Now that I have the itch to write, I’m going to play with the new blog and reacquaint myself with how to actually publish stuff. Especially photos as I always get in trouble when I want publish photos.

I’m just back from the barn. I have tons to catch up on. I’ve been through a lot since my last posts. We’ve sold our beautiful farm in Wellington. A fairly excruciating parting for me. I will elaborate eventually. Very bittersweet. But we’ve bought a place in West Palm, so I will be near the horses when I’m down.

Speaking of horses, I’m down to four. Two in work, still with Jen, and two retired up in Maryland. I will tell these tales in my other blog. But now to this new place.

We have downsized. It’s not a small house as it does have three bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a very nice office/den for Carmine ( the real estate junkie husband). A couple of big departures for us? It’s a single story. We are a two or more floor house types, so that an adjustment. The other is the exterior, a classic thirty year old Florida Mediterranean. Not really me.

What drew us was a great screened in patio and pool, plus a revamped interior. The previous owner took what was high ceilings, dark paneled public rooms and spun it modern. While we not purchase her furniture, we did keep her modern chandeliers, kept the pale robin’s egg blue in the living room, and the existing gray and white in kitchen dining room.

I apologize for the unhung photos on top of the dining room table in the photo. We are a work in progress. Takes me forever to decide what and where to hang art. My homes are never done. There’s either a pile awaiting assignment or an unfurnished spot begging to be filled.

Only one more week here in Cove House South. We’ve had a nonstop winter and spring selling a horse, a farm, finding and buying another, then doing repairs on the sale property only to arrive here to do more work on this house. Next week the collies, the husband, and I will pile into the SUV and head north, where more unpacking ( we sent so much north when we downsized) and very likely more repairs await us.

I confess I’m looking forward to New York. I have so many schemes for the Cove House. I have garden ideas oozing out of my pores. I don’t garden in Florida, I’m afraid. I leave to landscapers. But I do plan to do a little container gardening next season.

It will be hard to leave just as this place is beginning to feel like ours. But Cove House calls. I’m excited to see what the additional furniture and art from the farm brings to the table. Plus, I’ve sent my piano up there with the hope that I will actually play again.

I’m secretly hoping I can talk my husband into painting the exterior. Next time, I write I will share some color ideas.

See you soon!

New beginnings! The urge to blog is back. And I’m shifting to house design and architecture in general , my homes specifically!

I’m a big design enthusiast and my husband and I are real estate junkies. We have owned and lived in more than 22 homes. I always think we have landed at our final yet we keep moving!

Our current house is on Long Island!’s north shore with access to everything: the Sound, the ocean, state parks, the Hamptons, and of course, New York City. I’m influenced by it all! And I love it all. Add south Florida’s dressage scene and you can see what inspires my decor. Old New England seaboard meets English country house. Add horses, dogs, books, and music and that about sums it up.

Anyway this is my reintroduction. Will be sharing my home and things that inspire me. Hope you enjoy this new chapter .

Just back from a long and fun weekend in Boston. While I was gone the contract was finally signed by and delivered to all parties. Time to prioritize projects so we can get stuff underway this winter. We are hoping move in by the spring.

Priorities:

Rip out a not needed full bath on the first floor and recreate a powder room in a better place.

Turn ripped out bathroom into a full blown butler pantry with all the bells and whistles. I’m envisioning an early twentieth century pantry with glassed doors and lighting on the uppers, mahogany or teak furniture quality counters and back splash. Then a brass sink, a built in microwave ( no place for one in the kitchen), and tons of storage below. I see black and white marble floors, probably blue paint on the cupboards and lots of good lighting.

The powder room will be small and relatively simple: marble sink and backsplash, brass fixtures and exposed plumbing, great mirror, sconces, ceiling fixture, small freestanding piece for towels and the like. Hoping for a fabulous wallpaper. Floor will be the original oak in the room.

Create laundry in the basement. Currently no laundry in the house.

Extend existing wrought iron fencing to enclose most of our property for the dogs.

Stain and polyurethane all wood floors. The builder made them too blond. I’m looking for medium color to compliment the staircases.

Staircase runners for all the stairs. I want wool, possibly oriental rug style. Or a solid red or dark blue with a border. Of course I have to have those fabulous brass stair rods. The house totally calls for it.

We expect to close the first week of November. It’s all very exciting!

My husband found a 2013 photo of the house before the builder obtained it. I feel the builder honored the exterior fairly well. The inside is a mixed bag. But I feel I can correct a lot, my furnishings will soften it. The butler pantry will improve the first floor function.

Life never proceeds in straight lines. We are still not on contract!!! We had to go back to finish the inspection because the agent didn’t know how to turn the heat and AC on in the house. The pool was closed up and not available for inspection. Took two tries to get that done. The pool needs a new liner. The owner doesn’t want to replace it. Ch-Ching.

The Jewish holidays delayed work on the contract. Now we’ve learned there may be a CO issue with the new garage. Sigh.

I’m in Florida, thinking to get my requisite days in ahead of the closing and the holidays. That way I can get some work started before returning here for the season. My margin for getting projects started if definitely narrowing.

Oh well. When I have news, I will share.

Remember the 1818 Federal I disastrously fell in love with? The seller’s agent just called. They finally met our price. But we have moved on and are putting the contract on the Victorian even as I write this.

I confess, I definitely got a frisson of regret. I loved that house. But I know the one we are purchasing IS the right choice. Maybe that Chill was letting go of the dream?

Patience has never been my long suit. How do I pass the time until the house closing? Reading, blogging, a little social media. Lots brewing today on the crisis of having this horror in the White House. Hoping Nancy goes full out impeachment later today.

In the meantime, I did the time honored activities of women everywhere: Cleaning and cooking. I attempted to clean the cowhide suede on our living room wing chairs, mixed results, alas. Next I need to work in some colored wax into the wooden portions. The poor chairs have been gnawed on by more than one puppy in their lifetimes. Maybe that’s tomorrow’s task.

I’m cooking this afternoon. A huge pot of tomato sauce is simmering away on the Viking. Then back to my book.

Looks like we will be on contract by tomorrow with money for items in escrow. Had fun imagining my furniture in the space today. I also have reinforced my opinion that men ( unless they are professional chefs) should never be allowed to design kitchens.

No trash-bin drawer, only one oven, a ridiculous microwave placed too high up in the cabinet. All addressable but irritating. The contractor also forgot a space for a coat closet. Again, we can fix this but it’s a damn shame that we have to still do construction on a house that’s supposed to be move in ready.

We need to stain the floors. Too Much bleached oak and very contemporary looking. The floors are just too new looking. The matte finish seems very vulnerable to dogs scratches and worse. We will do a medium finish that complements the gorgeous mahogany staircases with a semigloss finish.

Don’t get me started on the lack of a laundry.

But there’s lot of treasure too. The mantelpieces are original and have been professionally cleaned and re-honed. The marble is this creamy white that just touches ivory. I love it. When I redo the countertops in the kitchen, I’m going to see if I can match it.

So let me share a few of the beauties!

Our final counter on the Italianate was accepted. Inspection is Monday morning. I am SO excited. I think this will be the house of our dreams!

The Italianate is still in negotiation. I may have a couple years of tightening the belt but I think this is the one. Ready to make a new home💙!