A Look Back

As we wrap up 2022, I want to take a look back on the journey we have had with Wallpaper Acres so far. We have come a long way and still have a lot of projects and long days ahead, but we continue to make strides in the right direction.

When we purchased Wallpaper Acres, John and I envisioned being moved in in time for the holidays...wow, were we mistaken! Are we bitter about, not at all! We had no idea the amount of time certain projects would take and we have agreed to "do it right from the beginning". That has definitely added to the timeline. We also seem to add projects that we have deemed as necessary prior to move in that will be easier to do now than work around furniture when we are moved in. We still are happy with our decision and are excited to make this our home as we continue with this project.

Yes, we have had our hiccups...a water leak the first day of homeownership (cough, cough...Katie) resulting in us ripping out a large portion of ceiling in the basement. John taking a light box to the chin that required stitches and plenty of measure once, cut 3-4 times to get it right. But hey, that is part of the journey.

Things we are thankful for:

• Our village! Our family and friends continue to show up when we need help or to just check in! We are very grateful for every second of help, advice, and encouragement that we receive (almost on a daily basis). When we have a bad day, those individuals are the ones that keep us motivated and moving in the right direction with the project.

• No more cat pee stench throughout! Whew, this one is major! I remember walking through the first time at the open house and my eyes stung...it was horrible! Luckily with new paint, wallpaper removed and new carpet; no more stench is left!

• The wallpaper is gone! No more dated wallpaper and matching curtains...LOL! We do miss our scenic views, but we are much happier with the painted walls in the colors of our choosing.

• YouTube - the internet has come in handy more times than not and we have watched several other people (both professionals and novices) DIY their houses and give tips and tricks that have helped us out quite a bit!

• John is very grateful for the Nashville real estate market has not crashed and that our house has not lost value since our purchase!

• Habitat for Humanity - I know we shout them out a lot but they are a great non-profit! Not only have we donated our gently used items, we have found many great deals that have helped us save some money on projects (stove, metal balusters, light fixtures). We also enjoy our Saturday trips to see what is there and it is a nice way to start our weekend!

• Paint Sprayer - this was a more expensive upfront cost; however, we have saved time and John has become pretty skilled at painting with a paint sprayer. We also have a lot of projects coming up that those skills will come in handy for.

This upcoming week has a lot of projects planned as John is off from work so stay tuned! Some items on the docket: painting cabinets, remodeling our pantry (the cat litter one), and painting the kitchen nook and living room.