I’m off exploring this week for “A NEW PLACE TO CALL HOME “- PLEASE weigh in and offer suggestions of places you’ve found, love and think I should consider and why.

My core business will remain in CT. as I have great clients and wonderful referrals and a home. My children have begun creating their own lives and making decisions about where they want to live also. Son # 2 is now living in San Diego and son #1 is exploring new places as he embarks on a new career. We all happen to be “coastal kids” and being too far from the coast just doesn’t seem right, natural or what makes us happy.
So that said, my options have been really focused on the eastern and western seaboard. There’s so many places I’ve visited in between and have enjoyed and could even see having a life there,but I’m always drawn back to the coast. There’s so many considerations to a move. The main one for me being my boys and my “proximity” to them. While we don’t need to live right near each other, being on the same coast can be helpful. The other big consideration is work. It must be a place I can find good projects like I’ve been so fortunate to have here in CT, NY and New England in general. I truly believe that if the place is right for me and I’m happy…..the work will follow. That’s the hope anyway and the fear in a nutshell.

Anticipating my boys “moving on” and a much desired climate change for myself, I started my “mission” looking for a new place to live and  work about a year ago when I spent the month of February in Santa Barbara,CA. How did I choose that?
After completing a job in Rancho Santa Fe, CA several years ago ( it feels like yesterday) I was afflicted with the CA. bug in me so it didn’t take much to sell me. I had also been out there a couple times in the summer and fall of 2011 and I just totally fell in LOVE with all it had to offer and felt I needed to invest a bit more time to see if it felt right as a place to live and work vs. vacation. There’s really a big difference and you have to assess it in a different way. I hope you enjoy some of these houses that fell like what I’m looking for. 

I love New England in so many ways; the history, the charming homes, rambling estates, my friends, italian culture not found anywhere else the same (no family here anymore) the sand in your toes from Cape Cod is like home to me in my soul in many ways, I love being an hour from New York City and all the amazing things it has to offer for personal and business enrichment, its second to none….. and I could go on and on. What I know is that I’m OVER the winter and I simply love sunny weather, the way it makes me and my body feel. You know you live you’re born or where your parents decide for you at a young age and that’s home. I stayed in CT for college, married young and have been here ever since. There’s a time in your life and for me that’s now… I suppose turning 50 played some role in this also but when I consider it from that standpoint, it played a large role because I really believe I have a great new chapter ahead and some of the best years to work and play. I’ve often heard women with grown children like mine say…”I’ve earned it” Yes we have, but our roles as mothers is never truly complete and nurturing them throughout life is just part of what we do ( well it’s what I do ) we just do it in a little different way and perhaps at a bit of a distance so they have room to mature and find their own path. The best we can do is give them the confidence and spirit to do it with.    

I’ve lived in CT. all my life and it’s simply time for a change. Nothing more dramatic or earth shattering than that.
This week is about exploring and considering Florida which I’ve never given too much thought to as a place to live. I’ve been focusing on the Carolinas low country area, Charleston, Savannah, areas for which I love its history, wonderful people, gorgeous homes, climate and amazing coastline. California is still very much on my mind but remaining on the east coast may just be best. Time will tell. So come along with me as I explore Miami, parts of the West Coast and all it may have to offer me. I would so appreciate any input and helpful advice,business contacts to designers, builders or potential clients that anyone can offer. The more people I talk to the more I learn.

So, it’s Monday am and I’m ready to head out off to explore more places. Some are places I’ve been and love but need to go a bit deeper to see if they’re perhaps right for a “new life” and many will be completely new. Come along. Hope you enjoy these old photos. They represent a vision of “Old Florida” that I would love to find. Just want an old cottage near the water I can fix up and call home. Ciao for now….check back tomorrow for some of my own images and to find out what I found. Dont’ forget to “get out the vote” for me. Please take a moment to go to the Design Bloggers Conference to cast a vote KitchenINK – voted for Best New Design Blog.

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