In the words of Rose from Titanic…..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.
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.
Dawn McM says
For sure a tear jerker. I cried like a baby the days leading up to moving, which was only three weeks ago. Though we love our new house, we had so many memories in our old one. Our first kiss, our proposal, and both of our rescue pups came home to it. I took a ton a pictures before I started packing and even video during and after.
Then the day the dogs left to go to doggie day care for extended stay I took them to each room, the backyard, and told them to say goodbye to our neighbor’s dog. My husband thought I had cracked up. He didn’t cry until the very last moment before we left and then we were a mess.
Martha says
We will never move. Period.
Among the many reasons, it is just too darn sad!
[email protected] says
I’m getting teared up over here! There is nothing – nothing like your first house. Even with all its quirks. I still dream about ours. But I suppose it is not so much the house, but the feelings evoked by the memories you shared there. You get to keep those.
Lesley says
What a lovely list! We’re moving in a few weeks too (*ugh. Bad timing. Christmas. Really?) I’m already making a mental list of all the things I’ll miss about our little apartment. We’re planning to do a kitchen remodel right away. Do you have any hints for living without a kitchen for 113 days? Any ways you camped out at home?
YoungHouseLove says
Our tips are to expect it to stink so it can only be better than you expect. Living without a sink or access to the stove/fridge was intensely hard, and we got so sick of eating out, but it was so worth it in the end. Good luck!!!
xo,
s
Sue says
Awwww…I got choked up reading this! I’m sure it will be hard to leave. But you’ll make so many great new memories in your new house!
I couldn’t help but think how lucky the buyer of your house is…
Lynne says
I’m going through the same kinds of emotions at the moment. I just decided to move and the moving date is in 3 weeks. There have been things about my current home that have irked me, and yet I have been so happy here and have created some wonderful memories.
It really is a big deal to leave a home you love, no matter how compelling the reasons.
Jill S. says
Wow. You guys are going to make me cry… :(
beth@Just{Heart}It says
Seriously? Ten storage ottomans? Where are they all? I went thru your house tour photos and only found 7. :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Did you get the two under the console table in the living room? Or the padded storage bench at the table or in our mini mudroom? We also have one in the office, one in the nursery, two in the den, and the list goes on and on…
xo,
s
Julie says
I’m so excited you guys are moving because my husband and I just closed on our first place today (so we sure have a lot to be thankful for tomorrow), and I’m really looking forward to following you renovating your place as we spruce up ours. I love reading your old posts to see the projects you did but it’s more fun to follow along as things progress. And I think we’ll be moving in right around when you do – should be interesting hosting Christmas Eve dinner (it’s a tradition) only two weeks later!
Beth@Just{Heart}It says
I found the one at the table, the two (I think there are two) in the den (as your coffee table), the mudroom one, the square wicker one, the round one in the office, but missed the two under the console table. Is the round one in your bedroom also a storage ottoman? And is there also one under what used to be your desk in the den? Do you even still have that table there? That would be ten.
I have to say I love your use of them. I had no idea you had so many and wondered how you “hid” them all. Nice job working the ottomans! My house doesn’t have much storage, and I like to see how many ways/places you’ve used them.
Are they all full of stuff? If so, would you be willing to share what they hold?
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, those are all of them! Good eye. They’re full of things like board games, dog toys, baby toys, CDs, paint swatches, receipts and tax forms, etc. Nothing too exciting, but they definitely come in handy!
xo,
s
Sara says
awww sherry! I am all teary eyed because I can relate. Memories are the best!
Claire says
My husband and I recently sold the first place we ever lived together in. We got engaged in that house (Engagaversary is tomorrow!) and spent 30 months owning it together, fixing it up (including a full bathroom demo and remodel last year around the same time you did yours). I haven’t really dealt with the emotions of leaving it behind as I drove away well over a month before it actually sold. He stayed behind to close up shop and joined me in our new home (rental) in CA after that was wrapped up. I gotta admit that I have a list like this going in my head and reading yours made me cry almost instantly. I’m happy to have moved on but regret the fact I never really got to say goodbye properly. I hope your departure is much happier! Can’t wait to see what the future holds in store for you.
Adam says
What a wonderful post; it looks as if you will have an abundance of photographs to remember your first love by. Speaking of which, have you ever written about how you organize all of the photographs you take? I have a system that works for me now, but I am curious how you two keep your pictures filed.
YoungHouseLove says
Here’s a post all about that: https://www.younghouselove.com/2010/05/easy-upgrades-count-on-it/
xo,
s
Handy Man, Crafty Woman says
Stop, you’re killing me!! *sniff*
I felt that way when we left our first house, too.
Kate! says
We moved about a year and a half ago from our first home into our forever home. Our first house wasn’t old – it was brand new. We got to pick out EVERYTHING we wanted.
The absolute hardest part about leaving that house was leaving behind the nursery that I lovingly decorated so it would be perfect for our little girl when she came home. Like you, I made the mobile, sewed the curtains, painted shelving and found the perfect touches that were meaningful to our family. It was her “Golden Slumbers” room, inspired by the Beatles song. *sigh*
Ashley says
My dog really wants to play with Burger. She sat in my lap and whimpered at him throughout the whole video lol! =D
Barbara says
Okay, now I need a tissue too. Sherry, that was beautiful! You, John, Clara, and Burger are a family that truly knows that it’s the little moments that matter – you’ll carry these memories with you wherever you go. But it will be bittersweet – I’d stock one of the ottomans with tissues now, just to be ready for moving day.
ps: Can you take the seeded glass pendant (light?) with you? I hope so!
And Happy Thanksgiving! (I think Burger may have visions of turkeyplums dancing in his head right about now)
YoungHouseLove says
I guess we could have negotiated to replace the seeded glass pendant and take it with us, but we wanted to leave the house as pretty as we made it instead of taking it all apart. Thankfully we have a ton of photos to remember it by.
xo,
s
Estefania says
I just want you both to know how glad I am to have found you online. You two are incredible together! You’ve truly inspired me to transform our first home into something special. I know that the move is bittersweet, but I’m so excited to see what’s in store for your family! :) While looking through your posts, I thought to ask if you have any advice on how to make things happen financially when working on a room. As newlyweds, I know that it’s been a little challenging to get every aspect of being married under control, and I just wondered if you had any tips on planning ahead for a project. How did you guys make it happen?
YoungHouseLove says
We just save our pennies for a while and try to do things slow and steady (decorating in stages over time, so it’s not too much of a financial shock). We definitely believe in saving up for what you really want (don’t waste money on interim solutions, just wait until you can spring for the thing you truly want). Good luck!
xo,
s
Hedi says
Hi Guyes, i wanted to ask about your new diaper system that you use and have yet to introduce to us. Im asking because we are in need of new system as well. So if you could post about this in near future it would be great! Thanks guys,
Hedi
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Hedi,
We actually posted about it two weeks ago on BabyCenter. You can follow the link in the bottom of this post for those details: https://www.younghouselove.com/2010/11/setting-sale/
xo,
s
Abby says
Best.Post.Ever.
You 4 just inspired me to create a home that we rush home to because we miss it. We had to leave our first home behind when we moved from MI to OH and with it, we left our baby’s nursery. :( But we are ready to re-create those memories in our current house and I can’t wait to see you do that too!
Suzanne says
That old porch post is hilarious! You two talking to each other even! Priceless. Happy Turkey Day!
Becca says
Aw, this made me tear up too! I cried when I left my first condo. But you know what made me feel better? Moving into my new place!!! :) Plus, you’ll be too excited about knocking down walls and painting to be sad :)
LiveLikeYou says
That’s a tearjerker…Some lucky family will move in to the home you so lovingly created and surely take good care of it. I really believe we don’t really own our houses, we just take car of them for a while.
Ali says
Aww this is a beautiful post. So, so glad I stumbled upon your website!
My partner and I have begun making some changes to our new home and YHL has definitely given me the inspiration and confidence to get started after seeing how amazing your transformations are. Brilliant work!!
All the best with moving house, can’t wait for the progress reports! :)
Diane says
Sweet!
JoDi says
I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who got teary-eyed reading this post! It’s sad to see you leave this house, but you are going to have so many new wonderful reasons to love your new house too! It’s bittersweet and exciting at the same time. . .
Sue says
How nice, I’m moved, a lot of encouragement!
I also miss your home and your wonderful garden, kisses from Mallorca.
Linda says
This may sound silly to you. I am looking forward to seeing what you will do with your new home, but I am sad you are living this one. It is so cute and holds your memories. Oh well, I am getting old and silly. I would move too. I haven’t stayed in the same house. Good luck.
Amy says
I’ve been reading for over a year now… but I had never come across the post about your home’s previous owners. That’s so awesome and super-sweet that she shared those memories with you. I would love to know the ancient history of the 1945 house that we bought just this year! Best of luck in your new endeavors!
erika says
I got so teary when I read this…beautiful memories for you…
On another note…just curious about your storage ottomans/benches. What is a good price for a quality one, lets say 36″ or so or for a cube ottoman, and what do you look for in an ottoman? I need a few around here, but I don’t know the best place/price to look for.
Raquel says
It’s great that you took the time to chronicle all these things. I’m sure your daugher (and Burger?) will love to look back on all the things that made this your first home. (By the way, I was too star struck to say hello, but I saw you at IKEA Woodbridge on Saturday. We were the couple sitting on a beige L-shaped Ektorp couch having a huge argument about how to set up our living room. He was wearing a vest and has glasses and red hair.) I hope I’m not giving away the content of a future post by mentioning I saw you! LOL Thanks for your blog; we really enjoy it. :) (We are planning to buy 2 PAX without doors due to your post about your bedroom, so it was kind of funny we saw you there!)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that’s so funny that you saw us! We would have loved to say hello! I’m sure you saw us sizing up sectionals for a while (Burger was even with us in his covert little dog bag, and of course you must have noticed Clara).
xo,
s
aNGIE says
We too are moving. Not just from our home, but out of state to start a new chapter of our lives. As I was cleaning our house & getting it ready for the new buyers, I was thinking through our past 4 years in our house… and in this town.
The biggest part, that made me tear up, was when we too brought home our first born in 2009.
Shannon says
This is such a lovely post, I didn’t read the 160 comments before me, so this has probably been suggested but…it would be sweet to make a photobook out of this! Also it would be awesome if you shared some of the things with the new owners, like the previous one’s did for you!
Good luck with your move and all of the new projects that will go into making your new house into: home.
Leslie says
I didn’t read the million posts before me so I’m not sure if someone suggested this already, but I totally think you should take your arbor with you to your new house! That way your wedding memories won’t be too far away when you’re feeling nostalgic!
Can’t wait to hear all about your new adventures in the new home!
YoungHouseLove says
We’re definitely thinking about it. Maybe we’ll get up the guts to ask the new buyers if they mind…
xo,
s
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
What wonderful memories you all have in your current home. It’s amazing how a house becomes a Home and that is exactly what you guys did. I loved the video. Your home came a long way over the 4 years. I think the one thing I would be the saddest about would be that you got married there and now you are leaving. You have wonderful photo’s and I’m sure wonderful memories of your wedding day, but that would probably be the saddest part for me when I left a home like that. I can’t wait to see your next house and how you turn it into a Home. I will now get to see this new home from the start and see all the changes along the way. Can’t wait to see all the projects and lists of course for your new Home. :D
Sam says
i just wanted to tell you how poignant it was to read this list. sometimes i find myself thinking, oh, i can’t forget how lovely the light is at this time of day or one day i’m going to miss the gorgeous moldings in this old NYC apartment of mine. putting that list down is so worthwhile. i need to do this at my parents house before my mom sells it. the stair step where my dog would stretch out and wait for me, the rainbows of light from a beveled mirror, my mom’s beautiful paint treatment in the living room, the fancy new stove top with a venting system that rises up and sounds like a helicopter–never fails to entertain. those little details mean so much. thanks for making me think about this.