Hello, everyone! I am so excited about today’s post. It’s all about the Bobo’s Fixer Upper that we have been working on since fall. If you need to catch up, go here to read all about it. It was a delightful surprise when Mike took me to the Fixer Upper on Sunday to take some photos. I had not been there for about a month (I was out of town two of those weeks), and I was blown away by the progress they have made. To put it simply, they are in the process of applying the primer, and the paint will start going on in a day or two. Bobo plans to move in by the end of the month. It might not be completely finished by then because the kitchen cabinets haven’t come in yet, but it will be so close that he and his family will be able to move in and call it home.
When I was there Sunday, Bobo was putting the primer coat on the walls, and he was almost finished with the downstairs. He will finish the upstairs in a day or two after he finishes his job each day, and then it will get its first coat of paint.
Here is the first room on the right when you enter the front door. It will be used as the living room.
This is what it looked like when we started. Originally it was a bedroom, but the floor plan has been reversed, and the bedrooms are now in the back of the house. The house had three fireplaces, and they were all removed.
This is the new kitchen. Debra Hupman, who is my dear friend and our kitchen designer for our new place, did the cabinet layout. My only regret about the house is that the kitchen is closed off from the dining and living rooms. Originally the architect had an opening between the kitchen and the living room, but Bobo didn’t want it open. It’s a large kitchen and will have a peninsula so the kids can have breakfast and snacks there. The cabinets will be maple. We thought with six kids that white cabinets just wouldn’t be practical.
This is what the room that is now the kitchen looked like before, and it was in the back of the house. Having the kitchen in the middle of the house with the living spaces in the front is so much better.
This bedroom and another one have taken the place of the original kitchen and back entry. That window was the original back door.
There’s the before of the back door and bedroom. That’s a major improvement, don’t you think?
There is now a nice wide hallway leading to three first floor bedrooms, a large bathroom, a laundry room, and a mudroom. This is the view from a back bedroom to the front of the house.
Here’s the main bathroom that the children will use. It is huge. Bobo will have his own bathroom connected to his bedroom.
This is the original bathroom. There was even room for a big laundry room. We are giving him our washer and dryer and will buy a new set for our new place.
This is the top floor. It will be a bedroom for a couple of the kids. It had zero insulation before, and now it is maxed out on insulation so they will be nice and toasty warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Here it is before. Completely disgusting.
We will have a few more posts on the fixer upper coming in the future. Thank you so much for following along on Bobo’s journey. He and we are just so happy with how our dreams for his house are becoming a reality.
Take care.
Sandra Amos says
This is such a blessing for all involved. Thank you and your husband for being a positive force in our world.
Janette says
Thank you, Sandra.
Sandy McGuigan says
Your commitment to this project is really commendable. What a new lease on life for Bobo and his family. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to helping others.
Janette says
Sandy, thank you. We do what we can.
Alicia@ Eco Natural Soap says
This is such a wonderful thing you are doing. What a blessing this is going to be to he and his family.
Elizabeth says
This is fabulous! Bobo and his family are blessed to have your family in their lives.
Janette says
thank you, Elizabeth. We feel the same way about them.
Susan Salamone says
This is a truly wonderful gift your family is giving to Bobo. It’s inspiring for certain. I was just reading an older post by Jordan when she first began taking online courses through NYIAD. I’m considering that same path and would like to know if she completed the program, if she used the new skills to help redesign this home, and if she’s used what she learned in that program to take on paid work as a designer or home stager?
I’m glad I found your blog today!
Jordan says
Susan,
I’ll send you an email about NYIAD.