…I’ll never let go. We’re both going to miss so many things about our first casa that we just had to dedicate a post to those little details that bring a smile to our faces. We don’t want to forget a thing.
1. The gorgeous cherry tree in the front yard.
2. The new kitchen (which was totally worth 113 days of eating-out-and-living-without-a-sink chaos).
3. Our view of the amazingly lush and private backyard (which was actually one of the main reasons we bought our house back in 2006)
4. The sweet front porch where we’d sit and watch the world neighbors go by.
5. The layers of paint and slivers of wallpaper that we discovered as we renovated (we loved uncovering “hints” about its past life)
6. The amazing story about our house’s first owners, which we shared here.
7. The fact that the front and back door were so narrow that we had to remove the doors from our new fridge to get it into the house.
8. Waking up each morning and looking out at the spot where we got married (sniffle).
9. The quirky cow weather vane on top of the garage.
10. The cute (and completely unused-by-us) red shed in the backyard.
11. The mostly centered windows throughout the house (we didn’t realize how rare this was until we started house hunting).
12. The fact that neither bathroom had an outlet in it for the first few years that we lived here (one still doesn’t).
13. The two fireplaces- what a lucky break.
14. What the front yard looked like that fateful day when we drove up to check out the house (we made an offer that night).
15. Rushing home from vacations just because we “missed the house.”
16. The sleepless nights we spent painting, planning, sledge-hammering, and daydreaming.
17. The charming neighborhood where we walked with Burger (and Clara when she later came along).
18. The brilliant fall leaves that put on quite a show every fall (although we won’t miss raking them).
19. Those two rare snowstorms that made everything look even more cozy somehow.
20. The pretty white and pink azalea bushes. There must be at least 50 of them.
21. The modestly sized rooms that have encouraged us to spend time together.
22. The wide doorways that so dramatically opened up the den, kitchen, and living/dining room.
23. All the crisp white trim, molding, and breezy curtains that make it feel like a beach house in the summer.
24. The patio that has charmingly aged over the last three years with moss.
25. More specifically, making smore’s on the patio after adding a fire pit last year.
26. The sunroom on a lazy Sunday morning. Our favorite place to be.
27. The subway tile all the way to the ceiling in the bathroom shower (I stare at it nearly every day and marvel at John’s amazing handiwork).
28. The fact that we have 23 storage baskets and 10 storage ottomans in our tiny house. Is there a support group I can join? Organizer’s anonymous?
29. The bedroom built-ins that make us feel tucked into a cozy little nook every night.
30. The fact that we brought our cute pup and our sweet baby girl home here. It’s not just our first house, it’s also Clara and Burger’s.
31. The big picture window in the living room (where Burger loves to bark at all of his dog friends).
32. The seeded glass pendant above the kitchen sink (so simple, yet we haven’t seen anything like it since ordering it from West Elm years ago)
33. Memories of painting nearly every room at least twice to get things just right.
34. The sound of the screen sliding in the sunroom, which used to signal to me and Burger that John was home from work. Such an exciting sound.
35. The intense pain in the arse that was removing the scallops from the front porch (my hardest solo project to date).
36. The excitement I felt as I listened to every crash when John demo’d the bathroom (I was prego, so I sadly couldn’t get in there and bash stuff with him).
37. The paranoid feeling that I forgot to unplug the toaster or lock the front door or turn on the alarm every time we left for vacation (John would humor me and we’d turn around so I could check)
38. “Camping” in the sunroom on a warm spring night (and regretting that decision after being awakened by the sun streaming in at 6am).
39. Plugging in the Christmas tree and sitting by the fire with hot chocolate. Doesn’t get much better than that.
40. Phantom doorbell ringings (when the battery would start to die, it would randomly ring and freak us all out).
41. The garage door that strangely swings out to open (and constantly warning people not to park too close).
42. How things looked in the first year, before we had any idea how much blood, sweat, and tears that we’d pour into this house (good thing we have this Burger video with old house details in the background to refresh our memory).
43. The sight of Burger laying limply near the vent under the side table in the living room warming his buns in the heat.
44. Screaming “don’t look, I’m peeing” when the half bathroom pocket door was broken (more details on that later this week)
45. Our wedding night, when we took one last picture in the photo booth in the corner of our driveway after everyone left before the truck came to pick it up.
Sheesh, somebody get me a tissue. We’re so excited to move into our amazing new house, but we sure will miss this one.
Thank you for sharing your memories with us! I love your house with all it’s quirks. I’m sure you’ll create more memories with the new home as well. I can’t wait to see all the new projects you’ll tackle!
I totally get how you feel. We moved to a new city recently and had to leave behind our first self owned apartment. Having spent almost 3 years planning and implementing various projects , I was devastated when i got to know we “HAD” to move. Moving day was the worst . I cried bucket loads.
Enjoy the days in this home. Reminisce on the great times you had and look forward to the new, A new home is always exciting.
Take care
Rashmi
I feel your pain/joy. My Hubs and I bought our first house (after MONTHS of searching) 3 years ago when we first got married, and then this past spring accidentally stumbled upon one that we fell even more in love with. We moved in April & couldn’t be happier with our decision, but there will still be nothing like that first house. We still drive by just to wave to it & check out the deck my dad & husband worked so hard to build, see how the sod we planted is coming in, etc….basically just stalk it a bit.
awww, can’t wait to hear all the loves at your new house :)
SHerry,
Thanks for sharing. You two worked your house in creativity and living. I hope the new ownwers realize the love and care you both put into truly making it a home. Numbers 3, 4, and 13 would have sold me. How did you manage w/#12? I always feel like #15 when I travel. Numbers 18 and 19, love the shots, but also hate raking leaves and too much cold. Sigh to numbers 30 and 34. Hmm, too creepy w/#40.
Hey Jennifer,
I’m a wash and air dry kinda girl so the lack of outlets was no big deal for us! We really only added one in the main bath for guests.
xo,
s
I love your blog! It starts my day and I’m really excited to see your upcoming projects in your new home. I’m an interior designer in Canada and your posts are both inspiring and thoughtful. I love this post in particular. What a great tribute to your first home. Thanks for sharing!
Cheers,
Paula
It’s so hard to leave your first place! We felt like we were leaving behind our baby! :) Call us sappy, but I made a blurb book of all of our before and afters of our first home. It looks great as a coffee table book in our new place. Ahh, memories!
LOVE this post! Makes me stop and realize how we spend so much time working, running after a toddler, etc that we haven’t stopped recently to truly appreciate our HOME!! we owe it some love – thank YOU for your inspiration! :)
You remind us all that we have a lot to be thankful for in our lives. It sounds like many of your favorite memories will travel well with you to your new home, so that you won’t have to miss them so much afterall!
Is it strange that I’m going to miss your house too? I’ve referred to your archives so many times for inspiration that I feel like I’ve been there.
But seriously, you guys made that house a home with the memories you filled it with, and that’s what you’ll do in your next home. Excited to continue the journey with you!
OK, I wasn’t expecting the tears to flow, but OMG how will you ever pull out of the driveway one last time ???? So much of your life went on in and around this home. I know you’ll make great memories in the next home but come on you have to admit BIG LIFE CHANGES happened here. I am shedding enough tears for all of you. At least you have awesome pics and this wonderful blog to remember every detail. Good luck with the new place can’t wait to see you get started, hurry up will you !!!!! P.S. What’s the first thing you’ll do at the new place?
Hey Deborah,
The game plan for the new place changes every day! Of course we want to unpack first, but then we’ll probably start painting something (but we’re torn between walls or bathroom vanities or what). Also have a ton of doors to remove and light fixtures to switch out…
xo,
s
My goodness, it’s not even my house and I feel a twinge of sadness and fondness towards it!
I do gotta say, from a writing standpoint, that was one of the best posts you guys have done. Not trying to kiss butt, but I think the way you poured a ton of emotion into it really makes it stand out. So thank you!!!!!!!!!!! Totally made my day!
Umm, I’m pretty much on the need-a-tissue bandwagon, too. I feel like I’m even leaving this house behind because of how much love you two have for it. Super sad, but super exciting, too.
I just hope you love the new house just as much–or more–than this one. This house was a big deal for you two in a lot of ways and lucky you, you have this blog to remember how awesome the last 4 years have been!!
Yeah, although a new house is exciting, you are going to cry your eyes out that very last day when you are walking through it empty and you know you won’t be back. That’s what happened when we left our first house that we had our first child in. Hugs to you guys. That’s going to be a tough day. :(
That’s lovely! Had thought while reading this – it’s so nice that Clara will be able to come back and read all this one day; how many people get to “re-live” their childhood(well, first one) home in quite so much detail?!
I loved this post. You two are absolutely the cutest couple. I totally think of you guys as friends in my head. Your blog rocks my socks and I look forward to reading it everyday. I can’t wait to read about all the great projects you will conquer in your new home.
Happy Thanksgiving! :-)
awwww!
I love all the memories, and you made me love my home a little more even the dog barking out our front window at other dogs :) My husband demolished our bathroom while I was pregnant too, with out help from me.
It’s nice to hear the story of your old house! I remember when my grandfather passed away and they sold the house that belonged to him and my grandmother and where my dad and all of his siblings grew up. The house was very old and needed a lot of work. The people that bought it did an AMAZING job! When the house went on sale a few years ago it was almost a million dollar house!!!! When I saw pictures of what they had done I had tears streaming down my face!
While I loved what they did and I knew that my grandparents would of been so proud of what they had done, it brought back so many memories of my childhood in that house. The porch where my grandmother would sit (it was her seat and her seat alone) And she would rock and watch the world go by! I can still see the old porch furniture they used to have! The christmas tree and how it was always in the same spot and how many decorations it had. THey must of had hundreds of ornaments!
I hope that the people the bought your new house enjoy how wonderful you have made it and wonder about the memories you made as you did of those before you. I hope you also enjoy your new house for everything it has to offer! Clara will be proud to see old photos of all the hard work her parents put in to make such a beautiful home!
Ok I am done I am gonna start getting teary now LOL
Good luck moving! :)
Awwwwwh. After following your blog for the past two years, this post makes me sentimental too! You guys are so cute. Happy Thanksgiving.
Ditto what Heather said! We have intentions of moving in the next couple years, and this post makes me realize that I need to enjoy (read: redecorate and renovate) our house while I still can. I haven’t even begun to make a dent in all of the things I’d like to do and we have lived in this, our first, home for 6 years! Time to get motivated!
Burger was the cutest stubbiest baby!! I love him.
I also loved this post – it made me feel so nostalgic! I feel like I know you all and I am sad that you are leaving your first house, but so excited to see House #2!
How did I get behind by 3 posts? You posted twice in one day-wow. Loved the Thanksgiving table, Christmas tree post but I wanted to cry after I saw all your memories. Seven houses later and they still all seem like mine! Just heard from a friend that our house in Florida has been gutted and redone by the new owners…………how dare they change a thing in that memory filled house.
Happy Thanksgiving, susan
Alhough it’s bittersweet to leave your first house behind, you are so lucky to have such sweet memories of the house. We rent, and every time we moved we were so fed up with the old apartment that we just wanted to leave everything behind as soon as we could, and were left with a feeling that we have wasted time being annoyed with the old apartment.
I suppose you already are thinking about the new house again, and planning great things for you to do and for us to read :)
I love this post! It is so much fun(and sad) to look back at the wonderful memories that you will be able to keep and think back on. I also loved the link to the post about the original owners. I’m sure that made everything you did to the house that much more worth while.
is there a picture of the hammock on here? do you ever get in the hammock with clara? the hammock was a highlight of a trip to grandma and grandpa’s house when I was a kid.
Hey Julie,
I don’t think we have any hammock pictures up. It’s way back in the woods and so much fun. Haven’t brought Clara into it though- too scared of tipping over…
xo,
s
You will probably always feel this way even though you will love your new house. We left our first house over two years ago and I still miss it. We built it, so we picked out everything. We planted every tree and every rose bush. Oh, and this week I have been remembering how it was so much smaller and easier to clean! :)
Your house is not just lovely, but it’s gracious, lively, and warm too. THAT is the “something” that separates talent from mere design knowledge.
When my daughter and I found your blog, you were the inspiration for our kicking ourselves into gear, cleaning out some tired baggage in our homes, and modernizing our look.
We poured over photo of every room, every decision you had made, and through you, we became acquainted with the miracles of Home Goods…
Thanks so much for sharing so much!
Speaking as a middle-aged old lady, onward and upwards!
Your family has many years of creative challenges ahead and much more joy to come.
So many memories in your first home. We didn’t do any renovations to our first home, but changed some landscaping and it was the first home for all 3 of our children. Before we left, my husband had the idea to make a list of things we loved and would miss. Our list is a great treasure.
I commented but I don’t see where it showed up :( ANYWAY…I love this post!
Thanks Amber! If you scroll back a bit you’ll see your first comment. They’re held in moderation (to cut down on spam) so it might take a bit of time for it to show up!
xo,
s
What a touching list. Makes me wish I had a ton o’ pics from the last place we were in.
10 storage ottomans though? Really? Where? We have one ottoman and I can’t even imagine another. I’m totally impressed.
Hey Melissa,
They’re everywhere! We have two under our console table in the living room, one as a bench at our dining table, one as a bench under a coat hook to create a mini mudroom in the den, a round one in the office, a woven one in the nursery, the list goes on…
xo,
s
“37. The paranoid feeling that I forgot to unplug the toaster or lock the front door or turn on the alarm every time we left for vacation (John would humor me and we’d turn around so I could check)”
My husband and I make it down the street and then turn around nearly every time we leave the house. Usually it’s “did we close the garage door?”. Since we’re both paranoid, we now try to announce it loudly or sing a little ditty when we close it. I could be mid-sentence and my husband will stop and yell “GARAGE IS CLOSED!” Then you never forget closing/unplugging/turning off :)
Um, I kind of teared up when reading this, which is totally embarrassing. Ha!
Anyway, I have been super jealous of your centered windows since I found your blog, so I hope that the presumably more off-center ones in your new house lead to more posts about how to work around them! None of the windows in my house are centered, to the point that some of them are six inches away from the end of the wall. I’m looking forward to seeing how you handle those!
Um yeah. New place has tons of those! Here’s hoping we can figure them out…
xo,
s
What a great post. I’m glad you did this…Ever since you announced that you’re selling casa Petersik, I was thinking there must be a zillion things you’ll miss because you two seemed to “bond” with your house more than anyone else I think I’ve ever seen. When I say that, I mean it seems you appreciate it’s details and have brought it up to it’s potential so it can serve your family best. I admire that very much.
I like that you said the modestly sized rooms encouraged you to spend time together. :D
Sheesh, it’s making me a little nolstagic just reading your list! And these weren’t even my experiences! Think about all the additional memories you’ll get to make in your new house!
that’s so sweet, you have me crying! I pray blessings & blessings of amazing memories upon your family in the new house. it will be a fun ride!
I have a strong bond with homes and I’ve really enjoyed your posts over the past few years. You just made me tear up in my office! Looking forward to your new pad posts. Thanks!
Aww…that almost made ME tear up! We moved from our first house a little over two years ago. I still miss it, and you bet I do a drive-by any time I’m in the area. We sold that house “by owner” like you, and just a few days ago, I came across the photos I snapped for the listing. It was like being reunited with an old friend. So even though you’ll always miss your adorable first casa, you’ve got many more great memories waiting to be made in your new home! Good luck with the move – can’t wait to see what you do with the “new” old house!
Malinda
http://www.ourdomesticbliss.blogspot.com
Most houses don’t have center window….interesting to know! My house has all centered windows, so I guess I just assumed most houses did.
what a beautiful list of all the great memories!
here’s to making many more.
AWWWWW…that makes me teary eyed just thinking about all that stuff, lol. Still excited about the new renos though :)
Happy Holidays :)
I totally get this list. We are coming up on our first year in our home and it is amazing how much love you feel for your first home. (And how much love fills the home!)
The best thing is- you have all those memories captured here!
In regards to the tree post, where did you get your thin tall tree? I have been on a 2 year search for that size with now luck.
Hey Kyla,
We got it from Target about four years ago on clearance. It’s 7′ tall. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Aw, jeez. Now you’re making me teary!
Happy Thanksgiving to you four as you spend your last holiday in your much-loved home. :)
Aww. I’m all teary-eyed with you! What a great way to document everything you loved {and maybe hated} about your first home.
Hope this doesn’t make things worse….but that shed could be a cute playhouse for kids. Maybe for the next owners…
Ah, I am almost in tears! Pregnancy hormones are getting the best of me. What beautiful memories you have! Even I will miss your house, even though I’m so excited to watch your family make new memories in the new house.
Wow…*grabs tissue*…
I just wanted to leave a note to say how much fun it has been to follow your blog. I loved your post today about your favorite things about not just your home but your lives as you reminisced.
I first started reading it after your wedding when we were planning our wedding, which was similarly intimate, personal, and DIY. It was extraordinarily helpful to have awesome examples of how weddings could be when planning our own since so much of the over-styled, over-priced, and over-the-top images of weddings were not only out of the budget that we felt comfortable dedicating to that day, but also so unfocused on what was important about uniting two individuals and their families.
Thank you for opening up your lives in a way that feels like the advice and stories of a good friend, rather than the precocious showing off that some bloggers seem to have. You brighten my day and give me so many ideas for our own ranch home and inspire me to rethink decorating through your thoughtful show-and-tell.
I can’t wait to see what you dream up in the future as my husband and I get our first puppy this Christmas in snowy Wisconsin, and eventually add human babies to our family.
Have a lovely Thanksgiving!
Very sweet post! You guys should be proud of all of your hard work. I really enjoy your blog and refer to it often when trying to figure out my house and paint colors and the right furniture….. I love the phantom door bell! Very funny. Best wishes for your exciting move with your adorable family. Happy Thanksgiving too!
I must ask, how are you getting away with not raking leaves with your new house?! If you have a tip to magically make them disappear, please share.
I love that you two have shared every step of making your first house a home with such style. We are in our first home and are taking on the joys and pains of making it just right. Funny thing is, I couldn’t get enough of the neighborhood I grew up in, so the house we bought a year ago is right around the block from where I lived for the first 20 years of my life. You will always have a love for your first home and the neighborhood . . . aren’t you guys moving into the same neighborhood anyway?!
Much luck on the transition!!! Also, be careful with gray paints! We went with a gray that looked blue on the wall, so make sure it is a warm tone. : )
We’ll definitely have our share of leaves to rake at the next house, although we hope to leave some areas more natural as opposed to planting grass everywhere. Here’s hoping that results in a bit less raking. As for the neighborhood, we’re actually moving into a different one, but it’s still in Bon Air (an area of Richmond that’s not too big) so we aren’t going very far. Which is good since we plan to check in on our first house all the time by driving by and waving!
xo,
s