Outside In
Like I'm really going to show you the exterior. Especially since there's no security gate or bars on the windows to keep the lot of you crazies from tracking us down, sneaking through our windows, and then rubbing your faces on our delicious hardwood floors with Craftsman-detailed inlays.
Oh, hey, I have some pictures of that stuff!
Peeping through the windows:
Hardwood inlays:
Enough Craftsman charm to kill you dead:
Somewhere along the line, I must have said something to give people the impression that this house is a fixer. (Was it that one time I mentioned termites and a crumbling foundation? Or was it the months of talking about how outrageous the Bay Area housing market is and how all we could afford was a van down by the river, which would run us $250,000 and the blood of our first-born child?) Anyway, as you can probably tell from the above picture, this house is not a fixer in the traditional sense. The kitchen and bathroom are probably five or six years old; we're talking stainless steel appliances, travertine tile floors and backsplash, granite countertops, modern cabinetry with brushed metal hardware, a jetted tub--basically everything I make fun of when watching home renovation shows on cable because it's what everyone does. Bah, I say, except now I'm saying it with my cheek pressed lovingly against the baseboards while I tongue-kiss the bathroom floor.
I don't think I'm ready to show you more than just that one wide-angle view of the place, so instead I'm going to give you some more details, since those are the things that are making us fall more and more in love at every turn. When we visited on Sunday, I walked through the front door prepared for the realization that everything was much smaller and crappier than we'd remembered--I was sure I'd romanticized everything in the week that had passed since we'd first laid eyes on the place--but I have to tell you that it was even better than we'd built it up to be in our minds. In a previously unexplored corner of the backyard, for instance, we found rosebushes encircling a stone birdbath. This would be just to the right of the rusty old wheelbarrow being used as a planter. See what I mean?
But let's save the garden for another day because that's a whole different can of beans. For now, some interior details to whet your appetite.
I could go on forever. This is just the beginning.
Wheeeeeee!!!!!!
Unbefreakinglievable. OMG. Holy moly. I could go on and on. It is stupendous! STUPENDOUS. I am drooling and writing with envy. Plantation shutters? Inlaid hardwood floors? AAAAAHHHH! Can we move in? Please???
Can't wait to see how your furniture fits in.
The place looks amazing!
Yes, our Victorian furniture. Doh!
The mix of the two could be very interesting!
I can't wait to sneak in at night and touch all of your stuff with my filthy hands. Of course when I say "filthy hands" I mean "my wiener".
It's beyond amazing. Holy crap, you guys found a gem!
Yeah, my house will NEVER look like that! OIt's amazing! I do have a pretty sweet new deck coming along, though.. stop by to check it out tomorrow evening (should be done, then).
Just let me know when you're ready for visitors. So that I may make out with your hardwood floors.
What the? Fixer upper my ass. (By ass I mean Will's weiner.)
Oh. my. good. lord. You lucky ducks.
Oh wow! It looks absolutely fantastic. I love the breakfast nook and the floors and the panoramic windows. Congrats again, this one's a keeper!
Beautiful! Also here I was feeling all sorry for you thinking you needed to have a donate button on your blog..puleeezeee. Did a rich aunt die or what?!!
Wait another thing...is that a ring on your finger????? Like the finger you'd put an engagement ring on ?
Ohmygod. Too beautiful. Can't wait to see more pictures! Congratulations, and can I put my name on the guest list??
Wow it looks gorgeous! I love the Craftsman style.
Unbelievably beautiful! So flippin' happy for you guys! Can't wait to see more.
and when do t and i move in with you and we open the commune?
sooooo envious... I'll bet it even has a porch... *sigh*
You had me at "rusty wheelbarrow being used as a planter."
Looks lovely!!
Beautiful pictures! I keep wanting to look at the one with the basket of fruit. I don't know why anyone would want to part with such a beautiful house, but lucky for you two it will be all yours soon. Congratulations!
Fabulous!!! I just wet my pants in excitement for you both!!!
okay, house is awesome...no doubts about that at all. but i'm definately intrigued by the ring on your finger that would typicall represent being engaged (unless you are like me and wear a ring there to keep people from thinking i'm single and actually want to hear their slimy pick up line). please, do tell :)
About the ring, folks... please note that the word "Canon" is backwards.
-Simon.
The photo of me was taken into a mirror, so the ring is actually on my RIGHT hand. It's engraved "To thine own self be true) (Hamlet). I got three--one for me and one for each of my best friends--when we graduated high school and went off into the world.
Michele--I'm still trying to figure out why the house was being sold for a price we could afford. It's worth way more than we're paying for it. Hopefully it's not haunted or anything...
El--It has a front porch and two back porches. I'm still trying to digest that.
Green Eyes--The sellers had to relocate for work. They were only in the house for six months. I bet they were heartbroken to have to leave it.
That's what happened to my parents with their current house. The sellers needed to relocate very very fast. The *only* thing wrong with it is that behind their land (an acre's worth) there's a small local highway. Sellers needed to sell fast to go back to India and everyone else was hemming and hawing debating the highway on the resale value.
My parents made a "take it or leave it but our financing history is impeccable and we can close in two weeks" offer and they took it and ran. House's market value was evaluated A LOT over what they paid for it.
They later moved back and were kind of pissed about it, actually.
Enjoy it...sometimes Fortuna just decides to stick her tongue in your ear...or blow on you or whatever the hell the fickle bitch does.
Oh Leah - it's just incredible!! I'm so happy for you guys!
it's absolutely gorgeous...can't wait to see more. :)
Sigh. Lovely, absolutely lovely.
Can I move in? I'm great at baking! And very clean! And I have all the Gilmore Girl DVDs!
Seriously, congrats. I can't wait to witness your homeowning adventure.
We're still cool on the you adopting me thing, right? Sweet. I'll even take the chance of touching something with Will cooties.
Man, I am so excited for you guys! Still jumping around in my cube over here.
What a great little house with so many amazing features! Congratulations!
Day-um! That house is awesome.
Oh, Leah. I'm so incredibly happy for you and Simon. It's even more beautiful than houses featured in magazines.
I want to mate with your floors. (and the rest looks pretty amazing too!)
Ok, I am dying to know where this house is!
Wow, awesome place. I just moved into a 2BR/2bath in Ames that I'm loving for the price I got it at too. :)
Congratulations. It looks amazing and be so happy it's not a fixer. Mine was 10 years ago and seems to be crumbling again.
There looks like you have Flinger space, too! There's room for a family of four, right? I mean, you know, y'all just WANT us to share your kickass house. Obviously.
Because it DOES kickass.