They Call It Home Part 3

June 15, 2015
This has been a true labor of love for Amanda and Preston as they transform their

mid-century home into a cozy cottage and haven for Wyatt and themselves.

If you are just joining this series, here are the links to the two previous posts-

They Call It Home Part 1They Call It Home Part 2.

Last week we saw how the sweet couple transformed the outside of their treasured home 

and this week Amanda shares with us some of their inside living spaces.



The hours of labor we have poured into our house not only served to restore the home,

 but also our marriage. 





Before moving to California, Preston had to be away from Wyatt and I for 6 months to train 

for his new job.

 We had survived a year long deployment and months of being away for various training's in 

the Army before, but something about this most recent time apart was more challenging.



That first night in our house when we slept on the floor, I got a great view of the baseboards.

Staring at them in the wee hours of the morning, trying to induce sleep, actually inspired our 

first inside project. 






Painting the baseboards, along with the paneling in the kitchen and family room, and removing 

the old built-in AC unit out of the kitchen and the built in baseboard heaters in the bedroom, 

were first on the list.

We hired someone to remove the AC unit, but the painting we left up to us.

We figured we only had 3 bedrooms- how bad could painting the baseboards be? 



Well, I am just glad we don’t have more than 1,000 sq ft. Cleaning, sanding, cleaning again, caulking, taping, 

and 2 coats of paint all administered while on our hands and knees was, quite literally, back breaking work.

After we finished, with my nose practically pressed up against the baseboards,

I crawled around on all fours and inspected the quality of our work.




I drove Preston mad with my OCD tendencies- making him scrape any little drip off the floors or repaint areas 

that didn’t get enough paint.





We got in tiffs over how things should be done, but mostly we talked while we painted, about big stuff and little 

stuff.

 I felt like we were literally working away and through the emotional distance the months apart from one another 

had created.




The street lamps in River Park are very quaint, except for when it’s time to go to sleep, and then they 

are very obnoxious.

Even though we were no longer sleeping on the floor, the light glaring in through our bedroom 

window made sleep nearly impossible.

It took a lot of selling on my part, but I convinced Preston we needed plantation shutters. 





Each bedroom got a pair of shutters as did our kitchen window.

Those beauties are expensive, but to me, worth every penny.

It not only took care of the light issue but dressed up the inside of the house and finished off the 

outside.



Right around the installment of the shutters I found out some surprising, but wonderful news;

 I was 8 weeks pregnant with our second baby!

 (I am now almost 7 months and we found out we are having a GIRL!) 





Our family was growing, our house was becoming a home, and Preston and I, despite the struggles 

we faced while he was away, were closer than ever. 

This house was truly becoming a wonderful gift.

Even the worst “fixer-upper" of homes can be beautiful with hard work; a lesson that can be applied 

to anything, even marriages. 




The news of the pregnancy didn’t slow us down.

 I’ve been saving the best for last- can’t wait to show you our kitchen!!! 




xoxxo


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Comments

  1. WOW, now that is my kind of woman, hiking while pregnant! YES! GO FOR IT! And the transformation stories are always my favorite, the transformation of a house into a home, of a person into a real human being. LOVE IT!

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  2. Hello Jemma, your daughter's home is just lovely. All their hard work has paid off and now they can enjoy! I love the last shot of the family and dog! Enjoy your day and have a great week ahead!

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  3. Your house is a home and it's beautiful! Out hiking sounds like fun and even pregnant! Aww, a little girl, how precious!

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  4. Your house is a home and it's beautiful! Out hiking sounds like fun and even pregnant! Aww, a little girl, how precious!

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  5. Oh how adorable the home and the family is! Their home really reflects who they are and it looks so warm and welcoming! xo K

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  6. There is no better way to spend time together than working on your home! It all looks beautiful! Congratulations on the new baby girl!

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  7. *C*O*N*G*R*A*T*U*L*A*T*I*O*N*S*!* on the baby girl! I love how your home looks and am happy that it brought you closer together. Bonus! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  8. I'm reading backwards :) How nice they've made it ( home as well as relationship back on track, family, etc :)

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  9. I've been reading these stories but haven't had a chance to comment. You both have done a wonderful job on your home and this recent story is the best. It's amazing how working through problems brings you closer together instead of running away when times get tough like so many do. Congratulations on being pregnant with your next child! Your mom is awesome and I can see her great smile in you!

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  10. I am so enjoying these post. I smile, catch myself tearing up and well....I can't wait for the kitchen!!!! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  11. Looking forward to seeing the kitchen!

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  12. Hi Jemma, what a wonderful part 3 of this darling family soon to be a bit larger. How sweet they are having a baby girl. I imagine you are over the moon excited. Love each and every photo of this amazing home and so look forward to the kitchen.
    Thank you for sharing your daughter and families journey.
    Be Blessed sweet friend.
    Hugs, CM

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  13. Hi Jemma, what a wonderful part 3 of this darling family soon to be a bit larger. How sweet they are having a baby girl. I imagine you are over the moon excited. Love each and every photo of this amazing home and so look forward to the kitchen.
    Thank you for sharing your daughter and families journey.
    Be Blessed sweet friend.
    Hugs, CM

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  14. Your girl is made of True Grit - and I know where she learned it. I can just imagine the back breaking work that was painting on her hands and knees - but it was well worth it. BEAUTIFUL!!!

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  15. I know how she feels about painting baseboards...truly a back-breaking job. Can't wait to see the heart of the home...the kitchen!
    Congrats on the baby...I bet Wyatt is excited about becoming a big brother.

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  16. Painting baseboards has to be up there with root canal without anesthesia. Your daughter certainly gets a lot of her traits from you Jemma. You must be very proud, and rightfully so.

    So many lovely details have gone into their home. When all is said and done, they not only will have a space they love, but one that brings to mind lots of good memories.

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  17. Jemma,
    I love your daughter's beautiful renovation photos--they have done a tremendous job! Truly amazing! Your lovely daughter looks so much like you! And soon a new baby girl! Congrats....Wyatt is just adorable and I bet will be the best big brother! You all have so much to celebrate!
    Hugs,
    Linda

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  18. Oh Jemma, such great news about your daughter having a precious GIRL! I don't know where to begin with this post, I loved so many things about your daughter's house. It's charming in so many ways. I love the traditional wood furniture. I'm not much of a white washed gal myself, and I love the beauty of natural wood, it's gorgeous to me, like her chest and piano. And the picture of the mother and baby - I actually got a tear because it brought back sweet memories - I had a wicker rocker and used to sing and read to them all the time. I love that entryway piece also. And I think I liked your daughter's smile most of all. Her and her husband are doing a fantastic job, and I can't wait to see the kitchen.

    love, ~Sheri

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  19. Wow, they have been busy. They have taken on a lot of work, but it will be glorious when they are finished. Such great news about the new baby. I love looking at kitchens, so this will be fun. Thanks for sharing their journey.

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  20. Amanda and Preston's house is so nice! Such a great mix of modern and antiques. Congratulations on the coming granddaughter, Jemma, and what a precious story of their marriage!

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  21. I love reading these stories from your daughter about all the work they're doing on their house! And, congratulations on your forthcoming granddaughter! :-)

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  22. Amanda and Preston have done an incredible job. Their house is lovely.

    Congratulations on the new grand baby girl!

    xoxo,
    rue

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