Jumping up and down with glee!

...



We just heard back from our realtor. There were THIRTY OTHER BIDS on the house we wanted, and ours was the only one that the seller is currently considering.

We've got a lot of scrambling around to do, but I feel confident enough in this that I'm going to share photos of this adorable little 1925 house.




This is the view, upon entering the house. Look left, and you see the living room. The floors are white oak, with walnut trim, the other woodwork is gumwood, which amazingly, nobody decided to paint. We plan to leave the rooms pretty much as is. We'll patch some plaster, and then re-paint to match the existing colors. The living room is a robin's egg blue. The fireplace and chimney will need some work, but we hope to have wood fires. The chimney inspector could not believe how cute the fireplace was.




The dining room is green. There are pocket-doors connecting the two rooms. How about all those built-in cabinets?




I think most people would hate this kitchen, because it doesn't have granite and stainless steel.




We adore the charming period cabinets, and the vintage stove. Those two burners on the left are from the coal-burning part of the stove. We'll be cooking with the gas-burning side.




A pink claw-foot tub!!!!! How insanely adorable is that? We'll have to install a shower, but that's not a big deal.



The house has push-button light switches (some with mother-of-pearl) and many original lighting fixtures. Notice the ceiling details. Nobody ever got the bright idea to apply a "popcorn" ceiling or go nuts with drywall. I'm so happy that this house is in such pristine condition.




There are mature fruit trees in the back yard. This is a plum, and there's also a lime and a mulberry (which I think is about to topple over, and probably needs to come out.)




There's also a persimmon tree. The back yard is pretty much of a mess, but that's actually exciting. I love reviving neglected gardens.

There's a separate garage, and a huge driveway.

And because the house was built in 1925, the house needs a lot of work. We've had almost every kind of inspector over to look at the place, and we believe that we can afford to give this house the love it deserves. (There's a lot to do, but we'll talk about all that at another time.)

So, join us in jumping up and down with excitement. We never, ever, ever thought we could do this, and it looks like me may actually be buying a little historic cottage of our very own!

Comments

jennie & dave & cole & baby #2 said…
Oh I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! Crossing my fingers for you both!!
Les Mustangs said…
Way to go! If there's a dousenberg in the garage and a funny german butler, watch out for the pool! Also, the piano movers, if one is fat and the other thing...watch the stairs...Kalifornians...
MommaWriter said…
OMG. What an *awesome* house! I hope it all goes smoothly and that you'll be blissfully happy there.

Stacey
WyndRyders #1
MommaWriter said…
OMG. What an *awesome* house! I hope it all goes smoothly and that you'll be blissfully happy there.

Stacey
WyndRyders #1
Gina said…
YAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!


I'm so very, very very happy for you. What an adorable, gorgeously YOU kind of place. (It also happens to be myfrom my favorite period of american home architecture.

You all give me hope - always and forever...!


Oh - I can't stop grinning! YAYYYYYYYY!
momverf said…
That is just the cutest darn house I have ever seen! Here's keeping my fingers crossed for you!!! I am SURE it will all work out for you!
Anonymous said…
OMG... Robb and Lisa move to the burbs....maybe we can do a sitcom! Congratulations.... I LOVE the house! I love that you are going to do loving restorations.... not radical modern makeover...I do not have granite counter tops either!

Look forward to following your blog on the ongoing events. Hey... it has a guest room, right? Never know who will crash!!! Let me know when the guest room is ready!! LOL
Bandaid
Anonymous said…
It's wonderful! I also have my fingers crossed that all goes well! Can't wait to hear.

Wild Rose
Fluffy Cow said…
The house is stunningly beautiful. I am so happy for you both! I also cannot wait for the "new home blogging" yet to come!
Anonymous said…
I'm telling you, the planets were in alignment on Monday just for you and you have so many people pulling for you on this one! Were all keeping our fingers crossed that the deal goes through.

And while I'm more the modern, granite, Sub-Zero 'fridge type, I certainly can see the appeal of this adorable house! You two will only add to its charm.

~~Doublesaj & Old Blue~~
Anonymous said…
What a beautiful find! Best wishes.
Kaaren said…
Woo! *crossing digits*
Kaaren said…
(ps - trying to comment off the Face Book link did not work. I had to get out of FB and come here direct. Odd).
Wisconsin Hiker said…
Very cute! I hope the sellers get back to you soon so you can start making definite plans for the yard. Too bad the mulberry may have to go, the berries are SO tasty. I'm another one who doesn't like granite & stainless steel - too industrial. Your "cottage" is much more homey. Best wishes for a successfull conclusion to the deal!
Anonymous said…
Amazing place! Best, best, best of luck! The old kitchen and the stove is wonderful. I used to have an old stove and I still miss it dearly.
Unknown said…
oh Lisa and Robb, you both really needed this! I'm so happy for you! Hope it all goes well and sending you lots of good home mojo.
Anonymous said…
I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT!!!!!!!

Oh - my- god- Dont get so excited that if you don't get it your heart would break.

If you definaltely get the place you should cut down the mulberry tree, since it is indeed a "crap tree" but on the other hand, the mulberries are one of the favorite fruits of birds, so you are guaranteed a lot of local birdies. They will also poop purple love all over the place. Also, handmade papermakers would probably take any mulberry branches/stumps/logs off your hands since paper is made from its inner bark. I dont know if mulberry makes a good fireplace burning wood- Only one way to find out!

I have my fingers and my toes crossed and everything else that I can cross. (That sounds weird). I suspect that if you get this place, or any other, you request gift cards to Home Depot or Lowes for the rest of your life. Lowes is better. You will run through a lot of money fixing up a place, and we have been asking for gift cards (birthdays, christmas, boxing day!) to Lowes for about 3 years now. Still not done! Gary was digging a drainage ditch today outside in the warm weather and was really happy to do so. Working on your own place is very satisfying. And gets expensive.

Dont get scared by projects- last month we had "Adventures in Plumbing week". This month, who knows?

THIS WILL WORK OUT FOR YOU- one way or another. KARMA owes you guys big time.

Hear me, Karma?

You guys put in a bid around the summer solstice, right? That must mean light is coming into your lives.

Are you sure you would not rather have a new overpriced peice of crap stove made in China that will break in 6 months?

Annalisa and Dirty Gary
Kristen said…
Hooray! how Cute! And I'm so glad it doesn't have much undo-ing to do! As a co-loather of spray ceilings and a kid-in-a-candy-store when it comes to push-button lights, I already love your house. (on the Taney we twisted a knob to hit the lights. Even on bad days I loved that.) Not to undermine your hard work and snail-tossing at the shop, but it'll be Your garden...oh so jealous. I'm rooting for you.
Unknown said…
so happy for you!
Marmalade said…
Beauty! Echoing Annalisa's comment, I have everything that will cross, crossed for you two. That is a charming house and you two will make it a beautiful home. I'm guessing the 'little old lady from Pasadena' must have lived there and only drove it on Sundays.
Anonymous said…
Ahhh, big sigh! We hope you get this charmer. We live a 1921 bungalow and love it to pieces. There's nothing like a solid house.

~speedsquare
Wisconsin Hiker said…
Guess what? I am reading an article on the MSN Money page about "trends that will most embarrass us in years to come." Here is the second item on the list:

2. Granite countertops: They crack. They stain. They're expensive. And yet they became the must-have kitchen accessory, as ubiquitous and predictable as stainless-steel appliances (another major pain to clean, by the way).
Paul said…
The house is ADORABLE! I'll keep my fingers crossed that all goes smoothly.
Anonymous said…
I love it. This is the first I"ve posted to your blog. But I love your stories and how things are going for you. I love the house. It was just waiting for the two of you! Congrats and enjoy!
Baqash said…
awesome find. rooting for you!
Jan said…
What a gem! The home is in the Craftsman style, popular from 1905-1930. The style started on the west coast, promoted by people like Gustav Stickley. My home is a "bungalow with Craftsman features" on the east coast, built in 1930.
Anonymous said…
what a cute little house! My fingers and toes are crossed for you guys. I agree with bandaid, you two should have your own reality show : )
Pica said…
Oh, congratulations! This is excellent, such a lovely little house.
Syndee said…
You are the perfect people for that house--it's charming and you love it for it's character. I hope all goes smoothly for you! God Bless!
Becky said…
Hooray and mazel tov! It is adorable beyond belief. Blessings upon your home.
John and Diane said…
Keeping my fingers crossed too, it's a terrific house!
-D
Raellyn said…
What a gorgeous house! We're sending good wishes your way for a smooth transaction. :)

Raellyn & Melissa
Team Tired Feet
Kellyann Brown said…
That is like the CUTEST cottage... I am sooooooo jealous. I am keeping a positive frame of thought for your aquisition!
mamakin said…
I am crossing everything including my eyes hoping you get this cottage. I love everything about it and the concept of plum & lime trees makes me ache to move there. We do have a mulberry tree planted by the people who had the house before us and all I can say is they put it in the worst place, we're constantly cutting it back, people who don't know what it is park under it(it's in our yard but there's a huge paved area for kids to ride bikes, or now, park about 10-12 cars-no joke).. That tree drops berries faster than the birds or us can get to them, the nuts who park under it come away with purple cars,and the birds leave purple gifts all over the walkways,cars,driveways. I'm voting for pulling it out before it gets as big as ours!
Gothknits said…
I love it! I'm so jealous. I would have loved to find a house like this. The one bungalow we looked at has been fondly dubbed "The Bungalow From Hell".

We're crossing all fingers and toes for you!

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