I have been missing New Zealand desperately lately. There’s always those aches and pangs for it and for the most part we’ve made our peace with our decision to stay in the States for now, but the desire to be there has been very strong this winter. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the constant snow, freezing temperatures, and very sick kids. We reminisce over Our New Zealand house constantly. Even four kids in, we still daydream about picking up that house and moving it with us.
As we’ve been unpacking and decorating this house (which may be finished by the time we’re ready to move again), we’ve been opening boxes that haven’t seen the light of day since our New Zealand house was packed up to move here. We have found that we’ve been finding fits us so well and it’s fun to have our style back.
We were the first owners of our New Zealand house. It was a new development and we bought the house directly from the builder. He had originally built it for his own family, but circumstances changed and he needed to sell. We had been living in a flat in the city that was Scott’s before I moved out there, but we were ready for a bigger place and one that was *ours*. Our intention had been to find something in the city itself, but after searching for months, we hadn’t found the right place and this house jumped out at us.
We loved the modern feel to it. The wall color was perfect and we’ve copied it in our new house. Eventually, we’ll paint the trim here white, as well. The pictures you’re looking at are from the staging when we were selling and aren’t a completely true look. Some furniture was rearranged, pictures taken off the walls, etc. You know how it goes for staging!
The house was four bedrooms, an office, two car garage…all of that was lovely, but what sold us on it instantly was the lounge/dining/kitchen area. We loved how open it was, and there was a door that could close that area off from the rest of the house, so it was very snug when it needed to be.
We had it decorated fairly simply. We were still in the stage of figuring out each other’s styles and how they meshed. I would have loved more color and things on the walls, for example. We also got a lot of it right, and if you were to visit me right now, you’d find a lot of the same furniture and decorations.
I loved our deck. Early on I started my container garden and put lights in them. I was so proud of that little bit of pretty domesticity.
Our New Zealand house has so many happy memories for us. We puttered around constantly doing small projects. We lived there before we had kids, so it was always clean. It was our first proper house together and where we brought our first child home. We planted.
As much as we loved that house, we know that we wouldn’t love the area now. The neighborhood has been hugely built up, so the lovely views that you see in these pictures are gone except from the master bedroom. The neighborhood got off to a rough start and there wasn’t any cohesiveness to it, no playgrounds, and it was quite a distance to the nearest gas station or convenience store.
We said over and over that if we could dig up the house and take it with us, we’d never leave it. I have a video of me taking Madeline through it, room by room, and talking about our first house as we were preparing to leave. I can’t help the bittersweet feeling with every mention of our house, but I wouldn’t change our time there for anything.
Wow, what a gorgeous house! I live in the heart of New England and it’s been a heck of a winter already, so I sympathize with the desire to relocate someplace warm! Someday, someday. Alexis recently posted…Quick Takes: Eww Edition
So the view in the pics is now gone? That totally stinks… As you had pics of the house all I could look at was the awesome view! (and the baby room which is too cute)
First, you have a beautiful name. Love it. And secondly, your NZ house is lovely, and the views are gorgeous in those pictures. What a shame the neighborhood was too built up. I’d kill for views like that. Stopping by from the SITS link-up, and continuing to browse your site!
I understand missing a house. My husband and I moved across the country last year and I still miss our house. It’s where we brought our babies home from the hospital, and made so many improvements and memories. Allison B recently posted…Why I Don’t Do My Kids School Projects For Them
What a lovely house! I’ve never been to New Zealand but it’s great to see a glimpse of it from your blog! I can’t wait to explore more. So glad I found you via SITS. Adrienne recently posted…Falling from Grace
What a beautiful house – I can understand why you miss it and the warmer weather! I dream of one day living abroad and showing my children the world. Thank you for sharing. Alecia recently posted…Low Carb Pizza Casserole
What a gorgeous home! I can see why you loved it so much. Its absolutely beautiful. I hope that one day I can make it to New Zealand. Ashley recently posted…NOTD: For Audrey and It’s a Trap-eze!
What a great house, and the views are gorgeous! I understand your missing it–I still miss our rented house in Japan, though we’ve been in Germany for four and a half years. Hausfrau recently posted…Four Tiny French Cookbooks
I’ve never been to New Zealand. It’s on my list. That is a beautiful home. And the views – wow! It really makes me sad to know they are no longer there… Alexa recently posted…Newborn Health Action Plan
Oh my goodness – I can see why you didn’t want to leave. Not only was the view amazing, but the interior was gorgeous too! Amanda Her recently posted…Italian Baked Eggs
I’m in the same boat…But I only moved from CT to MA. But our house there was my dream home. We have been in our house here for a year and 1/2. I still have boxes packed from moving. My husband didn’t want me putting nails in walls because we were renting so it was hard to make it feel like ours. Hang in there! Stopping by from SITS. Your blog is beautiful! #SITSblogging.
What an incredible house. It’s huuuuuuge! The views are amazing and I am absolutely drooling over the kitchen/dining room. I would love to cook in such a beautiful space. Angela @Little Apple Tree recently posted…Square Eyes, or films I’ve watched lately
t’s fun getting to know you better Albion! What great memories and photos you have of your first home. Its beautiful. I love to see what you are doing with your current home too. Thanks for sharing! 🙂 Jillene@inkhappi recently posted…Gift Ideas List… Some Favorites!
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Beautiful home with incredible views! I see why you miss it. 🙂
Andrea recently posted…{Shop Local} Valentine Gift Ideas
Wow, what a gorgeous house! I live in the heart of New England and it’s been a heck of a winter already, so I sympathize with the desire to relocate someplace warm! Someday, someday.
Alexis recently posted…Quick Takes: Eww Edition
So the view in the pics is now gone? That totally stinks… As you had pics of the house all I could look at was the awesome view! (and the baby room which is too cute)
First, you have a beautiful name. Love it. And secondly, your NZ house is lovely, and the views are gorgeous in those pictures. What a shame the neighborhood was too built up. I’d kill for views like that. Stopping by from the SITS link-up, and continuing to browse your site!
I understand missing a house. My husband and I moved across the country last year and I still miss our house. It’s where we brought our babies home from the hospital, and made so many improvements and memories.
Allison B recently posted…Why I Don’t Do My Kids School Projects For Them
What a spectacular home! I love your stove!!
Susie (The Esthetic Goddess) recently posted…How To Use Retin A Correctly
What a lovely house! I’ve never been to New Zealand but it’s great to see a glimpse of it from your blog! I can’t wait to explore more. So glad I found you via SITS.
Adrienne recently posted…Falling from Grace
What a beautiful house – I can understand why you miss it and the warmer weather! I dream of one day living abroad and showing my children the world. Thank you for sharing.
Alecia recently posted…Low Carb Pizza Casserole
What a gorgeous home! I can see why you loved it so much. Its absolutely beautiful. I hope that one day I can make it to New Zealand.
Ashley recently posted…NOTD: For Audrey and It’s a Trap-eze!
What a great house, and the views are gorgeous! I understand your missing it–I still miss our rented house in Japan, though we’ve been in Germany for four and a half years.
Hausfrau recently posted…Four Tiny French Cookbooks
I’ve never been to New Zealand. It’s on my list. That is a beautiful home. And the views – wow! It really makes me sad to know they are no longer there…
Alexa recently posted…Newborn Health Action Plan
Oh my goodness – I can see why you didn’t want to leave. Not only was the view amazing, but the interior was gorgeous too!
Amanda Her recently posted…Italian Baked Eggs
I can see why you didnt want to leave! That house and those views are just breathtaking!!!
Amanda // Happily Ever After
I’m in the same boat…But I only moved from CT to MA. But our house there was my dream home. We have been in our house here for a year and 1/2. I still have boxes packed from moving. My husband didn’t want me putting nails in walls because we were renting so it was hard to make it feel like ours. Hang in there! Stopping by from SITS. Your blog is beautiful! #SITSblogging.
What an incredible house. It’s huuuuuuge! The views are amazing and I am absolutely drooling over the kitchen/dining room. I would love to cook in such a beautiful space.
Angela @Little Apple Tree recently posted…Square Eyes, or films I’ve watched lately
t’s fun getting to know you better Albion! What great memories and photos you have of your first home. Its beautiful. I love to see what you are doing with your current home too. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Jillene@inkhappi recently posted…Gift Ideas List… Some Favorites!