Welcome to our home!

We closed on our first home on May 15, 2003. It was a condo in Ypsilanti, MI. These condos were in such high demand at the time that ours had already sold once, come back on the market for a day, we placed an offer and then eight other interested parties called. 

The Kramers had retired there in 1968 and were there until their deaths at which point we bought the condo from their children. Although the condo had been really well cared for, it hadn't undergone any redecorating since the early 1970s. Orange and green shag carpeting, orange foil wall paper, turquoise wall paper with mustard yellow flowers, and paneling abounded. The Brady Bunch would have felt right at home. 

We met Wendy's dad at the condo over Memorial Day weekend in 2003 to start the refurbishing. Randy then came up for a week by himself to scrape more wallpaper and paint before we moved in. All in all, Wendy spent about 18 hours per day six to seven days per week from June until September working on the house. Craig stepped in when demolition or power tools were required. In fact, Wendy learned that Craig actually liked to vacuum (even scolding her for leaving the place a mess)...as long as he could use his new shop vac. Linda and Randy made many more trips up to Ypsilanti over that summer and fall to get the place in order. We wish we had taken before photos to show, but alas...Suffice it to say, everything you see in these pictures is new, done by us. Randy and Wendy did most of the painting (Linda helped with the kitchen cabinets). Wendy sewed all of the curtains and bedding ensembles. Craig took care of tearing stuff up.

Virtual Tour

For a virtual tour of our house click on the links below:

Kitchen             Living room         Dining room and Stairs         Bedrooms

Front Garden           Back Garden

Our front patio.