Renovating a 1960's Classic

If there was anything charming, or even cool, about the 1960's and their influence on California ranches, well our house didn't have any of it! It is an oddly designed 5 bedroom, three bath, non-descript home that was probably quite stylish in 1968. Unfortunately, I am rather drawn to the bungalows of the 30's and 40's and appreciate the 1950's. My husband seems to prefer the updated look of granite and travertine. But here we are, the proud owners of a house that was designed at the tail end of groovy.

We will admit now, with a crawling 10-month old and the dull finish of plywood subflooring staring us in the face, that we may have bitten off more than we can chew (at least when trying to renovate the house ourselves and only on the 3rd weekend of every month). But we were drawn to the neighborhood, to the 1/2 acre lot with mature fruit trees, to the corner kiva-like fireplace, and to the enormous back porch. And of course, to the allure of doing it ourselves.

This is our story...the story of two thirty somethings, newlyweds, and new parents trying to make lemonade out of lemons, trying to make not-so-groovy into retro-fabulous, all on a tight budget (if you have no money to spend, does it still count as a budget?).

Here we go....wheeeeee!