The New Design Crush Headquarters

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After eight months of searching for the perfect home in Pennsylvania, I’ve finally found it. And made an offer. And am buying it.

You’ll have to forgive the shoddy realtor photos, but I don’t have any of my own. Because I’ve never actually set foot in this house. I KNOW. I’m buying it based on these photos and a video my Mom shot on her iPhone when touring it for me. Let me tell you, buying a place halfway across the country is no piece of cake! But I’m excited to share of these photos with you and take you on the journey.

Let me start by saying that this is not the type of house I thought I would end up with. Mainly because it’s not what I was looking for or like anything that’s ever been my taste. I’m clean lines, modern, open spaces. And without the renovations that have been done on this 1900 colonial I wouldn’t have given it a second glance. But a few weeks ago I spied it online, and then later that same day both my realtor and my Mom sent me a link to it as well. My response: I like a lot of the inside, but am not into the outside. And part of that still stands true, but it’s grown on me considerably. So about a week later I sent both of them to take a peek in person and the three of us all fell head over heels. As far as the facade goes, I’d love to add a wooden porch the width of the house that eliminates those three strange steps up to the front door probably about more than anything else. But like a lot of things I want to do to the interior, all in good time.

But you probably want to take a peek for yourself at the new Design Crush headquarters…

 

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The floors throughout the first floor have been refinished and (supposedly) the entire place was taken down to the studs. This is the living room right off the left of the foyer once you come in the front door. I love the high ceilings that run throughout this level. Right off the bat I’ll be pulling down those curtains in the little windows flanking the floor to ceiling fireplace and painting out the gold piece in the middle of the mantle. Eventually I plan on swapping out that tile in the hearth and painting the entire space white. I’ve always liked the look of a clean palette and really want my furnishings to be what brings color and personality to the house. The stone fireplace is much better in person (or so I hear) and is comprised of uneven bits and pieces.

To the right side of the frame is a huge open doorway into the dining room. The photo online is awful, but what you’ll find are three large windows forming a bay on the outer wall and a small built-in that’s thankfully already white. Off of the dining room is a fully renovated 3-piece bath and a small hallway to the kitchen.

 

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Nicely refinished, but those the cabinets are dated and only made fresh by a coat of paint. They’ll need replaced sooner than later. Glass tiling in kitchens and baths is a trend currently, but one that I’m not entirely on board with. (Are people getting hugely amazing deals on it? What is the deal?!) It will suffice for now, but the larger plan is to tear it out and do a half wall of white subway tile with white paint (again) above. I’m also debating whether or not I’ll replace the black granite with something different. The right wall in this photo has a cooktop (soon to be replaced with a range before closing) and a nook for the fridge. The opposite two walls are half white beadboard and half white paint. Completely livable at this point. In the corner they form I’m hoping to put up some open shelving for pretty cookbooks and serving pieces. One of my favorite parts – not pictured – are the beams on the ceiling. A total dream!

To the left there is also a doorway out to the deck and backyard, which we’ll get to in a minute, and a pantry. To the right is a doorway that leads around to a nook that has a door to the basement, as well as a hallway with a coat closet before you’re back in the foyer. I love the full circle layout a lot.

 

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Which leaves us here. The front door to the right (not pictured) has a half window and needs a coat of paint and that’s about it. This staircase curves up and to the left with a window set about halfway up. I’m not at all keen about the carpeting that leads the way up to and covers almost the entire second floor. Eventually I hope to replace it all with wood that closely matches the first floor, but that will require some savings. In the meantime, it will be good traction for the dogs since we’ve never lived with stairs before.

 

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The second floor has one small bedroom with wood floors that will be my office, and three other bedrooms that all look about the same. Like this. (Not nearly as dark and dingy as this shot implies.) Again, several windows forming a large bay and a seriously decent-sized closet considering this place was built in 1900! There’s also another fully renovated 3-piece bath.

 

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Continue up a switchbacked set of stairs to the third floor finished attic. Those windows are on all four side and total showstoppers! Again, I’m not fond of the carpeting, but at least it’s all new throughout. This floor is actually comprised of two huge rooms, one of which I’m hoping to make the master and the other the walk-in wardrobe of my dreams. This plan all depends on whether or not the central AC that’s going in before closing can have its ducts run up all three floors. A bit of a challenge, or so I’m told. I’m not sure what plan B is if that’s not a possibility.

 

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The back yard is a total blank slate, you can only see about a fourth of it here. Not large by any means but comparable to what I currently have. The deck is new and beautiful and I’m already imagining having my morning coffee on it, throwing parties, and about a hundred other things! I’m also looking forward to pillaging my green thumbed Grandma’s yard for peonies, lilacs, and poppies to plant.

Closing is scheduled for September 8th, so I hope to have some better photos for you at that point. Thanks for indulging me while I share the new digs!

17 Comments
  • Kat

    July 29, 2014 at 2:46 pm Reply

    How cute!! And you are brave, sight unseen. It looks adorable though and with a big wooden front porch I can only imagine how inviting it will look. The fire place is an A+ Lovely.

  • Rachel

    July 29, 2014 at 2:50 pm Reply

    YAY! How exciting – I love it!

  • joanna

    July 29, 2014 at 2:58 pm Reply

    YAY!!!!!!!! can’t wait to come visit 😉

  • Nicole

    July 29, 2014 at 3:21 pm Reply

    So exciting! Can’t wait to see more once you’re in!

  • Jaime

    July 29, 2014 at 3:27 pm Reply

    Where’s MY room?

  • Mom

    July 29, 2014 at 3:46 pm Reply

    I loved the tour you gave and the way you described it to everyone. Are you sure you weren’t there with me? 🙂

  • Katherine

    July 29, 2014 at 6:30 pm Reply

    Congrats! This really makes me miss the first home I purchased in PA. It was a 1900’s farm house and I too at first wasn’t in love but boy I fell hard. It was hard to leave but PA just wasn’t the place for us to stay long term. Enjoy dreaming and creating!

  • Erin

    July 30, 2014 at 8:48 am Reply

    Beautiful, Kelly! So excited for you! Congratulations and can’t wait to see what you do with it!

  • Abigail

    July 30, 2014 at 10:55 am Reply

    Congrats on the new place! The porch is such a great idea.

  • Susan Brinson

    July 30, 2014 at 4:32 pm Reply

    You. Are. Brave. I like the house, it’s really cute. Old houses have so much character, you can really use it as a stage to set the tone for whatever style you want to decorate it. I know you’ll make it hot!

    It’s interesting cause most federal or colonial style houses wouldn’t have had a porch? I’m looking at the front of the house wondering sans overhang? Huummm. I didn’t like the front of our house when we bought it (and still don’t) and I saw a pic from the 1860s that it DID have a porch and someone took it off. I can’t wait to put that puppy back on. That will be all about my dorky obsession with historic homes.

    Good luck! And hope the move goes smooth. XO

  • Uncle Beefy

    July 31, 2014 at 2:12 am Reply

    Congratulations, Miss Kelly! Well done!!! How exciting! And, y’know, it’s like we’re in the same boat since I obviously haven’t seen *my* room in person yet, either. 😉 xx

    • Kelly

      July 31, 2014 at 9:05 am Reply

      you are welcome any time, sir! 😉

  • Elizabeth Williams

    July 31, 2014 at 7:00 pm Reply

    Love this property, congrats!

  • Sarah

    August 8, 2014 at 2:34 pm Reply

    Yay! What a cute house! I can’t wait to see what you do with it. I personally vote to keep the black granite countertops! It’s what I have in my kitchen (with laquered white cabinets) and I’ve been really happy with them. They are much easier to keep clean than the white marble counters in my bathroom. Congrats on the new digs!

  • Susan

    August 26, 2014 at 12:02 am Reply

    Home sweet home! So happy for you Kelly!!!

  • Susan

    August 26, 2014 at 12:02 am Reply

    Home sweet home! So happy for you Kelly!!!

  • Susan

    August 26, 2014 at 12:02 am Reply

    Home sweet home! So happy for you Kelly!!!

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