Now that we’re wrapping things up at our current house and we’ve spilled the new house beans it’s like we’ve finally given ourselves permission to LOSE. OUR. MINDS. So yeah, this new house video tour is full of chirpy excitement that only a home in your dream neighborhood can produce. Forgive me. It’s not a good look. And watching it produces the same embarrassment that my way-too-enthusiastic mom elicited back in high school. Which confirms that I’m turning into her. Uh oh…
Woop, there it is. The first set of stairs we ever owned, and the house that’s attached to them.
A few notes:
- I’m not awkward at all in the beginning.
- We used John’s phone to “time stamp” this video thanks to Googling “today’s date” on Friday when we filmed it. We’re nothing if not high tech around here.
- Drinking game: count how many times I say love.
- Keep an eye out for John’s finger coming into frame to tell me which direction to walk (yes, he holds the camera and I walk next to him to chat since his description of the house would be three sentences mixed with long silences and if I held the camera you’d lose your lunch).
- Sorry about the audio getting odd in a few areas (empty rooms have weird echoes and it turns out the bathroom fan upstairs is crazy loud on film).
- I sing about stairs. My life is officially a musical.
- Ahhhhhhh! I can’t think of any more. Did I mention we’re crazy excited?!
Oh and please bear with us when it comes to questions about our plans and the ol’ to do list that we’re compiling. We promise we’ll whip up a floor plan post and share our new masterlist with all of our To-Dos on it as soon as we have those laid out (we’re still in that changing-our-minds-every-second phase). It might be a little while before we’ve fully segued into the full new house mindset since we still live in our current house and definitely have a lot of stuff on our plates with selling it, getting packed up, and moving.
And now, I’ll end this with a completely understated “AHHHHHHHHHHH!” and another big wet kiss for you guys. So excited to share this next chapter with you. Also if you’re my mom and you’re reading this, I’m not that scared of turning into you. Except that none of my shoes will fit anymore…
oh Holland says
Fab potential!
Jessica M. says
Do you have a basement??? (Just kidding, I read your answers to the million other people who asked that question.) I am super excited about your new house!!! Will you get rid of Karl now that you don’t have as much space in the living room?
Y’all are totally making me want to move now… haha.
YoungHouseLove says
We think we can reconfigure Karl to hopefully work, but we won’t be sure until we’re in there sliding him around. Haha!
xo,
s
Marci-Rae says
I’m also worried about the console table!!!
Heather @ What Does She Do All Day? says
Holy oh my blue trim! What great bones, though. I like the floor plan. And I’m totally jealous that you have a sunroom, again! I would love a sunroom.
Kiera says
Love that you guys are sharing this new chapter with us! House looks great and I can’t wait to see what you do to it! Our current house had lots of wallpaper and crazy colored trim too, and just fixing that alone made a HUGE difference….so I can only imagine how amazing yours will be when you do your magic! : ) Congrats!
Megan Poletti says
Ahhhhh I love it! This house has some great structure and potential. I love the giant brick fireplace! Can’t wait to see what you do with it. Are you planning on using similar colors and decorating ideas as your current house, or maybe changing it up?
YoungHouseLove says
We’re sure things will evolve as we go like they did between our first and second house – especially since the style of this house is so different :)
xo,
s
SunshineGal85 says
I forgot to ask? Blue hex tile in your master bathroom? Love it or hate it?
YoungHouseLove says
Love it! But it’s not in good shape and there’s not enough to expand it into that other sink area. But it can definitely serve as inspiration! I’m keeping one and framing it :)
xo,
s
SunshineGal85 says
I love it, too, so it’s a shame it’s not in good shape. Definitely good inspiration, though, and worth saving one as a keepsake. You can name it “Tom.”
Cadie says
I love it! The new house has so much potential. I especially love the built-in shelves in the dining room, the gorgeous deck, and the wooded lot. It’s going to be so exciting to see what you can do with it!
Erin J. says
Yay! Thanks for sharing your house tour video! We have the EXACT same built-in corner hutches as you do in your new dining room. I vote you keep them!! We redid one of ours, but had to remove the other one because we took down the wall it was against (I plan on listing it on Craigslist). The one we kept cleaned up pretty nicely! Here’s when I cleaned it up and repainted it: http://diysquirrel.blogspot.com/2012/06/corner-hutch-cha-cha.html And here it is hangin’ out in the background of our recently renovated kitchen: http://diysquirrel.blogspot.com/2013/01/we-owe-you-long-awaited-kitchen-progress.html They maintain some of our home’s original character, plus they make for some awesome storage. Hope you keep them — can’t wait to see what you do!
YoungHouseLove says
Really charming!
xo,
s
Blaire says
i’m so excited to see what you do with this house! our house is from the same era and i recognize the intercom system i saw by several of the doors.
agustina says
what a great challenge!!!! I love it, despite the fact that I hate sanding, and it looks that you guys have a lot of sanding to do…The best parts: What´s the foyer floor made from? It looks like some kind of flagstone or similar, I like how it looks, and the laundry shutters ahhaaahahaha I´m crazy about them!!! Congratulations!
YoungHouseLove says
We think that floor is slate! We love it but its rough in some spots. Hope we can save it!
xo,
s
Lizzy says
So. Excited. For. You. (!!!!)
How are you sleeping at night? Are you constantly planning, or are you exhausted from managing two homes? :o)
One question, do you like the schools in this area?
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, we love the schools. So thankful! As for how we’re sleeping at night, we’re scurrying around so much trying to sell and plan the move and plan the new house to-do list, so we fall into bed and sleep like rocks these days :)
xo,
s
kristen says
when i was in high school we were always up against the high school by your new house at marching competitions, and we ALWAYS lost to them!
they are the BEST EVER.
#bandnerdforlife
not sure if clara is musically inclined, but if she is, that’s the place to be :)
YoungHouseLove says
No way! That’s good to know! She has been in music class since she was 1 and she loves it!
xo
s
kristen says
also, if i say i’m local and that my husband and i also drive through that neighborhood dreaming about our “one day” house and that’s the only reason i knew instantly where it was, does it make my comment a bit less creepy?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that explains it! Not creepy at all :)
xo
s
Patti says
Oh wow this is gonna be good! And I know I’m probably in the minority here, but I kinda love your kitchen exactly how it is, very cozy and warm. Can’t wait to see how you transform it all!
Emily F says
Ahhhh!!! Congratulations!! The house is so amazing and awful – in the best possible way! :) I’m so excited to watch the transformation!
Tirsa says
Soooo happy for you guys! Can’t wait to watch you transform the place. (I have bets in my head about what you’ll tackle and show us first. LOL!)
p.s.
Our 70’s house also came with one of those intercom systems. It even had a cassette player attached to it! (With a cassette inside to boot!) We, um, promptly got rid of it all. ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, so funny!
xo
s
BornInaZoo (Bonnie K.) says
Living in a location you love …
<3
A lot of people thought I was crazy when I moved into my house… 12+ years ago (half of that time being an owner instead of a renter). It's only 864sf but that's all I need. My family lives 20 minutes away & we gather here for HUGE holiday gatherings. Huge yard & 3 blocks from Lake Michigan.
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds so sweet!
xo
s
Hilary @ My So-Called Home says
Ob-sessed. That is certainly a dream home, I’m so happy for you guys! Keep the videos coming– they help pass the time while I’m nursing our brand new baby girl, born May 1st. Tell Clara Evey says hi :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw that’s so sweet! Clara sends a big kiss back to Evey!
xo
s
Sarah says
So excited to see what you do with the kitchen/lfamly room. Our house has the same exact layout (same kitchen cabinet configuration and all) and I’ve been dying to take down the wall between the 2. It would require new hardwood flooring in the kitchen, which is why we need to save a little more;). We also have the same black slate tile in our foyer. Can’t wait to see the transformation!
becca says
We closed on our 35 year old home one week before your announcement! We have the same dark wood kitchen and not-working intercom system, as well as some awesome 70’s paneling to add to the mix. If you could do a give-away after every project you do, I will probably need it for my new old house and all the projects we need to tackle!
Cheers to old homes with good bones in awesome neighborhoods!
Tiffany says
What I want to know is how you guys had the self-control not to touch the house for 6 months?!? I know you made crucial repairs, but no painting? No ripping up stinky carpet? I would have been in there closing night ripping stuff out!
YoungHouseLove says
It was so hard, but we had the book tour and tons of current house stuff (along with family holiday stuff and lighting collection stuff) so there really wasn’t time to dive in… which was good because it would have been impossible to resist if we had time to squeeze it in!
xo,
s
Julianne says
Fantastic place, guys! I’m so excited for you to realize your dream home. :O) It has tonnes of potential and has a great layout…..waiting with baited breath to see you do your magic!!! Congrats!!!!
Natalie says
I loooooooove your new house!! Try not to feel pressured by people like me who say WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU DO WITH THE PLACE!! :) Seriously, though, congrats, and happy DIYing! :)
P.S. Sherry, you are gorgeous!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Natalie, you’re so sweet.
xo
s
Tonya says
Wow, wow, wow!. How you were able to keep this is a secret is beyond me. I would’ve been ready to burst with excitement.
I know you mentioned the sq footage is about the same as your current place, but your new place looks huge. It isn’t even my house and my brain feels in overload with ideas after the video.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so funny because two people said our current house feels bigger! The current one has bigger living spaces but the new house has bigger bedrooms. And you’re right, keeping this in made me nearly burst about ten times! Haha!
xo,
s
Rachel says
Oh Congrats! The place looks so cool! Totally good style the way it is…..;)
Can’t wait to see what you will do to it.
Maggie says
I love it! I can’t put my finger on why the current house never felt like “the one” but I can see you guys living here for years to come! The layout is great and so much potential. I think it might be fun to do a color on the molding (maybe in the dining room?) with some new fun wallpaper. We’d never see it coming ;)
Erin says
Holy gorgeous windows, batman!
Love the layout- totally can see the potential!
Jenny G. says
I love this house! It reminds me a lot of a house we lived in when I was a child (ah, memories…).
I do think it’s hilarious, however, that you guys are excited about the stairs. Our #1 requirement for our next house (especially since we have a child) is NO STAIRS!!! Which is really hard to come by in WA. But I will never live in a stair-ed house again (even our upstairs laundry room is not enough to sway me)!
YoungHouseLove says
Hilarious! It’s like Freaky Friday and we switched bodies or something!
xo
s
Jocelyn says
Great house! I can’t wait to see what you do with your family room fireplace wall. Mine is similar with the wood storage, which puts the fireplace off center. I struggle with what to do with it.
Mary | lemongroveblog says
Squeee!! Can’t WAIT for all the new home improvement renos coming up! :)
Karen S says
Wow, I can’t wait to see what you guys do with this! The bay window in your office are amazing. I love all the windows in the sunroom. The built-ins in your dining room could look really sweet as open shelving on top, with the glass doors on the bottoms. That makes me miss the built-ins in your current house though.
Your floor plan is very similar to the one in the house my husband and I just bought (except your house is much larger than ours), so I’m SUPER excited to see what you guys do with this, so I can *ahem* borrow some ideas.
Rin says
So excited!!!!
Sarah says
I am so excited about the new house. I have been a reader for a long time, but only in the last year or so did I start reading everyday. I am so excited to get to see you take on a house from the very beginning. It is the next best thing to getting to do it myself. Have an amazing time!
Ray says
I think I may be even more excited than you Sherry! I began following you guys a few months ago and went back to read old posts about your first house and was immediately inspired! It’ll be nice to read about your projects in real time this time around! Yay!
Shelley @ Green Eggs and Hamlet says
Wow, great house!! Can’t wait to see how you all work your magic on it (over time of course, no rush). Also curious to see the yard, I love all of those beautiful trees.
p.s. I cracked up over the way Sherry said in an announcer-esque voice,”potential future nursery.” I’m going to think of it as the PFN for short. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! PFN needs to be a sign that we hang on the door, all official-like.
xo
s
Di says
Ok, I’ve been dying for this video. Been following your blog for quite some time, the day you guys spilled the beans about buying a new house I seriously felt as if I had just bought a new house. Super excited to see how it develops and changes! As a side note, I’m from California and thinking of relocating to North Carolina, I know, not Virigina. Have you guys ever done a post on how your relocation process went? How/why you picked the neighborhoods you did? If you had help? How many times you scoped out places before making the plunge? That would be an awesome post! Maybe, biggest surprises before/during/after relocating?
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a fun topic! In short we both were trying to escape the NYC rat-race and find a place with more space/trees/nature and Richmond was where some of John’s family already lived so we visited, toured some areas to get a feel for them, and asked people we knew who lived here what they liked. Then we rented for three months to be sure about which neighborhood we wanted to be in and then made an offer on a house! It was all really exciting, although the biggest, hardest part of the transition was there was no good sushi for a while! Haha! Not like NYC sushi anyway! And the fact that we couldn’t get delivery or walk to food at 2am was different, although that was a weird NY habit anyway!
xo
s
Kate says
We relocated to North Carolina from Washington, DC 7 years ago. Let me tell you, it is heaven!! I totally agree with renting for some period of time so you can really get a feel for where you want to live!
Jen says
Love the house! So much potential — I can’t wait to see what you guys do! Can we have a hint as to what you’ll do first????
Sherry, you look so pretty! And happy!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Jen! We’re both so excited! Ahh! As for what’s first, some of that stinky carpet is first on our list. We’re ripping that stuff out asap!
xo
s
Wendy says
I have never seen wood paneling like that. Can not wait to watch you transform that house into your home!
Dan Goldstein says
Congrats!
When we bought our first house, our brains were exploding with ideas and stuff to do, partly thanks to you and John.
When I found out you guys bought a new-to-you house, I was quite excited for you both. Now having watched the video, I can’t even fathom how you two aren’t on the floor convulsing from creative opportunity sensory overload…or maybe you already did that?
Anyway, Sarah, Kiko (the cat) and I are quite interested to see what you all do to polish up this new place. It certainly seems to be not only a wise family move, but also a good business decision. ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, already did it. Actually, it’s a weekly event, the sensory overload floor dance.
xo
s
Christine says
I haven’t left a comment on your blog ever. Okay, maybe just a few comments for your giveaways! :) But I want you to know that you area responsible for my internet addiction. Not facebook. Not twitter. But YHL! :)Love at first read. :) A week ago I resolved that I would stop being online as often( meaning… stop reading your posts over and over!)Grand plan to curb my internet addiction. But now I guess that resolution is thrown out the window! I just know that future projects in your new house are going to be totally awesome and I sure wouldn’t miss any of them. So excited!! Congratulations!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Christine! You’re so sweet. And I profusely apologize for enabling your addiction, haha!
xo
s
Susan W says
I so want to watch the house tour but am getting a message that it’s unavailable. Tried to watch on you tube as well and didn’t work there either. Has it crashed with all the excitement?
YoungHouseLove says
So sorry! It’s hosted on youtube.com like our videos usually are, so I would just try clicking the title to see if you can watch it over on youtube.com (and if you can’t my best guess would be that it’s blocked at your office, since many corporate folks block it).
xo
s
janet @ ordinary mom says
Love the stairs! We are in a 2 storey house (with a basement) and I love having our family space away from the public space. I think you will like it a lot. I DO miss having our laundry on the 2nd floor (regret not doing that in this house).
Love it and can’t wait to see the changes.
Char says
I’m so excited for you guys! My heart rate picked up when I saw your new office… We have a bump-out window just like that in our kitchen… I can’t wait to see what you have planned for it!
We are remodeling our kitchen currently, and this is our inspiration for that window:
http://assets4.designsponge.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/claire_after2.jpg
YoungHouseLove says
SO PRETTY!
xo
s
Allison @ House of Hepworths says
John and Sherry, I am giddy excited for you guys and seriously cannot wait to see what you do with this amazing home! Great tour too.
Allison @ House of Hepworths
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much Allison! Same with yours!
xo
s
Katie says
Love it! Thank you so much for taking the time to record this and share it with us!!
How in the world were you two able to keep everything untouched since the fall?! I mean it’s not like you were traveling across the country and working on your current house or anything. ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahah!
xo
s
Amy says
What a super house! I love the living area with the fireplace. Just to share my experience with carpeted stairs—when we moved into our current house, the stairs were hardwood with no carpet. I was so excited about that, until EVERYONE started slipping on the stairs. Everyone. So after 2 years of people falling down our stairs (lol!), we finally gave in and got them carpeted. Best decision ever. It’s a pain to maintain, but beats injuries. Maybe you guys will find a better solution to this problem, though. I’ve heard you can mix some sand into the poly to provide extra traction on those treads:)
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a cool trick! Never heard of that!
xo
s
Sylvia says
I love it! That house has so much potential! I can’t wait to see what you guys do with the place!
My kitchen has the same exact layout as your new one. Do you picture keeping the kitchen layout with the peninsula or do you think you will perhaps add an island? I am going back and forth between the two for my house.
Seriously can’t wait to see what you’ll do! :)
YoungHouseLove says
We have no idea! I think we picture french doors and a sweet round pedestal table in that open area and then we’re not sure if the peninsula stays or what! Will have to live with things and move stuff around and figure out what we love best :)
xo
s
Erica says
Just wanted to let ya’ll know that at first I didn’t know what to do when I first found out about the move. I mean, I have invested so much time into the current house!! But after seeing this video and all of the amazing opportunities, I am very, very excited! Also, I just wanted to express how much this blog does mean to me, you, and BowerPower get me through the long day and helps me dream of one day owning a house on my own! It’s finals week down at LSU at the moment and stress is an understatement! So thanks for a bit of a getaway, and keep up the amazing work!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Erica, that’s so sweet!
xo
s
Kismet says
Loveit.
The Duggars have an intercom system in their house. You just need 18 more kids to justify it :)
~K!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahaha!
xo
s
Claudie says
I just wanted to say congratulations on the new house! It is definitely full of potential!
Ripping out carpet was the most satisfying thing we did once we bought this house. It instantly made the house much better (mostly in the smell factor). We didn’t have hardwood underneath, so we had to install new flooring, but it was so worth it. To be honest, we started ripping it out the same day that we closed on the house, ha!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so funny! I can’t believe we’ve just been frozen, just waiting to dive into things over there… can’t wait!!
xo
s
Hanh says
That house has the perfect layout!!!!
I’m happy for you (and a little j-lous at the same time :) ). We’re shopping for a house too, and will do keeping a closer eye on how you guys fix up that beauty.
Jodie says
Love it! You are so on top of it- I didn’t expect a full fledged reveal complete with a video so soon! Can’t wait to see your plans : )