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This Ain’t My First {Remodeling} Rodeo.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Big Blue House+ Remodeling

My in-laws came by to see Susie and me today, and asked me, “Are you still liking your house?”

I had to think before I answered that.

I’m grateful for this house, really I am. But I’ll be honest… it’s overwhelming living in a house where every single inch of it needs work. And sometimes, just flat depressing, because you can see the potential of all this house could be… but you know there’s no time OR money to make it happen, and you’re going to have to live with this dadgum 1970s shag carpet and metallic wallpaper for the rest of your life. *breathes into a paper bag

I’ve spent today trying to make some headway SOMEWHERE, and ended up where I always do: smoking cigarettes, drinking heavily and threatening to set fire to this house  breathing deeply, and calmly taking a coffee break to look back through before and after pictures of my last house to remind myself that I can do this. 

This was the entry of my second house, a 1928 Colonial that looked like THIS when I found it….



And after:




And here’s the front of our house, before: (Think those might be orbs?? Remind me to tell you the ghost stories of this house someday).






And after:



So if I can do that last one, I can do this one, right?

But just to be on the safe side, somebody better come and take these matches away…

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Comments

  1. CJ says

    August 20, 2013 at 9:41 pm

    I'm embarking on an adventure with a house. You are giving me hope. I'm often discouraged lately. But I'm strong, almost as strong as you, so I can do it too!

    Reply
  2. Kelly says

    August 23, 2013 at 6:55 am

    I feel like I live in someone's disorganized storage unit after a break-in! All our stuff is in boxes so that we can move it from room to room as we get ready to do more of the finish work on this never-ending remodel. Too broke and too tired most of the time to do any of it! I feel for you.

    Reply

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About Me


Hey there... I'm Melissa! Texas girl. Mom to three + one goldendoodle. Believer. Old house fanatic. Creating a happy + healthy home with purpose is my passion. I'm so glad you're here!

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I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 years of paint off of this door down to the wood and start over… but that person has no business starting new projects. 😅 My neighbors must have thought this project would never end. *I* thought this project would never end. 😰 If you’re thinking of doing this yourself? Just don’t, ok? Throw the whole door away and buy a new one. 😂🤣 Just kidding.  Old house weirdos like me… we can’t just do things the easy way. Anyhoo… after some trial and error, @sherwinwilliams Celestial is what I landed on, and I have to say… I like it. Periwinkle-ish blue looks great with the yellow house and will look even better when the azaleas are in bloom. Was it all worth it? That’s not important right now. 🤭 Will I do this all again in two years? The magic eight ball says… without a doubt. 👏🏻 I’ve already picked the next color. #gluttonforpunishment #somefoolsneverlearn #oldhouselove #oldhomelove #makinghome #southernliving #gardenandgun #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in an 80-year-old house completely worth it … what broken pipes, icy hardwood floors and drafty windows? 🤔 I forgot already. #comeonspring #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Happy Saturday ☀️ Happy Saturday ☀️
Salt Lake City is always magical ✨ Salt Lake City is always magical ✨
2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrollin 2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrolling through my pics from the last twelve months made me realize how blessed and content I am. Prosperity, love, and peace have been ours in abundance, in spite of the pain of losing my dad. The second picture is the last picture of him… the last time I saw him. 💔 But God has been good to my family this year and 2022 is ending far better than it began. 😄 #2022inreview #thanksforthememories
Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍ Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍♀️
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That’s it. That’s the tour. (Slide two). 
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It’s a new trend I’m starting: bare Christmas tree. Lowe’s tag still attached (so quirky and unexpected)! Christmas ornaments still in boxes. Coming soon to an Anthropologie window display near you. 
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Every year I think, “next year I’ll do better. Next year I’ll have it together.” And then, here we are on the SIXTH Christmas that we’ve been in this house, the sixth Christmas I’ve dragged our chaotic bunch of Christmas mess out of a chaotic garage I still haven’t unpacked from our move six years ago. 
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Maybe this year is the year I’ll organize it all and put it back neatly so that by Christmas number 7, it will be smooth sailing. People will flock to my social media to see how I’ve pulled everything off SO PERFECTLY. Next year will be my year. 
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Seems every year there’s less and less bandwidth for all these things. There’s more grief and stress, less money. More demands, less grace. 
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I put this sign on the wall in my office so I could keep it in front of my eyes: Love. Joy. Peace. And all that. I am SO unlike Jesus most days. So lacking in all of these character qualities. And that’s WITH waking up most mornings and spending my first 30 minutes with God Himself. 
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How lost would I be without that? Geez. I can’t fathom. I REQUIRE being transformed by renewing my mind every single morning, and even then, responding to people and life with love, joy, peace and patience doesn’t come naturally. 
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It’s the goal, though. 
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This weary world needs that from us Believers during this season, more than ever… even more than an Anthropologie-window-display worthy Christmas home tour. 
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I’m working on both.
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