Before | #MoCoFixer

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.

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.

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.

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

Oh, yes. Yes it can.

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.

Did I mention this house has a working intercom system?

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.

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.

 

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.

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