Cross-Country Relocation Recap - Settling In & Sneak Peeks

It's been a grueling and hectic past few weeks - but we finally moved out of Arizona and back east! This time, we're living in a house we bought North Carolina! Being built in 2006, it's not an historic house, but it still needs a few tweaks and updates, we're planning to do over time. Since we moved in just before Thanksgiving (literally - just a few days before!!) the main objective has been to just get the place cleaned, get the common areas painted, and get somewhat organized, to still be able to enjoy a little bit of the Christmas holiday season...

 Harmon House Christmas 2014

To say it's been grueling or exhausting these past few weeks is really an understatement - just before we found out we were going to move, I had just given the AZ house a Fall cleaning and closet purge (in September) ... which did help somewhat when it came time to organize, pack and move in October. Although my husband's company had professional packers come pack up the house (in 2-3 days), I still spent some time grouping like things together, so it would make unpacking a little easier - well easier in theory. 

The unpacking process though happened on the SAME DAY the truck arrived and was unloaded. I do NOT recommend this be the process for anyone moving across the country. All of the time and effort that went into getting and keeping the home items organized, got shot to  hell within the last two hours - even though I had asked the movers to stop - they kept right on unpacking. And because of this, not only did things have to be moved 2-3 times, but some items were even thrown away (for example the lids to porcelain Chinoiserie jars) and one packed cabinet (coffee mugs) ended up in about five different places between the kitchen and the living room. I was upstairs unpacking wardrobe boxes into the closet, and after a long day, walked into this...

 I put on my "It's gotta get cleaned up NOW" - hat day after movers left.

Be that as it may, I forged on. Thankfully, the relocation specialist assigned to our move apologized for the chaos and did send another two unpackers two days later (which is how the relocation to Arizona was done and what I had asked the mover to stop and do). This was a huge help because I had time to put away and organize the chaos of what did get unpacked. We were somewhat more pulled together to be able to enjoy our first meal in our new home, which was actually for Thanksgiving...

 

This Thanksgiving included HUGE leaves for our table for two, I gathered from our backyard!

Although we didn't cook a turkey this year (no time to since Jeff had to work on Thanksgiving Eve) we did manage to make a few of our traditional sides and I baked a pumpkin pie. Even though I didn't have time to bake Jeff some chocolate chip cookies, our new neighbor, Linda, welcomed us to the neighborhood with a plateful she just baked. (They were still warm!!) And so much to be grateful for - especially for this year with our relocation...

 Moving truck loaded and leaving Arizona - Thursday November 13...

 Snapshot while in flight - Leaving AZ for the East Coast! November 15!

 Landed in Charlotte, NC - Saturday November 15 - Flew out up to Greensboro...

 Closed on Harmon House - Monday November 17!

 Fall Driving - North Carolina - November 19...

 Moving truck Arrival: Saturday November 22!

Before the moving truck arrived on Saturday November 22, Jeff was able to get the door locks changed, I painted trim and doors (loving the black doors!) and this time, we hired a local painter to paint out the rooms and walls of most common areas (vs. Jeff & I painting everything before the movers arrived to our AZ rental home). Hiring the painters was a HUGE help and definitely a worth while investment I highly recommend to help lift some stress off you during a cross country relocation. 

 Picking paints for Harmon House (on closing day!) - So much easier to select when swatches painted around the house, to see color changes in the light. Painting happened from November 18-21 - stopped for weekend move in - and picked back up Dec. 1-3.

I'll share moving details, paint colors, local painters info, packing tips, and additional pictures in an upcoming post. Right now I really just wanted to touch base with Focal Point Styling blog readers because I know - it's been quite a while since I've posted (sorry!!).

 Truth!!!

Next year (2015) we're planning on a bathroom renovation, switching out lighting fixtures, and continue painting other rooms - including setting up guest rooms (the list of guests is growing now that we're back east!!), exterior painting (shutters and trim), a little more gardening than I've done in the past 3 years (can. not. wait for Spring!!), setting up our home office, and even creating a mancave for Jeff! Right now - I'm just UBER thrilled and grateful to be back HOME on the east coast!!

 Had so much fun picking out a fresh tree this year! We haven't had a real tree since 2005! Finally got our tree, Friday night, December 5!

In the midst of the move, doing a few home repairs, and getting settled, I did do a "little" simple holiday decorating, shopped for a few new pieces for our home (online here in NC and at HomeGoods in AZ before moving!), attended a local holiday party (at Madcap Cottage - High Point!) I was invited to (thanks to friends & connections on Facebook), enjoyed a great Italian meal at a local restaurant (Giada's Trattoria), explored a historic home - decorated in Victorian period style during a candlelight tour - and even check out a few area thrift stores and consignment shops -- again, photos to be shared in upcoming blog posts (but have been sharing via Facebook and G+!!) , so please stayed tuned -- and a HUGE THANK YOU for sticking around!!  I'll also be posting my 2014 Rewind before the end of the year (lol - in the upcoming week!)

I'm very much looking forward to learning my new area (may even be planning a thrift road trip!), collaborating with local shops, and also getting to attend east-coast market events, such as the Design Bloggers Conference coming up in Atlanta in February and Spring High Point Market coming up this April! You can read more, from an interview I was honored to have with the gents over at Madcap Cottage... (read post at: Always in Fashion)

 Met long time Facebook friend Cathy Smith during the Holiday Bazaar at Madcap Cottage in High Point - Sunday, December 7!

Jeff and I touring the historic Korner's House for a candlelight Christmas tour, Saturday, December 13!

Thank you Focal Point Styling blog readers!

(especially Betty, Gail, Scribbs, Linda, Janelle, mom and many others!!)

Time to get baking some Christmas cookies now!!

Warmest Wishes to you and your family for a wonderful holiday season, Merry Christmas  and a Happy NEW Year!

Thanks for stopping by to read my Cross-Country Relocation Recap - Settling In & Sneak Peeks!

HOUSE FIND - HARMON HOUSE - NORTH CAROLINA!

Well - We did it. After our house hunting trip out to North Carolina last week, we not only found a place, but we put in an offer on a house this week, counter offers went back and forth, and today, we settled! Hearing this sounds easier said than it actually was. The actual house hunt took probably 5  days, not including the online house hunting I did prior to the actual searching within the locations. We left Phoenix on October 7 at 5am PST and by 3pm EST, (after car rental, hotel check in + settle in and eat lunch) we were off driving to some of the locations from my notebook (some of which I was also pinning here). Doing this drive-by process helped us to rule out homes and areas prior to setting up a meeting with the local Realtor (Lindsay Brandon from Tate).

 Our new home - Harmon House!

 View down the street of Harmon House.

The next day, Jeff had to attend a District meeting all day, so I headed out on my own, searching the listings I pulled together. I first drove to the north area of High Point, and when in Rome - I also took a drive to the High Point Market area. I can't attend this fall (which kicks off this weekend!) but i will most definitely be attending for Spring 2015 (Can. Not. Wait!) From downtown High Point I drove north to an area called Kernersville - which Jeff and I had visited a few addresses the day before and were ruling out. The addresses I was heading towards were further west, putting us closer to Jeff's store location in Winston Salem. On my way there, I saw some of the headquarters for furniture corporations, and the most recent headquarter addition to High Point: Heritage Home Group (recognized the building from photos I had seen online). After touring yet another neighborhood and ruling it too out, I received a call from our assigned Realtor, Lindsay. We arranged to meet at a house I was hooked on, located in Jamestown.

 

House we toured in Winston Salem I found online before heading to NC.

 

House for rent - but was off market already.

 Original last house Jeff found online, around the corner from the one we bought.

After touring the interior with Lindsay, and discussing some of the "must haves" on our wish list, Lindsay went back to her office to pull together a list of houses for us - and I headed back to Greensboro to pick up Jeff after his meeting. Jeff and I got a quick bite to eat and continued our own house hunting journey, but this time driving around the Winston Salem area. When we arrived back at the hotel, we looked over the list Lindsay sent us, and I replied with our likes - plus I sent her a list of addresses (for Winston Salem). The next two days, well into the after-sundown evenings (and even rain!), we spent touring homes, giving compliments, but also really discussing furniture layouts, storage situations and what something would cost to bring it up to what we were wanting. By the time Saturday came, and no luck in our hunt, I was not only discouraged, but my nerves got the best of me and I was getting sick to my stomach.

I repacked to head out of Greensboro airport to Charlotte, to make my way back to Phoenix solo, and Jeff was staying behind a few days to get settled in his new office and store. He dropped me off at the airport, I got checked in, got through security, and even made my way onto the plane, only to hear the pilot say we couldn't take off because of storms happening in the Charlotte area. I'm already a nervous flyer, so I contacted Jeff to let him know we were grounded for at least an hour and a half, and I asked him to contact the airline to just change my flight to Sunday (felt safer doing this). By the time we de-boarded back at the terminal, Jeff had gotten me a new flight out for Sunday, and I just needed to get my checked luggage off the plane. He came to pick me up, and we took a drive to another house Jeff happened to find online - and he drove by the area on his way into his office.

The location was great - It's Kernersville, but newer development and close to grocery stores, Lowes, gas stations and the main highway (the 40) to go west for Jeff (to get to Winston Salem) and for me to grab to head east (to work in Greensboro or High Point).  We called the listing agent to ask about the house, and she asked if we'd like to tour it, so we said yes - disclosing that we are working with another Realtor. Although the layout of this house was nearly perfect, plus it had a few perks (4 flat screens and updated lighting throughout), we really didn't like the upward slop of the driveway (too slippery for icy winters!), plus the outdoor living space needed to be invested in along with preferred floor coverings, so we said thank you and we'll keep in mind.  Driving the area, we saw an almost identical home design (just around the corner) which we looked up online when we got back to the hotel.

I was flying out uber-early Sunday (7am), but Jeff set an appointment again with Lindsay to go tour this last house, later Sunday afternoon. By the time I arrived back in Phoenix and got settled in at home, Jeff had seen the house - taking additional photos PLUS 3 video tours for me to see. Its layout was better suited for us (driveway had minor slope - down to a flat driveway, entering the 2 car garage under the house, with adjacent house bib - all needed for car washing!) plus it had one consistent floor covering downstairs (wood laminate) and taller kitchen cabs (42") for storage.

Jeff flew back to Phoenix the next evening - the following day, after a long discussion and reviewing the photos, comparing it to our current layout + what we had in Florida - we came to an agreement and said "this is the one!" Jeff contacted Lindsay to put in our offer, she drew up the papers, we did a docu-sign and off the offer went. A day later they counter offered, we discussed and countered, they did too and we finally came to an agreement this afternoon and now the home purchase docs are signed - the process of relocating back east continues!

Also happening today was the auto transporter coming to pick up Jeff's truck to ship to North Carolina plus the moving company came to inventory & survey this house, it's contents, and layout - because since we currently have a third floor, it will take extra manpower to move this beast! My vehicle stays here as transportation, until loading day, and we'll have it picked up at the hotel we leave from. It takes at least a week to transport the vehicle across the country, so Jeff is here for a few more days, and we'll begin tearing down, patching and tough-up painting here before he heads back out to NC - which by then his truck will arrive.

Hard to believe but it's happening - three years in the waiting - And we should be shipped and ready to move in plus close mid to late November. Truly a Thanksgiving blessing this year for sure!!! I'm so excited, I want to go chop down my own live Christmas tree when we get there!! (Just kidding - but I am THAT excited!!) And online connections and friends have been just as excited for us when we shared the good news - so many THANK YOUs to Facebook and to North Carolinian's for making us feel so welcome! Good ole Southern Hospitality!

I'll share tips I've learned for house hunting + planning + packing in an upcoming post. Moving can be very overwhelming, especially moving across the country at holiday time. Each move we've done has been a learning experience over time -- and I think having experience planning and moving entire departments (especially during construction) has helped strengthen the move thought process.

 

House transaction now done via DocuSign.

Yes - You still print & read contract, but now sign online!

We're SUPER excited to become homeowners once again - Like Zillow says, "You're not just looking for a house - You're looking for a place for your life to HAPPEN!" And this couldn't be more true. I felt like my life had gotten put on hold when we moved out to Arizona. Yes, I learned new things, attended a few market events and we traveled to some places we might not have if we hadn't moved here - and for that I am grateful. But in terms of working, I think there will be more opportunities for me to get back to work living in North Carolina, utilizing my talent to help the furniture industry and  their showrooms grow, than there was for me living here in AZ - and Jeff too is going to have more opportunities to grow with the company since he is now in a "walk-thru" store (high corporate visitations) + its the District store and one of largest in his new District. I think Sephora too will enjoy her new views out the windows, and seeing GREEN (and snow too!!) again! And family is already lining up to come visit!!

Considering I was to fly into Miami today to visit my mom & friends, this was a pretty remarkable turn of events that I am grateful for!!

Thanks for stopping by - and stay tuned for the adventures of moving back east!

Moving Tips: Planning Our New Place To Dwell

Last Saturday, I drew up a floor plan from images and one time viewing our new rental in AZ. I scanned the images to save and attached to an email to send to Jeff. Jeff went back to the place last Sunday afternoon with the drawings and noted measurements, details, and took a few missed shots of spaces in question (like what is over there?) Since I was on the phone with him, it helped for us walk the space together, (even though I'm here in FL) and I was able to note measurements on my drawings here.

I then put all the measurements into an online room planner, which helped give me cleaned up version of room dimension plans. I took a inventory, room by room, of all the furniture we have, along with their measurements, to be able to create furniture plans (and options!) Doing this ahead of the movers getting there with our furniture will be a huge help in getting the house set as our "home." Since this layout will be different for us, and my sofa has been around since 1998, we have been looking at getting a gray "L" shaped sectional. I spotted one I think will be a great fit for the space, our style and it's a great mix of both Miami & Phoenix: It's a sofa at ZGallerie called Phoenix, and the fabric color is called dolphin :) The added bonus: unlike the Ikea sectional (I first used for planning) the ZG Phoenix sofa would NOT need to be put together.

Phoenix Sectional - ZGallerie

(actually looked better in the store!)

Phoenix Sofa in ZGallerie

Milano Sofa in Macy's

(available in gray)

Karlstad Sofa - Ikea

Looks nice online - but not as comfortable to hubs - but like the look!

Since Jeff flew back into Florida last Wednesday, we were able to discuss the furniture plans and agree with the ones that will work best for us. Part of what also helped with the furniture planning was to measure the existing space between furniture, because we know this is what we're already use to and comfortable with.

While Jeff toured the house (for our second visit), he had discovered that (thankfully) the back-splash is wallpaper - so that will be removed, sanded, primed and painted which will help to update the kitchen a little bit. The upper cabinets have a lip under them, so we may add under counter lighting, which will also help brighten the kitchen counter workspace. We'll probably switch the cans on the kitchen track to Ikea pendants and the chandy to a more drum shade style. Jeff also spotted an extra closet we missed on our first tour / viewing - which will work for our linen closet, since the bathrooms are significantly smaller than what we have now. Currently, I use our second bathroom double sink vanity for our sheets and towels.

The Studio / Loft will be a work - play space: The office, but with room to watch tv, and we won't be as separated. A dining table will work for a desk, and Ikea Expedite bookcase, set low profile can help define the office space. Sitting at the desk facing west will allow for a view out the windows, a view of the TV and converse with anyone in the seating area bringing up the existing white sofa.

I also asked him to measure doorways and stairways, to ensure furniture fits. Closets were also measured out - both there and here, so I can plan what will fit where. What I'd like to do is have the movers  load the area rugs last so they'll be off the truck first, place the rugs &  furniture in the rooms, and use two rooms downstairs to store all the wall art in one, and accessory boxes in the other. Kitchen, bathroom, and closets will go to their areas, so I can get them set first - and we can function.

We'll be able to get in our new place while our homegoods are in transit from Florida to Arizona. This will be a huge help to be able to clean, paint, switch a few light fixtures and add hardware to kitchen and bathrooms (not having handles or drawer pulls is driving me & Jeff nuts!!) We also will be installing the washer & dryer we had to buy, since this place only had hook-ups. We did ask owner if he would put them in, but we didn't get a response - so we took that as a no. Luckily, I found a fairly new, but "gently used" Whirlpool W&D set online in Phoenix. After Jeff did the tour & measurements, he drove over to check them out. It was a great deal: only $320 and $25 for delivery (beats any sale in the paper or any outlets nearby!)



If all goes according to plan, we should be set & settled by Thanksgiving... With the exception of doing the Guest Rooms - We'll do at the first of the year, especially since Jeff won't be able to spend time with any guests until he is able to take off  from the store - after Christmas. No fireplace, but it has so much charm in a lovely tree-lined community - I love it as our first place to live in AZ. This past weekend, I collected all our wall art and accessories, and set them by categories and size. I put the dining room chairs out in the garage, padded & covered the dining room table, and this will make an easy pack/wrap station for the movers to pack this Friday.

Wall art packing station...

Tapes for packing...

and furniture slides with covers we sent out to AZ with the box of tools...

Baggy of all the nails removed, to be reused.

Pack of chair pads to add to protect the wood floors....

Zip lock bags came in handy to pre-pack and sort all the window hardware we removed.

This stuff worked like a charm to fill my (as Jeff said) "machine-gun holes" in the walls from all the pictures I had up. Dried quickly for touch-up soon after...

Saved papers the past few weeks fr some pre-packing...

Packed up tools and paint supplies and shipped out Monday to Jeff's store, so we'll have supplies out there to do work on our place, before the movers arrives.



The time has gone so quickly. I've been visiting with (real) friends and my mom before we head out next Monday. I don't think it's hit me yet that we're leaving. As I went through papers in the office yesterday, condensing, filing, shredding and purging, I looked at each paper and asked if it added value to my life before getting rid of it. Unfortunately, I had to do the same this week with an old - once-upon-a-time friend... and after 30 years...

This move is going to be good, to meet new people, make new friends,

and be in new surroundings...

They don't have Comcast service in the area we're moving to, so my email may be changing. I don't quite know how my sign-on's all over the Internet are going to work... I've got to figure that out. To help bridge the gap for communicating, I do have a gmail account to use at nyclq2010@gmail.com.... but it will take some getting use to using since I've used Comcast email for over 5 years. I don't know if I'll be back on again before the computer gets packed Friday / Saturday. It will than take 6 days of travel time after they load Monday (Nov. 7). I probably won't be set back up (even if temporary) until somewhere between Nov. 16 - Nov. 19... but I do post pics on facebook...



and I'll be back, so please stay tuned...

... and thanks for stopping by!