Home Tour Part 1...the OUTSIDE

So, as promised, I have decided to tour our home with you.  We have done so much since moving into our dream home, that I wanted to document all of our hard work.  As we pulled into the driveway the day we first looked at the house my husband saw my face...and he knew it was GAME OVER!! This house would be ours. 

Here is the before picture of our home about a week before we moved in. 

 Here is the front of our house now.

Like in the sneak peak you will notice that the main difference to the front of the house is the color of the shutters.  I was 100% NOT involved in this decision.  My husband mentioned to me in passing that he was thinking of changing the colors of the shutters...I was partially ignoring him and I came home one day and BAM...black shutters.  A very risky move on his part...but I must now give him props.  They look AMAZING!! Points for hubby.  He just needs to NOT give me heart attack next time. 

I am sure you also noticed two additions.  One one each side.  To the left is the kitchen addition and to the right our master bath and bedroom.  We will get to those later on!

The next view is a side shot of the house BEFORE...

 Side of the house AFTER...

If you go back to the before picture the main thing that you should notice is a CREEPY and I mean CREEPY little curved hallway that basically connected the main house to the "Man Cave."  It was strange, partially too far below water grade, smelly, non air conditioned and every horrible adjective you can use besides maybe unique. That was ripped out and a new kitchen was put in it's place...a fantastic and amazing DREAM kitchen. Also, boring shutters were added, but I figured I should mention them!

Before shot of "Man Cave" central...

After of man cave...

Again, just shutters and taming of some out of control plants, but happiness is all over my face for my husband and his room :)

This view is the before shot of our back yard...

 I seriously gag every time I see that picture.  These were the most overgrown, pain in the butt bushes I have EVER seen in my entire life.  The roots went down for MILES and you couldn't even see the back of the house.  NOT family friendly in ANY way.

Then move to AFTER...

Hello patios, plants, seating areas, hot tub and vision of the house to the back yard!! :)

And if you step back a bit further...

 Magical Paradise for two cute kids :)

After you see every room in this house it may still shock you that the yard was the absolute selling point.  We have trees and plants in our yard that are over 50 years old...and gorgeous.  I could have built an old southern colonial style house like this on our land that we quickly sold after buying this house...but there was NO way in my lifetime could I have replicated that awesomeness that is the yard.  More yard pics to come later.  I will leave you with this Southern Magnolia tree flower.  Thanks for visiting!!