Shotgun, revealed

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It’s no secret that I’m a perfectionist. I don’t like to admit that I’m a person in process, because I would love for everyone to think that I have it all together 100% of the time.

Well, I don’t have everything together 100% of the time. And as if there weren’t already enough hilarious (read: mortifying) reminders of this on a daily basis, I am now the owner of a 113-year old house – and it is definitely not perfect. The roof leaks in the kitchen, the hardwoods are scratched and stained and disintegrating, the backyard is completely dead, and there is no central air, leading the thermostat on the wall to read 86° every minute of the last 3 months.

But it’s mine, and I love it so much. I’m working to fix things, one tiny dollar after another. Little by little, it’s coming together, and although it’s taken me 4 months to start to feel settled, these 600 square feet really do feel like home.

So here it is – the Shotgun, revealed*! Although I’m not showing you the outside because then you would come and steal me.

THEN

NOW

I know. You have to walk through the bedroom to get to the kitchen. It makes everyone uncomfortable except me, because hey, I’m the one who gets to sleep 5 feet from the refrigerator (life dream).

I’m trying to not make it Girlyville, hence the burlap curtains, selection of bourbon, and a few gender-neutral pieces. The last thing I need is for a man to like me only to be driven away by my decor like the girl with the unicorn house in “Dodgeball.”

Someday I’ll show you the bathroom. But I guess it won’t be today – because truth be told, I forgot to take any pictures. Poor bathroom, always being overlooked.

There are still things I want to do with the space, of course – new windows, a gallery wall in the hallway, building a closet to hide the washer/dryer, sealing the exposed brick in the bedroom, installing an awning over the back window, somehow fixing the standing puddle of water on the roof over the kitchen (any ideas?) – so more to come. But for now, I think it’s pretty good start. And I’d love to have you over any time for wine or whiskey – or more likely, both.

*Please do not judge my photography. I have no idea how I’m related to We Are the Parsons. I’m going to make my own company called I Am the Parsons, and it will specialize in horrid blue/green lighting and zero skills.

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25 Comments

  1. Bob on September 10, 2013 at 9:10 AM

    What a wonderful job of home-making and decorating. You should be very proud!

  2. Michael Rhyne on September 10, 2013 at 9:43 AM

    Wonderful! You had me at bourbon…I thought I spied a bottle of Bulleit. Hey, I taught history of Kentucky for six years…I know way too much about bourbon. Such a sweet home!

  3. kari on September 10, 2013 at 9:53 AM

    I love the picture over the fireplace!

  4. Shanna on September 10, 2013 at 9:58 AM

    I love it, especially the exposed brick wall. So historic and charming!

  5. bethany tab on September 10, 2013 at 10:03 AM

    I will live vicariously through you here since my dreams of living alone in a tiny vintage space never realized. It’s lovely and perfect. The french doors, the fireplace, and the entire wall of couch are my favorite parts.

  6. Hilary on September 10, 2013 at 10:04 AM

    You’re marvelous, and not just because you have a super-cute house. I’m smiling at your decision to create not-too-girly decor, lest you scare away a perfectly good man with too many lace curtains and pink tchotchkes. Very clever.

  7. Emily on September 10, 2013 at 10:21 AM

    I’d probably keep the exposed brick, since I have a weakness for it. :)

  8. hootenannie on September 10, 2013 at 10:25 AM

    Emily – oh, I’m definitely keeping the brick. I just need to seal it to keep it from crumbling in, which is what it’s currently doing. I have a strict “no crumbling house” policy. :)

  9. Alissa on September 10, 2013 at 10:34 AM

    Can you come do my house next? Seriously. After 18 months, I still have boxes in my main living spaces. After 4 months you have decorated beautifully. New career.

  10. shannon on September 10, 2013 at 11:19 AM

    a home of your very own! i love it, the charm, the brick, the bourbon, those city prints, the peacock feathers.

    also, i love the I am the Parsons photography idea. niche market :)

  11. Hope on September 10, 2013 at 11:23 AM

    I love it!! PERFECT bachelorette pad. Chris Harrison would approve.

  12. Andrea on September 10, 2013 at 11:48 AM

    Annie, it’s beautiful! And I’m a little surprised how big it looks (I hope that doesn’t come off as a catty mean girl comment, I mean it kindly). It really is a lovely house and I pray it is blessed with many happy memories.

  13. Leigh Kramer on September 10, 2013 at 12:41 PM

    So cute! I want to steal most of your wall art so it’s a good thing we live in different states.

  14. Greta on September 10, 2013 at 1:40 PM

    Looooooooooove it!! The cutest.

  15. Gina on September 10, 2013 at 2:55 PM

    Invite me and Bryan over for a beer and we’ll have him take a look at your roof. He’s been able to fix everything I’ve thrown at him with our 100+ year old house – and he’s an engineer by trade – so he may actually have a super legit solution for you. :-)

  16. Miranda on September 10, 2013 at 5:31 PM

    I want to come visit so badly! Someday that will happen. I love it, Annie!

  17. Matt on September 10, 2013 at 6:17 PM

    I’ve only actually lol’d a few times in life from a blog. This was one of those times. 5 feet from the fridge! Amazing. Beautiful home. Hope to visit some day. :)

  18. mrs. chesney on September 10, 2013 at 7:45 PM

    Love, love, love, love, love!!
    xoxo

  19. Sarah on September 10, 2013 at 10:48 PM

    I love your house. I was going to say I want to sit on a couch and next to a window like that. Now I know the curtains are burlap, which look awesome, and I’d like to steal that corner :).

  20. RahRah on September 11, 2013 at 3:25 PM

    The pillow cover made the cut!

  21. Josh G on September 11, 2013 at 3:30 PM

    Wow, that is a true shotgun! I love it; The french doors, the exposed brick, the fresh, “gender neutral” colors and the perfect sized sofa for your living room! Would love to see pics of the outside sometime…

  22. The Zadge on September 11, 2013 at 6:46 PM

    LOVE IT!!!!

  23. Carmen on September 14, 2013 at 9:44 AM

    We should have a big work day at Annie’s cute house, so we can help you knock out your projects. C and I love projects- outdoors and in. Xoxo

  24. Ginger on September 14, 2013 at 12:31 PM

    Tre Chic! Love it.

  25. Chelsea on September 23, 2013 at 10:44 AM

    love your new digs!

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