You may recall us mentioning the charming “bed & breakfast” house around the corner a few times. We’ve admired it for years—not just for the in-ground pool, tennis court, and picnic area, but for the irresistible curb appeal. Here’s a photo we took during a snowstorm last year:
When Sherry and I began house hunting this fall, we even joked about knocking on their door and asking the owner to sell it to us. Before we could work up the nerve, however, we found out the house had already been sold privately a few weeks earlier—no “for sale” sign, no warning. We were disappointed, of course, but the buyers introduced themselves at our moving sale last month and, much to our surprise, turned out to be really nice people. They even bought about $100 worth of patio furniture and rugs from us, which softened the blow.
They invited us over for a tour, which made Sherry very happy—she’d been insisting she couldn’t rest until she’d seen the inside. When we toured the house, it didn’t quite match the lofty expectations we’d built up in our heads. In a strange way, that made us appreciate our own new house even more, because our place felt like the better fit once we saw the interior of the bed & breakfast.
That’s not to say the house wasn’t wonderful. It has tons of makeover potential and, honestly, the “before” state was rougher than ours ever was. There was florid wallpaper, old blue carpeting, tired light fixtures, and red laminate countertops—classic candidates for an overhaul. The new owners were already stripping wallpaper and painting while we were there, which was awesome to see; they’re fellow DIY enthusiasts. They shared some of their renovation plans with us, and we have no doubt they’ll do great things with the place.
Ultimately, we left feeling certain it wasn’t the right house for our family. It lacks the single-level, open-floor plan that suits a growing family, and maintaining that large lawn, pool, and tennis court wouldn’t be easy with a six-month-old. So rather than dwelling on what could have been, we found closure—knowing the timing and outcome were probably for the best. We’re genuinely excited that the house has owners who are eager to bring new life to it. We’ll still call it “the bed & breakfast”—a name that feels much better than “the one that got away.”
Pssst—We announced this week’s giveaway winner. Click to see if it’s you.