Late last year my (personified) Money “Honey” told me he wanted me to start walking. I was having one of those, “Okay, Money, what would make you happy?” conversations.  He responded, “I want you to take daily walks at 8 in the morning.”  8 am? I was falling asleep at 5 am!  But when money tells you what to do, you do it… These walks became my favorite time of my day, typically lasting two and a half hours.

On one of these walks my Money Honey said he needed a bigger place. He was feeling claustrophobic and didn’t want to live in the apartment I’ve had for ten years.  That’s when I started looking for a house to buy.  I did the whole loan application thing, scoured the internet for houses in five cities (I had a little trouble choosing where I want to live)…  and then on a daily walk I found it: my new home.

It’s HUGE! And beautiful. Romantic. Total Morgana-wish-fulfillment. High, beamed, dark wood ceilings; lots of windows (I’ve counted 19); lots of closets (I counted 8, maybe 9); two stories, a balcony; private garden; a kitchen with a gazillion built-ins (including a vintage ice box); more rooms and much more space. Here are some pics:

living room before move, with french doors to private garden

staircase to second floor

The guest "bed" room -- good luck fitting a bed there!

my new office

bedroom ceiling

dining room ceiling

mystery kitchen built in

new bedroom

my favorite office

The first thing I see in the morning