Wonderful news! I hope you are renovating a gorgeous closet for yourself while you are at it!

Oh, you all are so sweet! Thank you so much for all the good wishes!

I picked my contractor before I even picked the house, and we have been working on the plans all during the escrow period, so we are all ready to go. We closed last Tuesday, slapped paint samples up on the wall on Wednesday, and demo'd the existing landscape yesterday -- just a week after closing!

We are basically doing everything except the kitchen -- two bathrooms down to the studs, new roof, new plumbing, new front and back landscaping including new patio and driveway, knocking out a couple of interior walls, opening up the den to the patio, refinishing the existing hardwood floors, new lighting, new paint, new exterior doors, you name it. The kitchen isn't to my taste, but it's fairly new so I am saving it for Phase II for two reasons -- re-doing it was going to put me over budget, and also I thought it would be best to live in it for a while so I could figure out exactly how I wanted it laid out.

Debbie, I have been reveling in the fact that the only person who has to approve all the decisions is ME! LOL

And Shevia, yes! We are building a brand new closet in the master bedroom! (We are stealing the existing master closet to enlarge the bathroom, and stealing a couple of feet from the den for the new master closet!) So yes! It will be exactly what I want and need!!

Not that I'm beside myself with excitement or anything...

Squee. It's like House Hunters Renovation!

Congrats! So exciting!

Nebraskim, it's totally like HGTV! The name of my reno company is, I kid you not, The Property Sisters! Allison is the contractor and Marilynn is the designer! SO FUN!!!

How did I miss this? But then I feel glad to have come at this stage so I could hear about The Property Sisters!

Queen Mary, you are doing this in style! Can't wait to see the progress.

Congratulations!!! And all the best for a happy new home with light, air, and love.

Oh, not to mention a great posing spot for WIW photos.

Fabulous news Mary, renovating your own future

Congratulations! I am super it will be worth every penny you spend!!!

Mary, that is completely awesome! I'm so very happy for you. Congratulatory wishes are winging their way through the ether to you. And the Property Sisters! What fun. Can't wait to see more pictures. The Queen's Landing already looks like a super sweet abode.

I knew you were a dynamo--but this is beyond impressive. Congratulations on the new life and the new house. (Now I'm trying to figure out where it is--the house, I mean.)

If you decide to have a YLF housewarming I will be there!

Woot! It looks wonderful and your plans sound even better. Long may you reign in your castle!

How exciting and fabulous! Can't wait to see the final result. I love that you named it - my kids always ask why some houses have names (like our vacation rentals) and some don't (our house). May you have many wonderful years there.

Congratulations!!
I am sure you will make the house fit for your royal self.

So happy for you! You are diving right in to be sure, can't wait for further updates. And the new home will be a much nicer place to hang your hat - or pencil skirt - than the apartment.

Congratulaions! I can't believe the speed with which you accomplish your goals. You are such an inspiration.

Awesome house, and I can't wait to see what you do with it. So happy for you, that it all got worked out with Mr. K.

Congratulations, Mary. You do not do anything in halves, do you?
This little house won't know what hit it but it will be for its own good of course.

OK --- I missed this thread. I've been in the woods. Literally. Still, I wondered to say congrats and woohoo! When I lived in LA (Arcadia and Alhambra), I loved to walk through Altadena, San Marino and South Pas, looking at the adorable bungalows and smelling the roses. Of course, with a husband in seminary, I lived in a rented pool house. For reals!

I love the idea of fully rehabbing an existing home and giving it decades of new life. It feels like rebirth and is good stewardship or our neighborhoods. And women contractors? Awesome!

Here's to a new start!

Sveta, you crack me up! I fear you are right about the house not knowing what hit it!! LOL

Beth Ann, I completely agree! I am so happy to be bringing this little jewel of a house back to life! And yes, "good stewardship" is a term I think of a lot in this context! In addition to the cosmetic updates, I'm bringing all the unseen systems up to code and I feel great about that.

Wowee! Congrats! What a lovely nest! And I can't wait to see the pics of the Queen Mary upgrade!

Congratulations Mary! The location sounds perfect.

Sounds and looks amazing Mary! Congrats (and love the name!!!)

Congratulations Mary! It's so NICE to have a home that yours, decorated to your own taste, with sufficient closet space.

Love that you were able to find a women run renovation company too.

I am so happy for you! And love seeing your energy!

How awesome! Will there be a lot of turquoise? What's the magnet capacity in the kitchen?

Congrats! Look forward to seeing the improvements.

Congratulations!!! So fun

LOL, AJ! You will be pleased to know that the renovation contract contains the following: "Five coats of magnetic paint on the ceiling in the laundry room!"

I have big plans to make the kitchen elegant and awesome so the magnets have been banished to the laundry room! Although the kitchen, alas, will have to wait until Phase II. Something had to give to make the budget work, and because the kitchen is new, though not to my taste, it's going to wait. I feel like that's the right decision because (a) there are SO MANY DECISIONS involved in a kitchen remodel, and my head was spinning trying to do that on top of two bathrooms, front and back lancscaping, etc etc etc!, and (b) I feel like living with the existing kitchen for a year or so will give me a better sense of what to do when the time comes. Also, (c) this way I can move into the kitchen and unpack it immediately, and I will have a functioning kitchen while the rest of the house is in total remodeling chaos.

And Phase III, in the distant future, will be finishing the little California basement into an actual Secret Woman Cave.

And yes. There will indeed be a lot of turquoise!

You are wise to live with the current kitchen for now.

Magnet ceiling in the laundry sounds fun! The one you choose from Seattle needs a prominent place.

Oh, I am soooo happy for you, Mary. You deserve a wonderful, nurturing, totally fab home to go with such a wonderfuo, nurturing, totally fab woman! Can't wait to meet you in Seattle at SSIF!!!

Oh Congratulations Mary! I love the craftsman like details on the roof and the fact that it has so much potential. You could work a cottage-like angle or something modern. Either way I hope you enjoy it as you embark on this new chapter in your life. All the best!