We're Moving: Big Project Update and Timeline

I couldn’t wait until next week to share the big news — I’m too excited! After weeks of watching the market and planning, we closed on a beautiful new house this morning. It’s still in the same city, but it feels like a fresh start. Over the next few days we’ll be cleaning and painting, and then next weekend we’ll move everything in. My mom arrives this afternoon to help with the cleaning and painting — huge thanks to her for pitching in!

Here’s a little background on how we got here. Our current house has been on the market since September and we’re still trying to sell it. I’ve been keeping a close eye on local listings — I love hunting for a good deal and keeping my pulse on real estate in the area. My husband, Coach, and I had a clear wish list: four bedrooms, a strong school district, a large backyard, and a few other practical must-haves. We weren’t planning to purchase another home while still owning our current one — that was never the plan — but this property kept appearing in my alerts as its price dropped.

When I finally decided to go see it in person, I learned it was a foreclosure. That meant more paperwork and complications, but it also meant an opportunity for a great price. The house is only a few years old and sits in a location we previously thought was out of our reach. The layout offers more square footage than we expected to find within our budget, and once we stepped inside we loved it. We didn’t want to let a deal like that slip away, so we made an offer and closed today.

This move is what inspired me to start this blog. I’ve already imagined many ways to personalize the home and document the entire renovation and decorating process. The house is currently painted in a generic builder’s beige and feels very plain, so I’m eager to bring color, warmth, and character into each room. There’s a lot of work to do — cosmetic updates, design decisions, and practical repairs — but I can’t wait to share every step, from choosing paint colors to updating fixtures and styling the living spaces.

Our immediate plans include a thorough cleaning, a fresh coat of paint, and some early updates to make the kitchen and main living areas more functional and appealing. The kitchen will need the most attention: cabinets, countertops, and appliances are all on the list for improvement. The open breakfast nook and expansive windows are features I love and want to highlight. The master bedroom and the other bedrooms will also get attention with paint, window treatments, and thoughtful storage solutions.

Below are some photos I found online that show the house and the potential I see in it:

Front of the house — the driveway is quite steep, but that’s a minor drawback compared to everything else.

Large backyard with a lovely view of the mountains in the distance. This outdoor space is one of the biggest selling points for our family.

Living room — the view you get when you walk in the front door. Lots of potential for comfortable seating and layered lighting.

Kitchen — it needs significant updates. We’ll be planning changes to the cabinets, countertops, and appliances to make the space more modern and functional.

Breakfast nook — I love the natural light from all of these windows. This area will be a bright, cozy spot for family meals and morning coffee.

Dining room — a space with potential for intimate dinners and holiday gatherings.

Master bedroom — spacious and ready for personalized touches to make it a restful retreat.

One of the secondary bedrooms — there are three additional bedrooms, which was a key requirement for us.

So there it is — our new home. It will take time to get everything exactly how we want it, but I’m excited about the journey. I plan to document painting choices, furniture selections, storage solutions, and small DIY projects along the way. Thank you for taking a look at our new place. Please keep your fingers crossed that our current house sells quickly — that would make this transition so much smoother!