How We Fell for Our Home
I have a funny story to tell you about our home. We actually fell in love with our house before we owned it.
This story starts during a torrential downpour in 2001. We were driving around with our realtor looking at homes in Raleigh. The rainstorm turned ugly and our realtor pulled into the first neighborhood he could find. As he drove carefully down the tree lined streets, we saw a For Sale sign ahead. As we drove closer, we saw a handsome two story home on a hill.
The landscaping was well manicured and there was an adorable little side porch.
Our realtor called the office to find out the details on the home. It turns out that the owners were asking 5K over our maximum search. The interior was equally well cared for, so the next day we put an offer on the house and moved in within 2 months.
We didn’t realize how lucky we were to have found this house on a perfect little cul-de-sac. As the months progressed, we got to know all our neighbors on the street. Each and every one of them were warm and welcoming and oozed southern charm.
As the years went by we welcomed our first son into our house and then a second.
The home office, that we had renovated and installed built-in cabinets and a window seat into, became the nursery.
Feeling the pinch of squeezing all four of us, a dog and a home business into a three bedroom house, we began to look at other homes in the neighborhood, but dreaded having to move away from our location (did I mention how much we love our street?)
None of the other houses lived up to our picky needs (again, loved our street!)
Pretty Handsome Guy and I talked between ourselves about the one house on the street that we would love to live in. It was the charming dutch colonial house across the street.
He said, “Heaven forbid that our neighbors would ever move, but if they did we’d have to buy their house.”
And one day that is exactly what happened. It was such a bittersweet moment because we really adored our neighbors and their children. And we didn’t want them to move away. But, we basically said, “Tell us how much you want for your house.”
Three months later, we literally backed out of our old driveway and straight into our new one! (Sadly we didn’t win the Guiness Book’s shortest move on record.)
Our new home needed some updating and a little TLC, but we still loved it! It fits our style (old, casual, comfortable.)
We have slowly transformed one room at a time to fit our personality and allow us to “love” the inside of our house as much as we love the outside.
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| Office Before |
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| Office After |
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| Living Room Before |
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| Living Room After |
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| Guest Room Before |
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| Living Room After |
This month I’ll be sharing some ideas for turning your house into your dream home. Plus, I have a special giveaway announcement as well. But, you’ll just have to be patient.
PS, I am your newest follower!! YAY!
LOVE the door in the bedroom!! So clever!! AND cute!
Please come over and enter my giveaway!!
Thanks!
Amy
How cool! You are lucky to be part of such a great neighborhood!
Wow, You have really made something out of the rooms – I love the before and after pictures. 🙂
And a sweet atory as well.
Right now, I'm unfortunately not loving my home, because me and my boyfriend have a dream of moving to a house outside the city we live in now. But we're both studying, so it'll have to wait at least a year until we're finished..
But I'll definitely be doing some handy work when the time comes. 🙂
Awesome blog by the way – I also came from Today's creative blog. 🙂
Oh, man that was a short move indeed. Sounds like both houses were meant to be. Our shortest move was going from a one-bedroom apartment to a 2 bedroom right around the corner. We borrowed the building's dolly and started wheeling our stuff over days earlier.
So glad I found your blog through Today's Creative Blog! Holy toledo, your ideas and creativity amaze me! I can't wait to find more ideas to make my house more mine!! Thank you!
How awesome that you got your dream house! Found you through Today's Creative Blog & am a new follower!
That's seriously adorable. We're stuck living in a condo we can't sell (thanks to the market for crashing and burning!) but I'm finally starting to love it. It's a grudging sort of love, but it's there.
Can't wait to see your ideas for loving a house more!
What a great story!! Its so amazing that you were abel to stay so close to your previous home :0)
I too have found your blog through Today's Creative Blog and I am sooooo impressed. I feel like I found a kindred spirit. I am always in a middle of some project. Right now I am refinishing a table, painting a room, and sewing some curtains.
I can't wait to read more and get some inspirations! Thanks.
I am here from Today's Creative Blog…I love what I see. We are in the middle of "Falling in Love with our Home." As I type, I have a master bath that is fully gutted with new tile. There's also a large hole in the wall overlooking the steps… Always a process. I'm getting your blog via email, now.
Blessings!
Thank you for sharing both your beautiful story and your beautiful home. Isn't it fun watching our houses become our homes as we lovingly add our own personal touches?
I love your story, Brittany! Both your homes are ADORABLE — love the character and charm they both have! And the updates you guys have made are just perfect! Can't wait to see more!!
Great story. You have a great sense of style . I love you taste. When we moved into our current home, it was just across a small field. I hated moving even that far, but will probably move once more into our retirement home.
I love this story. I am picturing you carrying armfuls of things across the street. Both such beautiful homes. I love watching you make it your own.