The Fixer-Upper?

Home Sweet Home Repair-- Our new place

 Anyone who has purchased a home knows that existing homes are like people--they have their quirks. Cousin Letty clips his toe nails and scatters them on the living room floor; the kitchen faucet drips incessantly.  Uncle Joe clucks his tongue while watching football; the garage door groans its complaints when closing.  A forgetful child refuses to pick up dirty clothing left on the bathroom floor; the stained grout between kitchen tiles defies extra-strength cleaning solution.  Our new house, like our family, is brimming with potential.
  The problem is that I didn't realize just how much "potential" my new home possessed.  While listening to a energized rendition of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered..." on The Voice, I reached for the remote to turn up the already blaring television.  "I can't hear over the sound of the dishwasher," I said to Matt.

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/35dk9y

   "Preparing for take-off.  All systems ready," he quipped minutes later.  We chuckled, both picturing the noisy dishwasher sprouting wings, soaring above the house because the damn thing actually sounds like a roaring engine.  Call it first-world problems, but when my dishwasher gets in the way of Adam Levine's articulate critique of the battle-rounds, then we might as well be starving in Africa.

   Speaking of developing countries, check out this pic:

   This is where our double oven should be.  Instead, we have a weird gaping cut-out above the microwave.  "Seriously?" I said aloud when removing the rigged casing around it.  Opposite the oven are the cabinets, which were that terrible orange oak color until we had them painted a crisp, clean Dover white.  With the updated color palette, the kitchen looks much nicer now. But that doesn't cure the incurable disease, I want.   I want custom-made cabinets with patterned glass doors.  I want marble counter-tops, a gas stove instead of electric, and refinished island with pendant lights hanging above oh-so elegantly.  Like this dream kitchen!

Transitional Kitchen by Toronto Interior Designers & Decorators Cheryl Scrymgeour Designs
 

Someday, someday but for now:

The banister is wobbly,
the fence is worn,
the sprinklers are wonky,
and the grass has thorns!

Now, don't get me wrong--our new home is charming and before long the light switch to nowhere will become a forgotten wall fixture.  We are blessed and pleased to finally have a permanent address.  Idiosyncrasies establish character, and currently we are brimming with it!  Pictures of our improvements soon to follow.