My Home

We purchased our condo, in Saline, MI, in April 2002 and moved in on May 10th (one day after my birthday!) Besides being the best birthday present that I've ever received, it's a wonderful place!

We decided right away that we would finish the basement. This has been an ongoing project that began before we moved in. Through it all, we have been learning how to make stud walls, run electricity, cable and phone lines, install computer ports, drywall, mud, paint, prime, stain, miter and do all the other fun things that construction has to offer! Now, mind you, we didn't really know how to do much of anything beyond hammering nails and using drills, so this whole project has been quite miraculous in getting completed.

As of October 4, 2002, we have completely finished the office space. This includes built-in bookshelves, a closet, drop ceiling (which isn't really a drop ceiling, but snaps together), and carpeting. We had a professional come in with the carpet and, while the rest of the room isn't as beautiful as we'd like it to be, we have done an excellent job.

What was once just one big room, is now four rooms, an office, rec room, work room and a laundry room. The office is completed and the rec room has a ceiling and painted walls. Until we get the work room done, we won't be able to put the floor down in the rec room, which will be laminate wood (very pretty and looks like hardwood floors!) I can't wait for that time to come! One, because it means the basement's done and two, I want to see it finished!

Before we started work on the basement, we added onto the deck. Once the addition was on, we realized the older part looked pretty bad, so we refinished that as well. It looks so nice now!

Here are pictures that I took before we moved in, so the previous owner's stuff is still in the place, but you get a good idea of what it looked like. I'll put up the new pictures as soon as I get those cropped and loaded.

	This is the before picture of the deck. Not a lot to look at! We took the awning down right away, mainly because it was too big for that space and it also wouldn't go down all the way! There weren't any plants back here, either, except the one grassy thing by the corner on the left. Pretty depressing.
	This is a before view of the basement from the bottom of the stairs. The office is in the back right corner (where the table is standing). The rec room goes from the left duct (running towards the camera) to the wall you can't see on the right. Actually, if you go from the carpet under the ironing board to the right, that's about the correct dimensions.
	Another before view of the basement. There isn't much different from what you can see here. We have our washer and dryer in the same place. However, from where I'm standing, I would be taking a picture of the corner of a wall! This view doesn't give a good example of how large the rec area is, but the ones I get up for after pics will definitely help!