The house...in the beginning

Stairway to heaven...knotty pine heaven that is
Yes, upstairs had knotty pine EVERYWHERE you look--up, down, inside, around, behind, under. Unfortunately we didn't share the knotty pine love and would soon try some paint to make it disappear.
Returning from knotty pine heaven you may find the friendly giant, oh wait that's our friend Larrry ;) Check out the beautiful woodwork on the buffet...sure it's no knotty pine, but we love it!

We began casually house hunting sometime in December. We quickly became frustrated at how little was available in our neighborhood (Mac/Groveland area of St. Paul) within our price range. Don't get me wrong, there were things available, but there were all less than desireable. So, when I walked into this home it was love at first sight. It had everything we were looking for...4 bedrooms, 1.5 bath, 2 car garage, great old woodwork and built-ins, classic charm, and all just one block from where I was living now so Alix could remain in the same school she had just began attending and neighborhood friends would remain nearby. We closed on Feb. 2nd and began the work we'd need to do to make it our own. They say love is blind though, and that must've been true because as we moved in and started to do some work we didn't realize how wonky the place was. I've come to term it "Snoverized" after the family that lived there before us who were apparently do it yourselfters--and not always great ones ;) Don't get me wrong, the place is still wonderful, but who doesn't put outlets in their bathroom? and is it suppose to take me 1/2 hour to get in my front door...the key is actually suppose to fit in the lock without a fight, right? molding actually are meant to fit together, at least I think...Anyway, mostly easy fixes and with our painting touch we were able to began changing it from a house with lots of knotty pine tongue and groove and a few wonky details into... a home.