Normally, I never post anything “personal”. It’s always a tutorial, themed collection of ideas, or a thrift store decor post. But with the new year upon us, I thought I’d take a breather from the norm and talk about our new house.
So, if you want to grab a cup of coffee or tea, we can just relax and chat for a change. How does that sound?
And why am I sharing our new home with you? Well, it serves as Ground Zero for all things blog- my office, my workshop, and my studio. The blog was a big factor in selecting a house since I need certain things to make this business work. Which means that anyone who reads my blog spends a lot of time in my home, so-to-speak.
Most of 2021 was dedicated to the pursuit of buying a home in the Charlotte, NC area. And what a time in history to be buying a home- yeesh! But, we lucked out with new construction in a town just outside of Charlotte.
And we got to observe and check in on the entire process, from graded soil to turn-key home!
With our new house came the desire to re-furnish and re-style. Neither of us loved the vintage farmhouse look anymore (our previous style), instead gravitating towards an eclectic mid century style.
So, of course I’ve been thrifting and secondhand shopping with that in mind all year long!
I’m excited to show you the building process and the final product. Because from here on out, any new projects I create will take place here or be inspired by our revamped decor!
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Construction of the New House
When I tell you we checked on the progress of the house constantly last year, I am NOT exaggerating. It was so fun to see fresh progress nearly every time we went by.
We lucked out by finding a corner lot at the back of the development. So, those trees and shrubs you see beyond the fresh slab? You’ll see them again and again in the coming years whenever I take photos of spray painting projects in our backyard!
Neither of us wanted to deal with a two-story house. We’d rented one when we first moved to Charlotte in 2020 and ended up hating to deal with two floors.
But, even though it’s a ranch style home, it’s large enough to comfortably house the two of us AND my business. And Cottonball, of course, but he’s not nearly as picky about space.
It’s not huge by any stretch! It’s actually 2,100 square feet with lots of storage for all of my craft supplies and photo “props” (i.e., bottles and vintage things you see in my project photos).
Someday, I’ll forget that there was once a severely tilted porta-potty on our property. I mean, yikes- can you even imagine the fear of that tipping over while you’re inside??
ANYWAY.
Once the house was ready for drywall, we brought in a third-party inspector to make sure the frame and slab were good to go. This was what the house looked like for that first inspection.
Finishing the Build
After that, the house was fully insulated and drywalled. It FINALLY started to look like an actual house and not just a construction site!
As the interior of the house was coming together and getting initial coats of paint, the exterior stonework was underway.
I love the stone facade so much and can’t wait to create planters and other yard projects for the front of the house!
Once the cabinets were installed, we knew the end was in sight. For our builder, that was the telltale sign that everything was falling into place.
Following a second third-party inspection (to ensure that our electric, gas, and water was working perfectly, etc.), we closed on the house just before Thanksgiving.
Welcome to Our New House!
Now that you’ve seen the construction process, I’d love to show you the inside! I also wanted to share that I didn’t pick out the color combinations or surfaces. Each house in our neighborhood is theoretically a “spec” house and home owners don’t choose paint colors or finishes.
But the cool-toned grey and white interior design is just the canvas we wanted for our mid-mod decor plans. And it also photographs really well for future projects!
Effectively, the house has: three bedrooms (one primary, which is ours, and a Jack-and-Jill set that will both be used as home offices); one “flex” room which will be our TV room/den; open kitchen; dining room; living room (which will be used for lots of final project photos, I’m sure); and a laundry room, powder room, and assorted closets.
The floors are a weathered grey (PERFECT for overhead or flat lay photos); all cabinets and tile are light grey; counters are white quartz; and the walls are a cool cream color (“City Loft” by Sherwin Williams).
Plus, the kitchen has a huge island which will be perfect if I ever pull the trigger on doing overhead DIY videos! I never had the proper set up for that before.
The living room will be the decor “star” of the show, so-to-speak. I’ve been wanting a sitting room (without a TV!) for a long time- both for having friends over and as a photography space.
So, all of the furniture I hinted at in the beginning of this post will be in the living room. I still have a few pieces to find, but I’m not rushing it. Curating a secondhand home (even with a few new pieces thrown in) takes time and patience!
I plan on doing a full living room “tour” post when I’ve found everything I want/need. But until then, I hope you enjoy a few small sneak peek photos AND this thrifting post that I just published recently.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this (very brief) departure from my normal blog post. Whether you realize it or not, if you spend any time reading my blog, then you spend quite a bit of time in my home! And for the first time in my eight years of blogging, I have a home that is bright, easy to photograph, and chosen with the blogging life in mind.
Thank you for spending a bit of your day with me! I promise to bring you new upcycling projects soon.
Craft on!
S
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Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.
Looks like you moved into one of those every house looks the same, and way too close to your neighbor. Association fees and rules. It will be interesting to follow your journey to make it individually yours.
The 2021 housing market was, in a word, insane. And we simply weren’t in a financial position to pay $100,000 over asking price for an older home that needed work.
As someone who has lived in a 1960 home that constantly needed something done every year I say good for you. Also the more simple the house the easier to change the aesthetic inside.
Excellent points!
It’s beautiful, Sadie!
Thank you so much, Gerri!
Lovely home! I love the blank slate for all your future adventures, can’t wait to see all your new finds and creations. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Alison- the blank slate was SO appealing to us, too!
Home sweet home! It’s beautiful—congratulations! Looking forward to the full tour of the inside with all those amazing pieces you’ve found!
Thanks so much!
Congratulations and I just love it! We moved during the pandemic too and although i would have preferred Charlotte, we choose Rochester NY bc my husband loves the change in seasons. We start our renovation in February so please continue to share pictures of your home so I can have inspo. I’m a big fan of craftsman but also absolutely love mid-mod too. I think it’s the use of natural wood in both design styles. Do you mind sharing the details of your flooring? (Very pretty)
Thanks, Cami! I do love western and upstate NY, so I can’t really blame you guys! The flooring is an Ashfield EVP by Shaw in Oyster Oak.
Your new home is beautiful. Enjoy!
Thank you so much, Amanda- we’re definitely looking forward to adding some character to it!
It looks lovely! Congrats!
Thank you so much!
Good luck in your new home. It will be so much fun for you to decorate and craft. I for one will be patiently waiting to see all of your ideas come to life.
Thank you, Rita! I hope you had a lovely holiday season!
Wow! Beautiful house! I get the dark areas that make it hard to take good photos! I put in a white countertop with just that in mind! Much love in your new home !
Our old house was a literal CAVE! The amount of editing my photos took was, well, unsustainable. So I know you totally understand!!
Ooooo…I have house envy! That is a beautiful home you have – congrats!
Thanks, Beverly!
Love it!!! From the front porch columns bungalow look – to your gorgeous kitchen! And you know I covet that chair lol! Congratulations on your beautiful new home – can’t wait to see the amazing things you will do there!
That chair is a marvelous creature, right?!?! And so surprisingly comfy, too! Thank you so very much!
Congrats! Can’t wait to see what you do with your new space.
Thank you, Edith!
It’s beautiful! Congratulations!
Thank you so very much, Denise!
Wow!
Sarah, I love your new home!. I’ve been in the same home since 1976!!
I’ve always wanted a new home to make my own, but the roots have a tight hold on me.
So, so happy! Love the idea of Jack and Jill for offices!
Gail
DANG GIRL, 1976! You’re living in pure equity as far as I see it, LOL. Personally, I think that is so fabulous and financially smart!
Aww, so very happy for you!! Blank slate to really make it your own!! Have fun and I will so be watching for everything you do to it….again, Congratulations, Sadie!!
Thank you, Karolyn!
Congratulations, it’s Beautiful! I can’t wait to follow you on your journey & see how you turn this blank slate into your home with all your treasures!
Thank you, Sandi!!
Congratulations on your beautiful new home. I can’t wait to see how you put your own personal touch to it. It’s going to be SPECTACULAR!!!!
Thank you, Jenni!! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season!
Love!
You didn’t ask, but a pretty arbor (I think it’s called) over the top of the garage door would be so pretty!
Those are my favorite things!
Enjoy your new house!
Your new home is so bright! I can’t wait to see how you decorate MCM style! I love furniture and accessories of that era. I love the outside of your home, too. I especially like the stone facade. I wishes there were more windows on that side of the house you photographed, but those areas may not be improved by having more windows. I don’t know. Again, I’m looking forward to more! Best wishes in the new year!
I thought so at first, too! But that wall includes two bathrooms, the primary closet, the laundry room, and a utility closet- so from a layout perspective, definitely not critical window rooms!
Your new home is beautiful! Congratulations! Charlotte is a great city but building your home in an outlying neighborhood is a great idea. Small town feel with big city appeal when you’re in the mood! Looking forward to seeing your crafty additions to making your house a home!
Thank you!! And you hit the nail on the head about Charlotte!
It’s lovely, and I just know that when you’re done, it will look and feel perfect for you! Now please keep your fingers crossed for me, that I can find my forever home back in Connecticut!
I will definitely keep them crossed for you! Do you have a moving timeline yet??
No, I’ve been searching for “my house” for over a year now. As soon as I can close on one in CT, I am outta here!
Congratulations! It’s a beautiful home. Light, bright and spacious! Looking forward to more pictures of your gift of creations! Happy New Year!
Thank you so much, Roberta!
Congratulations on the new home! It’s beautiful! Can’t wait to see all the new projects you will make for it 🙂
Thank you, Alexandra!
Congratulations!!! Enjoy decorating your new home. You seem to have a much better Habitat store than we have around my area, so happy for you on your great finds (to date).
I’m very lucky with the amazing ReStores we have here in Charlotte!
Thank you so much, Susan!
Thank you for your post. Isn’t it exciting to move into a new place? I have always lived in a small home until 2 years ago ( about 1.200 sq feet ) so I think your home is huge. Instead of down sizing we up sized too. Your home is bright and cheery. I love that. I know you will do the most amazing thing to make your new home “your ” . I really enjoyed you sharing your new home with us. May you have a wonderful and blessed New Year .
Thank you so much, Carolyn! Yes, that very first house (where I started the blog) was about 1400 square feet…which meant that I had commandeered the entire garage (which was 5-feet deeper than the average garage AND had a workroom AND a loft), LOL. This house will be much more fairly split up, space-wise, for my very understanding but space-deserving husband!
A new home to start a new year! How wonderful! I live in the house in which I grew up and often think how fun it would be to buy a new home and furnish it. Then I realize that I am comfortable right here, have a big backyard for my gardens, and good neighbors. Besides there is so much “stuff” in my basement, I could never move. Lots of hobbies means lots of stuff :-).
Best of luck in your new home and please share photos as you go along.
You have some amazingly deep roots (and equity!), Janice, so I understand why you’d stay where you are!
Loved the tour. Can’t wait to see your photos as you progress. Congratulations!
Thank you so much, Rosemary!
LOVE your new home! It’s gorgeous 😍. Your flooring looks a lot like what we bought to redo our home (which is a 70’s ranch style LOL.) and I want to remodel our kitchen eventually and told my husband I wanted gray cabinets. Now I know I have descent tastes after seeing your home! ❤️
Thanks for giving us a tour.
I’m so glad it was well-received! And thank you so much!!
It’s going to be fabulous! I so badly need to rework my home furnishings…and need you to be my personal shopping buddy. Congratulations on your new home!
I wish I could do that, too, Mandy!! Thank you so much, I hope you had a wonderful holiday season!
Oh this is so beautiful! Such a big congratulations! And I know your dark home dilemma very well. I still struggle with my kitchen which needs major lightning up if I decide to stay. Can’t wait to see how you make it your iwn!
I will definitely not miss the cave aspect that our first house had- great for snuggling in blankets and watching movies, but TERRIBLE for blogging!
WooHoo, you are going to have so much fun creating your own space. So looking forward to seeing it in the near future. Congrats!!
Thank you so very much, Leslie!
Congratulations on your beautiful new home! I love the stone on the front. My local Habitat in Connecticut regularly seems to get MCM china hutches. Have fun with your new MCM decorating direction.
I see MCM hutches at mine, too- some are definitely prettier than others, though! 😉
Congratulations, Sarah!! How incredibly exciting! Like you, I was able to keep my blog in mind when shopping for our current home a few years ago, and it has made work life so much easier to have the right space needed! I love all the finishes in yours…enjoy making it your own! XOXO
It makes such a HUGE difference, right?? I knew my fellow blogger friends would totally understand. I hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday season, Christy!
Sadie I am so excited for you! I have never had a spanking new house. It must be thrilling and intimidating at the same time.
Thanks for sharing. I love to search for second had treasures, but need little now so it is mostly just looking and imagining😘.
Enjoy the journey.
Sue
Thanks, Sue!
So excited for you and your new home! It is a beautiful blank slate for you to make your own. Owning a home is such fun and I hope you enjoy every minute of decorating! Happy new year to you and your family.
Thank you, Deana- Happy 2022 to you, as well!
Happy New Year in your new home! Looking forward to following your creative decision-making process as you take “This New House” and make it yours. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much, Anita!
Congratulations on your new home. I’ve visited Hickory/ Charlotte area. Beautiful choice.
Thanks, Kathy!! Yes, we really love it here- and Hickory has been a delightful surprise for us, too!
Love. Love. Love. Congratulations and thank you for sharing. Many happy memories are coming your way.
Thank you, my friend!! Sending virtual hugs and kisses to you!
Congrats on your new home! Just returned from visiting 7 weeks with my daughter and family in Matthews. That area is building up like crazy. I love how warm it was and the people are so friendly.
Happy New Year!
It really is!! And we’ve been really enjoying getting to know Charlotte over the past couple of years- thank you!
Nice home! I agree that one-story is best. I am in late 60s and do not want to deal with stairs ever again with 2 knee replacements and a hip/lower back problem. I live in Oregon and we plan to get a new-to-us home this year (we hope). We have 2 homes to sell. I had wondered if it would be cheaper to buy a lot and have a home built or buy one already done or remodeled. So expensive right now.
It’s truly a terrible time to be house shopping right now. I know we were very lucky to nab one at all!
One story sounds wonderful;) And everything brand new & clean! So fun for you to decorate it with a whole new look; can’t wait to see how all those finds come together!
Thanks, Lora!
Congratulations! I know you will make it even more beautiful than it is.
Thank you so very much, Robin!
Your new home is beautiful and I am eager to watch your progress! Congrats!
Thanks, Kathy!
Congratulations Sadie! I’m so happy for you that you are in a new place that is of your choosing & were able to be a part of watching it come to be. Is someplace to call your very own to create memories and happiness!
Thank you so much, Heidi!
I feel excitement for you in my bones and heart. Although years of doing that have passed for me, I can still enjoy you and yours as you plan. Welcome to Charlotte. I have been in Charlotte myself for 21 years near the Arboretum area. Thank you for the show. I cannot wait for more. xo
Thank you so much, Diane! We’ve loved getting to know Charlotte for the past 1.5 years, but of course, it’s going to be an extra long courtship thanks to the virus, LOL. So glad to be truly putting down roots now!
Love your new home. I chose “city Loft” by Sherwin Williams this Spring for my home, but it’s 37 years old. Can’t wait to see your decorating. I have quite a bid of mid mid furniture to sell. Too bad you are so far away. I ended up Going to farmhouse look so we have flip flopped! Lol
Ha!! That’s too funny that we’ve flip flopped at the same time! And same…we gave away a lot of our farmhouse primitives in the Fall of last year.
Love seeing your new home, Sarah! It’s beautiful!
Thank you so much, Mrs. Williams! I hope you two had a lovely holiday season!
It looks amazing! Have fun decorating. =) Love the colors too. Oh! And congratulations on your new home. Enjoy!
Thank you so much, JoAnn!
Sarah, your new home has great bones and I know will be beautiful when your personal touches are
finished. I love your new city and have for many years. I think I saw, a hint, that Cottonball might be getting a new pet. I will have to wait and see. I hope you find all the pieces you are looking for. I can’t wait to visit again. Happy hunting.
Thanks, Karen!!
The house of my dreams! Not too big but a place for everybody and all on one floor! In a year your house will be you and not like everyone else’s! That the great part when you are as talented and decorative as you! Congratulations on your new 🏠
Thank you, so much- Happy New Year!!
I really enjoyed this post. I hope you will do more like this every once in a while! I love your new home and the finishes are very “refined” looking!
I have a couple of blogs that I follow. I always wish that I could do a meet up when I travel, but I realize that would be hard for most bloggers to do.
Thank you for sharing your joy in your new home!
Thank you, Torry! I have to admit, I wasn’t sure how folks would feel about me posting something personal versus something of value, like a project tutorial. But it’s been overwhelmingly positive, hurray, hurray!!
So Happy for you. A new home has so many possibilities, Congratulations. I’m excited to follow your journey. Thank you for sharing this big step in your life. God Bless
Thank you so much, Vicki!
I love your blog! i am from Charlotte, NC originally but live in FL now! I’m here for a week visiting family and would love to visit some of The Thrift and Re-stores you shop at! Can you direct me to a list of those! Your new home is lovely! Thanks!
Happy to help, Tammy- and thank you! I’ve got a general list here: https://www.sadieseasongoods.com/charlotte-nc/ . More specifically, I definitely recommend the Assistance League thrift store on North Tryon, as well as the ReStore on Wendover (in Charlotte) and the ReStore in Cornelius, NC if you’re willing to take a little drive north! Happy thrifting and hope this helps!
Awesome! thank you! When i read your blog and you talk about Charlotte it makes me homesick when you mention places i love like the Gibson Mill in Concord!
I am so happy for you – the house is beautiful! xo
Thank you, Jane!
Congratulations on the new home! It’s beautiful! Can’t wait to see all the new projects you will make for it
Congratulations, I’m really happy for you. I love the neutral colors, and I love the furniture you have found. It looks perfect for you. I hope getting it all together isn’t too stressful. It would be fun to move some day and get things sorted! I’m looking forward to seeing more of your posts.
I love hearing about the “personal” stuff on blogs, and your home is beautiful! More posts like this, please! And we can’t wait to see what you do with the space. Congrats on the new home!