Throwbacks and Unpacks.

I remember walking through this house behind a family....Let me just say: "ALL OF THIS NEEDS TO BE RIPPED OUT...." was heard over ten times, and each time I lunged at them like a jungle cat (mentally-of course). Here are highlights of what I am in love with most at this our first day.... Keep in mind we moved in at 6am this morning. That's blogging dedication, my friend.

A pink and teal bathroom...

only semi-funk on the caulk-we will take it!

and my four year semi-stalker relationship with a shower curtain-now an official relationship.

Lastly I will leave you with a few color palette reveals and what our eyes see...at this moment...

I've always loved color and now a home that makes it make sense. (to me)

It took me all of five minutes to go through the hundreds of color choices available, a couple of months ago. I am so thrilled that there are safe non-VOC options in even the coolest of colors. 

I wish I would have been true to my before and after photo document version, but a girl's got kids. So. I will paint a mental picture. Years and years of smoking, then years and years of vacancy. Then lots and lots of dirt. Result: a dingy yellow on everything that required some hardcore elbow grease and lots of hot days with the windows open.

In all honesty the smoke thing really threw me crazy for awhile. Here's a more detailed list of what had to be done:

New air ducts, New AC unit, cleaning the walls with coconut oil and vinegar, For days when the house was empty I put diffusers in all of the linen closets diffusing lavender and sage for 48 hours, then wiped it down with vinegar and coconut oil, again. We ran several ionizers and air purifiers for days. We haven't gotten around to the ceiling fans yet but we cleaned them again, with vinegar. We smell nothing other than the obnoxious left overs of the febreeze plug-ins the realtors left behind. Funny how THAT smell is harder to get rid of than the smoke. Makes you wonder what those synthetic fragrances do to your insides, doesn't it?

All in all it was a task. I don't think the house had been smoked in for at least twenty years, so please don't get me wrong-I am sure it could be harder to beat the smell. 

It's so important to make a home yours, from the get-go. Whether you are owning or renting, your space is sacred. Approach a new home with your intent of making it your sanctuary and you'll be surprised how quickly you will feel cozy and settled in.