It’s been an interesting few weeks around here, and this picture pretty much sums up what we’ve got in the works…
Yep. We’re putting our current cottage on the market and we’re hoping to start a new adventure a little closer to Kev’s family!
They live in the next town over (about 40 minutes from our current house), so we’re hoping to sell this place and start fixing up another one closer to their neck of the woods, soon!
There are still a few rooms left to finish/completely renovate over here (laundry, mudroom, home office/2nd bedroom), not to mention a bunch of things that could use fixing up outside, but we’re hoping someone will want to pick up where we’ve left off. It’s been a really fun/comfortable place to call home over the past 5 years, and if it doesn’t sell we won’t be heartbroken…we’ll just keep fixin’ it up and try again in a year or two. (But, man, would we love to take advantage of the low interest rates right now if we can!)
Who knows what’ll happen! We look forward to posting any house selling/buying updates here on our blog, and we’re excited to see what the future holds.
In the meantime, we’ve got a guest bathroom that’s finally ready for some finishing touches, so we’ll be back soon with all the before and afters!
PS: Looking to buy a cottage-style home in the 36067 zip code?
Drop us a line at TheLetteredCottage (at) gmail (dot) com for more info and to schedule a showing!
Anneke at This, That & Life
Did you guys start packing boxes a couple weeks ago??? You may be rushed out of there! Your place is awesome! 🙂
Diane | An Extraordinary Day
Oh my goodness! I somehow had missed that so fun stairway detailing. Did you do a post on it? I’ll have to see if I can find it. Love Love Love it!!!
Best wishes on the Sale of your house…and hope that it’s not in the path of the hurricane.
Blessings!
Maria @ All Things Luxurious
How exciting! Looking forward to hearing more about this! 🙂
Megan
Layla, I read your blog everyday and was so surprised to hear the news. But being close to family is so important- it means everything! I hope that someone out there see’s your home as the special Gem that it is. I am sure that there is someone out there that will see your home the way we all see it, a place that has been loved and nurtured into a very special home. Good Luck and keep us all posted.
Chrissy
just found your site.
interested in your “metal” roof— did you all put the roof on?
any info you can share? (our current asphalt shingle roof has seen better days)
DJ
Best wishes to you both. Your home is beautiful.
Earlier this year we listed our home in Tallassee (just down the road from you all) FSBO, craigslist, zillow, etc, but decided to go the rental route.
Looking forward to seeing what you decide for this or any other home!
Shauna @Satori Design for Living
Such a beautiful home. Can’t wait to follow your new adventure!
Peg
Dang…wished we lived in Alabama!!
Pam Carswell
Hey Layla, I love your cottage and would make an offer if I could talk myself into the 10 hr commute to work! But since I can’t have your house, could you share with me the paint color that is on your stairway, the bluish/green color? I LOVE IT! So fresh and soothing all at the same time!
Thanks and happy selling! I have a feeling someone is gonna snap up that baby of a cottage!
KarlaJ
But….what about your beautiful kitchen? Kev’s office? The guest bathroom?! I feel sad and I don’t even own it. You’ve done some awesome, creative projects in your home and I have loved seeing it come together. I can’t wait until you get started on the next one! Good luck!
Lisa
WOW! Wishing you luck on your next adventure. . .it can be a roller coaster of emotions when you are selling something you put so much of your heart and soul into. You guys are blessed with so much talent I just can’t wait to see what you’ll do next!! Do you have any thoughts on what type of house your looking for . . . maybe a farm house or an old victorian fixer upper?
Jennifer
Have you considered renting? Your area is a great area for renting since there’s so much military coming in and out. We bought a home in your town in 2003 and moved out in 2006 and have had it steadily rented out (with Carol Lemon Realty managing it for us beautifully) ever since. We’ve never regretted it! I would rent your home ; )
Ashli
Being closer to family is great. I know that God will bless you and open doors accordingly. What an awesome couple, and I LOVE your house, home, cottage, and YOU!
Tiff
Oh pooey!! Please please please do the ‘cat room’ in your next house : ) I’ve been anxiously awaiting it’s reveal in your current home since it’s listed on your ‘map of the house…’ Good luck!! We just bought our first place! : )
Chris P
OMG! I wish it were in Des Moines, Iowa!!! What is best is what will happen-you two could turn anything into a home in short order!! Go forth, sell and start a new home!!
Paula
I have butterflies in my belly!
Good luck!!
Gail Kramer
Well you’re about to make someone out there searching for a fabulous new home very happy because when they see yours they will fall in love!
Good luck!
Gail
Michelle
Best of luck! I LOVE your home, but we are in MA and in MA we will stay. Wishing you luck in your new adventure, whatever that may be <3
Amber@pineplace
Seriously considering buying your home as a vacation home for my family! Aahhh, it would be so peaceful. It will be gone in a heartbeat…best of luck in your new adventure…it will turn to gold too!
Heidi @ Decor & More
Oh, good luck!! Such an exciting time… any buyer would be so fortunate to snap up your sweet little abode and be able to rest in the knowledge of renovations done RIGHT. Look forward to the updates!
xo Heidi
JolieAnne
Maybe you could put on your blog what you like about your town just in case someone is looking to re-locate? I think you should entertain the thought of *maybe* offering some furnishings if someone likes them. I know from experience to remove what you absolutely have to keep before someone wants to write it into the contract. I was able to keep an antique light fixture because I replaced it with a less expensive light fixture that looked just as good. I had a feeling that the new owners would have asked for it to be included in the sale! That antique light fixture was in my family for years so I couldn’t let it go! I would love to live in your house but I don’t know anything about your town or area. I live near the beach in Florida so most people who have photos of their homes add a photo of the beach or important places in our town.
Wishing you all the best as you move closer to family, I think that is a great choice! I have a feeling your home won’t be on the market for very long!
Lora Spangler
WOW! If I were you I’d want to take Kevin’s office with me… you just finished it and it is so beautiful! A couple of years ago we sold our house for-sale-by-owner… it was so much fun to do ourselves! Best of luck to you both!
Carole
I have your website linked at the side of my blog as a favorite place to visit, and when I noticed the ‘for sale by owners’ I thought ‘no, not their house’. Ah!
Having renovated three homes (we’re actually still working on #3 – it’s taking a l-o-n-g time), I can’t imagine ever doing this again. The current house has taken it all out of me. lol
I wish you luck in selling (I can’t imagine that a place so wonderful won’t be snatched up almost immediately), and good luck in finding another house to turn into a gem of a home. Happy hunting!
I’ve enjoyed following along in your remodeling adventures, and have learned a few things in doing so. I’ll look forward to what’s in store. 🙂
joan e
It’s always so sad when a friend moves away. What’s great about you, is that I just have to click my desktop icon and go visit you. Lovely! Hoping it all goes easy for you.
BTW,
we went to Home Depot today to look for some of the planking wood – we plan to use it on our wall. The “helper guy” said he’d have to order it, they didn’t have any on hand. Well…because of your clear pictures (good to know what you’re looking for) and instructions we persevered and found it ourselves. Yay!
Kristi @ Creative Kristi
Admit it—you just need more blog content now that this house is almost done 😉 Just KIDDING! What an awesome adventure for you two! Can’t wait to hear you sold your house in 2 days and are moving to your next fixer-upper! 🙂 xo
Layla
Ha! We actually sort of feel bad putting this ol’ place up for sale with so much work left to do, but we’re hoping the next owner is cool with picking up where we left off! 🙂 And, who knows, if it doesn’t sell in the next month or so, we’ll probably just stay put and deal with the drive to our friends and family’s town. Only time will tell, I guess! 😀
Traci Fuqua
I’m sure you’re so busy with the process of selling your house. I had sent a message a couple of days ago saying that I was very much interested in buying this home. Could you send me some information?
It’s so darling and has served as my inspiriation!!
Thank you!
Layla
Hey Traci!
I think Kev responded to your comment above that day, but here’s a link to our listing:
http://www.forsalebyowner.com/listing/EUSHO
Let us know if you have any questions and we’ll be glad to answer them! 😀
Annie Kip
I am sure you will be sad to leave all of the work youhave done here, but I can’t wait to see what you take on for your next project! Thanks for the really great photos – I love to see the details of your projects!
J.C.
wish i lived closer…so love your style
Tina
You may already be doing this, but offering the going rate to the buyers agent should get a lot more showings and QUALIFIED potential buyers. We were fortunate to work with a very nice buyer’s agent when we sold our house by owner several years ago. Your house is a buyer’s dream, good luck!
Layla
Yep. We’re totally open to paying the buyers agent a commission on the sale, and we’re looking forward to showing a couple of agent’s clients this weekend! 😀
Carole
I can’t believe the price! A steal (at least compared to my part of the country).
Our housing prices have shot through the roof over the past few years. Nearly 20 years ago (how time flies) we bought our first house w/ 2 acres for $65K. We scraped to get into the housing market. It was so much money! Ten years ago our current home was purchased for 235K w/ five acres. Before the economy tanked the property was worth twice that amount (rural is no longer worth as much as suburb and city). A home like yours, with that much square footage, in a desirable area, still sells for upwards of $300K. I kid you not.
Carrie ~ The Corson Cottage
So exciting & nerve racking at that same time! Trust me…I know! We sold our first home last Spring & have been renovating our new home ever since back in our hometown of LeClaire, Iowa. We are so excited to be back near family & friends. There is still a ton of work to do! Best of luck with the sale of your home. I know someone will come along & appreciate your hard work & cozy cottage. Hope it all works out, so you can tell us all about the next home!
Lynn Kellan
Whoever buys your house is going to be SO lucky! Best wishes for a quick sale!
Kathy
Layla and Kevin,
No worries, I’m sure your house will be sold by this weekend, if not sooner! I CAN NOT WAIT to see the new place you buy and follow you through the reno, ’cause I know it will be amazing, just as this has been. Best of luck to you! HOW EXCITING!!!!
Heather @ ThriftyStories
How exciting. I just know that your little house will sale super quick! Can’t wait to see your next little cottage.
{darlene} @fieldstonehilldesign
someone will be very blessed to call this place home. It has been brought to life!!!
Layla
Thank you, Darlene! We’ve had 3 really great showings so far and we’re hoping to know more about what we’re doing this next week! 😉
{darlene} @fieldstonehilldesign
how exciting. good news for all of us who love to see your creative and beautiful renovations…. a new place to call home. can’t wait to see what the future holds! prayers sent your way.
Rosette
OMG Layla! I absolutely LOVE your home! I am trying to convince my husband to buy a vacation home in Prattville, Alabama. We’re in Toronto, Canada and people here usually like to retire to Florida. I say Prattville is close enough!
You have made it a beautiful home and I am sure anyone would be super thrilled to have it!
Rosette
Beverly Lipham
I so much enjoyed meeting you on Saturday and thank you for opening your home to my bestie and me! Of course she & I both feel in love with your cottage! I would have been happy to stay and pick your brillant beautiful decorating mind all day! Your home reflects your beautiful spirit and as a “novice” decorator I was so inspired from visitig with you. THANK YOU FOR SHARING! You have a new followerer (can’t wait to see your new project) and I felt a new friend due to your openness and kindness!! Are you sure you weren’t born “Southern”? 🙂
Layla
Thank you, Beverly! It was so fun meeting y’all and I appreciate the sweet comments about our place! It’s been a labor of love, that’s for sure! 😀
Brittney Saffell
Best of luck! It is a lovely home! My husband and I sold our home this past Spring, FSBO. We used mlsmyhome.com (a MLS listing site) and were very pleased. All of our calls and showings came from realtors who were looking for clients, so it was worth the $300 fee. We live in north Alabama, and our home sold in six weeks. I hope it sells for you soon!
Heather @ Life as we know it...
Waaaah! I wish I was needing to move to Alabama because I would buy your house in a heartbeat! I cannot believe y’all are selling it but since it means we just get to see you redo a whole new cottage, I guess we will all survive! We recently redid our kitchen & a lot of my inspiration came from your kitchen! Please check it out… http://www.twinkietotmom.com/2012/09/the-big-kitchen-reveal.html
Brittany
I dated a guy for a couple of years who lived just a few doors down from your house! I always loved Wetumpka St! Very charming! Best of luck with the sale!
Elizabeth M.
Puleese say you’re moving closer to Atlanta, LOL!! I would love to have creative neighbors like you. I need to send you pics of my kitchen. It needs a presto BAD! Good luck on the home sale:-) I am certain if i were Bama bound, I would snap it up!
House Crazy Sarah
It’s exciting and daunting – but I wish you the best of luck! I have my old house for sale right now – using a realtor though since I live in a small town. Your house is just gorgeous – a buyer would be lucky to snap it up!
jordyn
Love love love your house! Wish I lived in the area 🙂 me and my husband are getting ready to buy a new fixer upper as well! Any tips on things to look for when buying a cottage fixer upper?!?
Amanda DeLoach
I just found your website thru thepioneerwoman.com and as I was reading things kept looking familiar and I realized you guys live in Prattville. I used to live in Prattville and I actually used to live on your street. It is my absolute favorite street in the whole city. I rented an apartment on the back of a house across the street from you guys. The owners of it took on a big project and renovated the house like you guys have. I hope you guys find a buyer who will keep the house looking as beautiful as you two have made it!
Layla
Hi Amanda! What a coincidence! 😀
We’ve actually sold the house since that post, and we’re on the lookout for a new (old) one now!
cindy barganier
I understand that I am about to have some awesome new neighbs!!! So excited.
Cindy
Karen
I know that you get a ton of questions but can I ask about that staircase with the cherries? Is that a piece of wood that you found and worked in or did it come that way? That is the most adorable thing I have ever seen!!! Love your blog and at the age of 62 you have inspired me to buy an old house and just get in there and do it! Thanks again.
Layla
Hi Karen!
I actually found that photo online, so I’m not sure about the cherries! 😀
Thank you so much for swinging by and saying hello today though- it’s so nice to e-meet you!