There’s been some craziness in the Komenda household the past couple of weeks. It feels SO good to finally get to share some news with you all. We’re leaving New York this month and moving back to Arizona.
I’m sure you can imagine our mix of feelings about the move. I keep telling people that we’re 50% devastated and 50% ecstatic. Part of me thought we would make New York our forever home. We’ve loved it SO much, despite it being expensive and a somewhat tricky place to raise kids. But Arizona is home for both me and Michael, so when he was offered a complete dream job a few weeks ago, we felt like we couldn’t walk away. I wish we could have waited a year or two longer, but after lots of long talks, lists and contemplating, we know this is the right time for us to move and put down roots.
This is actually a great time for me to move my business too. I’ve recently wrapped up a few long term projects and I think I’ll probably take some time off client work for the rest of the summer while we get settled. (If you’re looking for an interiors job in the Phoenix area though, I’m hiring – email me).
And in the VERY exciting news category: We bought a house! I’ve been waiting eight years to say that again, and it feels so, so good. Being both a DIY blogger and a renter has been a little tricky to say the least. And now, no more landlords! Hallelujah.
We found a perfect-for-us house with lots of potential. It has just the right layout and is in a great neighborhood with really great schools and a short commute for Michael. The exterior of the house is pretty strange (especially for Arizona) with its shake roof and gingerbread mouldings. It’s an understatement to say this house needs work, but that just happens to be my speciality. She’ll be pretty inside and out when we’re done with her. And there’s at least a decent chance I’ll be bringing my Dremel saw with me to the closing so there won’t be any time wasted with those gingerbread details. Yuck.
Anyway, crazy right!? There are lots of high emotions about buying (and renovating) a big house, leaving New York and all our friends here, starting all over again with new jobs and new schools… but at my core, I feel peaceful about it all, which helps me feel like this is right for us. Thanks for continuing to follow along on this next chapter. Pretty weird to think this will be the fifth house I’ll decorate and share with you on LGN. Hopefully there won’t be another one for a good long while. :)
Congratulations! This adventure you've taken with your family has seemed really wonderful, and I'm sure your girls will look back on it with such fondness. But man, there is nothing quite like going home and being close to family.
I can't wait to see what you do with this house! I would have passed it right up (which is why you're the designer and I'm not).
Best of luck!
Wow, how exciting! That house looks amazing, can't wait to see what you do with it, Congrats!
Congrats!!! I am sure your kids are going to be so happy. Last week my little one told me her dream is to live in Arizona because were originally from there. What a fab house.
So excited for you guys! Will be a wonderful change, and I am so looking forward to house renovation posts. Safe travels and good luck! xx
Wow! Congratulations on the move back home, and on the new job for your husband! Look forward to the updates on the new house, and safe travels back west.
What a beautiful house! Looking forward to following your new adventures in Arizona and good luck with your move!!! So exciting!
xoxo PARIS BEE kids blog
On Jenny !!! That's exciting news! Change of place and envrionment makes things fun. What a perfect house!! I love it and agree it has amazing potential! Congrats!!!!
Congratulations on the move! As a diy renter you've been an incredible inspiration. I only hope to be able to raise my kids in such a lovely home in nyc! We'll keep watching you from afar! Also…any deets on your rental availbility?! good luck! xo
Congratulations!
You no doubt already thought of this, but the selection of vintage/used furniture is not as plentiful in the West. (We love the West, but it's just newer.)
Maybe you can buy some stuff to finish later, and ship it out with the big move.
Those are town houses right? Like that can't be one massive house. Am I right?
Congratulations! Wonderful news, and yes, can't wait to follow along! I know you'll help inspire me on MY DIY projects in our new home in VA!
Best to you!!
ag
Can't wait to see what you do with that house and all that space!! Congrats.
Awesome! I love and miss AZ myself and you're right – that house doesn't look at all like the Valley of the Sun. But it's going to be amazing when you're done with it!
Exciting news! I have been SO inspired by all the work you've done in your current house…I can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve next. And, I wish I lived in Phoenix so I could apply! :)
Congrats to you and your family! Can't wait to see what you do. Anything you touch is AMAZING!! You are such an inspiration.
at first i thought that was two houses next to each other! that is really just ONE house? wow! what is the square footage? you will have your work cut out for you i'm sure, but no doubt you are the right girl for the job! have fun!
How exciting!! I cannot wait to see what you do with this space! Being an Arizona girl, I am envious that you are moving back!
Oh how I wish I was looking for a rental in Brooklyn. I'd be ready to accost your landlord stat!
Super exciting, Jenny! It will be fun to follow along!
Wow! That house is huge! Can't wait to see what you do with it. Wish I as in AZ so I could apply for your job! It'd be a blast to work with you!
Congratulations! Its so exciting to make a positive move for yourself and your family, I bet you are just brimming with ideas and plans! I just can't wait to see what you do with that new house, I swear I started visually renovating it as soon as I saw it! It totally seems like it has a ton of potential, which you will certainly bring out. Good luck with your move! Congrats on a new job, home and city for your family!
congrats on the move, the new house & your husband's new job! sounds like a fun adventure and I can't wait to see what you do with the place!
blair
http://thefoxandshe.com
the house has so much potential! this will be so fun to follow along with you. i'm excited ;) thanks for continuing to inspire!
De-lurking to say congrats on the move and the new jobs! I love your blog and can't wait to see what you do next.
wow! Congratulations! Excited you're moving back to AZ. Just curious, are you doing a joint real estate venture with family on this house? I only ask because 1) there seems to be two front entry ways and 2) we were looking to do this with my in laws years ago, but could not find the perfect space to suite all of our needs. This place looks fabulous for something like that. I really hope you are not the sole cleaning / landscaping person for this place ha! So excited for you and looking forward to seeing what your creativity drums up.
http://diligentdesigner.blogspot.com/
Wow congratulations!!!!! I'm so excited to see what projects you post here from your new home!
Hooray!! I am so excited for you guys. And happy we will live closer :) I know you guys will love being closer to your families. And that house looks awesome. Can't wait to visit AZ and see you guys.
That place is ENORMOUS! What will you do with it??
Congratulations and many blessings to you and your family. : ) What a wonderful time for you all! And what a beautiful (HUGE) home.
An exciting new adventure. Cant wait to see what you'll do with the new place to make it your own. Good luck with the move!
Congratulations, Jenny! Wishing you and your family the very best and looking forward to seeing what you do with the house =)
Dear Jenny I know I am late in commenting; however I know this house is perfect for your family. It actually has great curb appeal with the green lawn and landscaping.
You will make is stunning!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Giveaway from Splendid Sass.
That is SUCH exciting news! We just moved back to AZ as well. Maybe I'll see you at Mesa Sales! :) And I cannot WAIT to see what you do to that house. I am literally antsy with excitement!
Congratulations Jenny! This is fantastic. So happy for you and your family. I am so excited to see what you will do with this new place – it looks GINORMOUS! To new beginnings!
How exciting! Is that all one house?!? It's HUGE!! Cannot wait to follow this reno!
Awesome news! Gosh, we bloggers really are all moving right now, eh? Can't wait to see inside the new home!
I couldn't be more excited for you all! As someone who used to live in New York but moved back to be closer to family (and marry my husband) it's so nice to be back with family! Especially to have family close to help with kids and such. There is nothing like New York, and I'm sure you'll miss a lot of the things you can do and see and get there, but you can get almost anything online these days too. The house looks just amazing! I love how interesting it is on the outside with all the different layers, and once you get rid of the gingerbread I think it will shine even more. Certainly not your typical AZ home, which is great. I am so excited to see what you will do with it. I hope you will take us on the whole journey! Congrats again!
Congratulations! I'm sad to see you leave New York, but I can't wait to learn more about Arizona. That house has fantastic potential. I can't wait to see it transform!
congrats Jenny! So excited for you. But I'm also a little sad. You are one of my go-tos for encouragement to stay in the city with such little space that babies are sleeping in closets:) Best wishes!
YAY!!!! SO EXCITED!!
Jenny! I've been following your blog for such a long spell, partly because I feel like I can kind of relate to you being a westerner in the east– my husband and I left BYU and our families in the West so that my husband could go to Yale for med school. We are still in Connecticut after 10 years and three kids. All of our friends keep leaving us and now you are leaving too?! Ah, it's a sign. We need to get out of here. Enjoy the grandparents and the dry air and a seriously awesome winter. We'll be shivering by our radiators next January! Hoping that when my husband finally finishes residency next summer, we'll have a dream job in the West waiting for us too! Can't wait to see the LGN West edition!!!
Wow! Just bought my first house 2 years ago so I understand the fear/excitement. Congratulations and my wish for lots of energy for you and your family in the coming months.
Wow, amazing and so super exciting! I know it must be tough to leave NYC, but you'll be near family, which is so fun as the kids grow! I know this house will be super loved and gorgeous when you're done with it. :) Congrats!
Congrats Jenny! Best of luck on your next adventure!! I can't wait to see the progress! xo Alayne
Wow, wow… wowwowwow. I'm shocked! I cannot wait to see what you do with this home!!
Wow, wow… wowwowwow. I'm shocked! I cannot wait to see what you do with this home!!
I am soooo excited that you are moving here to Arizona! Maybe by the time you are ready to take on clients again, I will be ready to hire you!
Such great news! I just love how unique and interesting the new house already is! It will make for great renovations and blog-reading – can't wait to see what you do with it! I hope you find a way to keep a *little* of the fairy-tale charm while making it your own! Good luck with the move!
Congrats! How exciting! I love the house, and I can't wait to see what you make of it! My hubs and I are planning on buying here in Los Angeles in the next few years, and we are also looking for something to fix up. I'm sure you'll provide tons of inspiration!
Congrats! How exciting! I love the house, and I can't wait to see what you make of it! My hubs and I are planning on buying here in Los Angeles in the next few years, and we are also looking for something to fix up. I'm sure you'll provide tons of inspiration!