enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

It's going to be awhile before I get things organized and the right furniture to properly fill the space. The plus side of being almost six months pregnant and having four years to live in one place is I get to slow down a notch. Not exactly my normal style, but very important this time around.

I plan to have things mostly set up (functional & decently decorated) by the end of May. Baby girl is expected June 16th.

Before we start the tour…I want to just say thanks for sharing in my excitement. This house is our dream home. The absolute best place I could have imagined. I will have much more to share about how we nabbed it when I get the home buying story written, but for now I'll say it's a dream. And such a delightful blank slate.

It's one story and was built in 1961. It was recently flipped so the bathrooms, kitchen, appliances, windows & carpet are new. Walls were taken down which really helped bring in more light The flippers nailed it. Like seriously. Nailed it. I saw some before photos (in similar home that just sold on our new street) and I cannot believe the magic that was worked on this place before it became ours. There are little things that over the years we will change and a big part of the backyard is in need of a complete overhaul, but it's a move-in-ready gem, for sure.

Hometour1

So without further ado…

Hometour2

Welcome! On the left is the garage entrance. On the right is an entry closet and the hall to the bedrooms.

Hometour3

When you come a bit further in, you're in a big space. Obviously the fireplace is out in front and kitchen is to the left.

Hometour4

You can enter left into the kitchen.

Hometour5

The cabinets and the subway tile are no joke things I dream about.

Hometour6

The kitchen opens up into that big room again. We love that there is a built in wine fridge and so much counter top space. On the right is a peek pantry with sliding doors.

Hometour7

This photo is from the back corner of the big room, right where those big windows are. You can see the pantry better in this shot. I asked and the seller was kind enough to leave the stools for us. I love them. We will be replacing that light fixture as soon as my dad can get down to hang the West Elm pendant lamp I am obsessed with (we went with the huge 24 inch round one).

Hometour8

Here is a peek out the back windows. You can see the "finished" part of the yard and then the unfinished part. Everything behind that chain link fence is ours. It goes on and on and it's filled with dead plants & junk but TONS of succulents too. The backyard and our plans for it will need it's own post(s).

Housetour8

This is looking at another side of the fireplace from the "dining area" wall. Windows are to the left. We'll most likely put the TV against that inside wall (on the right) and make a little sitting area to the left side.

Housetour9

And then this is from in front of the fireplace looking back at the dining area. At first I thought there was enough space there to have a kitchen table and extra space for a small couch/sitting area. I was super wrong. Because of the remodel, the bar and stools now stick out a little too far into the room. See how smooshed against them the table would have to be to sit under that lamp? So we are going to hang the lamp from the center of that middle ceiling portion and get a large dining table (that seats 6 comfortably) to properly fill the space. I am so excited to table shop! I know exactly what I want, but no idea where to buy it. We will eat at the big table at all times. When it's just the three of us, we'll take up just one side.

Housetour10

So this is from the other fireplace wall looking toward the front door. I have another little area to the right there that I have to figure out what to do with. For orientation – kitchen is to the right, hall is to the left.

Housetour11

This side of the house is the bathrooms and bedrooms. That room right in front is the baby's room and our bedroom is down the hall to the left.

Housetour12

Here's baby girl's room. It's a rectangle, and decent size. The ceilings are the same in every room.

Housetour13

Here's the main bathroom. Right next to the baby's room. Sometime down the line, I would love to re-tile the shower with a color. We'll see…

Housetour14

I'll be using the front bedroom for my office. It's about the same size as the baby's room. Eventually we'll switch the carpet out for wood floor. Outside the window you can see a half wall that was added to the front for decor and privacy. Sounds odd, but when I eventually share a photo of the front of the house, it will make sense.

Housetourhall

And then – sorry it's dark – this is the hall to the master bedroom. There is a linen closet on the right side.

Housetour15

And here's the master bedroom! It's almost a perfect square.

Housetour16

This is from the window wall looking at the closets.

Housetour17

And this is a peek at the teeny tiny master bathroom!

Housetour18

And here is a peek at inside. It's small but mighty. We'll eventually change out the tile in the shower here too just to bring in something brighter. I could also see us going back to one sink – two is fun but SO cramped.

Hometour19

It's crazy to end on a photo of the bathroom, so here's another of the kitchen. Remember – that lamp will be the first thing to go. Oh, and that metal box on the wall is part of the old intercom system in the house from the 60s. So oddly futuristic. It doesn't work well, but maybe someday we'll fix it.

Hope you enjoyed the tour! Can't wait to share snippets as it all comes together.

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113 responses to “ready for an empty house home tour?”

  1. Ffion Avatar

    Wow, that looks like a lot of space 🙂 Looking forward to all the crafty goodness you’ll be coming up with to fill it 🙂
    Looks like you’ve struck gold there… what a beautiful place!
    Looking forward to see what you make of it 😀

    Like

  2. Susan Black Avatar

    It is gorgeous Elise & the incredible amount of light & beautiful HUGE backyard. Thanks you for taking us all along for this terrific ride. Cannot wait to see you begin to add your magical touch(es) to the Cripe’s new home ! xo Susan

    Like

  3. elizafitz Avatar
    elizafitz

    Agree with everything Ffion said! And the ceiling, it is SO awesome. Love all the windows, especially the window in the shower of the large bathroom 🙂 Congrats again!

    Like

  4. Carla Avatar
    Carla

    So awesome! Love!

    Like

  5. Sabela Avatar

    Best kitchen EVER! Love the ceilings, too… Oh, the envy! 🙂 I love the constructions of the 60s. Congrats!!

    Like

  6. Julie Avatar
    Julie

    Looks awesome!
    We have the same stools in the kitchen and we love them! http://thepghome.blogspot.com/2013/01/update.html
    Also the bathroom cabinet below the sink in your master bathroom is the same, but ours is white. Ikea has some great stuff! 🙂
    What about changing your sink to a long one piece and keep the two taps?

    Like

  7. Toni From Avatar

    What a beautiful new home. Love the kitchen and the awesome wood ceilings.

    Like

  8. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    Loved the tour – thanks for sharing!! That kitchen is definitely dreamy!! Congrats, again!

    Like

  9. chloe Avatar

    Those huge windows looking out on the garden are beautiful. As is the kitchen.
    I quite like the two little sinks!!
    i am very jealous. I hope you have fun filling it with all your stuff

    Like

  10. Melanie Avatar
    Melanie

    oh my gosh it is so beautiful!!!! It is an absolute DREAM Elise!!! And that garden!!! Hope to have a place of my own that beautiful one day. So happy for you guys!!!! 🙂

    Like

  11. Amanda Avatar

    It looks so awesome, Elise! Your kiddo(s) will have so much fun running around the “circle” from the big room to the kitchen over and over again. And man, my teenage self would have killed for cool ceilings like that in my bedroom. I still would!

    Like

  12. Carla Avatar
    Carla

    Your kitchen is beautiful

    Like

  13. Robin G Avatar
    Robin G

    What a gorgeous house!Congratulations on being new home owners! Can’t wait to see how beautiful you make it!

    Like

  14. Stacy Edwards Avatar
    Stacy Edwards

    Wow, your house is GORGEOUS! I absolutely LOVE all the natural light in the living room. The ceilings are awesome, the kitchen is beautiful… I cannot wait to see how you decorate and add your style to it. Congrats on your new home!

    Like

  15. sherried Avatar
    sherried

    thanks for sharing. Can’t wait to see what you will do with all the blank spaces.

    Like

  16. Kimberly B. Avatar

    This house is amazing! I love the open floor plan, the natural light and the ceilings are to die for. It’s a perfect blank slate!

    Like

  17. Emily S Avatar
    Emily S

    stunning! major house envy. Adore the kitchen (looove Subway tile) and the ceilings are to die. Congrats!

    Like

  18. Carrie Wohlt Avatar

    elise I LOVE your new home. What a sweet home, a home I would have totally fallen in LOVE with. Can’t wait to see how you decor it. Have fun, take your time and ENJOY. And here is a bit of home owner advise. If you make a change in your home and don’t like it, you can always change it again.

    Like

  19. ester Avatar

    This house is almost perfect!!! and when you’ll decorate it it will be perfect. Seriously this is a very very very good house! Congratulations!

    Like

  20. Giulia Avatar

    your new house is lovely, and i can already see it full of the little girls drawings and handprints…
    my birthday is on june 16th, we’ll be twins!

    Like

  21. Shelley Avatar

    I read everyday and this is my first comment. I LOVE THIS HOUSE! I am so very jealous too. I wish you lots of luck in your new home and look forward to seeing it all come together!!

    Like

  22. Lauren Martin Avatar
    Lauren Martin

    The house looks great, I can’t wait to see how you fill it up! Congratulations!!

    Like

  23. Jo Avatar

    WOW! What a beautiful home! (I am, seriously, in love with those ceilings!) I can’t wait to see all of your wonderful plans take shape! So inspirational! I hope you and your little family are so, so happy here! 🙂

    Like

  24. October Bishop Avatar

    I’m in England so forgive me for my ignorance of American architecture but i need to express how much cooler houses from the 60’s are in the US! As you would say, Rad!
    Such a beautiful house it is and what a wonderful home it will be for the THREE of you! Very excited to see what you do with it over the next four+ years,
    Congratulations Elise and Paul and Bump,
    October x

    Like

  25. Melissa Sharp Avatar

    It’s awesome and it’s so totally you ALREADY, I can’t wait to see you put your mark on it with the decor.
    That backyard is scary. I’ll say it again, you need a goat. 😉

    Like

  26. Rose Avatar

    Gorgeous space, Elise (I dream of those cabinets, too). No doubt you will fill it beautifully – both with crafts & memories.

    Like

  27. liz Avatar
    liz

    love the ceilings. it all just looks so fresh and natural!

    Like

  28. sara Avatar
    sara

    its freaking awesome! you’ll have fun making it yours.

    Like

  29. Tashia D Avatar

    So beautiful! Love the ceilings so much! Congrats on your new home!! Can’t wait to see what you do with your new space.

    Like

  30. Michelle Bostinelos Avatar

    Love the house! So happy for you! I can’t wait to see it fill up with all your lovely stuff!

    Like

  31. Rebekah Hanna-Lozano Avatar

    Looks so awesome! I can’t wait to see how you decorate it. Those ceilings are AMAZING.

    Like

  32. Claire Avatar

    my favourite time of day? clicking on your blog 🙂 the house looks perfect – its so cool that we have seen it empty and in a few months we will see it full of your possessions. how exciting. 🙂

    Like

  33. Debbie Avatar

    Thank you for the tour!

    Like

  34. Carla Avatar

    Wow! It’s so so so awesome, congrats!

    Like

  35. Lori Proulx Avatar

    Elise, I love it and am so excited for you. I was going to mention about the dining room light being swung over so it could go over a table and then YOU mentioned it. Not sure why the flippers didn’t do it to begin with. The house is gorgeous and I can see and almost feel your gears spinning with so many ideas. Yep, again I am doing the happy dance for you! Congrats NEW home owner!

    Like

  36. emily hassman Avatar

    This house is gorgeous! Those ceilings… they are so killer. As a point of perspective: your tiny master bath looks significantly larger than the one and only bathroom in my house. Seems impossible, I’m sure, but it’s true 🙂

    Like

  37. Alexandra Avatar
    Alexandra

    Wow!! love it.
    I commented on one of your Instagram photos about how “I’m ridiculously excited for you”… I seriously am. Such an awesome home SO. MUCH. FUN.
    I have to tell you that when you showed the photo of the first bathroom I instantly pictured you at one of the sinks giving “baby girl” a little sponge bath… how cute would that be??!! Nothing cuter than a little bum in the sink. sigh.
    Anyway, congrats!!
    xo
    P.S. If the intercom box bugs you try hanging a deep-framed piece of art over it… I did that in our front entrance… an Ikea Ribba frame worked perfectly for me.

    Like

  38. elise blaha Avatar

    That is a GREAT idea. LOVE it. Not sure it will help with the space issue, but it will look good.

    Like

  39. elise blaha Avatar

    YES, we do. But I might settle for chickens.

    Like

  40. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    Thanks for the tour, just lovely and you will do amazing things I know!! You might want to consider taking the shower doors off, we had those and what a PITA to give baby/toddler baths with them in the way!

    Like

  41. Darla Maple Avatar
    Darla Maple

    Love your new house! It rocks!

    Like

  42. krugthethinker Avatar

    Your house is seriously amazing! I love everything about it (especially those wood ceilings!), and couldn’t imagine a house that is more you. Congratulations, and happy nesting!

    Like

  43. Lina Avatar
    Lina

    Congrats, Elise! I was recently in Southern California for the first time, and I couldn’t believe all the succulents planted DIRECTLY INTO THE GROUND! Where I come from succulents live in pots on window sills. The house is gorgeous. Reading all your posts has got me dreaming about a house of my own…

    Like

  44. amanda Avatar
    amanda

    so great! too bad there is no such thing in our city! We are moving into a historic home this weekend and then our baby is due 6 weeks later! I’m so stressed about unpacking. I have two other children under five and my husband is constantly out of town for work. totally preparing for hectic chaos!!

    Like

  45. elise blaha Avatar

    Yep…that is on the list!! I would love to the colored tile in there too before we are bathing the kiddo in the bath. 🙂

    Like

  46. elise blaha Avatar

    yikes!! that sounds crazy. Hang in there. 🙂

    Like

  47. //Panda Avatar

    That’s honestly SUCH an amazing place! I love it and am so excited for this new venture of yours!

    Like

  48. Caity Avatar
    Caity

    Congratulations! It is amazing! Thanks for sharing – can’t wait to see how you decorate it.

    Like

  49. Rae Avatar

    I’m so excited for you! What a beautiful home. Congrats on everything. My birthday is June 17, right around your due date! It’s a great time for birthdays!

    Like

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