Neither my husband, David, or myself had any experience with owning an old house, let alone a fixer-upper, but we jumped in with the confidence only two kids in their mid-twenties would have. I felt so much joy renovating our 1850 farmhouse over the years, which was featured in two HGTV “House Hunter” episodes as well as: Women’s Day, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Remodelaholic and more.

Life threw us a major plot twist in 2022, when we unexpectedly got the opportunity to move our family to England. We decided to go for one year and rent out our beloved farmhouse. One year turned to two, and after much prayer, in 2024 we made the decision to sell our Virginia farmhouse and put down roots in England to raise our young family. 

We swapped our sprawling farmhouse for a snug British nest—five bedrooms (yes, one for guests, so pack a bag), a quiet garden, and a school close enough for the kids to forget their shoes and still make it. The hulking furniture may not fit, but our plans do: a cozy few years of chaos, crumpets, and community. Village life suits us—friends near, ponies in view, tea forever brewing. No regrets about the Atlantic hop; sometimes the best way to grow is to move forward—and maybe sideways into a smaller house. Here’s to new roots and slightly smaller ottomans.

Please join along as we buy and renovate our dream farmhouse 2.0, but this time: English country style!