Goodbye, Old Charm
Well, friends, it's official. This past Friday I signed the papers and sold my house in St. Marys.
If you are new to IBC (or just want a quick refresher), back in 2008, I bought a bed and breakfast called Old Charm. In 2013, I closed the B&B and used the entire house as my home.
Sidenote: For those of you who didn't know, the name of my blog "Inspired by Charm" (which premiered in 2009) is based on the name of the B&B.
In June of last year, I decided to spread my wings a bit and move to an apartment in Pittsburgh. Although I hadn't intended to sell my place in St. Marys, an opportunity to do so presented itself recently, and it was just too good to resist.
For the past six months or so, I've been hunting for a house here in Pittsburgh, and if you check out my Instagram post today, you can get a sneak peek at how that's progressing.
As you might guess, selling my home (and previous business) of almost 10 years was bittersweet. However, as I've made this transition over the past year, I am confident that everything is working out as it should. And that, my friends, is a great feeling.
With the travel back and forth between homes and the ups and downs of selling and buying, this past year did not go as planned. And although at various points, it made me want to pull my hair out, things could have been so much worse. Most of the rough times were when I let myself get caught up in the downs and drama of life. Now I'm aware there was something bigger at work, and while difficult, this process was essential.
At the end of the day, I'm moving on to the next chapter of my life with joy, excitement, and anticipation. Even though it's sure to have challenges, I firmly believe this new era will be bright, happy, and beautiful.
So, as I turn the final page of the Old Charm chapter of my life, it seems fitting to take a walk down memory lane. If you don't mind, I want to share some reflections on my previous home. Obviously, there are dozens and dozens of memories, so I'm going to limit myself as much as possible.
I'd also love for you to join in. If you've been following for a while, please leave a comment below with your favorites from my previous home: favorite room, best makeover, coolest craft, tastiest recipe, and so on. It would mean so much to hear from you.
Let's get to it .... (in no particular order)
The view looking into my dining room.
This was easily my favorite view in my entire house. It was almost magical. Not only does it look pretty, but it was so easy to photograph. The light almost always worked perfectly, and I was able to create many truly magical moments there.
I also have fond memories of this room because at one point I got to chat on the phone with Nate Berkus about it. In fact, he chose that gray paint color. I still love it!
The deck.
This house was located in downtown St. Marys so yard space was lacking. In fact, I didn't have a yard.
Installing this artfully placed deck in the back of the house was one of the best decisions I made. It gave me space to create an outdoor seating area, have a small fireplace, and hang string lights.
100-year-old character.
I unofficially moved out on the 100th birthday of the house. (Not the exact day, but the year.) This old house solidified my love of older homes. I was enamored of the detailed/wide woodwork, all of the built-ins, the pocket doors, and the high ceilings.
Press.
My work in this home brought Inspired by Charm to the attention of others. Not only was my St. Marys home featured in several magazines (most notably the cover and a spread in BHG's Christmas Ideas magazine), but it allowed me to work with many amazing brands and people throughout the years.
And I'm not telling you this to be braggadocios, but it makes saying goodbye a little easier. I gave this home so much, and it gave so much back to me. I'm especially grateful to have this blog as a journal of my journey
Lots of practice.
As I mentioned last week, I've been working on improving the backend of the blog, which means looking through old posts. Blogging was so different back in 2009 in some very good and some very bad ways. When I go back that far, my inclination is to be judgemental of my work. However, I'm forcing myself to take a different approach, and that has helped me realize how much I've grown and learned.
My photography has improved, my decorating skills have evolved, my writing has changed, and my overall style has shifted into something I'm actually proud of.
On top of that, I've learned some handy skills, including how to hang light fixtures, add molding, and even do minor plumbing.
This picture / view of my living room.
To this day, I still get a couple emails a month asking where this rug is from. (It's from CB2, but they haven't sold it since 2013.)
Anytime I would share this picture (or a similar shot on Instagram), it would get so many likes and comments. It was a beautiful space.
Okay, I think I'm getting a bit carried away, so I'm going to stop here. However, a few quick honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions:
My Mom's 60th Birthday
Rainbow Christmas Tree
My Home Tours
A Small but Mighty Kitchen
Forged Nail Curtain Rod
Thank you all so much for being a part of this journey. Whether you have been following along since 2009 or just joined yesterday, I am thrilled that you are here. I look forward to sharing my next chapter with you!
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