dreaming of the next home

Everytime I visit the post office I drive past this house - actually there is a whole street of houses which look pretty much like this, just slightly different. It is incredibly simple, even a little Plain Jane perhaps. At the moment we live in a two story home and I cannot wait to live in a single story home once again - I could live in a simple little modern house like this very happily. Not in a street full of the same house however, it would be much more special in a street on it's own. Don't you think?

I've been inside these homes and they are beautiful - gorgeous travertine flooring, generous spaces, stunning finishes. So the dream of the next home continues. We are keen to settle down in the next home. I have my eye on a block of land nearby, it is a larger plot than ours and much more private. On one side there is a single story home, conveniently on the western side which we would have minimal windows on. The rear faces north and backs onto a pine tree edged golf course with some amazing wildlife. The birds are so noisy at night sometimes, but it is the kind of noise that makes me smile. The eastern side is beside an easement planted out with native trees including some beautiful wattles. Just one neighbour! It is perfect. I like to hope that it will come up for sale when we are ready to purchase. 

I am always dreaming up plans for this block of land. It will have a separate studio in the backyard - we would have the studio pre-made offsite and we would live in it as we built the main home. High ceilings and lots and lots of natural light. A white kitchen, timber floors (a lighter timber), white walls and timber framed windows. I could go on... Is it silly to do this? Am I the only one dreaming up imaginary homes on imaginary plots of land? 

We also keep our eye on the houses in the older seaside village just down the road. It would be such a nice place to bring up a family - I take my niece down to the calm water on days when i take care of her. It is the tiniest little beach just perfect for little kids (and big kids like us). There are some cute little beach shacks I've got my eye on. 

Whilst we have renovated several properties in the past for my parents-in-law, we've never renovated our own home (or whilst living in the house at the same time!). I'm ready for the challenge, maybe. I've heard horror stories about renovating but then we've experienced horror stories whilst building homes also. Building can be incredibly frustrating as you have to rely on so many people. The high of painting a room or putting in a kitchen by yourselves - nothing beats that. Imperfections and all. If you build a new home you expect everything to be perfect, and honestly it rarely is. 

Image: Olive & Joy