Hello again and Happy October!

I’m continuing the tour through my new home to show you before and after photos of the changes and any projects/renovations I’ve made thus far since purchasing it last June 2024. Today I am going to show you the remainder of the downstairs: the dining area, kitchen, living room, and back patio. I wanted to go ahead with this next part of the tour so that I can potentially do a fall/Halloween decor post of the downstairs area soon. It is October after all! Holy moly…it’s October.

If you missed the home tour posts or DIY projects of the previous home(s) then click here.

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Let’s get started.

Welcome (back) to my home!

DINING AREA and KITCHEN BEFORE:

DINING AREA and KITCHEN UPDATES:

I changed the chandelier over the dining table to add some character and I wanted it to be a bigger size than what was there.
I will be changing the cabinet pulls and handles soon to a brushed gold. I have them picked out, I just haven’t placed the order yet. =)
I just finally decorated the top shelf of the open shelves two weeks ago. I’m generally not a fan of open shelves in kitchens so when I moved in I knew I wouldn’t use it to store dishes of any kind. I set up the area for the pups’ food and treats canisters and added some decor.

DINING AREA and KITCHEN AFTER:

Easy LTK shopping links: dining room and kitchen furniture & decor // kitchen decor // open shelf decor

LIVING ROOM BEFORE:

LIVING ROOM UPDATES:

None! I negotiated for the sellers to leave the curtains (they wanted to take them) because they coordinated with the valences in the kitchen and dining room. So, when it came to this area I only had to purchase furniture and did not make any other changes. Some of these photos I took a while back and since then added some additional items you may see in some of the photos. I did change the cabinet handles and console pulls on the furniture I purchased. I was enamored with the magpie bird pulls and finally decided the cabinets were the perfect place to add them. I will eventually hang a large painting of a lake/pond surrounded by trees that was my Mammaw’s on the main wall. It used to hang in her formal living room, then in her den after she moved. I always loved it and she left it to me, but it is still at my sister’s house in TN until I can figure out how to get it here.

LIVING ROOM AFTER:

Easy LTK shopping link: living room furniture // living room decor

BACK PATIO BEFORE:

It still blows my mind that the builder of this community didn’t build any kind of covering over the back door(s) to these homes. I had to temporarily use a large umbrella to “help” block the direct rain while I awaited HOA approval. The original owner had a cat and they only lived here two years so I can see why it wasn’t on their radar, but it was immediately on mine with the pups.

BACK PATIO UPDATES:

I added a patio covering to the backyard. I had to interrupt the construction when I realized they were not building it centered to the back door in an attempt to work around the window placements as well as I did not like the low sides they were trying to add. I had them tear out the low sides and shift the construction to make it centered with the back door. This provided me with additional space on each side of the existing patio stones which has been AMAZING for the pups to be able to potty while it rains.
I turfed the backyard to make it easier for the pups and cleaner for me. No more muddy mess!
I drilled in hooks and added the patio string lights (all by myself, thank you very much), bought simple patio furniture, and added the faux trees and faux mum because I can’t keep plants alive. The struggle is dire and it is real.