Party House Before
The Hedin family has decided to embark on a major massive remodel project. By major and massive, I mean we have to move our of the house and we don't get to go back into it for almost a year. All of my fingers and toes and ankles are crossed in hopes that it will be done in less than a year. But we all know how big projects go...
The original house was built in the late 1940's early 1950's and has some elements of mid-century modern (which we love) but not enough elements to be actually cool.
Ugg, the front door. Let's start with the front door I guess. It's ugly. I believe they painted it red to sell it because the color has faded dramatically since we bought the house. The windows are awesome. The shutters on the side? The curvy everything at the front? No thank you. This all has to change.
The front entrance has a front door that pops you into a small entry area. When the front door is open you are held within a small four foot area that's a little tight for greeting people and taking coats. When friends come to get their kids from playdates there's a weird thing where you have to get the door open, then closed to get the children from down the other hall. It's awkward at best and it makes the front entry seem really tiny even though it isn't.
That curve though.
There's the front door on the left and this is the hallway from the kitchen to the bedroom "wing." I have adored that white wall on the right because the light it bounces is fantastic. Otherwise, it divides the living room from the front hall and it's kind of awkward. Note the bag on the top? It's become a perfect storage for coats and it makes me crazy.
The living room is huge. Huge huge. It's been so fabulous to have such a huge space. That fireplace was one of the things I loved when we first walked through the house because it is so decidedly vintage. Turns out, however, if you want to arrange furniture around a corner fireplace you've got to get really creative or ignore the fireplace entirely. I've chosen option 2.
There's also the quirky trick of getting into the backyard. Do you see it through those windows? That huge backyard is accessible through a small door that's right where that carpet is on the left. Wouldn't it be amazing to slide open all of those windows and access the yard? Especially on the gorgeous days of summer we have in Seattle.
The dining room shares the same issue as the living room; no access to the backyard. But more importantly, look at how that kitchen is hidden behind the swinging 'saloon' door and you literally can't see anyone from one room to the other! For someone who lives in the kitchen, this is really annoying.
Speaking of annoying. Here's the kitchen. I don't know if I need to say more. If you follow my blog regularly, or know my app Weeknight Society, or have been to my house ever - you know that I love to cook. This kitchen is a real pain in the ass for someone who loves to cook.
This room needs loads of work - a configuration that's more useful for entertaining, a stove that's powered by gas, removing upper cabinets so you can see more clearly, and a whole lot of cosmetic changes.
Our backyard is pretty open since it backs up to a golf course. So the front yard has been made more private with this fence. It's great for keeping the dog in when you need to, but we moved into this house because we love the neighborhood, we love the neighbors, we love that our friends walk this neighborhood regularly. The fence has made it hard for them to know when we are home - and we feel so isolated from the neighbors playing football in the street. I love those trees on the fence, but otherwise, it's got to go.
Mr. Hedin and I are so excited to get started on this project. I'll post once a week on the inspiration, the direction we're heading, the design (!) when it's ready to share, and every step along the way as we bust out these walls and make this house a real party house.
xoxo, ali