I could not be more excited to finally share: WE BOUGHT A HOUSE! A real, live house. It’s a dream come true and has been a huge secret for us to keep. Some of you guessed wild things—pregnancy or Jeff opening a Dunkin’ Donuts—but yes, it was a house all along.
We’d been house hunting on and off for a while, but after Baby A arrived it became clear we couldn’t stay in our three-floor walk-up one-bedroom forever. I have so much respect for parents who do that in NYC—those stairs are no joke.
Short version: we put in what felt like a long-shot offer on a 1930s charmer full of character, with beautiful arches and a large backyard, and by some miracle we got it. We’re still in shock.
Longer version: we were searching in another part of LA when I randomly found the listing. I was captivated by the arches and didn’t even check the location—I just knew we had to see it. After a long day looking at homes that needed significant work and were far above asking price, we toured this house and were blown away. It had three bedrooms, original character, and a surprisingly big backyard covered in bougainvillea—and it was within our price range.
We met the owner, chatted, and the next day submitted an offer along with a personal note about our family and Arlo, including a cute photo of him. We weren’t offering all cash, so we figured a heartfelt note couldn’t hurt.
Initially we were told our offer wasn’t being considered. Fortunately our real estate agent—who’s also my sister-in-law, Eileen—pushed back and asked if we could come back with a stronger offer. We submitted our best offer and crossed our fingers.
A few days later, while out at the Getty with friends, Eileen called to say we didn’t get it. I was disappointed but assumed it was too good to be true. Then she called back—“JUST KIDDING, YOU GOT IT!”—and we were over the moon.
Side note: In that excited photo I look extra animated because Jeff accidentally ran over my foot with Arlo’s stroller—true story!
After a month of inspections and negotiations, we closed at the beginning of June. The last six weeks have been a blur of work: Jeff has been at the house frequently overseeing a new roof and HVAC, refinishing floors, painting, and coordinating contractors. Now we’re set to move in next week.
I can’t wait to show you everything. Every room needs work, which is great because you all have asked for more home content for years—now we finally have it. This house will showcase both Jeff’s and my interior style, and I’m so excited to get started.
Next Tuesday, July 25th, we’ll share the before photos and do an Instagram Live walk-through to talk about our plans. The live will be on my account (@studiodiy) at 2:30pm PST—mark your calendars!
In the meantime, I’d love to hear what home content you enjoy most. We plan to share overall aesthetic posts, room inspiration, and plenty of before-and-after reveals, but if there’s something specific you want to see—design tips, budgeting, contractor stories, DIY projects—tell me. This is all so new and exciting, and I’m thrilled to have you along for the whole journey.
Thanks for sharing in our excitement—more updates coming soon!