I watched way too much cable TV at the hotel last week. I was semi-addicted to the House Hunters show (on TLC, I think?) and I'd thought it'd be fun to do a blog post in that style. If you're not familiar with the program, basically someone looks at three different houses and you get to try and guess which one they end up buying. Simple enough, except we're not buying, just renting, and I'm giving you four options instead of three. If you already know which one it is (ahem, selected friends and family), don't ruin the surprise.
Here are the contenders, in no particular order:
House Number One:
Old, lovely and the epitome of *charming.* This house was very much my aesthetic, with lots of nooks and crannies, wood floors, a smaller but updated kitchen, and nice decks. The rooms were painted in pretty, soothing colors that I loved, making it feel less like a rental and more like a home. The breakfast nook in the kitchen was the sweetest thing I'd ever seen. The sun room was full of stained glass windows, and it was absolutely gorgeous. The home was nestled in a lovely , historic neighborhood very close to downtown and all of the action.
The down side? Although the house was big, the rooms were small and there wasn't an ideal place to put my business/work stuff. There was also no garage and very little yard, with close visible neighbors on all sides. Despite my never-ending love for antique homes, after living in a hundred year old house for 7 years, we wondered if we could use a break from the *charm* of peeling paint, cracked plaster, and crooked floors.
House Number Two:
Built in the 50's and very retro, but in a good way! Pretty wood floors, nice sized rooms, and a full basement great for setting up shop. The bathrooms were retro-looking, but extremely clean and well maintained. Kitsch without the yuck! There was a double car garage and lots of storage. And, oh yes, the kitchen of my dreams:
It's PINK! With original PINK counters from the 50's in perfect condition! Couldn't you just die? Plus the whole space was ginormous, with room for a huge dinner table and china cabinet, too. Although the wood floors were quite pretty, if it had black and white checkerboard tile flooring? I would have died and gone to heaven. The kitchen was almost enough to seal the deal for me, but there were some downsides we couldn't ignore: The single pane windows were old and drafty, and the landlords mentioned that the heat bills were very high in winter. There was a dizzyingly steep slope in the front of the yard that Max could easily roll off of and would probably inspire many nightmares. The basement, although large, had a drop ceiling that made me feel a tiny bit claustrophobic. The owners lived right next door, and who wants to live that close to their landlords?
House Number Three:
A chalet in the woods, definitely different than anything we have ever lived in! This home was very private, and located in a smaller town just outside of Asheville, but still very close. There was no real yard to speak of, which would save us on yard maintenance, and the decks were big and perfect for hanging out and relaxing. The best part was the huge, finished basement that was perfect for the home business. The A-frame design made the place feel very mountain-y and rustic.
The cons? Even though town was a short 10 minute drive away, it was definitely the most rural home in the bunch. The living and dining area had hardwood floors, but the basement and bedrooms were all carpeted. I'm not a fan of carpet, but at least it was clean and neutral. The kitchen could have been a bit bigger, and the upstairs bathroom had a huge soaking tub but no shower. Not really a problem for us, but kind of odd. Most importantly, where we ready for such a big change from our house in the burbs to a cabin in the mountains?
House Number Four:
A traditional and unassuming brick house on the outside, but every inch of he inside was completely maxed-out and redone. The entire house had wood floor and tile (no carpet, yay!) and the large kitchen had all new stainless appliances and a gorgeous ceramic sink. New, paint, new tile, new fixtures, and a three prong outlet in every room (all things that make Mike very happy.). Plus a double car garage and tons of storage. There were also a few kids that looked around Max's age living next door.
But, there are always some downsides: The large, finished basement where we would set up shop had been divided off into several, tiny rooms. Pretty silly if you ask me, and a very inefficient use of space. The wood fireplace was also in the basement, and not in place where we would get to use and enjoy it. Although it was in town, you had to drive down a strange, gravel road to get to the house, and our mini Honda-mobile could barely make it...what would happen in the winter? The house was very posh inside, but pretty bland outside. No yard, no decks, no views.
So, there they are! Which house do you think we decided on? They are all pretty great, and we were lucky to have so many great options to pick from. I'll reveal the winning rental tomorrow!
