Ready for another after?

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Yikes.  Crazy times! Both kids are back in school, I am in the process of moving my business and my family is moving back downtown. 



My husband and I (okay, mostly him) restored this house in 2005.  According to tax records, the house was built in 1904 and has over 4200 s.f. of finished living space. We moved out of this house two years ago when the real estate market tanked and we were caught holding 7 properties (all restored with the intention of re-selling). In order to make ends meet, we offered up everything for rent until the market got better, including our own home.  With its downtown location and close proximity to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (literally a few blocks from campus), our house was easily rented to college students.  Five young men have been enjoying a college lifestyle here for the past two years and if these walls could talk I don't think I want to hear it!

The boys move out Friday I am anxious to see what is waiting for us inside.  I know already that the exterior lighting fixture has been shattered and a chunk of the marble has been broken off of the kitchen island.  Obviously this kind of damage is bad news, but nothing we can't handle.  After all, we tore it down to the studs and completely rebuilt it 5 years ago!  

Stay tuned -  I will be sharing the good, the bad and the ugly! And then comes the fun part - another round of before & afters (round 2).






Need some help pulling your style together?  The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call Kim at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com

27 comments:

Sally@DivineDistractions said...

Oh, Kim, how wonderful to live in such a historic structure. I know you'll probably have to fix some things, but that's part of the fun too. I can't wait to see what it looks like. I know you'll do some amazing things. Here's to a great year for you guys!

Unknown said...

This house plus frat boys just doesn't seem to add up, its far too beautiful...fingers crossed its in great shape for you...can't wait to see where you take this!

L.Duncan@Home23DuncanBoys said...

Beautiful house! It reminds me the show 'Greys Anatomy' where all of the doctors shack up with Meridth in her moms home and well...you know. This home is certainly not what I would think of full of college boys!

A chunk of marble? Oh I can not wait to see whats to come!

Have a great night!

A Perfect Gray said...

wow! hope it's better than you hoped when you peek in! looking forward to checking it out with you. good luck...

the gardener's cottage said...

i raised 3 sons and i can't even imagine what your place is gonna look like after 5 boys lived there. i take that back.

so glad you entered the giveaway for julie's bracelet. i love your style.

~janet

Kelly Frances Dunn said...

Expect the worst and hope for the best! It may just be surprisingly simple surface issues. My in-laws own property on a college campus and they have for over 20 years. I'm always amazed by how little damage there is...for a college town esp! I hope you stay afloat in your busy day. Take care and I'll be checking back for the "after" party for sure :)

Dayka Robinson said...

a chunk of marble broken off of the island???? how in the world did that happen???!

your home is beautiful and super spacious. lucky for you to have a "handy man" on deck at all times! :)

iheartart said...

Oh that house is magnificent - we just don't have that kind of architecture in Australia. Can't imagine what it will look like when the boys move out - goodluck.....

Katie

Jessica Ryan said...

Oh gosh... good luck... college boys and houses are not words I like to see in the same sentence!

A Flair for Vintage Decor said...

Oh my! I have no idea what to expect! I am hoping for the best!! Can't wait to see what you all do with it...and to see your new antique booth! Take care, Caroline

Anonymous said...

You've got such a good attitude about it. That house is way too nice for frat boys. I hope you got a deposit that will pay for the damages. I look forward to seeing what you've got to deal with and how you deal.

Julie

Erika Ward said...

What a beautiful and SPACIOUS home. I could only imagine what happened in that house! It's a good thing that walls do not talk ;-)

Hopefully it will be much better than you think. I still can't imagine how they managed to break a chunk of marble off the island. Must've been a bunch of defensive linemen in there practing drills!

HAMPTON HOSTESS said...

I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Jade @ Flip Flops + Pearls Design said...

Wow! I can't wait to see what you guys do to it! You are a brave couple to rent to college kids, especially guys! You're right! You don't want to hear what the walls would say!!!!

dovecote decor said...

Please send photos! We are holding our collective breath and crossing all our fingers and toes. I can smell the stale beer already.

xoxo

Liz

alison (semi-fab lane) said...

this house is so beautiful! i can't wait to see the inside!

Karen said...

What a gorgeous home! Your attitude about the damage from the college kids is inspiring. I know I'd lose sleep worrying about it-but I don't have your experience either. Best of luck.

Unknown said...

Oh, what fun! We are moving too, to be closer to our new shop. I haven't posted about it yet, it's going to be kind of a boho flat (boho because well, it's historic and old and that's the only way to go!). I will be with you in the moving drama! XX!

Robyn said...

the house is SO lovely! I hope that it is in relative repair! ;-) I love that you have good positive spirits about it! Thanks for you sweet comment on my blog!

Kendall said...

Good luck! My younger brother is a sophomore at UGA and living in a similar situation right now...I can't say I envy the person who has to move in after him... :)

jules @ The Diversion Project said...

fingers crossed for you Kim - hope they haven't been too naughty!! So thrilled for you though to be moving back home! jx

Lissa Pierce said...

Oooo...I'm so nervous for you!!! When I hear 5 college boys and missing chunk of marble I can only imagine what else there is. I am on pins and neddles.

Laminate Flooring Gal said...

Wow, good luck taking your house back. My family has a couple of rental homes and we've dealt with good, bad, ugly situations after the tenants have left. But like you said, you have already re-done the house, so hope it's a few DIY projects. We recently had to paint the interior of the latest home we got back and replaced some flooring. Share with us and we can compare damages, lol ;)

SHERRY HART said...

Kim....I would be distraught! We also got caught in the real estate bust!!! Only we bought property in FLORIDA! Yea...that is whole nother story.....:(
Sherry

My Interior Life said...

I hope there's not too much damage. I can't wait to see before and afters!

Diana Mieczan said...

That house looks so lovely...I cant wait to see it inside:) Good luck,darling

ps: I am hosting a lovely GIVEAWAY, so please join in:) …I bet you will love it!!!

Jess @ Frugal with a Flourish said...

Oh I am sooo scared for you. I used to help manage college rentals. Let's just say move out checklists were not my favorite things to do! Fingers crossed!