New LFP Home

Last week Karen and I moved into our new forever home in Lake Forest Park.  It’s hard for me to explain how important this is to me.  In 1989 I bought my first house as a 28 year old single dude.  It was certainly a starter house, with two bedrooms and a small footprint.  But it was mine.

When I was married in 1991 I moved into Suzanne’s house.  And then again in 2015 I moved into Karen’s house.  But now Karen and I have moved into a house we chose and bought together.   So for over a quarter century I have in some ways felt I was a guest.   Finally, I have a house I bought with my wife.   What a great feeling.

Now we have a lot of work to do.   Already we’ve done a bunch.   The family room has been transformed and I replaced baseboards throughout the house with shoe trim.   In the family room all surfaces including the ceiling were patched and painted.   The office was painted and I painted one of the living room walls.   Some outside work has been done as well.

Family Room Before

Karen Priming the Fireplace

However, the big stuff is coming.  We have engaged Dave Heinen our architect because this house has no master bedroom.   We also don’t know what to do about the “funky room”.   The kitchen is in decent shape but then there is the powder, laundry, utility room combination.  What a mess.   Also, the electrical is a mess.   The circuits have too much stuff on them and a bunch of the plugs are two-pronged.   They are not grounded.

Family Room, Now Just Need to Add the Baseboards

And then there is the pool.  We did not buy the house for the pool, but it was an intrigue.  A costly interest for sure.   The pool deck is a concrete nightmare.   The plaster seems decent.   The heater doesn’t work.  I really know so very little about caring for a pool.

Pool from Master Bedroom

Our hope is to start construction in the early spring, perhaps March.  We would love to be done by mid summer.   Hopefully the cost will be in line and we can have minimum debt!