Thursday, December 30, 2010

Favorite House Projects of 2010

If you're new to this blog, welcome to our home!  We started Welcome Sunshine Home in May 2010 and it's been a fun hobby for Jake and me to share outside of our full-time office jobs.  If you're a faithful reader, I hope you don't mind me gushing about our house.  Again.

In August 2005, Jake and I bought this 1892 colonial in southern Maine.  Our home has five good sized bedrooms, great closet and storage spaces, lovely moldings, and ONE bathroom.  Sigh  Gotta love the charm of older homes, right ?  :)  When we purchased it, every single square foot was screaming for TLC after surviving many years of rental abuse and neglect (chain smokers + absentee landlord = lots of damage).  We've used up gallons and gallons of paint, repaired broken windows, done painstaking wallpaper removal, removed nasty carpeting, overhauled the kitchen, updated the bathroom, and on and on and on.  So many projects that I can't even remember them.  All done before we became bloggers so we didn't think to capture 'before' shots of the house's pitiful original condition.

Ok, let's move on to my three favorite house projects of 2010...

Before


After



We bought a king size bed then decided to move from the house's master bedroom (it has a walk-in closet but no bathroom) into one of our guest rooms.  Here's the guest room...        

Former guest room BEFORE (crummy cell phone photo from 2007)

New guest room AFTER (different room in our house)

My absolute favorite!  Inexpensive, functional, and pretty.  Thank you, Jake! :)

Before 
awkward third floor half wall

After 
Wicked!  You can't see me but I'm behind the camera doing a happy dance.


Honorable Mentions
Our Living Room and Dining Room.  I appreciate their versatility and love how they've stood the test of time.




I hope you enjoyed seeing this peek into our home.  :)  Now, I'm off to see what everyone else picked!


The Lettered Cottage

The DIY Show OffBest of Tickled Pink at 504 Main

32 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 30, 2010 at 5:09 AM

    Very very nice! I really like these pictures and I'm sure the place feels great.

    I'm new to your site and I found you through a blog hop link. Would you fancy to follow me back?

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 30, 2010 at 9:23 AM

    OMG..you are an awesome decorator! Come do my house!

    Found you on The Baby Bottom Line and following you. Can't wait to see what other awesome stuff you have for me!

    ReplyDelete
  3. DatssocuteDecember 30, 2010 at 10:04 AM

    I love your house!! I am now following you. Hope you'll come by and check out my blog. Have a Happy New Year! BJ

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousDecember 30, 2010 at 10:44 AM

    I just love your home!! Your front porch is beautiful! I'm envious. I never would have thought of putting curtains up on the front porch. When we build our dream front porch, I'm going to have to copy that idea! :)
    Hope you are having a wonderful week.
    Beth.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Apron SenoritaDecember 30, 2010 at 11:16 AM

    ADORABLE - WOW !!!!!

    girl, you are creative.

    Happy New Year!!

    Yoli :)
    Apron Senorita

    ReplyDelete
  6. BrandiDecember 30, 2010 at 7:58 PM

    WOW! You have a beautiful home! I love your front porch!

    ReplyDelete
  7. HBrummettDecember 30, 2010 at 7:59 PM

    OH I LOVE IT!!! Your home is beautiful! Thanks so much for joining us at Traveling Through Thursday! I am already following you. Also I am starting a blog directory. Check out this post and email me if you are interested. http://livingonloveandcents.blogspot.com/2010/12/blog-directory-are-you-listed.html ALSO Happy New Year! Hope you have a safe and happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  8. ShannonDecember 30, 2010 at 9:17 PM

    I am in LOVE with your house!!!!!!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousDecember 30, 2010 at 9:35 PM

    I love your porch!!Wish I had a pretty porch like that instead of a little stoop! The ceiling in your living room is neat too!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Green Door GirlDecember 30, 2010 at 9:38 PM

    I posted on the actual porch post as well, but I love it and it is so funny I saw your wrapping and ribbon wall organization on another link up and didn't get to post (work or something distracted me) so it was meant to be that I come back and comment on it! I love it - I have the materials to do a wall paper holder and ummm have had them for 5+ months and have yet to do it! Hopefully it will make the 2011 list! :) Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Debra @ Life in a 320 square foot homeDecember 30, 2010 at 11:12 PM

    Oooohhhh, it is BLUE! I Love blue porches - I think we have similar tastes :) Thank you for the lovely comment - I appreciate it! I am following your blog now, can't wait to see what you do!

    XXX

    Debra

    ReplyDelete
  12. DebDecember 31, 2010 at 3:22 AM

    You have such a beautiful home Alison...especially love your porch! ~Deb~

    ReplyDelete
  13. My Cottage CharmDecember 31, 2010 at 5:11 AM

    Hey Alison! Thanks for visiting my blog and taking time to comment, it's much appreciated!
    Your home is lovely and I can tell you've put in many hours of love. :) I did a wrapping station this year if you'd like to see it..it's under the favorite projects tab on my blog. I only had space behind my utility room door, so I had to get industrious! :)
    Hope you have a wonderful New Year!
    Hugs
    Missy :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. The Splendiferous LifeJanuary 3, 2011 at 8:15 AM

    Love your makeovers...I am doing that right now hop over to my blog to see my before pics.
    I am your newest follower from Meet me monday blog..I am having a contest hop on over to my blog...thank you

    sherry

    http://splendiferousgirlsclub.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousJanuary 3, 2011 at 2:16 PM

    Your home is beautiful!


    Now following from http://babydealsdujour.com/blog

    We list all of the baby daily deals in real-time. Would love a follow back!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Kiersten @ Oh My VeggiesJanuary 3, 2011 at 5:31 PM

    Wow, your house is lovely! I love the ceiling in your living room. And I can't believe you have a gift wrapping room--just like Candy Spelling! :D

    I'm a new follower from Making Friends Monday. I would love it if you'd follow me back!

    http://thetypeahousewife.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Emily {Frilly Details}January 3, 2011 at 10:20 PM

    Oh wow, your home is gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  18. UnknownJanuary 4, 2011 at 2:37 PM

    It all looks wonderful! Love the changes you have done. Husband and I like the older homes too, but you hit on the one reason we didn't buy one, 1 bathroom. We are just too used to modern homes that have more than one. We also bought a house that needed A LOT of tlc 3 (almost 4) years ago. We have spent the last several years making lots of renovations as well. I didn't have a personal (non book) blog then, so didn't blog much about it, but I think I will now! Thanks for the idea.

    ReplyDelete
  19. curlie girlieJanuary 5, 2011 at 12:05 PM

    Your house is beautiful - you've really done a lot. I especially love the front porch!
    I'm your newest follower from Welcome Wednesday - come follow me too! :)
    Sara
    http://curliegirlie03.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. UnknownJanuary 6, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    Hi found you on Thursday's Friends blog hop and am now following.
    I want your porch!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Beautifully Forgiven, KortneyJanuary 6, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    Hi! I'm over from the blog hop! I love your rooms and your tree is just beautiful!!! I love it! I'm your newest follower. You can follow me back at kortneyskrazylife.blogspot.com! Thanks!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. UnknownJanuary 6, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    Wow. Everything looks great. Thanks for linking to FFF and CCC. www.lilyslaundryblog.com and www.cleaningclairescloset.com
    Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  23. ashleynicholeJanuary 6, 2011 at 8:31 PM

    Your house is beautiful! I hope you'll follow back.

    www.stilettostostrollers.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. MichelleJanuary 7, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    What a charming home. I love it.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Annie (Lady M) xJanuary 7, 2011 at 11:30 AM

    I am doing this ‘Boost my blog Friday′ that I saw over at Design It Chics blog and I am now following you! This is such a cool idea isn’t it?! Love your blog by the way - those before and after pictures are an inspiration.... now where did I put my paintbrush?!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Colie's KitchenJanuary 7, 2011 at 4:46 PM

    Hi this is Nicole from Colie’s Kitchen. I am a regular follower who really enjoys reading your blog. I just wanted to stop by and say hi. I hope all is going well. Have a great weekend. www.colieskitchen.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Autumn Blues ReviewsJanuary 7, 2011 at 5:39 PM

    Such a beautiful home and I am jealous of your porch. I have always wanted a porch like yours. I found you on the Let's give it away blog hop. Stop over when you get a chance and join my blog.
    http://autumnbluesreviews.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  28. AlliejeanJanuary 7, 2011 at 8:51 PM

    What a beautiful home! Im your newest GFC follower from Following Friday! I would love it if you could follow me also http://reinventedmama.blogspot.com/
    Allie

    ReplyDelete
  29. PetersJanuary 8, 2011 at 12:25 AM

    I am a new follower through the Friday blog hop. I love your house pictures. I look forward to viewing your blog. Stop by and follow me too please. www.thepetersporch.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. HALLELUJAHS BY HOLLYJanuary 8, 2011 at 12:51 AM

    Your newest follower via Bee Friendly Friday, and I love your blog! Such a sweet and colorful home. How lovely. Would love for you to follow me if you'd like!

    Blessings to you,
    Holly
    http://hallelujahsbyholly.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Shah WhartonJanuary 12, 2011 at 6:16 AM

    Hello - I'm following from the hop - From Shah, at wordsinsync.blogspot.com

    XX

    ReplyDelete
  32. UnknownJanuary 13, 2011 at 5:25 PM

    Love the porch. Thanks for linking to FFF. Have a Fabulous Day. www.LilysLaundryBlog.com and www.CleaningClairesCloset.com

    ReplyDelete

So, what do you think? Don't be shy...we're all friends here. :) We love hearing from you and read every note you leave us!