In case you missed the news, we bought a place in the mountains of NC for retirement. For now we’ll be renting it out until we’re ready to live there. You can find all of the news on the house HERE. Why are we doing this now? That’s all HERE.
I talked about the big room and the big bare wall and what my thoughts were for the space HERE.
So to get you up to date. We gathered up a bunch of extra stuff I had, and things that didn’t sell from my antique booth, and I bought a few things (mainly mattresses) so we could get the house ready for vacation rentals.
We packed up some stuff from Round Top in a truck and brought it to our house in Houston.
A few benches that we planned to move didn’t fit in the truck so we left them at the farm.
In Houston, I had a POD delivered and got it filled with this stuff and stuff we had at our Houston house.
The guys loaded my POD and although I thought we would need a second one, it miraculously all fit. I paid the guys and they left. I was patting myself on the back and giving hi fives to myself. I just needed one pod, not two. #winning
And then I went in the garage and realized that one of the dressers was still in my car. One we bought specifically for our mountain house. And I realized our old plasma TV we planned to bring did not make it into the POD. Well that’s life. Stuff happens and you just have to deal with it.
The PODS people came and picked up the POD, then delivered it to our house in North Carolina. It was much cheaper than renting a moving van. Yes we could have driven a truck ourselves and saved some more money, but we only had a week off and 4 days would have been spent on the road to NC and then back to Texas. So PODS was really our best solution. Everything arrived in great shape too!
We unloaded it at the house the night we got there. Yes my back is still recovering. We planned to hire big burly guys to unload, but that fell through. I did hire some lovely people to help and we got it done.
My big question was what was I gong to put on this wall, and the answer is for now… nothing.
I had planned to use that big sideboard as an island. I was going to rip out the one in the kitchen. But the reality is, I love it where it sits. So for now, I’m leaving it against the wall. Once I added the oversized antique bread boards, I felt the wall didn’t really need anything.
I was going to put that big cupboard on the wall, but now that is going to go somewhere else. (Picture below from my antique booth)
You might have noticed I got the old light changed out. Here’s the original.
I found this gorgeous chandelier from Belgium and had it rewired for the USA.
I lowered the light a bit, but it is still high because if your ceiling is a cathedral ceiling, I think you visually want it higher than the standard 30 inches or so inches above the table. And I thought that at some point the table might not be directly under it, so I didn’t want someone to hit his head, mainly my 6’2″ husband. You’ll notice all of the windows have mini blinds on them. I’ll get them changed out later.
The table and sideboard are European antiques. The chairs are a combo of French antiques and inexpensive Ikea folding chairs. I’m pretty smitten with this sideboard. All of those bread boards and the down bowl did not sell. Well it all worked out in the end.
The kitchen still looks the same… for now.
The best part about the house is the view. This is from a few houses down the road. We have a few more trees behind us. Isn’t this dreamy?
This was the view our last night there.
Here is the actual view from our deck.
I have so many plans for the house. Our big accomplishments were moving in, changing out a few light fixtures, getting the TV mounted, the cable connected, a few plumbing issues fixed, and getting set up with the property management company. We met with a painter and a contractor as well.
You are a dynamo. I can’t believe that you have accomplished so much in such a short time. The house looks very inviting and comfortable.
I can’t believe no one bought those great boards or dough bowl! You new home is lovely. Did the Pods people load your pod or did you hire people to load it?
How awesome for you and your husband, I mentioned before that we talk about doing this someday, too. So impressed with how the place looks already – with your added touches it will be incredible!
Thanks Jeanette, I hope you get to do this too.
Anita, congratulations on reaching for your dreams! If you have read my blog, you know several years ago I bought my Grandparents home, in my home town 2 hrs from where I live in St Louis. No spectacular view, no lake, no resort…just plain old family time. It has been life changing not only for me but my husband and my cousins and distant relatives who gather there. Hard to believe one simple decision has effected so many in a positive way. Look forward as I always do to your adventures from the heart.
I love the house and you have gotten alot done! We used a POD (and a moving truck) and cars etc. when we moved. The POD was fabulous! We FILLED it and they took it away and stored it while this house was being built and I also had to get alot of stuff OUT to stage it for sale. I will be anxious to hear asbout renting your new home, I love the mountains of NC. How far are you from Highlands? Have a great day, Anita!!!!
Pinky,
Thanks so much for the lovely compliment! I am not sure where exactly Highlands is. Our place is in Black Mountain, which is about 20 east of Asheville, right on 40. Hope that answers your question.
Great photos of your new home.
Wow, what a great idea to buy the house now and rent it out! If it’s just for vacation rentals those people hopefully won’t trash it like a full time renter might! It looks beautiful with what you’ve done!
Tania
Yes hopefully it will do well and then we’ll do most of the reno after we stop renting it.
Omg, Anita, it already looks wonderful!! I completely agree about that wall – looks absolutely fine the way it is and that sideboard is magnificent! Funny that the dough bowl and breadboards didn’t sell because those are two things I’m looking for. And, yep, I noticed the light right away… 🙂 Well done! I know it will be amazing when it’s all complete and I’ll enjoy watching the process.
So beautiful Anita…..and the view/sunset is magnificent. You brought such lovely pieces to the house!
Beautiful!!! Love the table, sideboard and bread boards too!!! The wall looks great.
Hi Anita,
Wow, beautiful, Just wandering, is that the dough bowl you were talking about when I emailed you about whether you had bowls? If it is your right it’s huge! Things look great!
Regards,
Maggie
Beautiful!!! What a lovely place. Can’t wait to see what you eventually do with the kitchen.
Thanks Holly, we’ll see when I get to it.
Beautiful, relaxing, a little bit of heaven in your Mountain home. I don’t think I would ever want to leave this spot. You have such a talent placing items and offering decorating advice,
Thanks Jeanine! Hopefully we’ll get it more cozy over time.
How very exiting for you,Anita! It all looks lovely so far! And you are so right , the view is is amazing! The North Carolina mountains are so beautiful. I am so happy for you and your husband!
Beautiful home. What paint color is on the walls? My painters come tomorrow…HELP! I can’t decide on a light neutral color for my Great Room with stone fireplace in light grays and beiges. Kitchen SW Basket Beige. SW Softer Beige looks good in GR during day. One color looks good during day, but disappears at night. Love the decor and all your wonderful accessories. Help!
I wish I knew Vicki. It was painted when we moved in. Next time we get back to the house, I’ll check the paint cans, because I know someone else is going to ask.
Love … love the house… can’t wait to check it out on the listing!!! We stay in that area quite a bit in the fall!! Beautiful mountains!! There’s just something about this area of the country!!!!! ….
Anita: Love your blog, love, love your book and congratulations on your retirement home. Can you tell me if any of those boards are for sell? I am very interested.
Sandra, I decided to keep those, but I am trying to get some smaller ones that can be shipped.
I hate to be the pessimist, but I have a girlfriend that did as you are doing in an exclusive neighborhood outside Atlanta in a golf resort. Great revenue for keeping it rented, but anything that is small enough to take, got taken. Those bread boards are highly coveted, and might make an exit. Yes, you have a mgt. company, but the cost of litigation makes it hard to recoup your losses. I would lock up the treasures, and display the IKEA things. With your design ability, I’d hit the garage sales, recreate, and dress it up that way. Then when you go for a visit, bring out your personal things. It’s a sad reality but we can’t be naive. Good luck.
I love the sided board between the windows…..beautiful….Your view is magnificent….Glad it all worked out in the end as far as your move is concerned…..Looking forward to more of the renovation!!
What a beautiful mountain retreat until retirement. You are blessed to be able to plan ahead. Love the open concept. Enjoy!
Love your furniture – it matches your retreat. The flour sack pillows, etc are unique. Can anyone tell me where I can find handmade ladder back chairs with cane borrows? We had them when I was growing up in the south, but they seem to have disappeared!
I don’t have a source for those. Wish I did Paulajean.
What will you be putting on your windows?
Cathy
Good question, and I haven’t decided yet Cathy. Probably roman shades or bamboo shades.
So many things that caught my eye and stole my heart. You have some fabulous pieces. Great story. Thanks for sharing them with us.