Hello! It has been a little while. You know that thing called life? Well, life is busy, but I am back and I cannot wait to share with you the exciting things happening at the house. First, let me tell you how this all came to be.

We had known about the house for some time before purchasing it. We wrote it off as one of the ugliest homes on the block, too much work, and a project that would require a miracle to complete. The house was daunting, but I was drawn to it. December crept by and I kept checking to see if it had been listed. After what seemed like an eternity, at 12:15 am on December 20, 2017, it was officially on the market. I rushed down the stairs to tell my mom and was met with an expression that said, “It’s too big of a project for us!” The next day, we were standing in the front yard looking up at this gloomy house, wondering if we should even go in or not. Deep down, I knew I could not wait to see what was inside.

When I stepped into the front foyer, there was little evidence of a Victorian past. Where a grand staircase once stood was now an enclosed stair that led up to the second floor. The central hallway was closed off with a wall and arched openings made the rooms feel small.

Front foyer

Bookshelves in the front parlor

The floors were covered in orange carpet and the windows were masked by decades old curtains. It was dark, moldy, and smelled as if the front door had not been opened in years. Boxes were strewn across the floor and hundreds of books sat on dusty metal bookshelves.

Kitchen Pantry

Front foyer stained glass window

Second floor bedroom

When you see a house like this, you often forget to look for the beauty in it. Even so, as I began to walk through the rest of the house, its tall ceilings, delicate white mantels, and beautiful stained glass windows commanded my attention. It was no longer a lonely and neglected house, but a place hidden beneath a layer of time. This was not the house we were searching for; it was the house we were meant for.

Thank you for following along as we begin this exciting journey. I cannot wait to share with you the progress we have made.

Until next time,

Britton