15 East - Just a House

I know many of you have wanted to see before and afters of our 2nd home we renovated on Central Ave.  I wasn't the best at documenting the process.  I know, as a builder's wife/designer you'd think we would have had play by play photos coming in for marketing purposes...but, truth be told, it's just a house.  An old home, that probably should have been burned to the ground.  We bought a 2 family rental.  We weren't looking to sell our previous home.  We were super comfortable.  It had so much curb appeal, and the best neighbors in town.  But, there was no denying that God had another family planned for that space...we needed to let it go.  Honestly, we've moved enough, letting it go was not difficult. It too was just a house.  But, Central was our home, it was where we were planted.  We looked all over Zeeland for property.  Nothing felt right...so, we ended up purchasing the most delapidated home on the block...it was the only one on the street for sale at the time...

Yah, pretty nasty, right?  I was more focused on where God had landed us during this process and was way more excited about taking pictures of this...

Who gets the opportunity to live on Lake Michigan during one of the snowiest winters!?  It was amazing!  The view, the snow days, the fire in the fireplace, the sunsets, having the kids and really no one else around...why in the world would I want to be over documenting the process of our house...this was an incredibly restful place to land for 6 monhts...I barely thought about the new house, and just enjoyed the kids, the hikes, walks...it was heavenly.  it felt like a sanctuary...I found great rest...

The kids and I would make periodic stops to the home, but John was the one really working away...for someone who likes the design process, I was having a really hard time getting into this one...John would ask me what about this, what about that, I really didn't care inside, I just gave ideas and hoped it all worked out.  It had to be frustrating for him...but, how in the world could I focus on this?!...

...when the kids and I were enjoying this!?

It became a really long winter...the kids and I super content.  John becoming wrestless with the mountain that was before him...but, as with any "breaking" point in our lives, God has a way of allowing us to get to the edge, but, never fall of the cliff... we press in to Him, He always has us, always!  Slowly the snow began to melt and the sun began to shine...

And this old home that was falling apart slowly began looking like a home again...

With the long rough winter, and John having to maintain his other clients and keep them happy, we didn't meet our own deadline, this too, was God, as we had the opportunity to live on Mona Lake this summer and enjoy some special time with my parents and good friends, Glenn, Tanya, Evan, and Ava...this was a treat for each one of us!  

And some sweat friendships grew between the V and Z kids...

And with John working so much, Grandma and Grandpa were just the encouragement and influence our kids needed as they were missing their daddy's presence...

Little Marta and Silas really blossomed in their home...

...and I am very grateful for the 8 weeks we shared...memories that will go with the kids for a lifetime....

So, back to our house.. this experience will go with us for a lifetime.  The lakehouse experience let me sit quietly at the feet of Jesus, no interuptions, no distractions...I know my kids better...Central is a fun place to raise a family, but, it is a location that has a revolving door of excitement and activity, constantly...it's truly Central in our community, and therefore, it should be a place of hospitality and friendship!  John was stretched further than he would have liked.  He is a builder, a better builder today.  He cares about the end product and satisfied customers...he really does have the tools to get there, no matter how difficult the project!  And some how God gave me the mind to create (I had lost it out on the lake, literally, I think He took it from me for a period so I could really engage as a mom)...

So, now we are settled in...we didn't use the most expensive products on this home (yes, we even put vinyl siding on it).  We were about function and praticality-I love this about Zeeland, families are simple...as a small business builder, we knew we needed some curve appeal, but, it couldn't be everything...going simpler, a little more space, and still having high quality craftsmanship was our goal.  

A few ways we cut cost, for those who don't want to break the bank...we did not sod, we just threw grass seed down, save hundreds...takes patience, but, it is peaking through the dirt!: )...

Recovering a chair with soft and cozy fabric and wrapping it in a stripe adds a unique punch to a room, and is surpisingly cheaper if you find the right fabric.  Finding solid fabric for curtains and color blocking it is an inexpensive way to add color, too...

I love a colorful front door...one of the very few things we could save on this old home...remember if you add color to a door, glaze it so it's not so shocking...

Marta really does well sharing a room with her big sis...Dirk, one of our subs built this great stair of drawers and bunk bed...building up is a great idea when you need floor space...

As long as there are legos and American girl dolls in the house, it's really nice to build up and have the clutter out of the way...so instead of putting trusses up, stick build the rafters, this saved us money up front, but, was probably a wash once we had to finish the space, this was not a savings in the end, but, I love not having to worry about stepping a piece of legos or having to put away their toys...

I love bold high contrast colors...don't be afaid to use them...but, you need to tie it together with accessories/art/frames or it may feel a bit like a circus...

If you love a color, even if others tell you your crazy to use it...go for it, if you love it, you will always love it...this peri blue is the one color that has been with me since I've been married...if it's too intense, white wash the walls...this gave it a denim look...still going to have a friend stripe it to tie all the colors together...

If stuck...a nuetral wall always is best...

Oh, and friends, this is my favorite room...do not be afraid of wallpaper!  I wish all our clients would use it in their homes at least on 1 wall...and when my brain was on "shut-off" thank you Alison for telling me to keep the old vintage sink...the best save in the house!

I love it when homes feel personal...you can't see it, because it's not done, but, adding a huge wall of chalk board, cork, and magentic will let you display all those favorite art pieces your kids come home with, Bible verses or inspirational quotes, etc...

Just a house...but it's where God wants us today.  He wanted us to have this experience.  It was another hard one, not for me, but, for John.  So, why did we do it?  Because God told us to...He made a way...guided and directed...we didn't know what we would run in to with every wall that we tore down.  I had no idea my creative juices would shut off for a few months so I could experience a sweeter time with Jesus, and enjoy my kids in a way I have never enjoyed them...it's good to be back into "normal" but, this really is just a house...there are things way more eternal brewing on my heart...stay tuned...