getting closer!

i'll say it again: i only know what i like by knowing what i don't like. and when it comes to houses, there's a lot i don't like. for instance: the useless carrying-on of the "parlor" or "formal living room". please. i don't entertain thoughts of any real family that doesn't spend their time either 1: in the kitchen or 2: by the tv. reading, i suppose counts as the 3rd, for some, but this requires only turning the tv off, not an entirely separate room.

another one: people that install granite countertops and expect their house to be listed as "updated." come on people. first of all, granite is hardly updated anymore. and secondly, do you want to be the continuation of the next countertop material that will be seen in houses 20 years from now and instantly date it? much like plastic laminate (or "formica" as most call it) instantly dates a house from the 80s-90s construction era. not only do i not like granite all that much, but people cannot seem to come up with another creative alternative to countertops. there are other stones, acrylic, resin, quartz, sealed concrete, silestone, recycled compostite materials, and glass (should you have the money). pick one. be creative!

all that being said, i should have known that only the historic neighborhoods of pensacola would excite me. and so they have. all 3 houses i have liked are in pensacola's east hill. the more affordable sister of the prestigious north hill (on who's cusp i used to rent a flat and loved every minute of minus the energy bills and crazy landlord).

so far this guy is numero uno:

it does not look historic by any means from the outside. but the inside tells a different story. there are glass door knobs, wood floors, white hexagon tiles in the bathroom, and a working fireplace. other pluses: all the expensive upgrades i don't want to deal with (tankless water heater, new windows, backyard landscaping, sprinkler system) are already done. this is the house you take home to mom. there will, however, still be several projects:

1. there are 8x8 tack-on ceiling tiles everywhere. who thought this was a good idea? my guess is they were put up to prevent having to repair the plaster ceilings. those are eventually coming down.

2. bathroom remodel. floors stay. everything else goes (except maybe the toilet).

3. ripping out the granite countertops. if you're interested, they're giallo napoleon. if you want em, maybe i'll sell em. all this to go with new kitchen floors and backsplash (tile showroom designer discount please!)

4. ripping up the carpet in the bedrooms. there's wood underneath. the carpet has lived it's life.

5. there are also distant future plans to add on a small front porch.

all this being said, i do not own the house, nor have i even put in an offer. but a girl can dream can't she? wish me luck and i'll keep you updated.