Dreams and Reality

After weeks of looking, looking, and looking some more, we decided yesterday to make an offer on a house that we first saw months ago and have kept coming back to time and again.

Built in 1880, it must once have been a stunning Folk Victorian before someone somewhere along the line decided to "update" the exterior with aluminum siding. The house itself is huge, nearly 1800sq ft, with 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, a bright country kitchen with walk-in pantry, formal dining room, attic space that will make an adorable "tea room" for my girls, and a full basement with plenty of room for a "man cave" for my son and a root cellar for me. Unlike the exterior, most of the interior renovations and updates remained true to the history of the home, and the woodwork is intact, including a beautifully carved pair of pocket doors between the living and dining rooms. Restoring this home would be a long term process but it is in good condition, just in need of a lot of cosmetic TLC.

The lot isn't perfect, but it is good. It is 1/4 acre on a quiet residential corner, and the house is nestled near both streets leaving ample room for gardens. The sun exposure is excellent, with only a small area in from of the house too shady for productive plantings. And the location is wonderful, walking distance to the library, my daughter's dance studio, a cute little downtown shopping district of antique stores, bookstores, and a coffee house, the grocery, and everything else we'd need on a regular basis. The only downside is the 10 minute commute to my kids' school, but I'm willing to deal with that for all the other upsides of this house.

Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved the "painted lady" Victorians in the small town fringe of the Detroit metro area, so to have a real shot at owning one is truly a dream come true.

Now, for the hard part... Waiting for a response to our offer!