Tag: coastal design

Last day of August

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Just back from Florida. We left early to beat driving through the hurricane Idalia. So home to Cove House we scurried. Got back late yesterday afternoon.

As you can see, I haven’t renamed the blog. I think I’m clinging now to Cove House as the closing on the new house is galloping upon us. We could close as early as September 13 and as late as October 13. New York allows a thirty day window on the closing date for both the buyer and the seller. Fingers crossed for an early closing! I need to get in there and paint some of the rooms. The previous owner went in for a lot of gray, taupe, mocha and cream. The house feels very dark to me after my light filled Cove House.

The plan is to paint the master bedroom white with an incredibly pale blue ceiling. The two story living room and foyer may go to a very pale blue or white on the walls. There is existing grass cloth on two walls that is a neutral taupe mocha which I will leave. The verdict is out on whether I paint the kitchen cabinets. I am quite tempted to remove the black and white granite and put my beloved white Carrara marble instead. of course, the walls need lighter paint! I may live with the rest of the existing color scheme and change rooms after we’ve lived there a while.

Sneak peak at the kitchen

Today I’m contacting a consignment person to take and sell furniture that I’m sure I don’t want any more. Getting mover estimates. But I will probably stay with the guys I’ve used the last few moves.

It’s getting real.

The wonder of it.

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This will be the last official “Cove House” post. On Wednesday evening we listed this house officially for sale. Thursday morning we had two showings booked for Thursday afternoon. During the second showing, the first appointment submitted an offer. This morning we accepted it. So it’s official. We are on contract for the new house. We have an inspection here on Sunday because our buyers do not want to lose this house. I expect the Cove House will be in contract early this week. Talk about “one and done”!!!

So now it’s time to rename this blog. I am still thinking “Bella Blu by the Bay” in order to honor my farm. Of course, there isn’t any blue in the new house. Yet.

But I’m feeling I can begin to share photos of the new house. And share design thoughts. Not sure if I can share many photos during the interim as I only have a limited number. But I will see what I can do.

The fire pit. Loving the roses!

We are doing it again.

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It’s hardly a surprise to type this but on Friday we went on contract for what I’m privately calling Bella Blu by the Bay. We’ve met with our brokers to list the Cove House and have spent a whirlwind week doing the new house inspection, getting in touch with our attorney, staging this house for photos and chivvying the landscaper to get the curb appeal improved. We even painted the garage.

The Cove House living room staged. We edited drastically.

I’m feeling comfortable about beginning to share pictures of the new house. I’m rethinking the name for the blog as I have posted in an earlier post. Right now “We are having an adventure “ seems a likely title.

But I will treat you to another peak.

A view from behind the garage
A peak at the kitchen and the breakfast room beyond.

Certain to have more to share soon!

And we took two more steps…

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On the dock

We offered on the house by the bay this week and the offer was accepted. Yesterday, we did the inspection. Today we put the Cove House on the market. Yeah, we really did.

The villages and hamlets that encircle the Great South Bay on Long Island all have rivers and man made canals where homes have been built for residents to boat and fish from. So the above picture is a good example of what the homes that hug the bay offer. Depending on the length of the canal you are on the bay in less than a minute by boat. And many canals offer deep water for larger craft. But you can kayak and paddle board safely right off your backyard as well. I’ve noticed that on the South Shore motor boats definitely preferred. But there are plenty of sailboats as well. I love the beauty of the sailboats. As you drive up and down the canal neighborhoods and pass by the marinas it astounds you just how many people have boats!

Once we are on contract I will share more photos. But here’s one more tease.

I am considering a new new name for this blog. The front runner is “Bella Blu by the Bay” in honor of my farm that I sold this year. But we will see.

Inching closer

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So we took a couple of steps closer to moving again. Yikes!!!!! We went back to the house by the bay for a second look. We checked out listing agents for the Cove House.

In the meantime, I planted more hydrangeas anyway. I’ve got the garden bug fairly badly this summer. If we stay, I will have a good dent into my “ look” for the property. If we go, I’ve created some curb appeal for selling. Either way, I get to enjoy, right?

So I will give another tease on this house that we are much more seriously considering.

Lots of gardening room here!

I married a real estate junkie…

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A little tease. But maybe?

I went down to Florida last week to oversee the closing of a permit and the startup of our new generator. I was also checking on the progress of our pool restoration. While I was away, my husband was perusing Zillow. This is ALWAYS dangerous. Can’t leave that man alone with waterfront listings.

We have wanted to be on the water our entire married life. We had a few lucky years on Fire Island with a difficult to get to cottage. As we age, difficult to get to cottages don’t cut it anymore. And truthfully, we want that lifestyle regularly, not just odd weekends. When we chose Cove House, it was the closest we could find near the water that would work for the plan of my daughter and son in law sharing our home during the pandemic.

That plan shifted as our daughter made a great career move! But it meant she would stay put in their home in Westchester County. So we decided to stay in the Cove House despite its very large size. And we have been loving it. But the call of waterfront living has often raised its seductive siren call over the last two years. We have gone to look at properties a few times since moving here. Each time, the property in question either didn’t quite meet our criteria or the sale just didn’t happen.

So here I am, home from Florida, actually indulging my husband’s latest foray into the real estate listings. And I’m not so surprised or stressed about yet another move. Even as I am doing work inside and outside our home! And we have literally checked out a house on the Great South Bay of Long Island. Twice. I have to say, we are seriously considering the move.

Aside from the waterfront opportunity, this house is quite our type as it’s a shingle style house. ( I’m a real sucker for a cedar shake house). This a real coastal house, somewhat smaller that the Cove House with less yard to care for. But with great amenities including a bulkhead for a boat. That’s a real bonus. We’ve often fantasized about getting a small one. And the kayaking and paddle board opportunities abound as well.

The layout of the house flows well for entertaining and the kitchen is rather super. There are fireplaces. One is wood burning! Yay! The gardens are beautiful. And of a size that I can manage. there’s a potting shed and a raised vegetable and herb garden. The fencing is in place for the dogs. The existing landscaping has been well tended. Add an easier commute for my husband, who has never truly retired, close proximity to friends and family, and access to Robert Moses, Jones Beach, and Fire Island and suddenly, I am strongly tempted.

There are many pros and cons to be weighed before this could happen. But we are talking. Which means I’m going to be reassessing the title and intent of this blog. I guess the quest for the forever home isn’t quite over yet.

Some before and after

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I will do this from time to time. It’s nice to document progress.

Parking courtyard before. The grass refused to thrive, it either flooded or burned.
A slightly different angle after.
Just after the pea gravel was laid. The hedge is a future project.
Hard scape done. The gardens are a continual work in progress.
The entrance is definitely beginning to look like my vision.

Hydrangeas are blooming

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And being planted by me! I’m finally feeling like the exterior of the house is reflecting me. Although the previous owner planted some great hydrangeas, fruit and ornamental trees, shrub and flowers, the gardens here have felt rather impersonal. With the white picket fencing we did the first September and the bluestone stairs with their stone walls off the deck last fall, I was feeling like we had left a marker that we were claiming the house as ours.

But this planting I’m doing this last week? It makes me feel that I’m yanking the house away from very nice builder’s spec colonial into the more coastal home I long for. The Hydrangeas deserve a lot of the credit.

Todays handiwork. I planted three hydrangeas on each side of the front stoop. It’s an instant change.

I’m about to begin the same treatment off the deck. I planted one but it’s not enough. But I still love how it looks.

Great look but the poor dear is lonely. Hopefully, next weekend I will add more.

I still owe you the lavender hedge border. Tomorrow! Meantime, it was a good day. Got tons done and after a week of wildfire smog, it is truly beautiful out.