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Before | #MoCoFixer

#MoCoFixer· DIY

23 Jan

Thank you for boarding the #MoCoFixer Time Traveler. You are now on your way to 1975.

Today is the day. The day everyone realizes that the Cottens are CRAY CRAY.

In case you missed it, our 4,700 sq. ft. fully updated house is officially under contract. I am moving in 30 days. The #MoCoFixer renovation is now officially underway! I’ll share more on the first steps we have taken in our flip later, but right now I want to start from the beginning.

So many people have asked for “before” photos of our new home that obviously we’re going to share. You can’t appreciate what is (hopefully) to come if you don’t know where we came from.

And where we came from is green shag and wood paneling.

Formal Living Room

Dining Room

Kitchen

I have several major questions so far. Like, how many types of carpet can be in one house? And why is there a need for three different light fixtures in the kitchen? And what exactly is the purpose of that “cage” wall?

Don’t worry. All of it is already in the dumpster.

Family Room

See that wall separating the two living spaces that spans almost the entire length of the house, and of course is structural? It’s going to be gone this week.

Hello, laminated beam. Hello, open floor plan.

Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom

Can it get more 70’s than those gold swag lights in my master bathroom?

Oh, yes. Yes it can.

Family Bathroom

Friends. That green wallpaper is sparkly. The floor has gold glitter in it. And we’re not even addressing the elephant in the room here. However, I may repurpose those bubble swag lights. They look like they could totally be from this season’s West Elm catalog.

Frances’ Room

Dorothy’s Room (aka the land of Lost Curtains)

Did I mention this house has a working intercom system?

Laundry Room

This is the entryway from the garage. It makes absolutely zero sense. It will also be gone this week, creating a giant mudroom/laundry room.

Guest Bathroom

My husband works from home. He currently has his own apartment above our garage that serves as his office – complete with a kitchen, bathroom and “gaming” room.

He’s moving here.

Office

 

Ok, so only temporarily (hopefully). In the future, this will be the girls’ play room.

His office, and weight room, will eventually be here.

Is this going to be a life change? Absolutely.

Are we crazy? Yes.

But when we sit in our new sunroom, and only see nothing for miles, it’s totally worth it.

Sunroom

Here’s to a simpler life, with more opportunity for our family. I can’t wait to show you what’s to come. πŸ™‚
“Love grows best in little houses just like this.”

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Previous Post: « If Not Now, When? | #MoCoFixer
Next Post: 8 | Frances Belle »

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Comments

  1. Erin LFF says

    January 24, 2017 at 4:56 pm

    I love it!! I mean, not all the shag carpet and crazy light fixtures πŸ˜‰ But obviously I love that you’re taking on this beast of a house and I cannot wait to see what you do with it all!!

    Reply
  2. Rachel Witte says

    January 26, 2017 at 2:04 pm

    I actually love the bubble lights. They are pretty neat! We also need to update our house and get new flooring. Eventually we will get the money together to get it done someday (hopefully within a year or two). We also have an old light fixture in our entryway that does not match anything else in the house (that one has to go soon too!).

    Reply
  3. pam says

    February 26, 2017 at 10:24 am

    I love some of the old lighting fixtures! Hope it’s going quickly for you.

    Reply

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Hey there, I'm Samantha. Recovering SAHM, and aspiring competitive dance mom. I have a passion for travel, am known to say it like it is, and I most certainly do not have it all together. Currently on a journey toward self love and discovery. Join me. 2021 | Bloom

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The Doc is in! πŸ’œ We took a surprise trip to @ch The Doc is in! πŸ’œ We took a surprise trip to @childrensmuseum last night to preview the new Doc McStuffins exhibit. Frances loved caring for the stuffed animals, and Dot is on her way to becoming a surgeon specializing  in toy dragons. Do you have doctors-in-training at your house? 🩺 The exhibit opens to the public TOMORROW, so don’t miss it! #attcm #childrensmuseum #docmcstuffins
We ate brunch in a traincar diner πŸš‚, explored S We ate brunch in a traincar diner πŸš‚, explored Salem πŸ§™β€β™€οΈ, froze our faces while wandering colonial forts and lighthouses on the Atlantic 🌊, and ended our New England weekend seeing this gorgeous girl finally marry her love in a 1901 stone mansion πŸ‘°πŸ»β€β™€οΈ. Who knew hiring Nikole as my assistant director in 2017 would lead to a friendship like this? πŸ’›
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Have a magical day! ✨ #waltdisneyworld #magicki Have a magical day! ✨

#waltdisneyworld #magickingdom #springbreak #butdidyoudie
Post-competition hangover is REAL at the Cotten ho Post-competition hangover is REAL at the Cotten house today! πŸ€ͺ I’m still teary-eyed over how grown up our babies looked on stage. πŸ₯Ί So, so proud of them and their @talent_factory_ Company teammates! #dancemom @iddancecomp

The Sanderson Sisters | Dorothy
πŸ† Iconic Platinum, 1st Overall Junior Novice Duo/Trio 
***Special Award: Costume Award

Sweet Scoops | Frances
πŸ† Iconic Platinum, 3rd Overall Mini Novice Small Group 

Cabana Cuties | Dorothy
πŸ† Iconic Platinum, 2nd Overall Junior Novice Small Group, 
***Special Award: Artistic Execution 

The Addams Family | Dorothy
πŸ† Ultra Iconic (highest achievement), 2nd Overall Intermediate Teen Production
ID ICON BUZZER 🚨
***Special Awards: Costume Award, Technique Award, Trendsetter Award
I bought a 2,000 piece puzzle thinking it would be I bought a 2,000 piece puzzle thinking it would be β€œfun.” 8 days later - with HOURS of help from @kadstewa, @saworkman2012, and @andrewni88 - I retire from puzzles forever. πŸ˜‚πŸ˜³πŸ˜œ
The Doc is in! πŸ’œ We took a surprise trip to @ch The Doc is in! πŸ’œ We took a surprise trip to @childrensmuseum last night to preview the new Doc McStuffins exhibit. Frances loved caring for the stuffed animals, and Dot is on her way to becoming a surgeon specializing  in toy dragons. Do you have doctors-in-training at your house? 🩺 The exhibit opens to the public TOMORROW, so don’t miss it! #attcm #childrensmuseum #docmcstuffins
We ate brunch in a traincar diner πŸš‚, explored S We ate brunch in a traincar diner πŸš‚, explored Salem πŸ§™β€β™€οΈ, froze our faces while wandering colonial forts and lighthouses on the Atlantic 🌊, and ended our New England weekend seeing this gorgeous girl finally marry her love in a 1901 stone mansion πŸ‘°πŸ»β€β™€οΈ. Who knew hiring Nikole as my assistant director in 2017 would lead to a friendship like this? πŸ’›
These. Three. πŸ’ƒπŸ•ΊπŸ’ƒ @talent_factory_ #tfadh These. Three. πŸ’ƒπŸ•ΊπŸ’ƒ @talent_factory_ #tfadholidayshowcase21
First holiday performance of the season with @tale First holiday performance of the season with @talent_factory_ Company! πŸ‘―β€β™€οΈ #tfadcompany #dancemom
Dorothy got to attend @purduedanceteam Camp today Dorothy got to attend @purduedanceteam Camp today with some of her @talent_factory_ teammates! She was one of the youngest there, but with the most experience in her group. So proud of our girl! πŸ’›πŸ–€ #dancemom
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