A little over five years ago we climbed the porch steps and saw this house for the first time. I’ll be honest: it wasn’t love at first sight. The Seattle real estate market is—and has been—challenging, and we weren’t in a position to compete for the kinds of houses I truly wanted. Even the most basic homes were far more expensive than the one we were leaving.
As we searched (often unsuccessfully) for “the right one,” our list of must-haves slowly shrank. At first that felt disappointing, but eventually practicality won out. We hoped simply to find a house that was clean, sound, and livable.
When we found this house, it didn’t match my ideal image, but it checked the essential boxes and then some. It wasn’t my style at first glance, but with a little imagination I could see potential. A major bonus: there were no competing offers when we made ours, which was almost unheard of in that market. The inspector told us it was one of the most solid, well-cared-for homes he had seen in a long time, and that reassurance meant a lot.
It wasn’t an instant romance, but the house felt right. It surprised us with features we hadn’t expected: lots of natural light (even in the basement), a generous yard, and a lovely view. In hindsight it felt like a small gift meant for us—something I wouldn’t have predicted when I first saw the listing photos or stepped onto the porch.
We haven’t had the budget or the time to fully renovate in every way I might wish, but over the years we’ve made meaningful changes that have helped the house feel more like ours. Little updates—a Dutch door I adore, freshly painted brick—bring me joy. Still, as someone drawn to charming older homes, it can be easy to fixate on the next project or the things I’d like to change.
Recently, coming home from a walk and climbing the porch steps, I didn’t catalogue flaws or mentally draft a list of future projects. Instead, I paused and felt grateful for what already is.
This year has been unsettling in so many ways. Things we once took for granted have felt uncertain, and navigating everyday life has been harder than usual. Yet amid that upheaval, some things come back into sharper focus—what truly matters, and the small comforts that steady us.
As I stood on the porch that day I felt simple gratitude. Life remains imperfect and the future holds unknowns, but this humble porch still welcomes us home to a place where we are warm and loved.
If you’re new here, you can see our full house tour on the blog.
For a look back at the improvements we’ve made over time, see the home improvement recap on the site.
If you’re curious about how we handled the painted brick exterior, there are project details available in a separate post.
I’d love to see your porch or holiday décor—share photos with our community in the free Facebook group.