Now that demo is in full swing at our new house I am spending all of my free time trying to get things decided on and ordered. As I realized with this home, Spencer is a very opinionated “client”. We spent last night looking at mantles, tile, pendants and wallpaper. All things I never thought he cared about… all things he feels very strongly about.

Here are some of things we considered, decided on and/or discarded. Just thought it might be fun to share where my head is at

This sofa is fabulous. Love how streamlined it looks but is probably still really comfy.

(via Sheryl Crow’s home)

Love this mantle profile, its different than what you see everywhere, but ultimately we decided it might be a little too simple.

This beautiful parquet is serving as inspiration for a couple different things

(via)

We’re going white on our main level, but other than that I totally undecided on decor. Surprise, surprise, I do know we’re going a very different direction in our bedroom at the new house. So if anyone is interested in a coral/pink, custom, king sized headboard at an awesome price (in the Chicago area), let me know!

Photo by Anjali Pinto

In case anyone is looking for a Chicago area contractor we’re working with Scott Lyon Construction. They are fantastic!

You guys have followed along as we’ve settled into our first home together. I decorated, redecorated, photographed and rephotographed every square inch of this place. It has been a labor of love in every sense of the word. Spencer proposed to me on the roof, my first (and only) magazine cover came from this living room, we hosted endless ridiculous dinner at our dining table. We are in love with this little condo of ours. But yesterday afternoon, we took the next step. We closed on a new house. I didn’t want to share anything on here until everything was finalized, and now it is.

 (us in our new / about to be ripped out kitchen last night)

I keep comparing our moving to someone breaking up with a long distance boyfriend they know will never move for them. We love our current place, but long term it isn’t right for us. We need space to eventually have a family, and in our new home, we will. We aren’t moving to the burbs, its the same neighborhood we’re in now, just with more space.

When we put our house on the market I had a total melt down. I sat outside in my car sobbing as I watched strangers go into our open house. Crazy huh? Especially considering this whole moving thing was my idea to begin with! I love this condo, it has been an incredibly meaningful home to me in every way. But now, it is time for the next chapter and I can say, with 100% certainty, I am so excited for it.

Our new home is a serious project. As we speak they are demoing a large percentage of the interior space. Kitchen, master bath, powder room, floors, fireplaces and a couple other little things. Deep breaths.

We feel so lucky to be moving to home that we can customize and make our own. I know that one day, very soon, I will love our new house as much as I have loved this one because what I really love about this place are the people and the memories. Yeah. I’m a sap. 

I will be posting about the progress, the decision making, and the process of the renovation and I hope you guys enjoy it. I know I have loved following along other bloggers’ home renos.

xx

A.