I went home to Rhode Island over the weekend and realized We bought it exactly 5 years ago. I remember that time like it was yesterday. Too much excitement, anxiety and fear. This is our first house, purchased in bulk and committed. When I was there the last few days, I was reminded how much I loved it. It feels like home as soon as you walk in. Every little detail, big or small, feels personal and thoughtful. But not always.
Of course, the house is not perfect. There are still a few things that need to be fixed or updated.Have always There is work to be done, but this is a space that makes me feel happy. This can take some time when you are buying a home, especially the upper level of the fixer. It’s easy to forget that turning a house into a home is a process. Often there is something that draws us to a house, maybe its location or architectural charm, maybe it’s just a feeling we get when we walk into the house. But when you live in a renovated over-the-knee space, you think it’s normal, is it really worth it?
Having a home is just that, and sometimes it’s really not fun. Like an unexpected pipe burst or a “simple” project that’s harder or more expensive than you think. When a contractor doesn’t show up, or you can’t even find a contractor for a small job. When you renovate the house yourself, it can tire you out. Will we be done? Are we going to love this place? Will we have a weekend that doesn’t involve projects?
Our house in Woodstock, it’s still just a house. Don’t get me wrong, we feel lucky, we love living here, but it’s not exactly home. We’ve done a lot of work and there’s still a lot to do. With a fixed upper, a lot of things are neither sexy nor fun. Renovating the bathroom is great, but we also need new siding, new windows and a new roof. HGTV shows and social media give us the immediate gratification of before and after, but often without all the chaos in between. We’re in a mess right now, and if you are too, hang in there. Turning a house into a home takes time. But in my experience, it’s worth it.
