A burgundy wall to the left. A purple wall to the right. Separating the two – a glass pony wall. Nothing in the space spoke opportunity and only became more perplexing after seeing an extraordinarily outdated kitchen with bright green walls – and super dark brown countertops, of course.
It was the opposite of inspiration; more like desperation – a desperation to finally move on and start anew. Looming trepidation lingered heavily. Almost too much to possibly overcome. But, something still felt reassuring, an uncanny sense of an exciting journey ahead. It was completely different, yet somehow the same as everything seen before.
Few surprises remain at this point, as every other property felt eerily similar. This particular one, definitely quirky – more so unrefined. Still, an unspoken beauty, a quaintness so very alluring it was almost irresistible. It spoke in a weird, only semi-cohesive way. And, that merely added to its strange, inexplicable appeal.
Down a short hallway, a bedroom with yellow walls, while opposite, another bedroom with blue walls. At the end of the hall, a bathroom with an unusual pale orange color scheme. Meanwhile, in the backyard, a mismatch of concepts, ranging from a tropical island to a southwestern desert.
Nothing in the house was consistent, save for its inconsistency. Nevertheless, it had a distinctive lure, something so compelling, it couldn’t be ignored.
The word kaleidoscope kept coming to mind. Just like the toy, it had a bedazzling array of colors that fascinated the eye, stirring the imagination. The entire space could not be odder yet strangely enchanting.
This was it, this was home. Now, the question of where to begin came to mind. What to change first? And, why? After all, nothing else was this beautifully unique. That’s where every unplanned adventure should start – without a well-defined end. It embodied the definition of hope, so perfectly represented in an abstract, yet physical form.
It was all chaos. Off-kilter, clear chaos crying out for decryption and coordination – a monumental task but one too tantalizing to turn down. A conundrum of a challenge to deconstruct, rearrange, reimagine, and remodel. To totally revamp and rejuvenate. The redesign would take time, a lot of time and effort. But, it wouldn’t come at a crushing cost, because most of the work was cosmetic – nothing a little can-do attitude and some sincere, concentrated sweat equity couldn’t fix.
Her real estate agent just stood silently still. Any interruption would be rude in this moment of quiet consideration and deep discombobulation. It was a very familiar scene. One witnessed many times before. After all, a decision would come in mere moments, one directing to draw up the paperwork, tendering an offer.
A tense experience, indeed. Minutes magically turned to hours, waiting to hear back from the seller. A very unwelcome repeat of several times in the recent past for the young single woman. Buying her first home on her own was scary enough. Even more terrifying, the very real prospect of rejection.
It was something she heard from bank after bank for the past three years. Always patronizing, in their refusals. Sure, it was nice she saved so much money. Yet, a real shame she paid down so much debt. A game rigged by an entire industry without any heart. Something she easily recognized, being betrayed in the most humiliating way.
It was just a little over four years ago she learned about her fiancé’s girlfriend. That was the exact word he used to describe the other woman who totally destroyed her life, his “girlfriend.” It cheapened the whole idea of a healthy relationship. It wasn’t that long ago, he use to introduce her as his “girlfriend.”
When he finally proposed, it was a highly emotional moment. They’d just learned of her pregnancy out of pure dumb luck. But, that was a lifetime ago. In a different era, before the miscarriage. Losing their baby wasn’t part of the plan, and neither was him breaking his word. Her entire world turned upside down once, only to be thrown deeper into misery and despair.
Now, only a few years later, she was truly moving on. The house hunt was difficult, made aggravating and hurtful by various parties, including potential lenders, problematic sellers, moneyed buyers, and a fast-paced market where new listings practically sold within days of going live.
She told herself this quirky abode was simply too peculiar for anyone else. Sure, her buyer’s agent tried and tried to dissuade her from the notion. But, if she held out hope, perhaps, just maybe, it would all work out this time and after a little negotiation, some back and forth with the sellers, a closing day would be set.
It gave her the hope to dream. She could just see the changes, how it would all come together as one cute, homey place. With a bit of paint, some imagination, and a little repurposing of cheap but usable yard sale stuff, it would make a very livable, very happy home. Sure, it might require a few extra trips to the home improvement store and going through the pains of learning curves after watching copious hours of home improvement DIY videos. But, it’d all be worthwhile.
Then came the inevitable blow. There’s another interested party. One who put in an offer slightly over asking price. But, if she could match that, the seller would give her the opportunity because she was the first to the table. All she had to do was raise her offer and the house would be hers.
That wasn’t a small request. She had already stretched her budget thin. So tight, it made her anxious to even think about it. But, it was very tempting to accept the counteroffer. If only she had enough time to think – to consult a trusted voice, someone who would give her the right advice.
Although, that’s how she got into the mess she suffered through not that long ago. Practically everyone she admired told her her ex-fiancé was the right guy for her. They also insisted everything would be all right when she got pregnant and troubling signs unexpectedly popped up.
Yet, here she was, stupidly emotionally attached to something she had only discovered the day before – an ugly house. A property in need of a lot of work. A place she could barely afford, even in its sad condition. She had to be pragmatic. Responsible enough to walk away. Practical enough to make the right decision.
So, what if she had to keep renting for a little while longer? It was comfortable and in a good location. What’s more, the landlord was very kind and hadn’t raised the rate in the last two years, nor would he in the next. It was a good situation and she shouldn’t be in such a hurry to buy something.
Still, her heart ached when she told her real estate agent to pass. It just wasn’t fair. She had done everything right. But, even with such vigilance, it simply wasn’t enough. At least it seemed that way…again. Now, it was time to put the disappointment behind her, to make plans for the future. And, that’s when she got the call that changed her life. The other offer fell through, the house was hers. It was now her home.
