***Update: catch up and follow along with our house progress by scrolling through the site and checking our updates!***
Hey friends! It’s been a whirlwind of a few weeks, but we’re excited to share an initial tour of our new (and delightfully old) mid-century brick rambler. I never imagined I’d buy a ranch-style, one-level house with a basement — it’s not the era I usually gravitate toward. I tend to be drawn to cottage, farmhouse, craftsman, or storybook styles, but this rambler stole our hearts.
We’ve lived in newer and older homes over the years — our last house was brand new after many years in 1920s and 1930s homes — so choosing a different style felt like a welcome change. Despite the era, I knew this house would be the right fit for us. I have lots of ideas for short- and long-term updates, and a clear vision for each room and the exterior that I’ll share in future posts. To start, I wanted to offer a video tour so you can get a quick sense of the place. If you can’t see the embedded video above, you can view the tour on YouTube.
Why did this house feel right for us? Here are some of its best features:
Here are some of its best features:
Gorgeous natural light — The main floor and basement are bright and cheerful throughout the day, even on cloudy days. Having lived with beautiful light streaming through big windows before, I knew how much it affects daily life. We looked for a home with trees visible but not so close that they block sunlight, and this one fits that balance perfectly.
A sense of space — While not large, the house feels open and airy. Large windows and wide sky views create a sense of roominess that makes the home feel breathable. The living room, dining room, and kitchen are distinct yet flow together, preserving a cozy feeling while maintaining openness. The finished basement adds flexible, comfortable living space.
A blank slate — This era is a new direction for us, but the house offers plenty of potential to shape it into our style through added character, curb appeal, design details, furnishings, and updates to the kitchen and bathroom. It’s well-maintained and move-in ready, which gives us the freedom to add personal touches and tackle projects right away. There are immediate improvements we can make as well as longer-term plans.
A solid house — Some homes just feel right, and this one has a reassuring, solid vibe. It already had plumbing and electrical updates and a finished basement, and it wasn’t burdened by odd additions or poor remodels we’d need to undo. That gives us a great foundation to begin our updates.
The view — We didn’t expect a view, but this house offers lovely sunset skies and views of mountains, trees, and Puget Sound from the living room, dining room, and kitchen. Those daily glimpses of open sky feel like a special gift.
The location — The house is conveniently located within five miles of the places we want to be near, in an established neighborhood where neighbors are improving their homes — a promising sign for long-term value.
A quiet oasis — Seattle is a bustling city, but at home we wanted peace and privacy. This property sits on a generous lot with mature landscaping that creates a calm retreat. The backyard feels private and secluded, framed by old-growth shrubs and trees that give it an oasis-like quality.
Even seeing a few pieces of our furniture arrive has made settling in feel real, though at the moment we’re surrounded by boxes and bins. I’ll share a post soon about our moving-in process and tips for planning a move. If you missed our moving-out post, I’ve written about that previously.
Stay tuned — we’ll be going room by room through the house, sharing inspiration, short- and long-term plans, and ideas for each space.
***Update: catch up and follow along with our house progress by scrolling through our recent posts and updates!***
The cute sign shown at the end of the video is an Etsy find and was a fun little finishing touch. 🙂