I’m so excited that we can finally share our news! We’re moving to Brooklyn Heights this summer! We found the perfect-for-us brownstone. It has lots of space (even a back yard!) and Michael’s commute will be about 10 minutes, door to door.
The best and worst part of all – the house needs some renovating. For the past decade, four bachelors have been living there and they have not been super… tidy, let’s say. Mostly, the house needs a good scrubbing and some new paint. But also the kitchen and bathrooms need various levels of upgrading. The great news is the owners are willing to subsidize our rent and pay for the renovating. And I get to blog about it! Hooray!
I can’t tell you how thrilled we are. We’ve been having a nagging feeling for the past couple months that we needed to move, though we weren’t sure where. We looked at a couple of apartments in our neighborhood, and I stalked real estate (in other states even!) and then I randomly checked the Craiglist listings for Brooklyn Heights one day about a month ago. There was this tiny little sentence or two about a brownstone available and that they were looking for a family. Not much more info than that, and no photos (normally sort of a deal breaker, right?). I decided to call anyway and I’m SO glad I did. The owners are just the nicest people. The process has taken about a million times longer than most NYC real estate transactions (two years ago we found, toured and signed on our loft in less than 72 hours!), but it’s sort of nice to do things the good old fashioned slow way every once in a while. We feel good, they feel good – it really is the perfect place for our family.
We’re going to finish up the school year here in Manhattan, then we’ll go out of town for a little vacation and come back at the end of July to move just a hop, skip and a jump across the bridge. I still have some projects I’d like to wrap up and photograph here at the loft anyway, so the timing works really well.
I’m so jazzed about this, guys! It’s been sort of a rough year for us in some aspects, and we needed a big win. This was totally in the ‘win’ category. :)
xoxo
Whoa congratulations!! How exciting for you. I have a dear friend living in Brooklyn and she couldn't love it more. Can't wait to see what amazing things you do with all that space!!
CANNOT WAIT, CANNOT WAIT! So excited for you! I feel like I'm going to have to create a whole new Pinterest decor board solely devoted to your new brownstone…:)
How exciting and it looks adorable (from the outside)! I can't wait to see how you transform the place!
I'm excited to see what you do with the place!
Hey Jenny! I am a new reader who lives in nearby Dumbo, Brooklyn and I have to say you are going to LOVE BK Heights! Amazing subway access, lovely design, vintage and a couple thift shops in the hood. Then, you have the Brooklyn Flea as well as all the major design stores in Dumbo! BK Heights is so beautiful and romantic, get ready to never want to leave!!
Congrats!!!! How exciting!! Can't wait to see the changes you'll make and that you'll have more space, a backyard, and a super short commute!!
Congratulations! Meant to be!
I'm also excited that I'm not the only person that says I'm 'jazzed' about something! :)
Congratulations Jenny! I've just moved myself from a downtown Chicago condo to a bungalow in a quiet city neighborhood. The change has been amazing — just having a back yard has allowed me to relax more. Hope you love your brownstone!
Really happy for you guys! Looking forward to seeing what you do with the new place!!
Congrats! You'll love it in Brooklyn Heights, and I can't wait to see what you'll do with a whole brownstone! And yeah, it seems that real estate transactions here are either super-fast or super-slow. We're in the process of buying a co-op in Prospect Heights (moving there from Park Slope), and have been under contract for three months already, and the closing date still isn't finalized. Ugh.
Congratulations Jenny! It sounds like a great fit for your family!
I look forward to your final wrap-up projects in the loft, and am excited about what you will do with your new place.
Congrats!
Ah! How exciting! Even though I don't know you, I am finding I read your blog like you're my good friend. After seeing your video w/Brooke White, I wish you were. :) You are adorable and amazing. I am so happy for you and your family! I'll be following your reno and such every step of the way, as my family plans on moving in the next 2-4 years as well. All your projects and finds will come in especially handy. Sorry to hear it's been a hard year! congrats on the big win!
My husband and I just moved to Brooklyn Heights (from downtown Manhattan) and are loving the neighborhood! Looking forward to seeing all the beautiful and fun projects you undertake in the new home:)
Congratulations! Finding a suitable home is arguably the hardest part about living in the city. I live in the WV, but go to BK Heights 4-5x/week to play squash, it seems like a great nabe for kids, they're everywhere. The pace is a more relaxed and things are peaceful and quiet at night.
As a fellow renter, I'm excited to see your upcoming projects.
WOW – this is truly unheard of in NYC. Congratulations on the great find and looking forward to seeing the updates!
Whoo hoo! Can't wait to see how you put your touch on a Brownstone! Lucky girl!
Congrats! Brooklyn is amazing.
Can't wait to see what you do! Very exciting news.
Jenny,
Congrats! I am so happy for you and your family. It's wonderful when things work out perfectly.
I'm looking forward to reading about you decorating your soon to be brownstone! :)
Brooklyn Heights is the perfect city neighborhood for children – a backwater with a slower pace, steps from the hub bub of Manhattan and the Brooklyn hipster areas. If you make plans to restore the lost cornice to the roof line of your brownstone (generic term, since it is a brick townhouse) the neighbors will be thrilled and it may even help the facade structurally. The Historical Society and the Landmarks Commission should have resources and recommended contractors.
So excited for you and your family! And I will be looking forward to your posts! :)
congrats!!! i can't wait to follow along and see what you do to the place. so happy for you and your family!
Jenny, so excited for you and your family!! What an opportunity to live in a brownstone in one of the greatest cities!! And, to have outdoor space on top of it is a mom's dream come true!
That is super awesome, Jenny!
Congrats on your new place! I can't wait to see the progress!!
Glad you got a yard! the kiddos will love it. A little green goes a long way…plus it will be another fun space to create!
Congratulations! I love your blog and used it as reference a ton when renovating our apartment in Brooklyn Heights! I love it there- if you need any tips about the neighborhood let me know. It really is a great place to have a family- and that town house looks like an awesome find.
Oh my goodness the Park Slope Ward will be so happy to have a "permanent" family! :D
First I congratulate you for new place, this is like paradise on earth.
Freshwater Pearls
I for one can't wait to see your 'new home' renovations, DIY, inspirations. Goodluck with the move.
congrats Jenny, can't wait to see how you do up the place!
So exciting! You're going to love Brooklyn Heights.
Congrats on the new place! So eciting for you!!!!
xoxo
peacelovedecor.com
So excited for you – but sad you are leaving Chelsea! (only because I am a fellow resident) – sounds like a dream situation – can't wait to see what you do with it inside (and out).
Congrats jenny. We used to live in Prospect Heights and just LOVE brooklyn. Although I have to admit I'm a little jealous as we are moving back out east to NJ and I was hoping you'd be my neighbor :)