Friends, get ready for some incredibly exciting news! After what feels like an eternity of searching and quiet planning, we’ve officially closed on our new home in the beautiful state of Virginia! Much like the intricate process of keeping the sale of our beloved Georgia house under wraps until every detail was finalized, I wanted to wait until the ink was dry and the keys were in our hands before sharing this momentous milestone. The journey to this point has been a long one, filled with anticipation and strategic moves, but now that it’s truly ours, I’m absolutely thrilled to pull back the curtain and share the very first glimpses of our next big adventure with all of you.
Our path to finding this incredible property was anything but conventional, and it began with an extraordinary connection: our phenomenal realtor in Virginia, Angie Archibald. For those of you who have been following my blog since its early days – and I mean *really* early days – that name might ring a familiar bell. Why? Because Angie herself was once a well-known DIY blogger! This is truly a throwback to the old-school internet days. Does anyone remember her fantastic blog, Angie In the Thick of It? It was through this amazing coincidence that I initially connected with her to assist us in our home search. Her profile popped up on my Twitter feed, of all places, and I remember thinking, “This is absolutely kismet.” What are the odds that an old blog friend, whose work I admired for years, would now be a real estate expert operating in the very regions we were meticulously exploring? I knew it was meant to be. So, I reached out, and that serendipitous connection led us not only to our dream home but also to a charming small city we might never have considered otherwise. Even more delightfully, she introduced us to our wonderful new neighbors, as she was their realtor too! It’s incredible how these threads of life weave together.
The entire saga of how we acquired this home is a winding, intricate tale, one I promise to delve into much deeper in an upcoming post. However, there’s one crucial detail I want to share upfront: we found our house OFF-MARKET. This is a vital piece of information, especially for anyone currently navigating today’s incredibly challenging real estate landscape. I have a more comprehensive post planned that will lay out the nitty-gritty details of our entire process – the strategies, the patience, and the unexpected twists. I genuinely believe it will be an invaluable resource for prospective homeowners, offering insights into creative methods for securing a deal in a market where home inventory is exceptionally low, as it is right now. Despite the competitive environment, smart, alternative options still exist, and we are living proof. We ultimately found the perfect house for us, without having to compromise or settle for anything less than what we truly desired. Adding to the smoothness of the process, we developed a genuine rapport with the previous homeowners, a factor that truly eased a transaction requiring a little extra patience. We knew they had poured their hearts into loving this home, and they were passing on a cherished space that we, too, could love and nurture for years to come.
But enough about the “how” for now, because that’s not the primary promise of this post. The moment you’ve been waiting for, the big reveal – Dun du dun dunnnnn… allow me to introduce you to our magnificent new home:
Isn’t she absolutely gorgeous?! I’m still pinching myself every single day, trying to fully grasp that this grand, stately home is actually ours. Many of you might be looking at it and thinking, “Wow, this is so different from your first home,” and perhaps even questioning, “Is this truly your style?” The answer, unequivocally, is yes! While it presents a different aesthetic from our previous house, its charm, history, and potential perfectly align with my evolving vision. I’ll certainly elaborate much more on this when I have the opportunity to give you a comprehensive video tour, where I can walk you through every nuance and design inspiration that drew us to this incredible property.
And what’s tucked away behind the main house, you ask? A fantastic detached garage, complete with an enchanting sunroom extending off the back. Can you hear the possibilities? I certainly can! This space is screaming “Hello, workshop and sun-filled creative studio for yours truly!” I’m already envisioning countless DIY projects, furniture builds, and creative endeavors unfolding within its walls, bathed in natural light. This separate structure offers an incredible advantage, providing a dedicated space for messy projects and focused work without encroaching on the main living areas of the house. It’s truly a dream come true for a hands-on creative like me, promising endless hours of productivity and inspiration.
Beyond the stunning exterior and the versatile outbuilding, there are so many other features that completely captured our hearts. This house overflows with historical charm; the millwork throughout is simply breathtaking and unparalleled. It boasts a tiered backyard, a landscape feature that immediately sparked visions of bountiful home gardening projects and cozy outdoor living spaces in our very near future. And yes, it has a basement! This means another exciting, larger basement makeover project will undoubtedly be making its way onto the blog. It’s truly remarkable how many items on our extensive wish list this property managed to tick off. Do I sound excited? Because I am beyond ecstatic! This move marks a significant shift in my DIY journey. While my first home, built in the early 80s, offered a fantastic canvas for remodeling, this 1920s Colonial Revival will introduce me to the fascinating world of restoration. With over 60 years more history than our previous abode, there’s a wealth of knowledge I’ll need to acquire and respect when making design choices. The restoration community operates with a different ethos and set of skills compared to typical remodeling, but thankfully, I’m not embarking on this learning curve alone. I have a few incredible friends who own older homes and possess an abundance of historical know-how, and I’m thrilled to have them as my guides and teachers on this exciting new path.
We haven’t quite moved in yet – more details on the exact timeline and reasons for this will follow soon – which is precisely why I haven’t shared any interior photos just yet. However, I couldn’t wait any longer to give you these tantalizing sneak peeks of the kind of home that will be the stage for countless makeovers, innovative furniture builds, and so much more. This new Virginia home will also be the perfect permanent parking spot for Ruby’s Revival, our vintage travel trailer project, which I’m actively working on as we speak to get her road-ready for the big move!
Help Us Decide on the Name for Our New Virginia Home!
With a new house comes a new identity, and we absolutely need to figure out the perfect NAME for this incredible home. My last house affectionately became known as “The Goldilocks House”. This moniker came about because throughout my early DIY days, I often found myself experiencing something akin to Goldilocks’ dilemma: “this is too small, this is too big, but this is just right.” It felt like with every new project – from painting to plumbing – the third attempt was usually when I’d finally start to master it. While that learning curve might arguably hold true for any house I live in, buying a new home presents a fresh, exciting opportunity for an official, defining name. Brainstorming names for Ruby’s Revival was such a fun and engaging process with all of you, and I’m incredibly open to all your creative suggestions for our new Virginia residence! In the meantime, I’m also diligently combing back through the house’s historical records and documents, hoping that the names of previous owners or any historical details might inspire the perfect, fitting name.
Once the house is completely empty, and we have officially settled in and unpacked, I promise to share a proper, immersive video tour and walkthrough, revealing every nook and cranny. I’ll also share our very first ideas and the ambitious projects that are already forming our new to-do list for this grand restoration. For now, let’s just share a massive virtual group hug in celebration of our new home finally being found and secured. I absolutely cannot WAIT to start on this exciting next chapter of home renovation and restoration with all of you, sharing every triumph and challenge along the way. Onto the next big adventure in Virginia!