Going With Your Gut...

I mentioned a few times this week on the blog that we were playing the waiting game, waiting to hear back about the little tan cottage from a few posts ago. That raised some questions with some as they wondered what happened with the green bungalow that we applied for + got. By now I forget what day all of this happened, but we found out from our neighbor (whose friends lived in the green bungalow until just recently) that they moved out because a neighbor had broken into the house while they were out of town. She went on to tell us that the house directly across the street is a halfway house and while that's all fine and good, one of the tenants was the one who broke in through the back window. (Cue me to remember seeing all of the dirt and scratched on the window sill of that window, too!) I already had my reservations about East Nashville simply because it's still far from the best part of town. It's "hip and fun" but it's still on the upswing. Anyway, our neighbor put Mike in touch with the girl who just moved out and while she was a little less than friendly, the wheels started turning in our heads. And by our I mean mostly mine. We laid in bed and all of a sudden I started having these crazy thoughts of what if someone broke in while we were home, what if they had a gun (then a totally craaaaazy senario played out. I'll save you the details, even though it would be totally possible.). It got to the point to where I almost started having a panic attack. We were set to sign the lease the next day. I told Mike to call the landlord in the morning and reschedule while we talked it through. I was terrified that something might happen to the girls while we were out and about or gone for work. It just started to feel like more trouble than it was worth. Other little things popped up here and there that gave me the feeling that perhaps the bungalow wasn't the best choice for us. Had it been the same rental price as the cottage, I may have overlooked most of them, but it was a huge (!!!) house with little insulation and a hefty price tag. I didn't want to stress about gas bills, our security alarm going off or if that sketchy neighbor still lived there. Something in my gut told me to keep looking.

We scheduled another showing of the 1920's cottage on Wednesday and we realized how much we loved the inside. It's a lot smaller than the bungalow, and it doesn't have quite the curb appeal or fenced yard, but we liked it. We liked it a lot. So we applied, was approved, and signed the lease last night. We're going to build a chainlink fence in the backyard for the girls, and we're going to manicure the bejeezus out of the front. It's going to be our little pet project. We're giving up a ton of room, but we're getting a sense of peace. The cottage is less than a stones throw from the bungalow, so things can still happen. They can happen anywhere. But at least now I don't have this overwhelming feeling in my stomach that it's wrong. 

We took measurements and laid out the house in our heads. I'll have my own studio/office which will be so nice for my productivity. We'll also have an entire room for Honeybean/Hive + Honey. We're on the hunt for a washer and dryer to paint pink (yep!) and we've already started delving into the other projects around the house. We'll be moving in in just 2 weeks (!!!) so that should give us plenty of time to cart our Xterra back and forth filled to the brim with boxes before saying so long to the loft. I'm really looking forward to it.

If anything, this experience has simply taught me that sometimes it really is best to just go with your gut instinct. We fell in love with the bungalow's charm but the inside left a bit to be desired. The cottage is cute on the outside, but the inside is beyond adorable. So many people pointed out that we should go with the house that's nicest on the inside as that's the part that'll be our home. Never thought I'd actually look forward to having walls and no brick in my house! We'll miss this little loft so much, but we're ready to move into a family home!

And finally I'll leave you with this picture (because it's the only one I have!)... It's the closet (!!!) in my office! It's ten feet wide! A whole 2 feet wider than my current wardrobe bar! The shoe shelves will fill the walls, but can I just tell you how excited I am to have French doors to my closet?! I'll miss my hanging wardrobe that we built, no doubt, but this is the perfect mix of function and style! Eep! Alrighty, emails are calling! Happy Friday! xo

42 comments:

  1. <3 can't wait to see you two put your touches on the new place!! congrats!!

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  2. peace of mind is so much better than wondering if your house is being broken into everyday when your gone. We had a similar situation, and it turned out horrible and wasn't worth the cute house in the bad neighborhood. I literally had to go on anxiety meds the whole time we lived there. I think you made the right decision for sure! And that closet...sooooo jealous.

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  3. Wow! I am so happy you not only trusted your gut but had access to that information! I mean can you imagine if you moved in clueless? My husband always asks me when i want to move into a house (we have a town home in the DC area) and I tell him that I love our neighbors, that right now we have one kid and have plenty of room for few more and some dogs. My gut feeling is to not move right now, I just love my community and I feel safe which is the most important thing ever for where you live.

    I love your soon to be new closet!!!
    xo

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  4. GIIRRLLL!!! That's so exciting!

    Good call on the bungalow. That would have given me so much anxiety too. TOTALLY understand.

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  5. I am sooo happy for you!!! you guys really deserve it! love xx Alice Barton ♥ The Mow Way

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  6. congrats kaelah!! the cottage is adorable and I'm sure you'll be happy there. I love that you have so much space to put your personality into, it will turn out great! the best of luck :)

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  7. I'm glad you went with your gut! I'd be having the same panic attack as you about the girls! Good luck! I can't wait to see what you do with all the space :)

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  8. I am so happy for you and your hunny! You're right - you have to go with your gut. I've lived in 5 different houses/apartments since I moved away from home and only ONE of them has ever felt like "home" to me, and it's the one where I listened to my inner voice saying: THIS is it.
    I'm sure you're going to have lots of fun decorating! I'm totally jealous of that closet!
    - Mandi (www.lifeinbeta.com)

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  9. when we were looking for a house to buy we did a lot of looking in east nashville. my best friend lives their, and they paid almost twice as much for their house as we paid for ours, they had to completely gut it to make it livable/up to code, and i don't feel safe when i'm there. we live in south nashville (near the zoo) and i'm so happy we made the decision. it is short drive to all the fun hip stuff, but i feel better in our neighborhood.

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  10. Following your gut is so important. You don't want to be constantly worrying. Where we live now it's okay, but not the safest and I can't wait to move for that peace of mind. We have three dogs and a cat and while people could break or steal other things in the home without it meaning a much to me, if something happened to one of our babies I would be devastated, so I understand the feeling.

    Enjoy your new home and making it feel like yours. That is always so much fun.

    -Sara-

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  11. Yaaaaay! How exciting! I'm so glad you went with your instincts-- a cute house is great, but not if you can't sleep at night from worrying about it! I can't wait to see how you put your own touches on your adorable new home.

    xo Julie

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  12. Everything happens for a reason. Sounds like you're very happy with your choice and that's all that matters. Loving that closet!

    ♥ sécia
    www.petiteinsanities.blogspot.com

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  13. Aw, that's beautiful!!! I would honestly be petrified if I heard a neighbor broke in, too. That would be a huge no no for me as well!! SO excited to see the pictures of the place when you're all moved in:)

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  14. I think you made the right decision. No sense and worrying and always scared in your own home. I think the cottage looks absolutely adorable. And that closet! I am a sucker for french doors with windows. My bedroom door has the same type of glass squares. I love that look. I can't wait to see more of the cute home.

    xo
    Tabatha

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  15. I think in home searches it is best to go with your gut and what feels the most like homey, safe, and comfortable. When my boyfriend and I were looking for a house a year ago, we saw a lot of places and I could usually just tell if it was right or not by how I felt. Granted we didn't get any of the houses that felt right (or wrong) but instinct is definitely important. If the closet is any indication the place looks fantastical. The picture of the closet reminds me of the cotton commercials! I can't wait to see what you guys do with the place. Congrats again!

    <3Honeysuckelle

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  16. Kaelah... Check out these retro appliances. A pink set has always been on my wish list! http://antiquevintageappliances.com/retro_appliances.html scroll all the way to the bottom to the Big Chill section. Fridge, stove, dishwasher... And I've seen washers and dryers as well.

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  17. congratulations, kaelah!! moving is so exciting. i'm sure you made the right decision, and that you guys will be really happy! xoxo

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  18. For what it's worth, the cottage is adorable on the outside too! Please give us a tour of it when you're all settled in! :)

    -Lindsey

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  19. I'm glad you guys picked the one that your more comfortable with! I can't wait to see new pictures from your new place once you get settled in! & you have to post pictures of the pink washer once you get it done, I bet it is going to be so cute!
    -Madeline Grace
    Withlovemadelinegrace.blogspot.com

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  20. heck naw on the creepy neighbor..i'm usually kind of scared anyway haha i'd be freaking out! i don't wanna hafta cut a person. love the peek inside the cottage..looks perfect!

    Krystle
    http://dearwinsome.blogspot.com/

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  21. You live in Nashville?? Me too :) It's great that you picked a place that gives you piece of mind. East Nashville can be rough, but the better parts of the area are soooo cute! Good luck with the move and getting settled!

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  22. That's definitely how East Nashville is. We've lived in East Nashville and now live in Inglewood (which is basically East Nashville too) and that's one of the things that I've never been able to get used to - the crime. And the police helicopters associated with the crime.

    My advice is to get to know your neighbors. You're bound to have some wacky ones but you'll meet lots of nice people that will look after your property when you're not home if you're friendly to them and do the same for them.

    Make sure that your girls are not only collared and tagged but microchipped. And get a cheap alarm system. Sign up for the neighborhood list-serv and go to the neighborhood crime meetings so that you'll be aware of crime trends ebbing and flowing. And if you have a big screen TV, don't have it showing in the front window. :)

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  23. Congratulations on the new place!! The closet looks lovely.

    This made me think a lot...about how little I knew before buying my house haha. I wanted to buy my first house at 19 and picked one in what I'd always been told would eventually be an up&coming area...six years later I'm still across from, literally, a housing project. After living there for awhile I found out some real ~fun facts including that at one point the basement was used for dog fighting :(

    Ultimately I think "Home" is definitely what you make of it. Hopefully the love and happy energy in the house now overpowers all the negativity of the past (I can't think of a way to make that sound not corny). And I have seen some crrraaaaazy crazy stuff go down in the surrounding area but even when I lived there totally alone, I never really felt ~unsafe. Of course, my husband insists we have to move before we prepare for a baby but for the time being, what matters most about my house is what's on the inside.

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  24. How exciting!! Many, many congratulations!


    http://aclosetintellectual.blogspot.com/

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  25. So glad you went with your gut and got something that you love. I hope we are so lucky with our apartment search! Congrats lady!

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  26. So happy for you guys! I think it's so important to feel safe. I feel mostly safe at my house, and if I don't for some reason I sleep with mace, a hammer, and big ass knife next to my bad. I doubt I'd even use them, as I always imagine I would hop out my bedroom window if someone broke in :) I guess I say all that to assure you that playing out scenarios in your head is totally normal.

    Best of luck with your moving! If I lived closer than two hours, I would totally offer to come help you cart stuff around.

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  27. I think you made an excellent decision! My husband and I bought our house last year and within 8 months our home was broken into and everything electronic on the first floor was taken...this was WITH a security system....it was the most horrible experience of my life up until now and it took me months to get over-I loooove our home but knowing now that not even a security system will stop people (the cops said it had to be a group of people for how much they took)it's really made us question our decision. When in doubt, always go with your gut! On that note, congrats on the new place, that closet is phenominal! XO Lori
    http://lorilynn-alittlesliceofspecial.blogspot.com/

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  28. Good for you!! I am SUCH a believer in following your intuition when it comes to finding a home. I live in an extremely quirky 1930s duplex that was BEYOND scary when I moved in, but is now GORGEOUS and has been the perfect home for me. I looked at many places and DO NOT know what made me pick this place (dirty dingy, bad-ish part of town), but have found that everything is as it should be. You are right--peace is important! Have so much fun making your darling house a home!!

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  29. so happy for you! did the right choice :)
    me and my boyfriend are also thinking of moving to bigger place soon, looking at these houses I cant wait to move as well :)

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  30. Wow. I didn't know y'all backed out of the green one,but the tan one will be great once you guys make it your own,ya know? I love those french doors,too. What part of East Nashville is it? (you can email me if you want) I'm happy for you guys! I hope you do a tour of it,too. And if you guys need help moving,let us know. We are big home bodies so it's good to get out every once & a while to Nashville. Plus we have a truck! I know you don't know me that well,so maybe it was a bad idea,haha. But still,it's the thought that counts. Have a good weekend! :)

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  31. I'm so glad you went with your gut and picked the right place for you. Renting a house is such an ordeal (I've been through it so many times) and picking the perfect place can be rough. I'm sure you'll love it and can't wait to hear about you moving in and what it will look like.

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  32. Cant wait to see more of your new house :)

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  33. French doors into your closet??? So adorable!!
    If just thinking about the house gave you a terrible gut feeling/panic attack, no matter how lovely it may have looked, it just isn't worth the stress. I'm sure you made the right decision :)

    http://ahopelessnotebook.blogspot.com/

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  34. The cottage looks gorgeous! I can't wait to see what you do with it. Oh, to have my own craft room..... Haha.

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  35. Always go with your gut, always. A few things that deter crime: good outdoor lights, dogs and good quality locks. Those are the simple investments. I'm a gun owner and a proud female shooter which is added protection, but not for everyone. Good for you for going with your instincts!

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  36. Always go with your guts hon. But the cottage looks amazing

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  37. Congratulations! So excited for you!

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  38. Eep, I'm so excited for you. Glad that you went with your gut instead of risking it. I can not wait to see your new house fully decorated and furnished! Makes me wanna start decorating in my home. :]

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  39. So glad you've seemed to make a decision you're happy with - sometimes going with your gut is simply the best reasoning when you struggle to find any other proper reasons. You must be so excited!!

    xo
    http://kittysnooks.blogspot.com/

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  40. i'm totally with you there. while the little green bungalow is totally adorable it's not worth it if you're not going to feel safe in your own home.

    we just turned down an AMAZING deal on a little fixer-upper that's three minutes from where i work because the neighborhood was a little sketchier than i was okay with.

    & the funny part? i'm pretty sure that i know exactly what crazy, scary scenarios played out in your head if they involved your girls because mine were totally of the "what if someone breaks into my house while my dogs are there alone!!" variety.

    that was the scariest part to me, that someone could hurt our pups!

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  41. I bet you can make it your own, good luck and congrats! <3

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  42. I am just so incredibly jealous of the closet. So cool to have a lot of space, and still be able to see all the colors of your clothes and shoes. Congratulations!

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HEY! Thanks for dropping by. xo KB