We are actively looking for a house, against the advice of one good friend, who said we needed to wait at least a year before deciding on a place to live. As as abstract rule, I understand how that could be a good thing. You get to see each area in four different seasons and you can really learn the ins and outs of individual neighborhoods. The cons to that are that 1) you'll never really learn the ins and outs of the neighborhoods until you actually live in one, and 2) for us, it would mean staying in a less-than desirable rental until that time.
The shortcomings of the rental are numerous. The house itself is a neglected manufactured house which was actually left open to the elements, with a sizable hole in the roof, for over a year. Even if that were not the case, it is now 15 years old, and most manufactured homes begin to decline after about 20 years, usually becoming worth far less than the land they are on. This house will be no different. It's sad because it has several really nice features I like -- soaking tub, plenty of room, double oven and huge walk-in pantry -- but we suspect the mold has set in due to its time when the roof was open, and therefore it's not a good long-term option for us.
But while we're here, we're committed to making it as livable as possible. When Big Ag said he found the riotous paint colors depressing, I set about painting in some soothing neutrals to make it less soul-suckingly ugly, especially since the company that owns the house agreed to pay for paint and any other repairs we wanted to make. So here are some before and after photos, along with a few shots I took on a day hike along the Lukiamute River natural preserve last weekend.
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| I liked the gray, but the paint had a lot of dents and scuffs where white showed through, with no way to match the color to repair. (And Big Ag hated it.) |
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| This probably made the biggest difference. That kitchen was just SO dark. |
You've accomplished so much in only a month! Looking great!
ReplyDeleteWorking hard on it, which feels weird since it's not ours. But I like to think we're fostering it and making it better so someone else will want to live in it once we're gone!
DeleteI've been absent for some time, but I want to go back and read your posts. We are making a big move too. We are selling our house in Ohio and planning to rent a home in northern Arizona for a year to see if we want to live there. I'm excited and terrified at the same time. I want to experience a different part of the country. Rather than just visit, I want to be immersed in it. A week here and there just won't do. I've been to Arizona a few times and want to visit all the national and state parks that are near. The heat will take some getting used to, but I'm looking forward to the mild winters.
ReplyDeleteI think Northern Arizona will be AMAZING and you will love it. It won't be as hot as Southern AZ, either. So happy to hear you're making a big move, I think it's good to do something different if it's something you've always wanted to do. It's scary but also exhilarating. Best of luck in your preparations!
DeleteAfter painting, everything is looking so much better!! Brava. Looking forward to how you have cleaned up the yard so far. And maybe you can plant a few pots of herbs {you mentioned parsley}. Good luck with the house hunting.
ReplyDeleteThanks Robin. Planted some potted parsley and did a little weeding and dead-heading in the garden, trying to do just enough to make it feel better without making any huge investments of money or time!
DeleteYour rental is absolutely beautiful. You have such a magic touch and I am envious. As for gardening and yardwork, I was never able to work up the interest. One of the things that appeals to me about AZ are the yards with stones and native plants. I will not miss weeding.
ReplyDeleteThat's so true, Molly! I think if you stand still in Oregon for longer than a couple of minutes, weeds will begin to cover you haha. Arizona has the advantage of being so dry that weeds don't even try to grow in non-irrigated areas. Makes for neater yards.
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