We closed on our new-to-us house yesterday! It still feels so surreal or maybe my long to-do list has helped keep me numb to a lot of the emotions that are running through my mind: excited, grateful, overjoyed, sad, stressed, nervous, overwhelmed. I'm feeling it all. Sometimes tears just start rolling down my cheeks and I know they are happy tears, but there are also sad tears mixed in. We've had so many questions about why we're moving, especially since we just finished the house. "You didn't even get to enjoy it!" they say. But, truthfully, we've been enjoying in every step of the way--every day, whole heartedly for the past 6 years. I don't need a finished bathroom to enjoy my home. I just don't. (although it did make it more enjoyable--haha)
Will I miss it--of course! I think that's where some of the sadness is coming from. Leaving the familiar is hard. But after the year we've had, we realized we have been craving progression and space and creativity and land and trees more than the stagnant feeling of waiting and wishing.
The new house checked everything off our list and more. We'll share more photos Monday, but here's a sneak peek I snapped with my phone after we closed at one of my favorite features:
Eeee! We'll be moving in Monday and Tuesday, but since both of our parents just moved and a friend (and we're still wrapping up the Fullmer's kitchen!) we decided to hire packers and movers for the first time and it already feels worth it. We get to just soak up our last weekend in our home with our friends right around the corner (okay, now I'm crying again) and leaving the heavy lifting (literally) to the pros. Ironically, we hired them after we sold our home but before the buyer asked to purchase nearly all the furnishings and decor. He is moving from out of state and requested the purchase of almost everything you can see down to the faux hanging herbs in the kitchen.
There were some things we weren't willing to part with--Polly's nursery furniture that we're still heavily using, Chris's Great Grandma's piano, some art, the olive tree in the living room (haha) and a few other things. But the more we thought about all the other pieces in our home on the list, we realized we chose them specifically for this house and it took years to get it right. So as much as I'm attached to the Charly sofa (we'll get another, I mean IT'S OUR LINE OF COURSE WE WILL) or the low round coffee table--I love them here and here is where they are meant to stay I think. Also! Our new house is a completely different style and many things (our oversized leather chairs and dining table come to mind) wouldn't even fit or work the same.
Soooo we're going to take the next decade tbh and settle in and take our time to get to know the house and find what works for our family. I'm excited to share the process and the triumphs and the failures just as we always have.
And since it's the end of May (what!) here's a recap of our busy May including getting our house ready to sell, wrapping up school programs, the investigation starting on the cabin, family time and a peek into our new house!
And lastly, we love to share the month's favorite finds and buys all in one place at the end of the month. Here's the best of May!
1. Cloe Wall Tile in White This month my DMs were infiltrated with questions about the tile we used in the Fullmer's kitchen (we actually bought it for the cabin) and here it is. It's perfect and warm and varied and like subway tile but make it fashion...it's this.
2. Rattan Planter When Studio McGee came to style our deck out this month (May was truly the best!), I couldn't keep my eye off this large planter they brought with them. And when I looked it up on their site, I loved how versatile it could be! Deck trees in the summer and Christmas trees by the mantle in the winter. In my cart!
3. Ben Soleimani Lenia Rug Before we knew we were even moving (!!) I got this new living room rug from Ben Soleimani and it's stunning and will absolutely be unrolled at our new house. (Ps. Most of our rugs are coming with us!) He used to design all the rugs for Restoration Hardware and decided to leave and start his own line! Every one is gooooood.
4. Free People Tee Hi, this is the most perfect tee that you've seen me wear all month. (I wear a small)
5. Babo Botanicals Lip Tint in Wild Rose Also got a lot of questions about my lips this month. In Spring, I switch over to this tinted chapstick that's a little more pinky than my fall/winter Burt's Bees Red Dahlia. It instantly makes me feel sunny!
6. Swim Cover-Up We're doing an adult trip to Mexico with my family at the end of June and I splurged on this cover up with no regrets!
7. Homebody Cap We launched caps at Propertee this month and I'm overwhelmed with the response. You are hat people and you are my kind of people! (Wearing mine all summer long!)
8. Our Color Story Filter Pack In continuation of the best month ever, our filter pack, INTERIOR, we launched with A Color Story was such a huge highlight. At just $3.99 for 17 filters (fun fact: we originally designed 22 and tried to work it down to 13 but couldn't haha) we have loved seeing them in your spaces!
9. Wrist Sweatbands Okay, this is a random weird addition that just might change your life as it has changed mine this month. My friends and I were joking about how annoying it is when after you apply self tanner (this tanner is my ride or die! The best!) and you wash your face at night, if any water trickles down your arm it totally streaks and ruins your tan! Or! Even if you don't have fresh tanner on, the trickle of water seems to always reach the sleeves on my shirt and I have to change because it's so uncomfortable. And I said, "You know, there's so much emphasis on terrycloth headbands to hold your hair back when washing your face and not NEARLY on wrist protection." So I ordered these wrist sweatbands to stop the water and it works REMARKABLY well. If you nodded your head during any of this, you're welcome. The water trickling down your arm while you wash your face is a thing of the past.
I definitely cried through most of this video starting with the cabin. Congratulations on this new step for you and your family! I can't wait to see what you do with this new place!
I remember when you sold your other home and moved to this one. You did an outstanding job with this house!!! Thanks for letting us follow along on your journey. My husband and I are in the middle of our biggest reno yet. A complete overhaul on an old farmhouse. Your kitchen is what inspired my new kitchen design in our new home. I absolutely love it! I can not wait to follow along with your new home.
Congratulations on your new home!! I have a question for you... what is the name of the wallpaper that is in your master bathroom near the toilet? Thank you so much!
You can find that on our shop our house page for the bathroom! Hope that helps. :)
Congrats! I love Faye’s dress with the scoop in the back, do you remember where you got it? And Gramps had a sweet shirt on at the school performance :)
That's his favorite shirt. He got it two years ago for his 95th birthday and wears it every day. Hahaha. The dress was a gift from here.
Okay... that wrist band trick, genius! Buying some right now hahaha!
I feel like a genius for discovering it. I go on about it EVERY NIGHT to myself in the mirror.
so excited to see whats coming ! (long time follower, first time commenter :) haha) but thank you for sharing everything you do! I've felt stuck lately in our home and friends think we're crazy because we JUST finished it, but I just realized we need a big change! we have been house hunting lately and right there with you Julia- excited, nervous, sad (I mean our house is SUCH a loved house!) but I find so much joy in your blogs, and that theres people out there like you, and I used to fear change... but thank you, because I'm embracing it and excited for whats to come! <3 sending all the love to you and your sweet fam!
Just purchased your ColorStory presets (my first presets)! Did you use one on that pretty door?
I layered a few! Great and...I can't remember! But thank you so much
Can’t wait to see more of your new home! It seems fitting that the buyer of your old home would want most of the furnishings... I KNOW I would too! It’s so perfect the way it is. ( it’s because of you guys that we have the mailbox we have...you provided the perfect answer to replacing our old one a couple of years ago)That being said , I’m excited to see your new choices. ????
Omg, congratulations on everything! I’m so so So excited to be following you guys on this new adventure! I started following when you were mostly done with the other house, so I didn’t get to see much of the renovations. We just bought a house too and I’m super excited we get to do this new home thing with you guys!
Can’t even describe how excited I am to see the new house! Happy for you!!
I helped you at the Assessors office after closing and felt like I was meeting home design celebrities! (No one else in the office follows the blog, but don’t worry I tried by best to change that.) I have no doubt you will be able to find this house’s style and transform it effortlessly. I can’t wait to follow along for the whole process, as every space looks amazing!
You're so sweet!!!! And you were so fast and helpful at your job!!
I cannot wait for the first video tour of the new home! Progression is goood, congrats on the new home!!
Whoah, it really hit home how MUCH has been going on with you guys the last few months! I hope you will have the time you need this summer and beyond to process a bit and settle in to the new season. We bought our current home 2 years ago, did some renos then the little ones and I moved into it 18 months ago, had various insanities happening so that my husband didn't get to make the move until about 1 year ago, and it definitely took a good 6 months after all that to start feeling like my soul caught up with my body. (ps I'm a slow processer!) I'm so happy that the sale of your house went spectacularly well. Looking forward to the next page of life for you guys!
That door and that stone!! Amazing!! Cannot wait to see it and see you guys add your own touches to it. I'm already thinking this might be my favorite so far!!
Tahiti, Hawaii, Chicago, now Mexico (and 3 without kids!)... colour me jealous of the travels, never mind all the new house excitement!
Oh man, I’m pregnant so I cry easily but they were flowing during this video ???? Really excited for your family, thanks for letting all your followers in on a special month!
SO excited for you guys and can't wait to see what you do with your new home!
Wow, great recap video. The cabin - brings such emotions! I think we all need to eat cake like that! Best of luck on the move and cant wait to see what you do with your new home - thanks for taking us along.
Is there a kitchen reno to be done in the new house? (she asked hopefully... ; )
Following your kitchen renovation hooked me on clj, is brilliant, and my fave ever : )
Yes of course
Ha! I hate water trickling down my arms so much that I just take a whole shower to wash me face at night! The wristband idea is great!
That door???? GET. OUT. OF. HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations! Can’t wait to see what you do with the new house. Your statement about craving progression and space and creativity really articulated what I’ve been feeling about our own house - thank you!
I'm super excited you get to purchase lots of furniture in the future. It'll be so fun to see it all come together!
I cannot wait to see the new place, and what you do with it! I have no doubt it will (eventually) be every bit as beautiful as the house you're parting with. (Also, if you like the Burt's Bees Red Dahlia tinted lip balm, they have a brighter red shade called "Rose" that is very pretty for spring too!)
I'm so excited for you guys and this new chapter! To those who don't think you were able to enjoy your home, I would say that it seems like you guys uniquely enjoy the process of dreaming, updating, renovating, and just generally looking forward to another project, whereas lots of us don't care for that...we just want it DONE! So of course, you thoroughly enjoyed your home from start to finish. I absolutely can't wait to see what you do with this new one!!
I love that the new owner's will have so much of your style in their new home! Makes it even more special. So much of my current home was inspired by yours. And that new front door is incredible. I can't wait to follow along for the next decade!
Will your girls have to move schools? Congratulations and good luck with your move next week!
They will have to move schools. We'll be about 30 minutes from our current home
Congratulations on your new home! We moved last year so I had all those feels too about a year ago - it is such a bittersweet time, but a new chapter! Can’t wait to see what you guys do with the new place!
I cannot wait to see your new house and follow along on your journey to making it your own! The stonework and wooden arched door are divine. Heartfelt congratulations on this new chapter in your lives.
Congrats on the sell and purchase! This is such an amazing chapter, and I wish you nothing but the best! I will be following along the "making the new house your home" process!