I’d been waiting to share the house with you until everything was in order. We’re still waiting on the financing though, and that’s waiting on the appraisal. I believe it’s scheduled for this week, and then there will be further processing time after that. We were pre-approved for a larger mortgage than we would actually want or need, but pre-approval is different from underwriting. Our broker has been confident that we won’t have any problems, but I worry anyway.
I figure I can worry and share the house at the same time.
Part of me can’t believe that we’re getting this house. Part of me is still waiting for that other (financing) shoe to drop. We sold our house to buy this one. I have cried over it, not from worry or stress, but because I never thought I would live in a house so beautiful, that I loved so much. I’m being terribly schmaltzy, I know! I love it though. I love it.
One month after touring houses on the Wright Plus Housewalk and thinking about starting to look for a new house, we bought one. It turns out that the open house I stopped in on my way home — the house I talked to Brandon about in a wouldn’t it be nice if we could find a house like that kind of way — is the one we’ll be moving to at the end of August. We hope.
I shared plenty of photos from the MLS listings from two of the other houses we had considered buying. Both of those were estate sales though, so the homes were vacant. The house that we are buying is still occupied by the current owners, and out of respect for them, I won’t be showing detailed photos of the interior yet. It is gorgeous, but even staged to sell it is still filled with their art, furnishings, and personality. We’re scheduled to close on the house in late August, and I’ll go through and take plenty of pictures then (too many pictures, I’m sure!) to share.
The exterior is fair game though, right? Because whoa, the exterior.
Comments
134 responses to “The New House”
Wow, so lovely!
YEY!!! I’v e been hanging out to see your new home and here it is!
It looks truly lovely…can’t wait to see the inside and what plans you have for it.
I understand completely the crying about selling and buying. Been there done that. But what a wonderful,exciting feeling it is.
Congrats – big time!!!
xx
That’s a gorgeous house! I totally understand crying over it. I can’t wait to see the interior and how you add your style to it. Good luck at closing!
be still my heart… congrats on this beautiful find!
Stunning and so very exciting! The stars have aligned for you guys and I will keep my fingers and toes crossed that all of the details work out. I cannot wait to see how you make your mark on this place….
Stunning! I can’t wait to see what you do with it!
Wow. That is beautiful. I love the cute little curved bit and the porch down the side. I can’t wait to see the interior once it’s really and truly yours. It sounds like it was meant to be so hopefully the rest of the process will go smoothly.
I keep saying that I’m not a “meant to be” person, but this does feel that way.
just beautiful. congratulations!!!
I know EXACTLY how you feel. I have been living in my Victorian brownstone since 2005 and I still have to pinch myself. I love my house and it is an honor to be its present steward. I am not ready to sell it anytime soon, but when it is time for me to move on I know that I will cry about it. You can see pictures of it here: http://collarcitybrownstone.com/my-brownstone
To this day I still face that Higher Power and say thank you.
Congratulations! It does seem as if the stars have aligned for you and your family.
Beautiful. And I like that attitude of being its present steward.
It’s divine! We just don’t have such unique houses in the sprawling ‘burbs of Australia…
I am so happy for you and your family. The house is gorgeous and I can’t wait to see inside. It looks like a memory maker for sure! Bittersweet time for you all around. Again, sincere congratulations! (Staying optimistic and keeping my fingers crossed. Underwriting can take forever.)
I love Oak Park homes!! You scored a lovely new home. Congrats!
WOW!
This is very cute! Congrats on finding a new home!
I already love it just by the outside. It is so beautiful and it seems very you! Can’t wait to see the inside. Congratulations!
Congratulation! She’s a beauty for sure. I can’t wait to see the inside but not only that, to see how you transform it into your style. We will all be waiting.
Just gorgeous! I am so excited for you and excited for me to see all of the interior shots. Woohoo!
Congratulations! It is a beauty! Can’t wait to see some peeks at the inside. :)
I’ve been waiting for this post! It’s stunning!!!! Congrats!
Wow!!! That is one beautiful house! Can not wait to go on the journey with you as you make it yours! Hope all goes well with the closing.
I’ve been patiently (impatiently) waiting to see the house you scored – it’s way more gorgeous than I had even imagined! Congratulations – I’m so excited to see what you do with this beautiful canvas.
I’ve been waiting. Soooo beautiful!
Beautiful! So many lovely details outside…I’m sure that inside is even better! Can’t wait to see!!
Oh that is so interesting and lovely. We are still trying to settle into our new “old” house. Best wishes!
So exciting! I cannot wait to see the details and what you have in store for it!
It is gorgeous! I’m breathless just looking at it. I can’t wait to see the inside and then again with your touch. I’m so glad you shared it with us, not only because I’ve been dying to see it but also because now we can all put out the positive vibes for you guys. Wishing for a speedy, uneventful closing for you!!!
Thank you!
Congratulations! It is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing this experience with all of us. I look forward to being inspired by how you transform this house into your home.
oh, nicole, it is absolutely GORGEOUS! i am so happy and excited for you guys!!
Did it have you at its pink roses? Perfect for you, right?!
Aren’t they pretty? They weren’t blooming when we bought the house, but they were certainly a welcome surprise!
It’s gorgeous! I can’t wait to see the inside! And climbing roses? Did the house come straight out of a fairy tale? :)
I think it might have.
I love that house! Can’t wait to see how you furnish and personalize it. I can easily see your aesthetic adapting, evolving, and bringing out the best in this house. Congratulations!
I’m eager to get started! The house does call for a different aesthetic than our first, but I’m looking forward to it.
I love it!! So different from anything we have here in West Oz and am so looking forward to seeing you stamp your family style on it!!!
This is amazing! So unique and full of character, even just from the outside. I know the inside is going to be even more amazing, especially when you start adding your personality into it. Can’t wait to see more! Congrats!
Congratulations Nicole! What a beautiful home!
Ok weird but: I love the front door. I mean, the porch, yay, circular room! But the door is gorgeous.
Not weird. I love the front door too.
Yay yay yay!!! Congratulations!!! SUPER beautiful. Can’t wait to read all about and see more photos! Mazel!
What a gorgeous home! I can definitely see you and your family leaving your own mark on it while preserving its original personality. Good luck!
So SO pretty! Congrats and I wish you smooth sailing with the financing and move.
Whoa is right! Such a beautiful home and obviously well cared for. Is that some painted pink trim on the demilune window I see? How serendipitous! This looks like a lovely house to make memories. So excited for you!
Yes! Isn’t that funny? Leave it to me to find a house with pink trim.
I noticed that the first thing. Yay for you!! It’s going to be so much fun.
jbhat
Oh my! That is a lovely house! Congrats!!!
Wow Nicole! What an idyllic dream house. I’m so excited for you and your family. You’ve worked hard. You deserve it! :)
What a beautiful home!! I am crossing my fingers that all goes smoothly now. I am excited for you and your family (and of course, for us readers, too)!
I’ve lived in a 1905 Victorian now for 7 years and can attest, you will love it. For me, it’s basically like a giant doll house. :)
Sounds fun to think of it that way!
I am so thrilled for you guys! My jaw seriously dropped when I saw that first pic of the outside. It is amazing!!!! Congrats!
I love this house I am praying that you receive everything in life you had hoped for, in this world of sadness it is refreshing to see something good happen! God bless your family.
Thank you.
My skin just turned a ravishing shade of green.
Congratulations, Nicole!
The home is gorgeous from the outside – I can hardly wait to see the inside! Wow!
So excited for you. I totally wish we were able to find our dream house and go out and actually buy it. Some day!
Wow, how beautiful, can’t wait to see the interior pics.
Gorgeous! So excited for you! And maybe a bit envious too. <3
Congratulations! The house is beautiful…..and I’m sure you make it ever so lovely!
That teal and eggplant combo is AMAZING. I know this year was quite the undertaking for your family – with the switch of primary income – good on you for making it work, AND scoring the home of your dreams. Can’t wait to see how you make it yours!
xoxoxo
C
So gorgeous! Lucky you! Can’t wait to see more pics.
I love the wood paneling on the ceiling of the porch! Gorgeous, Nicole. Hoping all the details work out for you soon!
congrats, nicole! it’s so gorgeous! so happy for you!
xo . trina
WOW!! So excited to see what you guys do with the place! It is amazing!
Love Love Love it! It’s a gorgeous house and I will make sure and send over some positive thoughts that everything goes as planned.
xo
Natalie
Oh it’s beautiful!
What strikes me is how at home your home looks on the blog already. Perfectly matched!
Congratulations, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed that everything else (appraisal, underwriting) goes well. We’ll be buying our first home next spring and I am simultaneously excited and terrified of the emotional rollercoaster it will be.
Victorian! Congrats on being in the final stages. I have always dreamed of owning a Victorian, so I will be sitting here, green with envy :-)
Beautiful!! That would definitely be hard not to share!! Congratulations and I’m sure everything will work out just fine
Wow. It’s GORGEOUS!
That is so beautiful it makes me want to cry for you. That is my dream home too.
Its amazing!
What a gorgeous house! Congrats! I am excited to see all of the wonderful things you will do with it.
Congrats!
It’s gorgeous!
I lived in Chicago for 10 yrs
My sister in law lives in oak park on Humphrey-
It is such a lovely area!
Can’t wait to see the inside ;)
OH MY GOODNESS!! I was just sifting through your blog yesterday wondering if I had missed the big reveal. It’s soooooo gorgeous. How THRILLING FOR YOU!!! Congrats!!! I cannot WAIT to see the inside.
Congratulations, Nicole! This house just looks like you!
Oh Nicole – it’s SO SO beautiful. I would cry from happiness, too. Congrats — I hope that it’s everything you ever dreamed it would be. Wishing you a happy, easy closing. Can’t wait to see the inside! xo
Wow, it is absolutely amazing…makes miss living in Oak Park…so much beauty there. Congratulations to your family!
wow this is like the castle of my childhood dreams, so happy for you
Wow…amazing details! It looks like a doll house and I will be anxious to see what you do with it. My fingers are crossed!
It’s so pretty!! I love the colors and the architecture. I can’t wait to see the inside. :D
Yeah for you! Congratulations! OOOUUUUU I can not wait to see the inside! I want to know what room get the curve upstairs. Is it a bedroom? A bath? This is what houses should look like, warm and inviting. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the front porch!
Yes please – show us too many pictures of the inside! ;)
The curb appeal is amazing. I am so jealous and I cannot wait to see the inside. The porch, the curves, the front door, the half circle window… love.
Oh it is beautiful!!! I can’t wait to see the inside!!!
Such a lovely house! I can’t wait to see how you update the insides.
Amazing!!
Congrats guys! Can’t wait to see the inside :)
I’ve been waiting to see your new home and it’s delightful! You will work wonders with this house. This house wants you to be it’s owner – no doubt – so it will all work out… congrats!
Huge congratulations! Beautiful house to be sure!
Congratulations – the house is simply gorgeous. Congratulations as well on your wonderful success this year and all you have accomplished.
Now, probably it is just me — but I swear I can see you leaning on the windowsill of the window on the second floor, above the porch. (:
I understand the anxiety. My partner and I are in the exact same position, wanting to share our good news with friends but still unsure with our loan approval still out and a closing yet to follow. May sleep filled nights follow for you!
Wowie – it’s beautiful! Congrats to both of you and fingers crossed everything goes as planned.
Wow, that is a crazy beautiful house! Congrats, good luck, and I can’t wait to see the inside!! :)
This house is gorgeous and I can’t wait to see what you do with it!
Congratulations! The house is gorgeous. I love the porch and the screendoor and it looks like a wonderful place for your family to build lots of new memories. So sweet.
This house is absolutely EPIC! I am so pleased for you and yours… GREEN, but so glad that someone that I admire and respect gets to have their dream house! I’ve moved where these houses don’t even exist, so this is just amazing eye candy for me… Like many others, I’m just dying to see the inside and I KNOW that you will honour the house in the best way possible. Dare I say that seeing such beauties is almost as good as sex? LOL
Congratulations! I cannot wait to see what you do with it!
OH MY GOODNESS! She’s gorgeous! We are house hunting in Nashville and I would love a house like this! Best of luck, hope it all works out.
the house is beautiful. good luck and an early congrats!
So gorgeous! Can’t wait to see the inside!
Wow! SO excited for you!! Can’t wait to see what you do. :)
Congratulations, Nicole! Your new house is stunning! I can’t wait to see what you do with it!
This house looks amazing… can’t wait to see the inside! Congrats!
AMAZING! It’s perfect for you!
I know this is a long shot but do the sellers know the paint colors used? I’m redoing a 1920 crafstman bungalow and that eggplant trim color would be *PERFECT* for my front door.
I don’t know the colors now, and I’m not in direct contact with the sellers. I’d love to know too though, so if I find out, I’ll let you know.
I must confess I’m a little jealous. OK…a lot! We just bought a Victorian, but it’s the “plain” kind of Victorian. I’m still excited about it of course…and excited for you too!
Congrats! What a beautiful house! I love the styles in OP! We wanted to move there but you can never get much “land” in the area without forking out an arm and a leg! But what a beautiful town and a beautiful home! Can’t wait to see more!
Love those arches and the bay window in front! So much personality, congratulations.
So pretty! I’m jealous, there are very few Victorians in the Pacific Northwest.
So beautiful already! And what a strategic blogging decision… I CAN’T WAIT to see how you decorate this lovely house! :D :D
Holy shit. That house is an absolute dream. I look forward to living vicariously through you and your amazing new adventure :)
xx A
Well said!!! It’s like a storybook house!! So happy for you (and a little envious!!)
OMG, what a gorgeous Victorian-congrats! I can’t wait to see how you personalize it for your cute little family!
WOW, congratulations!!! It’s gorgeous
Amazing! I can’t wait to see the inside. It’s so gorgeous and really suits your style.
So very happy for you guys! You deserve it and I know you’ve worked hard for it! I look forward to seeing all of your new projects in this beautiful home!
Oh, what a wonderful house! Buying a dream house is a wonderful experience. We closed four years ago this week. I have both loved and hated doing the work this house needed. But, I pinch myself everytime I drive up and park in front of it. Living in it makes me incredibly happy. It’s a rare and wonderful opportunity to live in a dream home. For so many of us, we settle on a house we can afford. It takes a different type of courage to buy the house you feel best represents who you are (on the outside) and then make the inside as reflective of your life as well. It takes a long time to get it there (we still have several large projects that need attending) but when I get discouraged, I look at the pics I took when we toured it. We have come a long way.
Best of luck to you. Enjoy the adventure!
So happy for you and your family! It is beautiful and I can’t wait to see the inside!
I think there’s more gorgeousness inside that house. The outside beauty of it is stunning. Congratulations for having the house!
Absolutely divine!!!
Wow. That is a MAGNIFICENT house!
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This is the second time that I’ve returned to stare at the picture of your amazing new house and wonder “but what on earth is it?”! I’m British and it never occurred to me that “Victorian” on the other side of the pond would mean something so entirely different, that I’ve never even seen the like of it.
Something crazy like a 6th of the UK housing stock is Victorian or earlier so I’ve been in lots of British Victorian houses (and lived a couple – as does pretty much every university student). To me it means red brick, terraced or back to backs and for the grander buildings – the gothic revival style. I suppose, the Arts and Crafts movement overlaps the Victorian era but that’s generally considered a distinct style.
I know you’re pretty clued up on architecture so maybe while we’re all (not) patiently waiting to get a peek inside – could you please perhaps set the scene and give us a low-down on what “Victorian” means in the US? I am completely intrigued! What year is is? Does this particular Victorian style have a name? (When you’ve finished panelling the toilet with rulers of course!)
Oh and congratulations!!!
OMG obsessing over this house! So adorable! Congrats!!
Welcome Home!
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