Where it all started…

How did we get here?  It is an amazing story: a Taiwan girl and a New England boy meet mid-life and decide that they are better together than apart.  How did these two very different childhood experiences and cultures blend to create something bigger and better?

We bought our first home together in 2010; we had very little money because we both started our education and careers later than most.  The first experiential difference that became apparent was Chris wanting to DIY the improvements in our new home, whereas Maggie grew up in a big city where DIY is a strange and foreign concept.  She had ideas for walls and floors and furniture that would give the home a warm and cozy feel with Asian sight-lines and textures.  Maggie had to learn to trust her (new) husband and Chris had to learn new techniques beyond the skills he had picked up previously in order to bring her visions to reality.  Now, attention to detail and cleanliness (visually and emotionally) were important.

We started by replacing all carpet with real-wood dark oak flooring and painting every wall and ceiling with soft shades of cream and white.  We then began adding unique touches throughout the house.  For example, we built and installed a full size mantel above the fireplace and converted the 3rd bedroom to a library with floor-to-ceiling book shelves.  Perhaps the most unique touch was added to the dining room.  We found a mural of a traditional Chinese farm and temple in a small art shop in Shanghai China.  We then brought this mural to a nearby artisan who converted the 10"x12" mural  into a series of wall paper strips that would cover a wall 9'x14'.  The beauty of the painting completely covering an accent wall while dining at the table brings out emotion and conversation for all who visit us.

Tune in for the next Entry where we will describe the complete kitchen and bathroom remodels.