we've got some uninterrupted time together, and I've got a full 16 ounce London Fog sitting by my side? How about a zillion pictures? Yes. Let's do that.
Want to see what we pulled out? How's this trash pile for ya:
Pretty, huh? Vertical blinds, pink carpet, 80's curtains, seriously awesome stuff. I was super thankful for my Dad who used to pull and install carpet for years – he came in the first night we could get into the house and worked like a mad man to get it all pulled up for us.
Part of what was revealed was this subfloor in the addition to the original house that was added in the 70's.
I actually really like this floor. So instead of doing something right away, we just decided to paint it a fresh color and leave it be for a bit until we could settle on a permanent solution. It's old, rustic, and dirty. My favorite! Want to see it painted?!
Don't worry – I'll share that a bit further down. But first, here's a shot from the living room down the stairs/into the dining room. This room is ah-mazing. It has six, gigantic bay windows that look out over the river and the mountains. See?
And, of course, never far from my view is my ‘helper'.
Here's another peek from before. We painted the walls first in ‘Revere Pewter' – my very favorite subtle grey color that my friend Angela recommended and that will soon cover every single wall in the house because it's radical.
And the after! And during. I'm in looooove. I'm pretty sure my entire family thinks I'm off my rocker, but I love the rusticness of it. It totally fits us.
It looks extra dirty in these pictures because, well, it was. I haven't swept it in a few days and we've been dragging in boxes through the mud and snow. It's terrible and never ending. Which is why I haven't put any effort into cleaning the floors…yet.
When we ripped up the pink carpet in the dining room and bedrooms, we found this glorious HARD WOOD FLOOR. Hard wood floor, my friends. In wonderful condition. It needs to be refinished, but it's glorious. (Picture me singing here: GLOOORIOUSSSS!).
I made Stu put in my dining room light pronto. The brass ceiling fan was staring at me, taunting me, screaming at me to fix it. The rest of the dining room? Well… I'll get there.
We also found this little man under the carpet. I'm taking it as a good sign.
What next… how about the ONE bathroom in the house? Oh ya… you'll love this guys.
I know, right? HA! Teeny tiny. But hey, less toilets for me to clean! So that's something.
And it's got a pink tub. So Georgia pretty much thinks it's the best thing in the world.
The dining room floor proved to be a bit of a bigger challenge. It's raised up about 4″ from the original floor because of how many layers of flooring there have been installed over the years. But after we ripped out the faux oak island, we found a hole in the ground that went all the way to the original flooring – wood planks that run the length of the room and the ceiling of the root cellar that sit underneath the kitchen. What's that? You're wondering if I'm going to rip out 4″ of flooring and reveal the wood planks and then paint them and have the most rustic, glorious farm floor in the history of the world? You bet I am.
It's going to be awesome. If you're me. If you're you, it may not be. But I'm slowly realizing you can't design a house for anyone but your family.
My gigantic, awesome white table replaced the faux oak island. I'm in love with this table.
Not so in love with everything else in the kitchen. Yet.
I do love the fact that we finally got the espresso machine hooked back up. Thank you, Jesus!
New farm sink is being delivered as we speak. The countertops are going to be covered in copper sheeting. The lower cabinets will be detailed and painted. And all of the upper cabinets will be removed for open shelving.
The long side of the table will be covered with a curtain to hid my kitchen goodies from the rest of the world (See the fabric sitting on top? It's handmade hemp fabric from France and I got it for a steal on eBay!).
And outside? Well that's another post. But the animals (for the most part) and here and loving their new, protected digs. I'll share more on that experience soon…
Ooh – and before I forget, baby #4 is growing and is totally awesome. I took the first belly picture of this pregnancy to show you. Under my pig apron, yo.
Also, I'm now so exhausted from posting all this that I can no longer continue. My London Fog has run dry and there is still much work to be done!
I'm happy to at least be sharing a bit of our life here so far with you – I cannot wait to share more! I'll make sure to take lots and lots of after pictures as we slowly begin to transform this old house into our home.
Unless I die of exhaustion. In which case I won't be able to share much. But I'll make Stuart vow to upload the photographs for me, so as not to leave you hanging.
Pray for me! And Amen.
JenMc
January 12, 2016 at 12:31 pmSO happy for you…we moved into our old farmhouse 2 years ago, from a rental in town (Pullman), that hat 2 1/2 bathrooms. While I was there (and pregnant with a very active-in-the-womb #3), I absolutely disliked having to clean 3 toilets on 2 different levels; and I greatly missed my 1 bathroom, laundry shoot-equipped 1920 cottage that we’d sold in Seattle. Well, Jesus gives good gifts, because He gave me back my 1 bathroom AND a laundry shoot to the basement laundry room. There’s a ‘farmers bathroom’ in the laundry room that will eventually be remodeled, in time for my 3 boys to be old enough and responsible for it’s cleaning! 😉 . Enjoy that 1 bathroom, lady… and the rest of your fun space!!!
Cori
January 12, 2016 at 12:33 pmLove the new house!! I totally love your style very similar to my own and I would totally rip all that flooring out too 🙂
Kristen
January 12, 2016 at 12:35 pmWow thanks so much for sharing! I can’t wait to see all the work you will do! And the floor is amazing!
Lauren Swinson
January 12, 2016 at 12:37 pmThanks for letting your readers live vicariously through you! I love everything! Congratulations!!!
PS: You are seriously my favorite blog of all time. 🙂
Marilyn
January 12, 2016 at 12:43 pmAmazing! You’re going to love it there! Especially the room with all those big Windows! We just got done fixing up an old house and moving in.. Lots of work but so rewarding! I love the hardwood we also found under neath disgusting carpet (one of the nice things about older houses, is finding these beautiful surprises) 😉 we plan on refinishing it next summer.. Don’t work too hard! 😉
Carrie
January 12, 2016 at 12:50 pmYes, the house must have spoken to you. That is alot of work. I may have passed on it, however, my first house was an olive green wood sided flat roof with one bathroom and I still love it to this day because of the huge living space and an entire wall of windows. We did alot of work transforming it and when you put that much in it you ultimately fall in love.
Julie
January 12, 2016 at 12:52 pmLove this! Thank you for sharing!
Abby Jo @ Forgotten Way Farms
January 12, 2016 at 1:05 pmI love this post!!! Keep sharing, so fun to see everything 🙂 You need to knock a out a huge window in the kitchen, it wouldn’t be hard. And then you would have natural light to photograph in. I wish Daniel and I lived closer, he can build and make anything. Sending prayers your way!
Megan
January 12, 2016 at 1:13 pmAhaha, we moved into a new-to-us home last summer and while we do have 2 bathrooms, one is baby pink and the other is baby blue tiled, tub, shower surround, everything matches in the respective colors and my girls think the pink bathroom is completely epic. Of course they are ghastly! Lol…
Kristin k
January 12, 2016 at 1:54 pmI love that you are taking us on this journey with you! I hope you will post lots of updates! So excited for y’all!!
Erin Ludwig
January 12, 2016 at 2:16 pmEeeeech! I’m so excited for your family and to watch as you pull everything together! I’ve been following your blog for quite a while – like, years – but only recently found the courage to begin commenting. I’m so inspired by everything you do! Also, those windows in the living room are ah-mazing! Thank you for sharing. I know I’m not the only one who’s been itching to see inside. 🙂
Virginia
January 12, 2016 at 2:45 pmYou are living God’s plan for your life….I admire you as you fulfill His plan….making this space a home for your spouse and your children….God bless!!
Anajú
January 12, 2016 at 3:24 pmOh Shaye, it’s amazing! The living spaces are really big and so much windows!! Can’t wait to see the animal’s houses and the spring it’s around the corner, you will have veggies in anytime. Congratulations, really. There’s no joy as having your oun place in this beautifull world.
Olivia Watson
January 12, 2016 at 4:20 pmI’ve been waiting for this post! 🙂 Praying for you, Shaye. You’re doing amazing!
Rhonda (GrannyNana)
January 12, 2016 at 4:30 pmLOVE this! Thanks for sharing! It will be fun to watch it evolve. I’m still here with you, reading along in blogdom. Thanks for sharing. Anxiously awaiting the new book. Pre-purchased as soon as you said we could.
Rachel E.
January 12, 2016 at 6:19 pmGorgeous view!
alyson
January 12, 2016 at 6:22 pmCongrats! Y’all are doing amazing, it’s so beautiful!! I was wondering if that orchard is also on the property?
Nicole @Little Blog on the Homestead
January 12, 2016 at 6:31 pmIt looks amazing!! SO much potential and it’s so cool that you’re able to customize it to what your famly needs/wants. I’m a bit obsessed with gray right now as a paint color myself!!
St1ckyBum
January 12, 2016 at 7:47 pmLove it all and really dig your style. I am a huge fan of French country. I cant wait to see how you progress! Congats on the move and happy renovating!
Angela
January 12, 2016 at 8:32 pmLoving that revere pewter.
When I saw the garbage thru the kitchen window I laughed out loud. Poor thing! Wish I could hop in my truck and work all week with ya!
Katherine Rhodes
January 13, 2016 at 12:58 amCongratulations! It’s a beautiful home! I adore copper in kitchens, so can’t wait to see your counters when they’re done. Praying for strength, energy (for you parents not kiddos lol) and good health.
Carole West @ Garden Up Green
January 13, 2016 at 6:48 amCongrats on baby #4 – and your remodel is looking great! We bought an old farm with a very outdated forgotten home that we’ve been remodeling for the last six years in preparation to sell this spring so we can start over again. I know crazy but i want more quiet. Anyways smile because you’ve done a lot in a short period of time. My tub is a golden color same design, I think I would have been happier with pink, lol. I’m finally working on that bathroom remodel now and it’s slowly coming together. We also only have one bathroom, we survived with two teenagers too. Your kitchen reminds me of ours. I removed all the top cabinet doors and painted them white – made a huge difference especially when we added in new counter tops.. A remodel can be stressful so remember to focus on what you’ve accomplished and not what needs to be done. Looks great and I love the open space.. Great place to raise a family! Congrats!
Lelia
January 13, 2016 at 8:22 amQuestion…first picture in set of three of the close up kitchen cabinets…is that a HAM on the counter? LOL
Amy
January 13, 2016 at 8:27 amSuch a beautiful new place! I’m with you on all the potential 🙂 Love reading your blogs and thinking about my future that I hope is somewhat close to where you are now!! Such inspiration, thank you!!
Emily
January 13, 2016 at 8:29 amYay! so exciting!! …and revere pewter covers all our walls too…all except the wythe blue ones 🙂
Deb B
January 13, 2016 at 10:50 amBeautiful views! I love your pictures. .. and can imagine all the work! But it’s so worth it!
We moved into a house that was over 100 years old, with a new baby ( at least I wasn’t pregnant tho!) and 5 other little ones. We were replacing old wiring, tearing down walls -oh! The neat things we found!… a farm ledger from the 1930’s that documented everything! How many chickens, eggs sold, how much wire cost for repairs… and expenses were totaled up -that came to 39 cents!
So fun, but so tiring too… the kids were finally able to run and play after living in a small trailer. .. seeing how happy & excited they were, even when they were doing their chores! – really helped, even though there were times when I was so tired & overwhelmed with it all that I locked myself in the bathroom to cry… that never lasted long -we only had one bathroom too!
Clare
January 13, 2016 at 11:52 amit’s beautiful, Shaye! you’ve got such an eye for this sort of thing, you domestic goddess, you. I’m loving that living space! thanks for sharing!
Crystal
January 13, 2016 at 12:30 pmI just can’t comprehend how you can do so much, and raise your wee ones AND be cooking baby number 4. I’m working on baby number ONE and trying to move, and its just the most exhausting things ever. If you have a secret I demand you share it with us! Congrats on the new house! I will be amazing, and I wouldn’t worry too much about the bathroom. I too grew up in a house with 4 people and one bathroom. But it was half the size of yours! You learn and adapt. Never forget to be thankful for flushing toilets and hot water showers!
lyn moon
January 13, 2016 at 1:17 pmCan’t wait to see more. All your idea sound fantastic.
julie
January 13, 2016 at 2:24 pmThank you so much for the photos and story. Don’t rush the posts, I’m pretty sure none of us are going anywhere. We love your blog and style Shaye. Happy Trails.
julie
January 13, 2016 at 2:26 pmPS. I love that you will cover your countertops with copper!!! It’s kinda our thing. 🙂
Ali
January 13, 2016 at 6:26 pmMoving+remodel=Yuck! Moving+remodel+pregnancy+snow=SHOOT ME NOW!!!!! Big score on the wood floors under the carpet. Can’t wait to see your remodel. I caution you to think about removing those upper cabinets though. Our farm we bought last year has a beautiful butlers pantry that is all open shelving on both sides and lord help me! The dust drives me nuts! I absolutely love how it looks, but seriously, I have to wash EVERYTHING before I use it. Which is annoying since everything is clean when it gets put away. If an item goes unused for even one week, it has to be re-washed before using. We have a lot of wind where we live and, you know… farms have dirt and that dirt is full of poop. Which ends up all over my dishes and appliances in my pretty butler’s pantry. Especially when my hubby mows the orchard!! So I’m now trying to think of some pretty way to cover my open selves because… farm dirt. And poop!
catherine
January 13, 2016 at 7:54 pmIve been looking forward to this post. I love your humorous enthusisam for everything rustic and old; your resourceful creativity and showing us how you repurpose- it is inspiring; the fantastic orchard, im sure youll have more recipies to post; the view from the picture windows is like a postcard; its great that you have helpers- your Dad and hubbie etc, and I did laugh also at the box monsters at the window.
Jacqueline Snell
January 14, 2016 at 9:52 amThis is so exciting! I’m praying for you over here in Cali, and ahem a little for myself as I am thoughly green with envy,????
Cheryl
January 14, 2016 at 10:17 amLove he new place looks like you guys are getting right to work on things!
The photos are great! We just did a total gut job on your new house and painted it grateful grey.
Grey is AWESOME!! Out your windows I see lots of trees is that an Orchard????
I am working on an Orchard and I am so excited !
Best of luck there on your new homestead. Spring is coming 🙂
Peacock Orchard
January 14, 2016 at 11:58 amYou go girl. You are a rebel. I admit that I did rip up 1500 sq ft of pink carpet while 5 months pregnant myself. Unfortunately our subfloor was not awesome and I had to lay the wood floors myself. They are glorious now though. Well they would be if our dogs weren’t the size of horses and preferred to lay in the most visible spot. Poor floors.
Good luck on the kitchen too. I’m mid reno there. Finally put a wall back up between our kitchen and bathroom so my husband is a bit happier with me. You’re a trooper! Moving is never fun. I hope to just renovate the crap out of this house so I never have to go somewhere else.
Sandra Grecki
January 14, 2016 at 12:12 pmWhat a fantastic house!!! It looks so great already and I can absolutely see all that potential you were talking about!!! REALLY great bones indeed!!! Good luck with everything and I am already looking forward to all the other posts that will follow!!! 🙂
Tiffany
January 14, 2016 at 4:49 pmWhat kind of paint did you use to paint the sub floors? Might have to steal this idea for my kitchen. We moved into a 100 year old farm house that has like 12 layers of flooring and I keep tripping over pealing edges.
Sheri
January 14, 2016 at 6:55 pmWe just did something for a friend, bought those rubber barn/stall floor mats and put those down on her floor. They are thick, soft for kids to play on (holds up to horses!), water proof, and solar passive.
Amy
January 15, 2016 at 9:24 amSo happy for you!!!
The pictures of the view out your living room windows brought up many memories and happy tears for me. My parents’ families on both sides had land in central and eastern Washington, and I spent many happy summers exploring with my cousins, flinging cow patties and catching grasshoppers. Your children are so blessed to have you two as parents, and to have the opportunity to grow up in this setting.
Loooooove your white table! I am so looking forward to seeing more house and farm pictures soon.
Janet
January 15, 2016 at 11:30 amThose den windows!!!! WOW!!!!
I’m amazed at how much you have done so quickly. We’ve been here 1.5 year, and there’s still tack strip on the schoolroom floor. We hope to have the inside finished by the end of year 2. You’ll probably have yours done next week =)
Praying for your sanity, strength, and kids.
marie
January 24, 2016 at 8:17 amThanks for sharing the progress. Looks awesome.
Michael
January 25, 2016 at 11:29 pmI was born Rustic, so I know exactly what you mean. I found a rusted all heavy steel wheelbarrow that is very old, I fondled over and would rather have than a shiny new tin painted one from Home Depot for $60 that bends on a heavy load.
We torn up the pea green carpet in our house and found a beautiful hard wood floor underneath. A little sanding and some varnish and we had a beautiful floor.
Jeremy C
February 10, 2016 at 10:07 amI love what you’re doing with the place. I’m one of the grandkids who grew up spending much of time there in the 80’s back when they owned the 30 acre orchards around the place. Great memories of huge Christmas dinners packing the place full of laughter and summer nights crashing on the couch by those massive windows after a hard day lugging fruit. Thank you for buying it and making it your home now. I hope you and your family have a great life there!
Hannah
September 23, 2016 at 10:53 pmI would love to know where you got your dining room light? It’s beautiful piece and have been looking everywhere for one without breaking the bank!