It is now safe to say our status as residents of my in-laws’ basement has an end date – we’re building a house!
It all started about a year ago as we were searching for a house in Cambridge, WI. We were convinced the perfect house for us did not exist so we were hoping to find something with good bones on a nice lot that we could renovate to our liking. (You know…the Property Brothers effect. They make it look so easy, don’t they?) While I was doing internet searches for homes listed at a fraction of our total budget, G kept getting drawn to homes at the top of our budget. We had so many amusing nights where we played “check out this house I just found online and tell me all the things you hate about it” until finally G stumbled upon a house for sale that we both actually liked.
It was a big, beautiful home sitting up on a hilltop in a peaceful, wooded neighborhood outside of Cambridge. G – who grew up as what teenaged me called “a town kid” – was interested in a house out in the country, but this former farm girl loved the idea of having neighbors. With this latest listing, it seemed we had discovered the best of both worlds. This beautiful little neighborhood of five cul-de-sacs set out in the country had the full-grown trees and private backyard G was yearning for, with the bonus of neighbors just outside the front door, which I wanted.
We were hooked.
The house was amazing, which, of course, meant it was over our budget. BUT – in a perfect recipe for house buying crazy-making – it wasn’t necessarily something we couldn’t afford. We spent weeks talking about buying the house, not buying the house, visualizing living there, visualizing being house poor…all of it. One day I’d be all gung-ho about buying it and G would say, “I really don’t think we should.” Then I’d go to bed, pray for clarity, and wake up with 100% confidence that it was NOT the house for us, and G would say, “I’m kind of leaning towards buying it now…”
Throughout all of this back and forth we got to know the person who was selling the house – a man named Charles Fiesel who has a restoration and renovation company called The Fiesel Firm. He had purchased the home after it had been foreclosed on, and renovated it to the home that was keeping us up at night. G and I contemplated this purchase for weeks and then finally Charles said, “I want you to date my house.” He suggested we pack our bags and move in for the weekend to really get a feel for the home and the space, and then decide if it was for us.
Who does that?!
It was an incredible opportunity to see firsthand how the house would work for the three of us, and in the end we realized it wasn’t the right choice for our family. It was such a hard decision and what I mourned most was kissing that peaceful neighborhood and that beautiful wooded backyard view goodbye.
And then Charles suggested something that changed our entire home searching trajectory. He said, “I don’t know if you’ve noticed this…” (we hadn’t) “…but there is an empty lot next door. It isn’t currently listed for sale, but I own it and would be willing to sell it to you.”
Our initial reaction was to say no.
Building a house wasn’t our plan! We hadn’t even considered it, really. In our area, new home builds are primarily homes built on a former field with no trees or privacy to speak of. To find an open lot in an established neighborhood, backing up to woods was essentially unheard of.
Building wasn’t our original plan, but building a home – exactly what we wanted – in this little neighborhood out in the country seemed like a dream.
We bought the lot.
Here is our beautiful little patch of land that is the future site of our new home.
View from the street
The lot is sloped in the front and levels out at the top of the hill. Our home will be built into the hill, with the back of the house ending where the lot levels so we’ll have a nice, flat back yard.
Here’s a view of the backyard from approximately where the backyard patio will be. The fence to the left will remain up during construction and then removed.
Backyard
Our view from the front of our home. I absolutely adore the Victorian home and the red barn across the street!
Front Yard
Kate playing in her future front yard last summer.
We are so excited to call this spot our home, and can’t wait to share the details of building our house with you all!
Follow along with our new home construction progress here: All Things G&D Dream Home.
So exciting! I’ve been waiting for an update on your “homeless” plans!
Can’t wait to hear all about it!!
Thank you so much, Ashley! We’re so excited!
That looks beautiful! I can’t wait to follow along on this new adventure. Congrats!!!
Thank you so much, Amber! Looking forward to sharing all of the details – thank you so much for following along!
That’s awesome!!! I’m so excited for you! This is really similar to our experience of building and it’s been crazy and fun. We never planned on it – and it’s totally surreal to watch the plans come together. Looking forward to following along on your journey.
Thank you, Kim! Will you be at Haven this year? If so, we’ll have to get together for some house building talk! Looks like you’re further along in the process than we are so I’ll take any tips you’ve got for me. Such a fun little adventure, isn’t it?
You are living my dream!!! Oh I can’t wait to see what you build and will be following along on your amazing journey (with just a twinge of jealously and buckets of excitement)!
Thank you, Linda! It’s a dream for us, as well. I was hoping to build 10 years ago when we bought our last house but it wasn’t in the cards. I assumed we’d never do it after that, so to be at this place now is pretty surreal. Thank you so much for following along with us!
Cogratulations! It’s going to be amazing and your view is GLORIOUS! xx
Thank you so much, Kimberly! I find myself smiling no matter which direction I look. There will be loads of windows in the new house so we can keep enjoying those beautiful views – we can’t wait!
What an exciting endeavor! So happy for you guys. I can’t wait to read more about your plans so I can live vicariously through you.
Best wishes!
“The Busy Brunette”
http://thebusybrunette.blogspot.com
Thank you so much! We’re so excited to get started, and con’t wait to share the process with you all. Thank you so much for following along!
Congratulations! Gorgeous view. Good luck on your home building journey.
Thank you so much, Michelle! So nice connecting with you and finding another Wisconsin blogger!
Dusty… Love your blog , so happy for you and your family in finding your place and the great story behind it . As we all know its the simple twist of fate that can change our lives completely. Enjoy ….
Kimberly
So sweet of you to say, Kimberly – thank you! This wasn’t what we expected more than a year ago when we started this journey, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. Thank you so much for following along!
Wow so exciting such a thrilling feeling! I can’t wait to read about your journey! And your lot is divine, such a beautiful view, what a wonderful location to watch your family grow. Congrats!
xo ~ Kate
Thank you so much, sweet friend! We are beyond excited. It’s just a hill of grass and trees right now but it already feels like home. Hope you and your family are having a wonderful summer!
Omg, how exciting! I’ve been reading your blog forever, but this might be (?) my first time commenting. I’m so glad you’ve stuck around Blogland, and I can’t wait to read all about building your new house. It seems beyond exciting! Congratulations! xoxo -Letty
Thank you so much, Letty! I’m totally giddy about this whole process and can’t wait to share it with you all. Thank you so much for following along!
Yay!!!! How exciting. What an adventure for you guys. I am sure it will be full of ups and downs but it will be great to make this home yours.
Thank you so much, Ginny! We’re so excited to be settled into our new home, but the process of building is also pretty neat. We’re looking forward to seeing it all come together!
I hope you build a nice big front porch, I could sit and stare at the barn for days. Absolutely beautiful and peaceful. Perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine at the end of the day.
Oh you are so right, Kim! Definitely a perfect spot to unwind with wine. (Maybe I could store it in the barn?)
Wow, it’s beautiful there! Congratulations and good luck with the build!
Thank you so much, Briel!
Hello from Seattle! This is such lovely news, and the property is fantastic! But man, how generous of Charles to have set you up on the house date in the first place, and how amazing and insightful of him to then suggest getting to know the friend of the date that didn’t work out?! He’s a matchmaker!
jbhat
Thank you so much, jbhat! In addition to Charles playing matchmaker to us, he’s also renovating some historic buildings in downtown Cambridge, breathing new life into them. He’s a pretty great guy!
That looks like a beautiful neighborhood. We have the same struggle of my husband wanting land and in the county and I want a neighborhood for the kids. I live in Wisconsin also, about 20 minutes west of Milwaukee, the hills and view are gorgeous and not usual for here. I am sure you are so busy with ideas for the new house. Congrats!
Thank you so much for your comment, Emily! Good luck to you and your husband on your house search. I hope you find what you’re both looking for! (And if you can’t find it over by Milwaukee, come to Cambridge!!)