We’re in our new house, and now that the internet service is finally turned on, The Lettered Cottage is back in business!
Which reminds me- a few folks have asked if we’re changing the name of our blog. We’ll still be ‘writing about life in our cottage’, so the name will stay same.
Our new house is a 2 bedroom/2.5 bath, two story, cottage-meets-farmhouse style home. It sits in a quaint, rural community (in Pike Road, AL) that Kevin and I have wanted to move to since we first discovered it, in 2005. The house was built six years ago, and was originally listed in the 300K’s. It never sold, and eventually went into foreclosure. We were able to finance it in the 100K’s, and feel so grateful to be able to call it home!
I don’t think there’s a single fixture, finish, paint color, or design element we would’ve chosen if we had been involved in the picking process- and we’re assuming it didn’t ever sell because of an awkward layout upstairs. All those things made it the perfect place for us though, and we look forward to personalizing it (and adding some square footage, landscaping, and a carport) over the next several years. (Note: We’ll be blogging about this inside of the house soon!)
The whole move ordeal was super spontaneous. Long story short, we didn’t think we’d be able to move for at least two more years, but things just seemed to (miraculously) fall into place over the past three months. We were hanging out with a friend on the 4th of July, who introduced us to a real estate agent, who introduced us to a loan officer, etc. etc. etc. It felt sort of “meant to be”, so we just went with it, and kept telling ourselves it wouldn’t be a big deal if it didn’t work out since we really hadn’t planned to move right now anyway.
But like I said, everything just seemed to fall into place.
Until this past week.
Apparently when they say you’ve been “pre-approved” (and that you’ll need to sell your current house in order to buy another one) it doesn’t mean that you’re officially approved. Boy did we sit on pins and needles as we waited for our final approval last Thursday night. Our closing was scheduled for the next day!
I couldn’t get out of that closing office with the keys fast enough! I kept saying to Kevin, “they can’t take it back once they hand us the keys, can they?” Ha!
By the way, that friend that we were hanging out with on the 4th of July was Kevin’s Shoot Fly Shoot business partner/BFF, Josh. Our house is across the street from his house, and the guys are pretty pumped about it.
I think there may be a set of walkie-talkie’s in their future.
Fun! Love it all and can’t wait to see what else you are gonna do! Did I see some water across the way? What is that? Gotta love a view that includes any thing water related!!! Congratulations, Layla and Kevin!
I already love that house and it’s style. I live in a cottage type house in Florida, it is pink with a metal roof! I decorate with old
cast offs and antiques but I have a new sofa since I had to have a certain color. Love to hear the ocean’s waves when I get up in
the morning. We are not on the beach but it is a bike ride away.
I guess we live in a small town but I think I would like to live in your neighborhood after seeing all those metal roofs! The way
you and Kevin decorate this will be a lot of fun to see what you
do with all the things you don’t like about the house.
Layla! It is beautiful. Congratulations to you and Kevin. I love how it looks and can’t wait to see all your projects and renovations 🙂
Or perhaps they can use a couple tin cans and some string!
Looks adorable. Will be even cuter once you add your touches. Can’t wait to see more!
Congratulations, can’t wait to see the inside.
Congrats Layla and Kevin. We can’t wait to see pics of the whole house. I know you guys are already laying out the plans to make it your own signature “Lettered Cottage”. Gosh, just so happy for you both!
Cannot say enough how happy I am for you guys. But I am even more excited that we all get to watch this house turn into another perfect example of “Home.” I am pumped for you to get going. 🙂
Congratulations! A beautiful home and it’s all yours. I am so happy for you. Looking forward to your “take” on it. The outside is sure beautiful.
I am so excited for you and I can’t wait to see more of it.
Best wishes for a happy life in your new home.
Sure looks like the house in Bath Maine I owned in the 60s. Built about 1900, I think. Tell me if the floor plan includes front and back stairs and you have to go through one bedroom to get to the master BR. Bathroom center front, over the front porch? I loved my house and know what i did with it. I look forward to seeing what you do with yours. I’m glad you know someone in the neighborhood. And you are near a lake, or my eyes deceive me….way to go!!!!!! What a deal!!!!!
I’m so excited for you two! It”s a great looking neighborhood! I love the metal roof, the trim around the windows, the view and being across the street from your hubby’s best friend! The cottage farmhouse style is wonderful! Love it!
That is one lucky home to have you guys moving in! I’m sure you will make everything beautiful! Love the outside, and can’t wait to see more 🙂
We were on the ‘other end’ of the approval process. After having our house on the market for almost a year and a half, we finally received an offer we were willing to accept. Long story short…she didn’t get her mortgage approval, after waiting and having our house off the market for more than 3 months because it was ‘in contract’. Kind of a nightmare, but I keep telling myself if it was meant to be it would have happened.
Good luck and many blessings to you, Kevin and your (hopefully) soon to be new addition.
I am so excited to see what you do with this place – it looks incredible!
I am so happy for you! Big and fun changes are what it’s all about. I love that you guys just went with it because it felt right. I think if everyone did that in life this place would be a lot better!
So flippin excited to see the inside. I want to get my hands on it! The pics you’ve been posting are so nice… seems to be an immensely charming home and neighborhood. Good luck!
Congrats Layla and Kevin. Wishing you fond new memories and an amazing journey!
Congrats! The house AND neighborhood look beautiful!
Cbeers! – Shelley
I love it already…..
First off, congrats! Secondly, I can’t thank you enough for this post. I’m set to close on my first home Friday and I literally was emailing/on the phone all day with the bank. My stomach is absolutely churning right now. Happy things worked out for you both!
Your home looks absolutely adorable!! Congrats to you guys. Can’t wait to be with you on this journey of making the home “yours”.
Congratualtions! I love it! The house has so much character, and is that a lake across the street? How cool is that?!
the house my parents live in now the guy that sold it to them was outside and my mom just started to talk to him and she was going to talk to him about one thing but she asked him if he was going to sale his home and he said yes.
I’m so thrilled for you, Layla – your new home (and your community) looks awesome! It looks like a new urbanist community (my favorite!!!)
How wonderful for Kev that he gets to live so close to his business partner.
I can’t wait to see what your new place looks like inside! Let the adventure begin!
That porch!! Congratulations Layla!! Your cottage is so pretty and has such wonderful curb appeal already. Wishing you all the happiness that you and Kevin deserve in your new home. And I can’t wait to see what you two do with it!
Your new house looks adorable!! I’m pretty sure my husband would love to live in the same neighborhood as his best friends too. Haha!
Congratulations to my go for the gusto, reach for the brass ring, take the bull by the horns, leave it got God’s hands blog friends.
I can’t wait for this new chapter of your lives that will be so filled with joy, creativity, beauty, and love. This will be a house that hugs. I am not working regularly so just yell if you need some extra hands.hugs, Geri.
Gorgeous! God bless you in your new home!
can’t wait to see the inside & all that you guys do to make it your own. It sounds like God had everything in place to make a way for you. May you be blessed as you make this house your home 🙂
So happy for the two of you. Moving can be stressful, but it is also exciting to decorate a new space. Can’t wait to see some more pics. Your neighborhood looks so charming. 🙂
Love it, love it, love it! So happy for you! It’s going to be so fun to watch you work your magic on it. 🙂
And I cannot wait to stay there, and you can bet that Eli will be with me!
Love you!
random question but what are the roofs made out of? The one that shows ur hub’s bff house makes them look metal.. I’ve never seen anything like it before..
Absolutely gorgeous! So much of the landscaping has been done for you so there’s no need to rush putting anything in before winter. Congratulations to you both!
Oh I love it – I can only imagine what your all’s magic touch will add to the place. There is something about a farmhouse – we just built our own version of a farmhouse I suppose and we are loving it. Good luck on all your ventures – sounds like God has been in the middle of all your “things falling into place”. Good luck always.
Congratulations! We are all very excited for you. How soon can we expect photo’s?
Oh man, tin roof? That’s gonna be SO AWESOME when it rains!!
Love it, such a cute and cozy house on the outside! Can’t wait to see how you make into your home!! So cool to watch God move in ways we never thought!! Congrats to you guys!!
Much congratulations! Buying a home is so much harder than it was just a few years ago, since we’ve done both recently as well. Glad it worked out and I can’t wait to watch you “grow into it.”
Congratulations Layla and Kevin! The house looks beautiful. I can’t wait to see the inside and what you’re going to do with it. I hope I will still be able to access pictures of your old house for inspiration too.
It is beautiful, like you guys:) Cannot wait for the story of your home to unfold!
Layla, your new cottage looks amazing! You got such a good deal – way to go! Hmmm, looks like there’s plenty of room for a child there some day. 🙂
Cant wait to see more! Beautiful! Congratulations!
Congrats to all 4 of you (hey, gotta count Kit-Cat and Max)! Your new home is gorgeous. Can’t wait to see the rest of it, as well as all the changes you guys will make.
Cpngratulations!! Seems like this house was really meant to be yours. I am sure looking forward to seeing all the wonderful things that you are going to do to it!!
Oh my Gosh…what a beautiful home!!! You have great taste. 🙂
How did Max and Kit-Cat make out? Your BFF’s must be sooooo happy
to have you close. You’re safe, and yes you still own your home and no one is going to take it away from you. God blessed the whole move.
Best of luck to you and Kevin.
Sooo happy that you’re home & can’t wait to see the TLC style transformation!
SO adorable! Can’t wait to see the inside 🙂
It’s so pretty, Layla! Can’t wait to see what you’re going to do with the inside of this one!
new house! is there anything more exciting? congratulations you two – cant wait to see what you do!
How exciting! And, it’s not very old! Perfect! Best of luck to you both!
A new decorating challenge, Layla.
Can’t wait to see other pictures and ideas !