I promised to announce this news with you so many times! I’m glad I can finally share, and I wanted to give a BIG thank you to all the kind words about our engagement. I am over the moon and still floating on cloud nine.
There has been so much to take in this week. Things are changing rapidly in my life, and it’s cool that I get to grow and share exciting times with you all. I was pretty much a baby when I started this blog, and I get just as excited to share these moments with you as I would with my friends and family. With that being said, I’m ecstatic to announce that we are building a home!
HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT
It’s been super hard to keep this whole process a secret, but many obstacles had to be completed before I could share everything. After hitting publish on this blog, Kyle and I are heading into the design studio today to pick out the final details for the house. Since my content has mostly been food, trips, and recap posts for the past ten years, I thought it would be super fun to share this entire building process with you all. I had no idea where to begin when it came to house building, but we’ve been learning so much, and I think it would be neat to bring a whole new wave of content to this space. I will be documenting everything that goes on in today’s design meeting and report back with how it went, and what it takes to put all the details into a new home.
But for today’s blog post, I thought I’d share how we got to this point, and what prompted us on the decision to build a home. It’s crazy, right? 
WHY ARE WE MOVING?
I should probably explain how we got to this point. In 2016, I decided to invest in a townhome. I was sick of apartment life, I knew where I wanted to live long-term, and I needed a little stability in my home-life. It’s not fun moving place to place, and with my dad being in the military, it’s all I ever did growing up. Moving into the townhome was the best decisions because I’ve enjoyed it here, my neighbors are lovely, the dogs love their walking routine, it’s safe, and it’s in a fast-growing area.
I always got comments on my blog about why Kyle and I didn’t live together sooner, but us living together at the time wouldn’t have made any sense. His commute to work would have been over an hour. That would have been terrible, so we spent time with each other on the weekends, and I went uptown a couple of nights a week. Luckily, Kyle ended up getting a job closer to me, and the timing was finally right. For the past year, we’ve been living in the townhome with the pups, and have been enjoying it.
I’m about to say something super millennial, BUT, we’ve always talked about moving into a new home with a big backyard for the dogs. I don’t mind walking the dogs three miles a day, but it would be so cool to be able to let them run free in the mornings or at night when they have the case of the zoomies. Kyle and I also love hanging out in my parent’s backyard, so it was safe to say that we needed one for ourselves.
THE HOME SEARCH
Every time we looked at a house, it didn’t feel right. There was too much stress attached to the homes with all the work we’d have to do as soon as we moved in. One of Kyle’s friends mentioned the neighborhood that he lived in and told him to check it out. On Saturday, a few months back, we decided to take a drive into the community. The neighborhood was breathtaking, so I immediately detached myself from the thought of ever living there. There was no way these homes could fit our budget, I thought. The neighborhood was something out of a movie set, and I had never seen anything like it. All of the houses were unique craftsman style homes with all of the character you could ever dream of.
I was hesitant to walk into the model homes because I didn’t want to start comparing the houses we looked at to these. I didn’t think any of these homes would fall into our budget, so it was more of a casual walkthrough for me. I thought to myself, “wow, I’d love to live here in six or seven years” as we explored the homes.
I left that neighborhood without any attachment. I never once dreamed of being able to live there, but this is where Kyle and I were on two different pages. I think he forgot to detach himself the way I did. That evening, he asked me 101 questions about the houses we walked into, what I planned to do with the townhome if we pursued the build, and which home I liked the best. I was shocked that he was even 10% set on considering this. Of course, I would love to build and design a home from dirt to the roof and live in that neighborhood, but I didn’t think it would be in our cards for a few years.
BUDGETING AND BANKING & LOT #1
We spent the following week going over budgets, finances, researching the building process, and then getting the approval from the bank. Was this really happening? I still couldn’t believe it. We picked out the house, design features, and found the perfect lot. The lot we wanted would never have anything built behind us. I love being able to look out the window and see trees, not homes. It was one of those non-negotiable things. We weren’t sure when this particular lot would be released, so we just waited for the call. More than a month and a half went by, and the lot was never released, so we felt a little hopeless. 
SWITCHING BUILDERS
Kyle brought up the idea to pursue the other builders in the neighborhood. First, I never dreamed of living in this neighborhood, but now he wants to pursue the other builders, which are pricier? What in the world has gotten into him? Well, seeking the other builders was one of the best decisions. We happened to walk into the building office around the time that another family backed out of their lot, a lot that was much larger than our first, and without anyone ever building behind it. Since we were able to save a bit on that lot, the second builders finally fit into our price range.
SIGNING THE PAPERS
Since we switched builders, that meant switching houses. This was the best part because the house we chose with the new builders had the best layout, and was an absolute dream. I could not believe it.
The next day, we headed into the office with the check, signed the paperwork, and now we are here! We have our new house picked out, the lot is ready for breaking, and we will be moving into our new home in May! Waiting is going to be the hardest part. That’s why doing monthly updates on the blog will help me be patient. I’ve never been more eager to share a project on this space. 
A SNEAK PEAK OF OUR NEW HOME
We had the chance to walk through several models of our house. I took a few photos to give you guys a glimpse into what our house will look like, but we are going to be making SO MANY different changes. You’ll be able to see a “base” of the house to get an idea. As I said, I’ll blog all about the process tomorrow and share which tiles, colors, floors, hardware, and other details we chose! It’s crazy how much there is to decide when it comes to building. Many find that part stressful, but I’m having so much fun with it.
LIVING ROOM
Remember when I took that Instagram poll and asked what you thought about adding windows or keeping the built-in shelves? Well, most of you voted for the built-ins! After seeing this model, I knew right away that I wanted the windows. I’m a fan of the extra light, and it’s less junk sitting on a shelf.
We are going to be changing all of the light fixtures, adding extra recess lighting, changing the floors to farmhouse planks, adding larger trim, and maybe a different fireplace if I can win that battle with Kyle. He likes the more modern look, but there’s a more prominent mantel option that has a bit more character. Perhaps I’ll add another poll on Instagram. It’s been easy when it comes to choosing design features with Kyle because we lean towards the same styles, so there’s no head butting on this one. 
THE STUDY
One of my favorite rooms in the house is the study. When you walk through the front door, the study is to your right, and we chose the french door option. I love all the character features you get to choose with this house. This is where we are going to have the piano, a record player, and all of our books. We want this to be a reading and music room. Kyle plays music, so I love the idea of having a place in the house dedicated to no electronics. We talked about keeping this room a bit darker than the rest of the house with a studious mood and sophisticated vibe.
WALK-IN PANTRY + MY WORKSPACE
I’m looking forward to this walk-in pantry with the glass door. It’s huge and comes with the wooden shelves instead of wired racks. I’ll be able to store all of my food photography plates/napkins on the back wall. When you walk into the pantry, the shelves continue to wrap around to the right.
One thing I have always wanted was an office off the kitchen. And to the left of the pantry, there’s an office space for me. It will be where I do a lot of my photography, filming, and writing. I cannot believe this house had exactly what I was looking for. It’ll make my work-life much easier. I stopped using the upstairs office in my house now because I got so tired of carrying my equipment upstairs all the time. And since I like to shoot food, upstairs was not an ideal place to set up. Right now, I use my kitchen table for everything, and it’s going to be a dream to have a designated spot for work. I’ll even be able to watch the dogs play in the backyard while sitting at my desk.
DESIGNING THE KITCHEN
This is probably a no-brainer, but the kitchen is going to be my favorite part of the house. We have been researching hardware, light fixtures, backsplash, and all the extra fun details that we want. I hope to have the kitchen reveal to be the first thing up on the blog when the house is done. We are making so many changes to the kitchen to make it fit our style. And see the cabinets int his model? We are extending ours to go all the way up to the ceiling, with glass cutouts.
WINDOWS
I’m a firm believer that a house can never have too many windows. If I could live in a glass house, I would. We opted for ALL the extra window options to bring in so much extra light. I love feeling like I’m outside while I’m inside. Another significant part about extra windows is the lack of decor I have to buy for the empty wall space. And since we are going with a super neutral color scheme for this house, all of my colorful things will be finding a new home, or maybe taking up a new residency in the upstairs loft.
BACKYARD GOALS
The backyard is going to be a dream for the dogs. We are so ready to live in our backyard most of the time! We plan on doing a lot of landscaping/fireplace projects, so you can expect those on the blog as well. I will probably cry seeing the dogs run around in their backyard for the first time.
FUTURE PLANS
What we love about this house is that it has room for whatever we plan to happen in the future. I don’t predict us leaving here at all, and I’d love to make this my home for a very long time. It’s in one of the best locations, we’re right on the river, hiking trails are right outside the door, and there’s even an elementary school being built in the neighborhood. We knew this opportunity wouldn’t be here if we waited, so we decided to do it. And if our family grows in a few years (another dog of course 😉), we won’t have to start the home search again.
And is it strange that I’m excited about doing cleaning videos for YouTube in the new house? Those are my favorite to do!
I’m feeling extremely blessed about life right now. It’s crazy how we can experience periods in our lives where we feel low, but if you’re determined to push through, work hard, and stay positive, life has a way of working its way out.
Questions for you!
- Have you ever gone through the building process?
- Suggestions on house-building blog posts you’d like to read?
- Where is your favorite place to shop for furniture?
You may also like…
I built a house with my fiance (soon to be husband) and we moved in 2 years after the construction process started. There are still many things to do but we love having our own place (even though we will be paying it off for 30 years). Good luck and love from Poland 🙂
Thanks so much, Michalina! & congrats on your build + engagement!
Congratulations!! I’ve followed you for years but haven’t commented in forever. So happy to see you so happy with your engagement to Kyle and now the new house!!
We built a house last year and have been here for nine months already! The process is fun and exciting! My requirements in the house sound a lot like yours, windows, a big open kitchen, windows, a back yard for the dog, windows, and a space to make my own!
I loved decorating and putting furniture in our new house (we were in apartment living before and didn’t have much). My favorite places to shop have been TJMaxx/Marshall’s, Wayfair, Amazon, and Costco!i was especially impressed with Amazons selection and quality of furniture (especially barstools, dining room chairs, rugs, and lighting fixtures)
Thank you so much, Carly!
Yes, we definitely have the same requirements 😊
Great idea on the light fixtures with amazon! Never thought of that.
This is soooo exciting! I cannot wait to read the blogs to come that showcase the house coming together. Congrats and many blessings to you and your little family! I’m so happy for you 🙂
My wife and I live in New Jersey. We live in a pretty expensive part with family and have gone through so many emergencies these past two years that we’ve had to drain our savings account. Building isn’t much of an option for us, but I would love to do so one day. Until then, we are still on the search for a forever home!
My favorite store for affordable furniture is actually Walmart— online specifically. We got a black bed frame and a three-tier shelf TV stand for less than $100 altogether, and they’ve helped up for almost 3 years so far! Their stuff is easy to put together and totally affordable and cute.
Xo, Alissa @ PositiviTEA
Thank you so much, Alissa!
Verey sorry to hear about what you’re going through, but I have no doubt you two will get to where you want to be! Wow not a bad deal for a TV Stand!!
xo
Hi Taralynn,
I just wanted to say congratulations on your engagement and your exciting new home news! I’m so happy for you. I’ve been reading your blog and following you on Instagram for a long time and I truly believe you deserve all these happy things so much 🙂
Your blogs always inspire me to try new recipes/exercises/DIY projects. I’m looking forward to following your new home journey – and of course keeping up with Grumples and Leo!
Emily x
Thank you for those kind words, Emily! Means so much! ♥️
I am SO beyond happy for you!! I’ve been reading your blog since the beginning, and you inspired me to become a blogger! You deserve all the happiness in the world, and this home looks BEAUTIFUL!
I love how spacious it is and even though you’ll be designing it to fit what you and Kyle prefer, the pictures are so gorgeous! The dogs are going to love having all that space to roam!
You know what they say about building a home together. A couple who can build a home together can do anything together! 🙂 I’m so glad that you’re enjoying the process and not getting stressed over designing things!
I hope you have an amazing weekend, Taralynn! So happy to hear the news!!
That is so so so sweet of you! Thank you 😊 Love that you’re following your dreams and blogging!
I think the dog part is one of my favorites 😃
Hahaha you got that right!!!
xoxo
Congratulations! Long time follower & so happy for the exciting new chapters in your life!
Thank you, Holly!
Hi!
I am so excited for you!! I have been following for quite some time.
But, I didn’t do a home build but I did buy my own house about 2 years ago. I was living at home with my parents so I didn’t have to move in right away. A suggestion I have, to space out payments and buying stuff – buy stuff randomly. If you need to buy furniture or appliances, figure out when to buy them and so you can make payments instead of buying everything at one time.
And, Home Depot! Do one big shopping trip there, open the CC and get the no interest card. It is amazing! Also, do that when Menards is having their 11% off becuse then you can submit that at Home Depot and receive an 11% rebate on all that you buy!
But enjoy… you said you aren’t stressed which is great. But excited for you to make this a home!
Hi, Jessica!
Thank you so much 😊
Great advice 😊
Hi Taralynn, I’ve been reading your blog for about 7/8 years now and I really enjoy it. I find lots of things you post about, like food, fitness and wellness content very inspiring! Your warmth and down-to-earth attitude is a welcome breath of fresh air from the ‘Instagram influencer’ culture that’s around so much. Thanks for being so open and honest with your life.
Two lovely bits of good news for you this week – congratulations! I know you’ve had your ups and downs (like us all) so I’m genuinely happy you’ve found this contentment. All the best! ☺️
Wow, such a long time! Thank you for following along all of these years.
Thank you for all the kind words!
Congratulations- again! So excited to follow this new phase in your life —- and wish you all the happiness! Building is so much better than an outright purchase. You’re going to love the process, though it’ll have highs & lows… patience will go a long way! It sounds like you have a great crew and so much support! Congrats again!!!
You’re so right about that! & thank you so much!! 😊
Omg I’m so excited, I was so happy with your engagement post that I read it thrice and forgot to mention cuz I had to hint my boyfriend of seven years that we had to get married soon!!
Haha we’ve been planning our wedding for so long that I’m obsessed and I’m so happy you got engaged!
And this post just got me to comment cuz I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
Good luck and I’m so looking forward to you house, wedding, family expansion (the dog ;))
Love,
Utti
Awwwwww thank you!!!!!
Sounds like you’re going to have a beautiful wedding 😊
hahaha! yes for more dogs!!
I am so happy you chose the windows around the fireplace! It will be like a natural painting with no clutter!
RIGHT!?
We just finished the building process and have been in our home a little over a year. If you run tight on budget I suggest doing the things you know you can’t live without (for me that was a rock fireplace, coffered ceilings, covered back porch, bigger windows, triple sliding glass door) and skimping on things that can be easily changed later. The company we had build our home had light fixtures and sink/tub fixtures included in their turn key price and so we took those knowing how easy it is to switch those out in the future. We just couldn’t justify the cost to upgrade those when building. Good luck……it is an adventure but so so fun!!!!
That is awesome!! Thanks for that advice! xo xo
Congrats! I’m so excited that you are sharing this journey! I’m hoping to build in 2020! We’re working on land right now.
My favorite place to shop [for furniture] is definitely TJ MAXX & Home Goods!
How exciting, you’ll have to keep me updated!
ohhh my faves!
This is so exciting for y’all, this and the engagement!!! My boyfriend and I have toyed with the idea of someday building a house when we’re there financially and honestly your blogs about it I think are going to be super helpful as things I can keep in mind when we do get to that point. I’ve been following you for years and I’m just so happy and excited for you and Kyle to do these new, amazing things together!
Thanks so much, Shelby!
I’m hoping to bring some help to anyone wanting to build! 😊
1: Nope we bought old home and made it ours with remodeling. It really ended up being cheaper than building and our neighborhood is small with a creek, lots of wildlife ( we actually had Peregrine Falcons have babies in our tree this summer! It was so cool to see them grow and eventually take off flying for first time.) ,we have trails, a gazillion trees and only 30 houses total! So it’s quiet with out a lot of traffic and in one of the best school districts in the state. Plus we have the cutest little downtown on the river. Yeah I kinda love my little old town 🙂
2: I’ll read any it’s fun to see other peoples homes, and yes I love watching cleaning videos as well so win win 🙂
3: I know this is going to sound weird but vintage shops, thrift stores, and of course Ikea for all things cute and organized. 🙂
So happy for all your big life events, take time to relax and enjoy! Congrats and Have fun!!!!
Sounds like a dream home 😊
That’s not weird at all. Facebook market place is one of my favorites 😆
xo xo
Not sure about dream but pretty close 🙂 Also it was cheaper way back when we bought it ( 19 years ago) vs now it would be cheaper to build then remodel. It’s a buyers market right now.
Can’t wait to see all the reveals. 🙂
Definitely 💜
I just built a house last year in Fort Mill! I love the area so so much. It’s a fun yet anxiety inducing process, especially design center day! Picking your whole house out in basically 3 hours is a lot to take in! My advice would be to stay on top of the builders, and keep your eyes out for everything! Document any mistakes you see and you can have them fix it either right away or shortly in the future. Building new is the way to go!!!
Thanks, Bethany!
Kyle is SUPER super on top of everything so luckily he’ll be the perfect person for that!
In addition to my comment a few days ago, maybe THIS is the best news I’ve heard this year 😉
Can’t wait to see your blogs about this huge project!
AWWWW!!! XO
I’ve been following your blog for what feels like forever. I’ve been with you through the past two “heartbreaks” (if they’re even considered that anymore!) and it makes my heart so happy to see you so happy and in love! I feel like we are friends 😂 Congrats! ❤️
haha I’d consider them stepping stones 😉
& thank you so so much!
The only new build I’ve been a part of is when my parents built and constructed our log home that I moved into when I was 5. I obviously have little to no memory but I cherish the photos of me in my little snow suit running around the half finished house. Take lot’s of photos, even the ones that feel silly. That house will feel like your baby. 🙂
I believe it’s a Canadian site but Structube. I think they would have some of those darker and elegant pieces for your music room! And I adore Wayfair!
I am SO SO SO excited we get to follow this journey with you! And you know we are ALWAYS here to help settle anything by vote! lol!
Hi, Amanda!
You’re so right about that. I’ve never heard of Structube!
HAHA I’ll be taking TONS of votes!!!
Oh my gosh, you guys just keep getting better! I have no doubt you’ll build a great house – you’re so talented at all things decor! ❤️✨
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Thanks so much, Charmaine!
So freakin excited for you Tara! You deserve all the happiness. And congratulations on your engagement!
Can’t wait for all the home posts! I’d LOVE to see posts on organizing, especially in the kitchen.
🙂
Thank you 😊!!! I am so so excited about all the organizing and cleaning content i can finally do! haha
Yay so exciting!!! I can’t eait to see when it’s all done by those pictures it’s going to be beautiful!! Congrats you beautiful couple you!!
XO, Katie | http://www.meshkomoments.com
Thank you so much, Katie!!!!
A million more congratulations to you and your FIANCE! So happy for the two of you. I actually work at a bank and I handle the construction loans, so I get to be a part of the building process from the other side. I get to see all the pictures of the progress and talk with our borrowers about how excited they are – and they’re always so happy. You’re going to LOVE the building process and have so much fun with it!
THANK YOU, COURTNEY!!! So cool you work on that side of tings! xo
So happy for you guys and I am so excited to read all the house building blogs!! I cannot wait to build my house in the future when we have enough money saved up. A big kitchen with white or grey cabinets is in my dreams.
Keep manifesting your dreams, girl! xoxoxo
omggg I had a feeling the news was house-related! congrats, what an exciting time!!! never went through the building process but think that would stress me out, I’m definitely too indecisive for all those options lol
best of luck planning your happily ever after 🙂 ps love the dark hair!
Thank you so much, Julie!!
Mother and Mother in Law suite a necessity! Happy Daughters Day a day late! Love ya!!!!
Hahahaha! Only if you do my laundry 😃
I am so happy for you guys! I have been reading your blog for probably 7-8 years and your latest posts make me so happy! You guys are beautiful together and I hope you have a long and happy life!
Wow, thank you!!
So exciting to see you go through this journey. I have followed you for years and love your recipies. Congrats on your engagement and soon to be new home. Cant wait to see more !!!!!
Thank you!!
Ah I am so happy for you. Love how long I have been following you, I feel like we have grown up together!
Aww thanks so much, Brianna!!!
Congrats Taralynn!! That is amazing. My parents built their house so I saw what it takes and it is an exciting process! I hope to do the same too. When is the tentative date it will be done? Can’t wait to read your posts about it!
Thanks, Lauren! End of May if all goes as planned 😃
Congratulations! Such exciting times! I haven’t gone through the building process yet, My husband and I bought about 10 acres a couple years ago. So our plan was to build in about 5 years which I am counting down! I have been saving so many pictures for our dream home. I’m so happy for you guys! Good luck!
That is amazing!! Great job planning the land and snagging that up!! 10 acres is a dream!! you go , girl!
Congratulations!!! My husband and I are planning to build next fall, so I can’t wait to follow along with your journey!
That is so awesome!
Congratulations! We built our house a year after we were married. It took about a year to do so, mainly because we live in the middle of no where, so finding the right thing is sometimes a challenge. I would defiantly recommend quartz counter tops, central vac system, and real wood for your floors (not too dark)! Can’t wait to read about your process!
♥️ thanks for all the suggestions! xo
Yesss bring in ALL the home building posts! Can’t wait to see the finished product. Congratulations…again! What a magical time in your life 💍🏡🐕🐕💑✨
THANK YOU!!!
How exciting!! Congratulations! I can’t wait to read more of your blog posts about the building process and see w the designs and textiles you choose!
Thank you, Amanda!
Ahhhh!!! So much excitement in your life right now, I love it!! And oooh my gosh the model home is gorgeous! I can’t wait to see how your home turns out 🙂 I am still living the apartment life but am currently saving for a house.. which the way my budget is working out should take us just about a year from now – which is when we get married! SO I love that I can get some home inspo from you AND that we are going through the wedding planning process at the same time <3
I am so happy for you Taralynn!!! Be sure to post lots of pics (as you always do) 🙂
Thank you so much, Brittany!
So much exciting things happening for the both of us!!
Thank you again for all the sweet words!!! You know I’ll be posting a ton! Back to the recaps soon!!
So exciting! What style of house are you going with for the exterior!? I always think the exterior of the house and the design is one of the best parts to building a home.
I’ll make sure to share all of that soon, but to give you an idea, we are going with an all-white house and all the fun plank/cottage style details!
Oh my goodness girl, I’m so excited for you! My dad is going through the building process and it’s been three years now… the first builder was terrible and then he died so they basically had to start fresh with a new builder who has been amazing. We’re actually going to see it in like 30 minutes but they’re not in love with it anymore. Anyways I’m so excited to see the updates on your blog, this is so amazing!
Hi, Jenna!
Three years? Wow! I bet his house is going to be great though. How exciting! After everything, he deserves that house!
Congratulations! I have followed you for many years and it’s awesome to see so many wonderful things happening in your life!
I built a home in 2017- it was so much fun but also overwhelming at times. It was honestly one of the best decisions I ever made though. I absolutely love my home and take a lot of pride in it.
Furniture shopping was one of the best parts! It was a lot of fun adding all the final touches. I am a huge Pottery Barn fan and the majority of my home furnishings are from there.
I look forward to following along on your build and also your wedding 🙂
Thank you so much, Brandi!
Love hearing about your experience. It makes me so excited!
Pottery Barn has so many amazing things!
So happy for you!!! <3 This is so exciting.
Thank you, Ashley!
Wow!! Congratulations! So happy for you and Kyle and the doggies, of course! Such a dream come true. I can’t wait to see this process play out. I know your home will be gorgeous b/c you have such great taste. Thank you for sharing this exciting journey with your readers! May life continue to bestow blessings on you.
Thank you, Susie!!
That is so nice of you 😃
So exciting! Enjoy the journey of marriage and being a homeowner!
♥️
Congratulations on your engagement and on building your own house! I am so happy for you. I am very excited about this new kind of content! I can’t wait to see you decorate your house. It will be gorgeous!
Thank you so much, Nadine!!
I am so happy for you and I am super excited to see your pictures of the new house I know you decorate it so cute . This is so exciting it would be my dream to build a house 😁
Awww thanks so much, Jessie!
I’ve been following your blog since way back in 2011. It’s amazing how much you and your content have evolved over that time. This next journey is going to be an adventure for sure and I can’t wait to see what you have to share with what is to come. Congratulations on the engagement and the big steps you two are making in your future together!!!
Thank you so much, Shannon!!!
Are you going to keep your townhome as a rental property? A friend of mine had bought a townhome on her own, and then was able to buy a house with her husband. They kept the townhome and rented it out; it eventually made enough money for them to afford to buy another house and rent that out as well, and then they kept going from there. Now they make a lot of money off of having 4 rental properties.
That’s pretty awesome!
We are still talking about what we are going to do with the townhome but it’s definitely a possibility 😃
Huzzah!! I am so excited for you guys and I cannot wait to see the process unfold.
The model pictures are beautiful. I, too, love lots of windows and natural light(I am a day dreamer and desire nothing more than to sit on a comfy couch and watch the clouds go by). The craftsman style is also on point. My husband and I have an affinity for old homes, especially craftsman and bungalows, and hope to live in one some day. But, looking at these pictures now makes me want a new build haha.
Congratulations, on the engagement and new home, Tara! I have been following since 2013, and I am so glad to see everything come together for you in a new way. Much love!
Thank you so much!!!
It’s crazy how they can make these new builds have a little bit of that old character from the older homes and that’s why we fell in love with the builders. You can’t go wrong with craftsman style!
Thank you for following along with me all of these years! Means so much! xo xo xo
It’s peek you dumbass
Hope your day gets better soon!
Why be rude?
I cannot wait to see what you put into the house! We want to build soon and I’ll be looking at your blog for ideas on lighting, colors, and all design options! I’ve been following you for ten years now and I love growing with you. We met at the Chicago White Sox game six years ago and I’ll never forget that day!
Aww! Amy, I remember that!!! I can’t believe you’ve been following along for so long, but that puts a huge smile on my face!!! Thank you so much, and I can’t wait to hear about your future build!!
Yasss queeeeennnn!!!
😂!!!
I literally rewatch your cleaning video when I need inspiration to clean my own house 🤣 they’re my favourite videos!
SAME!
Um can I move in?! What a gorgeous space!
Congrats you guys! What an epic week.
I cannot wait for all the house blogs. The dogs will LOVE their new backyard, and I love all of the trees and the trails. This is so amazing for you.
http://www.justbeingbrooklyn.com
Definitely! 😂
& thank you so much!!!!
I’m most looking forward to the dogs having all those trails and the backyard!! 😁
Wow, so exciting, congratulations! It’s going to look incredible! Please do a blog on the decorating/furnishing process. I would love to build a house one day. My parents built a house and a had 1 peice of custom furniture built for the deck. Have a great week!,
Thanks so much, Harriet!
I’ll be blogging the entire process! 😃 I’d love to see you go through the house building process! You’re always so creative.
Will you blog about where you find your light fixtures and appliances?
I WILL 😃
Congratulations!! How exciting! Your home will be so beautiful and the location looks amazing! We looked into building a bit but in our area there’s not as much land and the type of lot we wanted in our price range, so we went with an existing home. Our lot is great (having a sunset view is amazing!) but we’re still making house updates 3+ years later. It will be so nice to have your home just like you want it! Are you planning on the invisible fence for your pups? Ours do great with it and it’s more affordable than a physical fence.
For blog post suggestions, I’d love some tips on budgeting! And of course just all the details on everything!
For furniture shopping, I don’t really have a favorite store. I do like to try to budget for quality, made in USA pieces if possible. In our area we have a lot of Amish communities that have beautiful work!
Thanks, Kristin!
We would have totally gone with an existing home if it weren’t for the location, so I totally understand that! We will be doing the real fence only because there are so many kids in the neighborhood and since our dogs are super rowdy/not used to being around kids, we don’t want kids coming into the yard and trying to pet them.
XO
Looks beautiful, congratulations! The building process is SO FUN! My husband and I built our home 3 years ago and it was so nice to have our own touches in the home and have it be exactly what we wanted. I found most of my home decor from places like Homegoods, our furniture came from Ikea and Haverty’s 🙂
I would love to see your back yard design! I have no idea what to do with ours 🙈 We back up to a lake which I LOVE so we have a larger yard space than our neighbors. So far we have added a paver patio with a built in fireplace and we have market lights strung up over it. I’m pretty happy with it but would love to see some more ideas! I also would love to see how you design your study/office space. Our office has always been what I call my “husband’s play room” lol. He has a lot of hobbies and likes to build models so that kind of became his room but it still just looks like a bachelor room with Walmart shelves and a futon and I want it to be more classy and functional as an office + hobby room. I love your idea of keeping it as a dark cozy room so I would lvoe to see how that comes together!
Thank you so much, Olivia!
That’s awesome to hear you and your husband had a positive time building a house! ♥️
It sounds like you have a gorgeous backyard! I’m just going to plant a ton of trees and get the fence up ASAP, and I’ll be satisfied lol
We are super excited about the study space! 😃
I really enjoyed reading this! Thank you so much for sharing! Great tips!
Thank you for sharing your whole experience and its really amazing plus interesting at the same time. Please keep sharing more blogs like this.