We are frequently asked what led us to buy Avondale and if we knew what an undertaking it would be. The challenge of a new project excited us! Between Will and I, one of us is always looking to take on something new. (To no one’s surprise, it’s usually Will!) However, this situation was a little different. This project was personal; it had been a while since we last renovated, and we were eager to work together to create a home in a new style, while still capturing our personal tastes and meeting the needs of our family. Once our fourth child was born and our little boys grew into bigger boys, we started to feel like the space of our current home did not function as well as it once had. With children ranging in ages from three to thirteen, we felt like it was time to settle into a home that we could age with.
Will and I always knew we would consider moving if the right house became available. As homes came on the market, we would casually look but always go back to Miramar. Nothing we looked at seemed to have the character or layout of our current home. In March 2021, we were approached and asked if we'd be willing to sell our house. We had seen the house on Avondale several time but felt the timing and scale of the project was not the right fit for us. Yet after much thought and prayer, our minds started to change and we decided to pursue the idea. We love old homes, and the opportunity of renovating a home to make it fit our style and needs was appealing. The process of making a final decision went on for several months while we continued to pray and think about what it would look like to leave Miramar. We were happy where we were and knew that if this were meant to be, the right doors would open. As time went on, the idea of more space inside the home, a spacious yard, and a driveway to accommodate our soon-to-be driving teens and their friends all became more appealing. Fast forward a few months, many more conversations and prayers, and in July 2021, we closed and got busy.
The size of Avondale's property, the pool, and more parking space were appealing to us. We liked the additional play space in the front yard provided by the corner lot. We envision many lazy days of summer swimming and playing basketball in the back.
When thinking about buying Avondale, we took into consideration the character that we would be leaving behind at Miramar. However, the charm Avondale offered was present when we first walked into the entryway. Inside, there were many similarities between the floorplans of both houses. We loved the feeling that the original dark wood moulding and doorways offered.
Walking through the house, we loved the idea that Avondale would allow us to have living space directly off the kitchen. Though small in size, we could envision a table and casual sitting area in the den. As a family of six, we wanted space to be in the kitchen and around the table together.
As we headed upstairs, we saw the original master, two additional bedrooms, and a common area used as a tv room. The opportunity to convert the original master into two separate bedrooms, like we had done in our previous home, presented itself. By doing so, we could allow each of our children to have their own room. The large guest room downstairs could then become the primary bedroom.
The opportunity for additional space and the unique charm of this house are what ultimately led us to take on the project of making Avondale our home. We can't wait to show you more!
