We spend so much time in our homes but do we really know what our relationship is with our homes? It's been my dream to talk with women and learn what they like, or don't like about their homes and how HomeTips4Women can help them enjoy life at home better.
At BlogHer 2011, I spoke with Shannon Entin from Bloomsbury, NJ. Once we started talking, Shannon took over the conversation and I got to enjoy her story which towards the end included a floorplan drawing (more about this later). Here's what Shannon had to share about her house …
Shannon, her husband and 2 smiling children live in Bloomsburg, NJ in a 1970s house that was a contemporary when it was built. These interviews are fairly open ended, i.e. I ask questions to start the conversation and leave lots of flexibility for women to describe their homes the way they same them … which means I also want to capture and share the information as I heard it.
Can You Describe Your Home? and Who Lives There?
- Built in the early 1970s, contemporary style
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Cedar siding
- Pool and a big patio
- 5 acres of land
- Wife, husband and 2 children … no pets
How Did You Pick this House?
Shannon and her husband were expecting their second child and needed a bigger house. They wanted to live near her husband's family but couldn't get the size home they wanted, within their budget. They kept looking farther and farther, until they found this house which they really like, including the land.
Fun Facts About Your House
- Favorite feature – without hesitation, the pool.
- Worst feature – the ugly gray and maroon tile in the entryway.
- Last big home projects – removed the paneling, repaired the walls and painted; power washing and sealing the decks and siding.
Home Maintenance
Shannon and her husband share home maintenance responsibilities about 50/50, and hire the right resources when they need help. She said they basically call someone when something breaks and only have a lawn guy who comes on a regular basis. Shannon said she likes to clean the pool. In another minute, this incredible list was quickly noted:
- Water is tested regularly, along with the water softener
- Septic tank gets pumped every 2 years
- Chimney is cleaned every fall
Dream Project
Last I asked Shannon what her dream home project was if money were no object. She quickly drew a floor plan showing the layout of the first floor of her home (square with center stairs). Shannon would like a bigger dining room and realizes there is wasted space right outside the room, with a hallway and exterior door to nowhere. We had a fun discussion about several ways to provide support if reconfiguring the hallway space includes removing a load bearing wall. The important message for Shannon – you can do it and it's not too challenging!
Shannon, good luck making your dream a reality.
You can do it so we're waiting for your photos!
Shannon Entin blogs at DisciplineProject.com, where she is focused on learning how to motivate and make permanent changes. Shannon's blog is about “…taking action and making choices that will create the reality you desire; about overcoming inertia and living with mindfulness and purpose and acting with intentional, continual motion.“
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