California house hunting is in full swing. Our current home goes on the market in 2 weeks and my sleepless nights are spent scouring the East Bay's MLS listings. Recently, at the wee hours of the morning, I found a dream house. Although this house has everything we're looking for in a home: mid-century design, open floor plan, great light and awesome outdoor areas, it comes with a price tag we may not be able to swing. This one may just have to stay in my dreams:
Moving mode is in full swing. Getting the house ready for sale has prompted a new coat of exterior paint, interior touch-ups, closet clean outs and a fresh layer of garden mulch. Honestly, all of that would have been done regardless of our move to the west coast. So, for the next few months that we are still here, the house will look its best and we will thoroughly enjoy it. Take a look at the before and after photos of the exterior:
Since our move to California will be here before we realize it, we have began prepping our house for its upcoming sale. Last week's warm, dry weather allowed us to get started and complete the exterior painting. The once red brick foundation is now black, and a newly added runner runs up the center of our entry stairs. I'm loving it and feel really good about leaving this house looking its best. While taking photos of the recent home improvements, our son Max (clearly not camera shy) stepped in front of the lens. I wonder what he REALLY thinks about all this change...
Stay posted for more photos of the house as it gets ready for the market.
Since last Friday's announcement of our upcoming move to California, I've been experiencing relief. Knowing that our friends and family are now aware of the big changes ahead for us, I feel like I can begin 'California dreaming' (aka decorating). I so love our current home but I'm excited about creating another look and feel for our new abode. Not yet having bought a house on the west coast keeps the concepts very broad, but I would love for it to be a mix of midcentury glamour and ethnic touches. Call it bohemian chic. Layered rugs, comfortable and eclectic furniture, gold accents and one of these for sure.
The chairs I recently spied at Reside [see below] would fit the look perfectly. I'm seriously considering buying them for the house we don't own yet. What do you think?
I received so many wonderful comments about our move. Thank you all for your well wishes and sharing in our excitement of it!
We're moving to California!!
For quite a while, I've pondered on how to gently break the news to my local readers and how to blog about it effectively to my global ones. Finally, I decided to just come out and "say it". This is big. This is huge. California has always been a favored place to live for my husband and me (having done so for 6 years when we were first married). Its dramatic landscape, vegetation and overall diversity are unparalleled. We're excited to share all of that with our children. The next few months are going to be very challenging, as we prepare both physically and mentally for the move. I get quite exhausted just thinking about it, and with the passing days, can't help but ponder about all we're leaving behind. Massachusetts will always be my children's birthplace and the home base for some very solid friendships. Hope ALL of you think of this move as a brand new adventure and stay tuned to it. Dare I say that no one will be disappointed?