US Culture Shock: My First American House

Surprise! On the back of becoming a US citizen, I figured I had room for one more life event. Let me show you around my first American house.
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[@tikidaron]

Setting up an American dining room and then never using it is a time honored American tradition. Thank you for coming here and making our country better. Cheers.

[@preserveourpbfs7128]

Yeah that whole “two weeks until we migrate to the couch” was very on point

[@EssenceOfHope]

My parents have two - a formal one, and one that got turned into my mom's home gym. 😂 The formal dining gets used maybe twice a year. They eat in the kitchen dining area.

[@kathybouziane5269]

My dining room table started to be a junk drop off so we made it into an upstairs laundry room. Best thing we ever did

[@DrBojanglez105]

😂 We have a nice dining room, but we tend to eat at the counter/bar in the kitchen. I eat like a prisoner, so I rarely even sit down.

[@kathybouziane5269]

@@DrBojanglez105 Yeah, we eat watching tv on the coffee table most nights. Just me and the old man living the good life 😄👍

[@mushroomhead3]

In Ohio we would call that a "mud room". If it was a little larger with more windows it would be a "three seasons room". A place to sit outside without actually being outside, but for only 3 seasons of the year. And for the toilet just jiggle the handle a bit. It's an old American trick ;). But for real you probably need to replace the little rubber flap in the tank. They sell them at home depot for a couple of bucks and it only takes a few minutes to replace. As you know, Do It Yourself is an American pastime.

[@dwaneanderson8039]

It could also be the float valve leaking. You can replace that yourself too, but it's a little more involved.

[@janelle144]

I hope he got someone to inspect the house from top to bottom for any problems. Then the person selling the house would need to fix any problems before you move in.

[@alindasue]

You pretty much said what I was going to say. One thing, though. I found that more often than not, a constantly running toilet is caused by the chain going to the flap rather than the flap itself. Either the chain is adjusted too short or the chain is too long, and the flap is hanging up on it. Just adjust the chain length at the hook, and the problem should be fixed without having to buy any parts.

[@evil1by1]

@@janelle144 they don't fix every little bump and lump, only major stuff that would hold up a loan. I mean you could try to put the screws to a seller over a toilet flap valve but in this markey he's got 6 other offers that aren't being petty and your bank don't care about that. Its actually kinda horrifying what an inspector will approve thats actually a big fucking deal ®️

[@occheermommy]

The chain on my toilet gets twisted sometimes and I just need to take it off and fix it and put it back on.

[@danielherman3841]

As an American who grew up primarily in the south, I have usually only encountered mudrooms in states with colder climates! I always assumed it was so you could take your snow boots off and not track snow into the house 😂

[@sayrewilkin-dalby619]

I'm American and my husband is British and when you were showing the "unheated entry room" he goes, "That's just a vestibule," and I go, "No, it's a type of mudroom," and then you said both of those things haha. We're also in Chicago, but it sounds like you're a year ahead on immigration & home ownership! Congratulations on both! Deepest condolences on your loss.

[@boggy7665]

I see an 'enclosed porch', but maybe it's just me... Scanning the comments, I'm not the only one to call it that

[@mamba101]

“Porch” in Ireland. We don’t really have external Porches due to all the sideways rain.

[@kenore4003]

Works like an airlock. Another layer of separation from the outside cold, heat and bugs.

[@Lawrence330]

I would have called it a sunroom, but mudroom is also common. In newer ones, the mudroom is often between the garage and kitchen and also houses the washer and dryer.

[@kenore4003]

@@Lawrence330 I suppose the proper name covering all the descriptions would be antechamber.

[@markmaurer6370]

I'm sure your father would be bursting with pride if he could see your new home!

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

I was thinking the same thing🙂

[@jovetj]

RIP Laurence's father

[@susanbrown5080]

His mum is.

[@freethebirds3578]

I love that you have so happily embraced the American way of life. You make this country even better.

[@monicahamm3353]

he's been an american since he was 8 years old....... he's just lately made it official!!!!!!!

[@uphilliceskater]

He's going to become Mexican, next.

[@karenmorrisette5027]

@@monicahamm3353 I read the first part of your sentence, b4 the ...... and in my head I finished it by saying... He just thought he was British. Lol

[@monicahamm3353]

@@karenmorrisette5027 clearly we are both long time viewers! because we know he has loved America since he was a child! I'm so happy that he is now an American citizen and a homeowner....... so American!!!!!

[@ColorMeConfused29]

The American Way of Life...of Endless Debt. LOL.

[@victoriapride7575]

can't wait for spring/summer where Laurence gets to document his experience on American lawn culture

[@stevejohnson1685]

I grew up in Chicago, and we called that room "the back porch". It had a communicating window with my parents' bedroom (note the correct placement of the apostrophe, because despite growing up in Chicago and largely on "the back porch" I'm posh, too). Eventually, my parents decided that I should have a different room, one not communicating directly with theirs, and moved me to the 2nd floor, which we called "the attic". Sometime later, my sister appeared.

[@sorryifoldcomment8596]

Yeah, I just called the one on my house the back porch and the front porch. Even though only the back has a whole room with a separate door. I drive for Uber Eats and if anyone said "leave it in the vestibule" or "leave it in the mudroom," I'd be like what the hell lol. Everyone just says "porch." Even when I have to open a door to get into their porch.

[@anatoliagolden-hall4553]

That’s hilarious 😂

[@cjb8010]

Hilarious. Wonderful memories.

[@kimberlycasey5957]

"Mudroom" works in Oregon where I live. But if it's combined with the laundry and access to the furnace and water heater, it might also be called the "utility room." These are often all combined, because it's a utilitarian space that is allowed to stay a bit more messy or even dirty.

[@thejerseylady1]

Yes, my parents called their mud room a utility room, It had the furnace and water heater and washer and dryer. Gloria

[@bigscarysteve]

What we saw in this video was a structure that I would call an "enclosed porch" which serves the function of a "mud room." Where I live, most houses have basements (which is not true everywhere in the country), and the furnace and the hot water heater [sic] are usually located in the basement somewhere. The laundry room might be in the basement too, or it might somewhere else, but it wouldn't be located in an enclosed porch here because everything would freeze up in the winter. A mud room would normally be located on the first (ground) floor because it's gotta be where you enter the house. My question for you is: are utility rooms in Oregon normally located in an enclosed porch, or in a part of the house that is properly insulated and heated? Are basements common in Oregon?

[@Alberto-wu1mj]

I always call it the utility room.

[@knightwolf3511]

@@giantschick21 there usually on the side or back of the house, the garage is usually added on later although what i notice the name changes although utility room is normally in the inside usually water heater and furnace

[@johnashen]

Congrats L. The more you deal with the issues of upkeeping a house, the more you'll appreciate the unseen things your Dad did all those years.

[@mbilden]

You have an absolute Gem of a house! I love that it hasn't been "ruined" by a previous owners attempt to modernize the upstairs. Original doors, original floors and original baseboard and trim can be very difficult to find these days, The basement is vintage 1960's finished basement. Great find!

[@bigred9428]

Is it just me, or does it seem a little older than 1942? Any houses built during WW2 surprise me anyway.

[@tommymaxey2665]

​@Big Red it's a little hard to tell. I want to say 60s as well because of the style of wood floor and sink in the basement. But it could also be a 20s house because of the stair way and arched doors on the first floor. I think the bathroom is the biggest teller to when a house was built though. I might need to do more research (aka ask my parent who both love talking about older homes)

[@WolfRoss]

It looks pre1950s to me. I was looking at the windows and floor.

[@jillcrowe2626]

It looks like it's from the 1930's or even the 20's from the door style and the width of the wood floors. I also noticed the exposed plumbing on the walls of the basement. That's likely because the original owners wouldn't have had a machine to do laundry and wouldn't need plumbing in the basement.

[@ljb8157]

My house was built in the 1870s. It still has a ton of original features in it. Pine flooring in half the house, weird out of place doorbells for different floors. So if I'm in the dining room and my husband is in the basement I can ring a bell to get his attention. Why would I do that? I don't know... but I could if I wanted to! Original doors that don't quite line up correctly. I love it!

[@pamelaleannefreeland9025]

Lawrence, the noise the toilet’s making is most likely the plungerbulb thingy having become unhooked or disconnected from the chain under the lid. Easy fix you can do quite quickly and easily (and save you some cash). Hope you see this and it helps! I know I’m a bit behind schedule. Apologies. Congrats on the new house! It’s gorgeous! You’ll make it into your home in no time. Best of luck from Ohio! 💜

[@bigred9428]

FYI, it's called a flapper. Anyone fixing them (you are right, very easy) should take a picture of the inside and outside of the tank, along with any name and number you can find, with you to the store. I have yet to need anything but the one size fits all variety, but the people in the hardware store give me grief about not knowing which specific one I need every single time.

[@ncooty]

If the chain were disconnected from the flapper, it wouldn't flush at all.

[@xchemicalXladybugx]

It’s the flapper not sealing fully. Quick and easy fix is to push down on the lever as if your flushing but don’t hold it down. Though rubber does deform over time so it might be that it needs to be replaced

[@karenrosen2983]

The mud room is one of the reasons we bought our house. Love being able to dry the dog off when weather is bad so he doesn’t track mud,water etc all over the hard wood floors!

[@LostShipMate]

Mans best friend in winter, My breezeway(same purpose) is basically a shed that I don't care about getting dirty. Great for getting work done without freezing to death.

[@oceana9294]

Oh my, what I wouldn't give for a mud room, always wanted one and always wanted the washtubs in the laundry room. So, this could be MY dream house! 😅

[@tinydancer7426]

@@oceana9294 Ah yes. The wash tubs. Only, my part of the world (suburbs outside of Baltimore City), in the days of my youth, those tubes were generically called "set tubs". Why, I don't know, unless it was because the were made of concrete and so heavy that once you "set" them in place, that's where they were gonna set. ha ha 😆

[@staciecarrel4492]

@@oceana9294 one of the first things I’m putting in when I get a house is a utility sink in the laundry room or garage if there isn’t one already. Among their many other uses, they are perfect for hand washing delicate clothing.

[@kenore4003]

@@staciecarrel4492 A laundry tub is a great place when your young toddler has a massive diaper blowout. You can stand them up and strip them down without spreading it all over.

[@terrilynnnoss6993]

Sincere condolences on the loss of your father. Congratulations on taking this huge life step into home ownership.

[@ginacodding4135]

We called our unheated end room a “breezeway”. It had a rack with hooks for coats and shoes so we kind of used it as a mud room.

[@ml48963]

I'm terribly sorry to hear about your father Lawrence. He must have been an amazing man and very proud of you with your amazing videos and fantastic humor. Prayers for him and your family, even if I am a month late. Can't wait to see your upcoming videos (besides the ones I already watched)

[@michaelfink64]

What an emotional rollercoaster you have been on, Laurence. Condolences on your dad and congratulation on your new digs.

[@christopherjs2142]

Best advice I can give you as an American homeowner is learn how to fix stuff yourself until you can't. A running toilet is an easy fix, as well as other small things. I was even able to fix my furnace with the help of youtube videos. When you call someone in, they'll often do a $20 fix for $200+. Plus, it'll make for great content!

[@rogeraylstock3641]

This! You'll learn the closest Home Depot or Lowes and exactly how many trip to the hardware store it take to fix something (it's more than one trip!)

[@christopherjs2142]

@@rogeraylstock3641 Literally always more than one trip! 😂

[@wholesome122]

@@notaffiliatedwith7363 agreed. Sometimes watching someone work through the problem solving helps my family diagnose our home issues

[@Dan-fx7qy]

After I bought (in the Chicago area) I got the Home Depot credit card 😂

[@robertdaniels2549]

My father’s hard earned wisdom: never start a home repair project when the hardware store is about to close

[@aff77141]

that my friend can't be described as anything but MUD ROOM! But Japan has a similar concept called the 'genkan', a lowered area in traditional houses or most of the time just an area of separate flooring where you stop to take your shoes off and store them, coats, etc, it can be fully inside or partially closed off like a mud room. Also mud room's aren't always completely patio style, sometimes it's more like a duo entry/laundry room especially those connected to a garage

[@LoveMusic-pd5iz]

I once rented a home that had a mud/laundry/three seasons room that had a primitive shower in it. Next to the washer/dryer was a deep double sink. It was located in the back of the house, so it came in handy when coming in from the garden - and for dirty kids. Rinse the veggies, take off shoes and dirty clothes, and shower before going in the house.

[@gracegrass4462]

You just described the non-patio style mudroom in the house I grew up in. You entered it by the "side door" but we never used the front door. It was fully inside but separated from the rest of the house by a door. It had laundry, a bench, coat hooks, shoe storage, and a door connected to the garage.

[@xSwordLilyx]

I want that so bad, although it is a big problem to have laundry in the house proper if there is flooding, I don't think it would be a huge problem in a mud room and I hate trudging up and down the stairs.

[@gardenjoy5223]

A mud room with carpet. That's a weird combination. To me any real mud room must have tiles, off which you can clean the mud. You get my point.

[@word42069]

Given its location in the rear of the home, we (in the Northeast) would call that a 3 season room or if it had more windows, a sunroom. Typically a mudroom would be located at a side entrance or adjacent to the main foyer. The room you showed was in the rear of the home which makes it more likely to have been a small deck that was later covered & enclosed or a “3 season room”. That’s not to say this space couldn’t be used as a mudroom though. There is a lot of nuance and specificity between the naming of transition spaces like that… trust me, I’m an architect. Here in NYC, if an old (Victorian or earlier) row house had a small room in the rear like that, it could have been an old latrine or kitchen. If your house is from the 1930s-1940s it is most likely a later 3 seasons room that was added. Hard to tell from what you showed. I understand why you aren’t showing your home’s exterior but I do wish I could see it haha. PS: that room is technically a vestibule and acts as one, but you wouldn’t refer to it specifically as a vestibule (ie: a mudroom can be a vestibule but not all vestibules are mudrooms). Sincerely, an Architect who owns the multiple hard copy volumes of the Oxford English Dictionary of Architecture… which has thousands of pages printed in Bible-sized text.

[@bethdoherty9081]

My house in Chicago is almost exactly the same as what you are describing! It was built in 1949 with a door in the back to allow for the possibility of a three seasons room. The previous homeowners added a one in, I'm guessing, the 1960 or 1970s.

[@Dreamer-gp8ye]

Congratulations on your house purchase. It is so nice knowing that your payments are adding up to something you will eventually completely own and not just lining a landlord's pocket. Also, my sincere condolences on the passing of your father.

[@DollyMcD54]

First of all, I’m sorry for your loss. Next, congratulations! I’m so happy for you both!

[@tabethadavis107]

Just found your channel this morning, and immediately subbed. Condolences on the loss of your Dad... I lost mine December 9, so I am grieving with you; my Dad was my buddy, my rock, and my inspiration in so many ways! This Carolina girl is loving your vids! Thanks for sharing!!

[@chuckconners6520]

Beautiful home! That’s a mud room. I was born in America and I’m glad you decided to joins us!

[@regina_filange2.0]

Condolences on the loss of your father. My Dad passed 2 years ago, and he was my best friend. I miss him dearly. Your father would be proud of this home for you.

[@angiebee2225]

My father died December 2020, so it's been 2 years for me, too. His younger brother is in hospice care and isn't expected to make it through today, which is really bringing back a lot of memories of my dad's last year or so. If your father is still around, comment reader, call him, or text him, or give him a hug. Do it for yourself, do it for your dad, and do it for those of us who can't do it anymore.

[@regina_filange2.0]

@@angiebee2225 I'm so sorry for your loss as well. My Dad's brother also passed due to Covid about 3 months after him. It was such a hard time to have family in hospitals, due to visiting restrictions. I will always be grateful for now being able to visit family. My heart is with you, keep your head up❤️❤️❤️

[@marahdolores8930]

We would either call it a mud room or a "back porch", which in my grandparent's Michigan home also doubled as excess refrigerator space during the winter holidays. Unheated and enclosed comes in handy in the cold upper midwestern states.

[@donnaroberts281]

I’m from Michigan too, and I’d also call it a back porch.

[@lindak3030]

We just use the car...The entire back hatch is filled on the day before Thanksgiving. Pure Michigan!!

[@casey8164]

Wisconsin here, it would depend on the function of the room. If the room had a working function (such as laundry), it would be a mud room, if it were an empty space that served no real purpose besides taking off your shoes, it would be a porch.

[@marahdolores8930]

@@casey8164 apparently in Michigan it could be either, then. My grandparents' back porch held the laundry tub, washers (her old wringer-washers were back there as well as the electric one) and dryer, freezers, spare refrigerator, plus overflow storage. It was actually a pretty large room - maybe around 15x30, with an outside additional 3 ft outside overhang running the length of one side. We still referred to it as the back porch, even if it was technically a mud room. We were a "back porch" family, but some of my friends had "mud rooms" containing not much more than a bench, trays for muddy or snowy boots, a shoe rack or storage tub, and coat hooks on the wall. I am a bit suspicious that what that unheated room on the back or side entrance of the house is called by might be influenced by either the age of the house/its occupants, if it was a newer custom-built or subdivision home, or maybe just as a result of good old family tradition. (Almost every home I've lived in since has an area we consider the back porch, even if it's not much of one. Our current back porch is an attached screened-in deck that houses a hot tub, tv, patio chairs & table, yet it is still my back porch.) Newer homes built from architects' plans had labeled and dedicated as "mud rooms" in their plans, whereas my grandfather built his house himself over a period of a couple of years during the Depression, and he grew up in a farmhouse built pretty much the same way. I think "back porch" is probably an older term that has been handed down over a very long time, and that "mud room" probably came into use after WWII.

[@Avacarho]

Congratulations on becoming a U.S. Citizen, Lawrence, and on Tara’s and your new home! You’re going to have fun decorating it, and you’re going to need a good lawnmower, weed whacker, and leaf blower for taking care of your yard. You’ll want to do videos on those experiences! And I’m sorry that you lost your dad.

[@italiana626sc]

Sorry for your loss of your father. ❤ We're all wishing you peace and the best of what America has to offer!

[@newmoonrising5151]

My deepest condolences for the loss of your Dad. And welcome to the homeowners club. I hope many happy years to come for both of you. 👏🏻❤️✌️

[@LiveFree123]

I’m so happy for you and may your home be filled with love, laughter and blessings. My sincere condolences on the loss of your father. 💙

[@wurkinmachinefurya]

Your channel is just so much fun!! So glad you do them. You and your wife are a treat! ❤

[@Hippie_King15]

For the vestibule, if it’s at the front of the house, it’s a mudroom if it’s at the back of the house it’s a sunroom.

[@susanhartnett7062]

Congrats on your new home! Regarding the toilet, we discovered our water bill was way higher than usual, and it turned out one of our toilets was running like yours is. A quick KZbin instructional video or two, and a trip to the Home Depot (or in our case, an amazon order) will have you sorted in roughly ten minutes. The parts are pretty much universal. It's easy, fast, & not messy, so no need to pay the minimum $100 or so fee for a plumber. The flappers are made of rubber so they just wear out in the water over time. Ours end up needing replaced every few years & I always do it myself. You can do it!

[@JEdwardBanasikJr]

And it its the flush valve at the top depending on the model it's just a small rubber disc inside that is easily replaced. Or you can just replace the whole flush valve for under $20. Easy replacement. KZbin is definitely your friend for DYI.

[@joshuatheregularguy8974]

Good advice. Indeed. But of course the first step is just jiggle the handle and see if that 'fixes' it.

[@terri2494]

@@joshuatheregularguy8974 Or lift the lid and see if the chain is tangled.

[@joshuatheregularguy8974]

@@terri2494 Yes. That would be a good diagnostic step, especially in a new house where you aren't familiar with exactly how that handle's action normally feels.

[@ew4932]

@@joshuatheregularguy8974 If the flapper chain is too long, you can always shore it up by hooking the hook to a higher rung on the chain.

[@tonis5140]

It's adorable that he calls that a walk in closet

[@janetpschwartz8991]

The british used freestanding wardrobes for centuries. Closets werent common. You should show him pictures of our REAL walk'in closets. My father had one lined in cedar, to hold all his expensive Brooks Brothers suits, during the 1980's....

[@wadehiggins1919]

Looks like a pretty standard 1920's Chicago area home. We would call it a mud room. Perfect for all your coats, boots, and gloves. Also is a great way to keep all the freezing cold air from entering the main part of the house. Miss seeing those homes from my childhood.

[@merrywhiterose]

OMG I am SOOOOO jealous! My husband & I have lived in this tiny apartment in Missouri for 18 yrs! I'm now retired & I'm waiting for my husband to retire, to buy a small house in Wisconsin (where the kids are). I love your wood floors! The entry room is called a mud room. You might want to use your office for storage & your wife's office as an office for both of you. CONGRATULATIONS!

[@amysanangel76]

Your vestibule or mud room is common in the Midwest, Alaska, Pacific NW, North East, etc. where the winters are really cold. It allows you to come in and close the front door before entering the second door into the main part of the house so you don't let as much heat out or cold in, as well as gives you a place to store your wet coats, boots, hats, etc. They aren't common out here in California where the winter temps aren't as cold. Congrats on the new house!!

[@PittsburghGal85]

Mud rooms are extremely common on Pennsylvanian farms. This fact I did not know until I was ten years old and my aunt's family moved upstate. We were there after their first big snow above Interstate 80 and I immediately saw the need for one LOL

[@mkshffr4936]

A midwest airlock.

[@crispy9175]

I wish I had a flood room in my house. Florida gets a lot of mud during the rainy season.

[@nunyabidness5375]

In Illinois your living room is colloquially the "frunch room" (front room).

[@amysanangel76]

I should say that homes here sometimes have mud rooms, but they are at the backdoor, laundry room, entrance from the garage, etc (not the main front door entrance).

[@dsm4462]

I’m so sorry to hear about your father. I’m sure he’s so proud of you for buying your first home, not a small feat in today’s financial climate

[@ginny5937]

In Minnesota we call it a mudroom, or a breezeway.

[@MarisaAndChew]

I am Canadian. Your mud room would be what we call a porch in my area. Our house has the washer/dryer in it and the whole point of it is that when you walk in with your boots in winter, you don't track snow, water, mud, etc through the house, but you obviously cannot leave your things outside in winter bc otherwise your feet would freeze solid and you would die of hypothermia while walking to your car... We don't wear shoes inside beyond the entry way or the porch!

[@FleaChristenson]

I’m so very sorry about your dad. That’s heartbreaking. But am so happy for you both being homeowners.

[@Chordonblue]

My wife and I are in our 50s and we just purchased our first home in March of last year. It is exciting and stressful, but so worth it! Congratulations to you and like everyone else, my condolences on your father's passing as well.

[@BigSnipp]

Congrats, Chuck.

[@uphilliceskater]

A common story for Gen Xers, we can only afford to live in apartments.

[@janicesullivan8942]

Congratulations on your new home!

[@soniaalvarado5372]

Awesome! Congratulations!

[@aris1869]

Some of things you pointed out exist because the houses are made so you can have friends/family over. The fireplace cover is so children don’t hurt themselves, the gest room is for your children or your in laws, the dining room is for parties, etc.

[@joemcgunagle8146]

So sorry that you lost your dad. I know it’s not an easy experience to go through. I offer my condolences. Congratulations on your new home. I hope you and your wife a lot of happiness and happy memories there. Your foyer/mud room is also known as a three season porch.

[@janetd4862]

Sorry to hear about your father. I lost both my parents in the same year, nine years ago. It has to be extra hard being so far away from your family. Don’t forget to take special care of yourself as you go through the grieving process. Thanks for showing us your new home!

[@thehorrorfanx]

You deserve all the success and more. I wish for you and your family much peace and happiness in this new year. RIP to your dad. I’ve lost both my parents and you have my deepest sympathy.

[@kimberlykinsinger2612]

First let me also say I’m sorry about your dad. Loosing a loved one is always very hard - you don’t ever stop missing them. On a lighter note: it is amusing watching this as a Canadian. Most things in this video I was like “Yup same in Canada as the states …” … except we say foy-YAY, annnnd we would use the term “washroom” to not describe our laundry rooms but for the loo or “bathroom/restroom.” Definitely have confused some Americans by asking for the washroom at a restaurant (no joke!). 😅 My American friends if you get asked this question, it’s safe to assume you have a Canadian simply looking for a toilet 🚽 🇨🇦

[@jmcg6189]

I learned "washroom " from my Canadian-American mother. She asked for it once in a Baltimore department store and was told that they didn't sell washing machines!

[@juliannerohm1297]

Beautiful house. The woodwork is gorgeous--immaculate. So charming. Congratulations. So sorry hear about your dad. Blessings to you all.

[@outremer91]

It's funny to me as an American we consider that a normal sized fridge and most of the time there's another one in the garage.

[@Sunset553]

I’m surprised that’s not in lists of American things - the 2 refrigerators

[@shadowofchaos8932]

Congratulations! Buying a house was one of the most stressful things I have ever done

[@LindaC616]

I had to go through the whole process including pre-approval and underwriting and moving, in about 10 weeks. It was awful. And I only had 400,000 in a town where the average house goes for 6 to 700,000. That was a year ago. They're more expensive now

[@someonesdad5986]

Truth!

[@someonesdad5986]

@Linda C yeesh! If you can work from anywhere, please move to Roanoke, AL. My wife and I did five years ago. We bought a restored Victorian, 2000sq ft for 75,000.

[@timesthree5757]

@@LindaC616 really I just bought mine. 35,000$. Just bought it.

[@LindaC616]

@@timesthree5757 I live in a tourist town. Condos can easily go for $300,000 here

[@TeacherMom80]

I'm from an agricultural community in south central Massachusetts. We call it a "mud room"! 😆 It's a room to kick off your shit shoes, work clothes & such, so you don't have to drag mud & a mountain of outdoor gear through the house, without freezing your ass off! We do not have a mud room in our current home & I very much wish we did. We have kids & a little backyard farm & have caused so many awful messes & wear & tear due to not having a mud room of the years...not to mention, heat loss! My grandparents called their mud room a breezeway! It was used more like a sun porch/enclosed patio during the warm weather & like a mud room for snow clothes & such during the winter. God bless you guys! I just discovered your videos & am so very grateful for the laughs! Boy, have I needed a good laugh! Thank you SO much! And yes ai subscribed! You are a joy! Both you & your wife. 💖🙏🏼😇

[@Raylen_Fa-ield]

It's a mid room. For places that get a lot of rain or snow, these are helpful. It's the room to take your dirty, muddy shoes off before entering

[@claranielsen3382]

I am so sorry to hear about your dad. Congrats on the house and becoming an American citizen. You are living the American dream! Wishing you all the best. Much love from Texas.

[@apt221bbakerst]

In reference to your want to be office, but wife wants guest room, you can have both in the same room. Just set up a futon or convertible sofa on one side of the room and your office space on the other side. That way both of you are happy and the room has two functions. A lot of people combine office with guest room.

[@pamelagabert4709]

What a lovely home. Congratulations!!!!!

[@michb71]

I’m next door in Indiana and I would call that unheated room a back porch. We live on a farm so that’s where the barn clothes/ boots, etc. would stay. Since you’re not on a farm, I would set up a table or some shelving and use it for extra cold storage for food in the winter months. Great for storing fruit and Christmas goodies! Lovely home! I’m enjoying your videos and I was sorry to hear of the passing of your dad. Losing a parent is such a heartache, no matter how old we are. Glad to have you in our country. Welcome!

[@billboth6572]

I am so saddened and sorry to hear about your father's passing. Love and prayers for you and your family

[@markheit5870]

We would all be lucky to have new neighbors like you. Congratulations!

[@judywright4241]

Wait till they get welcomed with cookies!🎉

[@KNightshade6]

if that room is at the entrance of the house then yes, its a mud room, if that room connects to the backyard its a sun room.

[@thelostpsychosis]

In South West PA that's a mudroom, but small, but a mud room none the less, called a mud room cause if you're shoes/boots have mud on em you take em off there before tracking it into the house.

[@psychobetha]

congratulations! your cat is going to love all that space 😃 here in western NY we call it a mudroom as well. it’s the perfect place to put a wardrobe for outdoor clothing, a rack for winter gear (like shovels, snow brushes, and a bag of ice melt), an umbrella stand, a couple of baskets for gloves and hats, and a nice bench for sitting while you deal with winter boots. at least that’s what is in ours 😉

[@Julia-zj2ch]

In Chicago, your mudroom can also be called a snow room. In all the UK house programs I watch it seems to be called a boot room. Having a covered place to leave shoes is excellent! Looks like a lovely house. Those wooden floors are gorgeous!

[@pattihawks353]

Condolences on your loss. It’s a difficult thing to experience , losing a parent. Mine have both passed many years back, and I still miss them dearly. God Bless you and family!🙏🧡

[@troubleinmind369]

Congratulatioms on your 1st American house🎉🎉🎉

[@stephenjordan8712]

I’m so sad to hear about your dad, especially at this time of year, but I’m glad you’ve got such a great wife and all of us. Best wishes for 2023.

[@matthill5426]

Congratulations! You know, now we need a video of... your first traditional Sunday Roast in your new house! We need the whole deal: roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, the works!

[@bigscarysteve]

Don't forget to refer to the roast beef as the "Sunday joint."

[@agresticumbra]

Mmmm, Yorkshire pudding/popover!

[@joanneperlmutter2038]

Mazel Tov on your new home! I especially appreciate that your blanket was consigned to the cat. Your priorities are spot on!

[@jonathanvanderpol1435]

Oh, my Lawrence. I am so sorry for your loss of your father. Thank you for sharing with us. Congratulations on your new home!

[@shannon915]

Congrats! We just bought our second house after living in a tiny townhouse for 18 years. We too were without furniture for ... months. The day we had a sofa delivered (which lessened the echoes considerably) was extremely exciting. Have fun decorating!

[@sjuts1]

Your father must be so proud of you. I’m very sorry for your loss. A cliche, but genuinely meant, sentiment 💙

[@lynliberty4972]

I have a mudroom in my New England mid-century house. It was a selling point. The house I grew up in had one. I love them. If you have a yard to tend or have kids running in and out, a mudroom is a joyful mess of wet snowsuits and gardening shoes. A great place for built-in cubbies, hook rails, and house plants. Welcome home!

[@johngreening463]

My sincerest condolences, Laurence. Prayers for peace and comfort for you and your family.

[@Jeeperskip]

Those hardwood floors are gorgeous. Congratulations on your first house and citizenship. Condolences on your Dad. Life has a way of saving up events to firehose you at any minute doesn't it? It goes along all peaceful and quiet for a while and then Wham! All at once.

[@AngusHenry09]

Ok, I'm only in 2:25 in and I'm laughing so hard. I totally lost it when you said you give it 2 weeks before migrating to the living room for dinner. You described my husband and myself after getting our place. We're older, kids gone so no point.

[@BigKy-Mart]

I have TV tray tables to eat in the living room. Our kitchen isn't big enough to really fit more than two people at a table, so it doesn't get used much. If we have company, the kitchen table is moved to the living room.

[@PowerToolsWithThread]

In South Texas we don't have mud rooms or basements. We just drag our outside dirt in and install out-buildings to hold all of our stuff. New subscriber here. Congrats on your US citizenship and condolences on your dad. I'll be binge watching to catch up. Love a great laugh. Thanks.

[@pegwatts6120]

We did the identical thing. My husband and I this wasn’t our first house it’s actually our third but… We sold our previous home and purchased our new home on December 27 and moved into our new home on January 3. We have had about 420 boxes too. Lol. And our homes are even somewhat similar. Many blessings and happy days in your new abode. Welcome to being a homeowner.

[@tatiannazutania7751]

I remember my first house. It was such a joy until it wasn't. Then I remodeled it, and moved away to another state. As an Interior Designer, that's what we do. I wish you many happy years in this house, and am so sorry about your father. Thank you for becoming a citizen. It means a lot to me.

[@shinnam]

I think his house is lovely, envious of all that wonderful unpainted real wood wood and the fireplaces. I live in IKEA land, Might give him some tips on the 1970's wood paneling in the mud room.

[@lovemefondue]

Yes you’ll have to do a whole video about the mud room! 😆 Growing up in Texas I mainly saw “sunrooms” or “sun porches” at the back of the house & usually with a ceiling fan. They were such a luxury 😎 shade, protection from bugs, but get to enjoy your iced tea with pretty lighting bugs while shouting over the crickets & locusts. My dad was an architect and I LOVE these kind of videos. Whether you’re in England or Chicago it’s fascinating to me 👍

[@opulenttinglesasmr789]

yes! Another fellow Texan and I made the same comment about the "sun room" and other elements in Texas homes.

[@lovemefondue]

@@opulenttinglesasmr789 haha! I’m glad I didn’t just make that up! I remember seeing sunrooms in homes with giant backyards…maybe just out of the city

[@adventure_hannah3841]

In Kentucky they'd be called a "closed porch" or "sun room", for the same reasons! Although Kentucky heat is NOTHING compared to Texas!

[@lovemefondue]

@@adventure_hannah3841 probably way more comfortable then! 110 degrees in the shade 😉

[@douglaserwinbrandt181]

So you purchased a home built in 1950's, the bath tile gave you away.

[@tjblue22]

That room was called a "breezeway" between the garage and main house. It had 4 doors. 1 front entrance for guests to stomp snow off 2 for backyard so dog could do his thing 3 to garage and 4 to main house. Breeze could pass through from front yard to back yard.

[@karenbrown2135]

Beautiful home. I hope you and your wife have a lot of memories in your home. Also I am sorry for your loss. May he Rest In Peace…..🇬🇧🌹

[@margf.6773]

Sorry to hear of your recent loss. I bet your dad was really proud of you.

[@xpatsteve]

My sincere condolences on the loss of your father. My own father passed away in September and as an American living in Austria I can really appreciate the stress and chaos of having to suddenly plan an overseas trip. And congratulations on your US Citizenship and new house! I have the exact same deck chairs, by the way. In the summer, I set one up in the shade out in the garden for a nap. Comfy indeed.

[@tiltingatwindmills7018]

I love mudrooms. You can put lockers/cubbies for coats, bags, gloves, and hats. You can get a bench for putting your shoes and boots on and off. And get a shoe rack so people can keep their shoes organized. You can get some furniture and it can be a sunroom when it’s warm.

[@kathleendunn1972]

I am so sorry about your father. Congratulations on your new home, and on becoming a US citizen. That is a LOT for one month. Make sure to take care of yourself.

[@kellcomnet]

Congratulations on the new house, it seems you you truly had a life changing holiday season.

[@le_th_]

Congratulations on purchasing your first home! What a bittersweet experience to close on your very first house, and then to receive the crushing news that your father would soon be passing. I'm happy for you that your father lived long enough to see you achieve some of your lifelong dreams of becoming a US citizen and buying your first home. I have no doubt that it brought him great comfort to see you achieve that during his lifetime. May it be many, many years in the future before the pair of you have to fork over several thousand dollars for your first major home repair. Those are the moments you'll likely find yourself thinking..."Maybe I would have been better off, financially, just remaining a renter?" lol You're not a homeowner unless you have those thoughts at least once a year. lol May your heart heal, in due time, and may your memories of your father eventually bring you more smiles than they do tears. It can take quite a while to get to that place.

[@SMElder-iy6fl]

So sorry about your dad. We're glad to have you as an American!

[@tmjb00]

I call it a three season porch because mud rooms are for newer homes where there are coat closets/storage and/or laundry machines, etc., and usually in rural areas.

[@clairenollet2389]

Here in Buffalo, where I now live, you might call that back room a "Florida room," which is basically a not well-insulated room that you mostly use in warm weather. The windows all have screens, so you can sit "outside" in lawn chairs in good weather with all the windows open, but not have to deal with mosquitoes. In the winter, you can use it to take off boots and coats without tracking in snow and ice to the nice part of the house. In Buffalo, the "Florida room" is usually in the front of the house, so you can watch your neighbors as they walk their dogs, etc. I grew up in New England, and "mud rooms" there were smaller, and usually had a bench, so you could easily take off your mucked-up boots.

[@lauriefrancisco1084]

Condolences again at the loss of your dad. I don't suppose anyone ever tells you you look like him! BTW, I believe he DOES know about those thousands of messages you received after his passing. And major congratulations on your purchase of your first house here in the states. It looks quite nice, and your "rec" room looks like the perfect video room!. I hope the overload of life changes recently means you'll be getting a bit of a breather now. And though I live in Middle Tennessee, a belated welcome to the neighborhood!

[@ophyjenkins8283]

Wow! You really have had a busy couple months. So sorry for your loss of your Pa! Congratulations on becoming a US citizen and your first home! So exciting!

[@ValleyOakPaper]

Loving the vintage peach tile in the bathroom. One other difference between American and British tubs is that American ones are only fit to bathe a dachshund. You need get a "soaking tub" to be able to enjoy a proper bath. In my American home I have a garden tub, which is a square tub. You could bathe four dachshunds at the same time. 😂

[@djijspeakerguy4628]

That’s an extremely common layout for a house in the U.S. It’s called the American Foursquare. Most were built from about 1900 to 1930. That extra room in the back isn’t typical everywhere in the country. A cool thing about them is that they’re pretty much all slightly different, especially on the outside! I’ve been in a house pretty much identical, but without the back room. The upstairs might have been slightly different, the small bedroom and bathroom swapped, and the bedrooms were carpeted. If I recall, the living room was used as the dining room, and the dining room had a couch and a TV. The basement was one big room.

[@abbyinwi]

I agree with you... its a four square like mine! I'm looking forward to his video about four squares! LOL

[@11sfr]

Definitely looks like a classic Foursquare layout. I believe it was the most common middle class single-family home type built from the 1890s to the start of WWII, but was too labor and materials-intensive for the massive housing boom after the war, and had already come under heavy competition in the '20s and '30s from bungalows and Cape Cods to begin with. Aside from the US, also heavily built in Canada, and a small handful in Australia (mainly by US-based companies as worker housing)

[@williamdory4375]

Sears sold a lot of them as kits at one point. Entire house, plans, hardware and fittings all on a railroad car.

[@djijspeakerguy4628]

@@williamdory4375 I’m fully aware of the Sears kit homes. This is most definitely not one of them, but I think I found one or two in the city where I live. Sears was not the only manufacturer. Others included Gordon Van Tine, Aladdin Homes, and Wardway Homes (Montgomery Ward.) Funnily enough, I’ve found a spectacular use for the floor plans in the Sears catalogs, building a realistic town in Minecraft!

[@sitara68]

Definitely an early Craftsman.

[@protoolpat1]

Congrats on the house! My family call it a mud room as well and... we do wear shoes inside but the mud room is perfect to switch from mud/snow boots back to slippers/shoes :) Mud Rooms are such a nice buffer zone to keep the freezing outside creeping through the front door frame via the 2nd entry door.

[@sueprobert6545]

Condolences on the loss of your father. You've spoken fondly of him on many occassions, and his loss is irreplacable (we only get one dad!). Congratulations on your new house. A home in / near Chicago is a great asset (there's so much going on in Chicago). I hope you and Tara enjoy good health, good times, and good luck there!

[@rpvitiello]

A vestibule is between the front door and foyer where guests come in. It’s the more formal entrance. A mud room is usually off the driveway or garage and used by the homeowner. It’s the informal entrance. Many houses have both in the USA!

[@alanrogers7090]

I call your "vestibule/mud room" an airlock. Not literally, but it separates the outside from the inside without allowing the outside weather to enter the inside warmth. This also works to keep out the rain and snow, etc. It is a room with one main function, it lets a person remove their outer clothing, (heavy coats, scarves, gloves, etc., before they actually enter the house proper, which helps keep the house much cleaner.

[@SarahRenz59]

Congratulations on your new home! It looks to be in great shape; like we'd say, it has "good bones." What Tara calls a mud room I'd call an enclosed porch because it's an add-on and has no heat. Looking forward to seeing videos filmed in your new digs!

[@cindyknudson2715]

Could be a back hall too.

[@elultimo102]

They also call that a "3-season" porch, or a Florida room. Mine is occupied by the dog, so I can't use it.

[@robertmacdonald8447]

Growing up In the Canadian province of Newfoundland, which was a British colony until 1949, we had a vestibule for our boots & jackets, & in the basement a rec room. Until he passed several years ago dad's cars had a boot, bonnet & a silencer.

[@luella2897]

I'm very sorry on the passing of your Dad. But, happy to see that you ae now a US citizen !! Congratulations !!!