My New Home (+Video Tour)
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure PolicyIt feels a bit surreal to be typing this, but let me welcome each of you to my new home!
My house hunting adventure has finally ended. I now have a new home here in Pittsburgh, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about it! *cue Leslie Knope dance* Today, it’s my pleasure to show you around via photos and a short video at the end of this post.
I have so much I want to tell you about this new house. I wish I could just invite you over for snacks and cocktails so we could chat about my plans and any questions you have about the space.
In order to keep this post a reasonable length, I’m only going to show you around and save discussions of needed repairs, future plans, and my current brainstorming for separate posts. Sound good? We have a lot to talk about. I hope you’re ready for all things house.
Without further ado, let me give you the Before Tour of my house!
As you can see, the house is a colonial with a mix of white siding and white painted brick. Although it has a Pittsburgh address, it’s located about 20 minutes from the city.
The house sits on two acres and has a big front yard, good-size backyard, and small wooded area out back.
The garage is underneath the house (specifically, the dining room and living room.) While the garage is considered a 2-stall, I’m calling it a 1 1/2.
The home also has a semi-finished basement. I didn’t photograph it for this post, but this is where the laundry is located. There’s also a funky wood-paneled bar and another big wood-burning brick fireplace. I’ll save that for another post.
Off the family room, there’s a small side porch. I love this porch. In fact, I’m sitting on it as I write this post. From here I currently see a bunny as well as a couple chipmunks “playing.” And there are birds singing away. It’s so peaceful. I’ve also been told that deer are often in the backyard.
Speaking of the backyard, there is a big deck on the back of the house. It was added in the 90s. It’s not my favorite thing about the house, but its unique shape is growing on me.
Now, let’s go inside through the front door.
You can head straight back to the kitchen or use the stairs to reach the second floor. If you turn left, you’ll be in the family room. Turn right and you’re in the living room.
In the living room, there’s a wood burning fireplace and big bay window.
There’s also a large opening which leads into the dining room.
Once in the dining room, a set of French doors open onto the deck. On the opposite wall, through the swinging door, is the kitchen.
From this perspective, you can see most of the kitchen. The dining room is straight ahead, and the front door of the home is to the right. There is a set of doors that lead to the deck on the left.
This is the opposite wall, which takes you back to the front of the house. The door on the right goes to the basement.
The kitchen also connects to the family room.
I’m in love with this room. The big fireplace, ceiling beams, and Dutch door (which provides access to the side porch I mentioned earlier) tugged at my heartstrings and ultimately sold me on this house.
On the back wall of this room, you’ll find a small closet and full bathroom (with shower). There’s even a wet bar behind those sliding closet doors. (You can see the kitchen peeking through next to those doors.)
That wraps up the first floor. Now let’s go upstairs.
At the top of the stairs, on the left, you’ll find the master bedroom. This room has a semi-walk-in closet and bathroom.
If you make a right at the top of the stairs, the first door on your left is the main bathroom which has a tub/shower combo and large linen closet.
Continuing down the hall, there are two bedrooms on the right, one on the left, and one at the end of the hall. (If I did my math right, that’s five bedrooms in all.)
There is also an attic, which can be accessed from pulldown stairs in the hallway.
I think that’s it! Your first look at my new place is complete!
Because I have a feeling someone may ask (A few of you did on Instagram.), I do not have specific paint colors used in this house at this moment. However, there are some paint cans lying around, so when/if I can figure out paint colors, I will be sure to share those with you.
Now, if any of that was confusing to you, I made a short video per your request. I just filmed it on my phone, so it’s nothing fancy or well-edited, but I agreed that a video walkthrough would be really helpful. You can watch that below.
VIDEO TOUR:
I know many of you are curious about my plans and ideas. I am too! Have no fear, I will take you along every step of the way so that you can see how this house becomes my home.
And this isn’t all about me. I hope to share ideas that you can implement in your own space too. So if you have questions, want specific advice, or need more details about something, please let me know. The more we can communicate, the better journey is for all of us.
One final note: I know that naming things can be kind of annoying and weird (I get it.), but I couldn’t resist giving my new home a name. I decided to call it Bayberry House. Bayberry is a super special name to me because my late-grandparents lived on a street with that name. Before they passed, it was my intention to purchase their home. Since life has had different plans for me, naming my house is my small way of keeping that memory and other memories of them alive.
Thank you so much for being a part of my adventures. I’ve never been more excited to take you with me into a new chapter of my life. Let’s do this!
Wow this is more your style, it a small little apartment! You will make your grands proud!
Your new home is gorgeous. I cannot wait to see the charm that you add to it….it is already so charming to begin with.
Your grandparents would be so pleased at the name of the house! Well done. I just moved into a new home too. A 1970’s “rancher” that I love making it our own. We have been enjoying the wildlife, chipmunks, squirrels, and deer. Also fun to see the trees in bloom and the flowers that were hidden when we first bought the house.
Thanks for sharing and Enjoy the journey….
Congrats on the new house! Really, really love it! Looking forward to your future house posts. 🙂
Congratulations!! Your new home is gorgeous!! I can’t wait to see how you decorate each and every room!!
OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG!!!!!!!!! I’m so psyched for you Michael and cannot wait to see what you do with this gem. The unique shaped porch is GRAND, just like you, kind of diamondesque. LOVE the Bayberry tribute. Thank you for sharing your journey. XO
Love, Love, Love it. Congrats on the new house. Who is going to mow the lawn. We live in northern Calif. and the deer eat everything in our yard, even things they don’t normally eat. Protect the plants you want to keep. Have fun on your new adventure.
It’s beautiful and charming and perfect for you! Congrats! Also, I love that you gave it a special name 🙂 Cheers to Bayberry House! xo
Congrats! What a gorgeous house and yard. You had me at bunnies, chipmunks, birds and deer. Your cats will love looking out that bay window. So happy for you, thank you for the tour!
Swooning over this great find! I know you’re not sleeping a wink at night with all the design work going on in your head. Congrats!!!
Beautiful house; Congratulations! Will be spectacular once you put your inspired touch on it.
Well, it’s pretty plain to see I’m not the only one in the WOW camp here! What a beautiful place in which to create and live life well!
How many square feet are you working with? You will love all the space to house everything… I’ve filled up my entire home with just me and my little biz. I prefer it all under one roof as opposed to having to walk outside to a workshop.
Thank-you for the before tour… it’s gorgeous as is! And will only improve once you get your hands on it.
Congrats! I think I’m as excited as you are! haha
What an absolutely lovely home! Your grandparents would be so proud of you! It will be even more lovely when you implement all of your wonderful ideas. Cannot wait to see them!
Wishing you much happiness in your new home!
I’m looking forward to following along with your new house redecorating. It looks like a great home and fantastic property.
Congratulations. Bayberry House is beautiful! Can’t wait to see your personal touches to make it your own.
I just love your new house! Living in S. Florida, we don’t see houses like this. I’m a retired ASID interior designer with
35 years of design behind me and this house just inspires me with so many options to do with it. I have traveled all over the country doing design for my clients and always get excited doing northern houses. I’m sure you will
love making this your own! I also love the name you’ve chosen and the reason behind it. I’ve enjoyed reading your blogs and now will enjoy what your plans are with this. My best of luck to you with this beautiful place.
Congratulations on your purchase of Bayberry House! It is magnificent, oh, those grounds! and I look forward to seeing your evolution. Thanks for sharing with us!
Love your new home! I love a blank canvas, ive had to resist visualizing my furnishings in it! Bayberry House is a perfect name! Congrats!
Michael, I am so happy for you! I know this has been a project and a half but your pain has been our gain. We’re relocating to NC this summer and I’ve avidly read your post and taken notes. Thank you for taking us with you along the search. Your new home is gorgeous! That front yard took my breath away. How accomplished you must feel! My very best wishes for a lifetime of happiness in this beautiful house – may it be a place of peace, dreams realized and great memories to come!
Michael…..it’s fantastic!!!
Your new home is gorgeous. I really love the name & the story behind the name..
I look forward to reading about all you do with your new home.