Drum Roll Please

It was a lot of fun to see everyone's thoughts on our House Hunter International search for our new home in Italy and to be honest there really wasn't a bad option for us. In true HHI style - we first eliminated one option leaving us with two just to further compare side-by-side.

The first to go was the Mid Century Villa with Room for Guests   Not that we don't want guests (because we do!) - but in the end this house was too big for us, the stone felt a little cold and it had  less of the open floor plan that we like.

So, it really came down to the #1) Bi-Level Flat with Views and #3) Historic Flat with Private Year and Close to Town.   Over lunch, we went through every room and every amenity giving each house a "+" "-" or "="  Our initial pass gave us a dead even tie.

Flat #1's positives included the views, the master suite, the kids bedroom/play area and the fireplace.   Flat #3's positives included (as many commented on fb) the location, yard, air conditioning and kitchen.  We went back and forth over lunch and eventually made our decision based more the type of the experience we were searching for and a gut feeling.

While #3 was a great option and had a lot of great things about it the yard and the overall living situation felt very similar to life in Saint Joseph, Michigan.  While we love our life here in SJ - we want to use this experience to try something new.   So in the end the mountain views and more "apartment-like" feel won out.

We will have plenty of room for guests in our new home the Bi-Level Flat with the Views!   

And what views we will have!

It also looks like something happened to the pictures of the kitchen from yesterday's blog; here is one.

House Hunter's International - A new home in Varese, Italy

The first and most often asked question we receive when we tell people we are moving to Italy is "Are you going to be on House Hunter International?"     Well, we weren't as my company manages the move process for us but it did feel oddly similar to being part of HHI.   Shane first visited nine houses and narrowed it down to three for me earlier in the week.   We spent Thursday morning looking at all three and then "had lots to talk about" over lunch.

Here are the three we considered - which one would you choose?


House #1:  Bi-level modern flat with views

This flat is 10 minutes to the city center and is on the top floor of a multi-unit building with great views from the wrap-around terrace.   The downstairs includes a large entry way; big living area with mountain views and a fireplace; a big kitchen (by European standards) with lots of shelves;  a guest bath with laundry; and the master suite with lots of wardrobes (closets) and a connecting master bath.    The upstairs includes a loft area, a guest bedroom, another full bath and a connected bedroom-playroom for Evan and Elyse to share.

Pictures from House #1

Entry Way

Fireplace

Living Area

Terrace

Master Bedroom

Master Bath

Guest Bedroom

Loft Area

Upstairs Bathroom with Shower

Door connects to sleeping area

Kid's Sleeping Area

Views from Terrace

House #2:   Mid-Century Villa with Room for Guests
Located 7 minutes from city center, this house has two master suites and includes six bedrooms and five bathrooms. The first floor includes a cellar, laundry and fireplace. The second floor houses the main living area including a kitchen and pantry, living room with fireplace, dining room with fireplace, a master suite and an additional bedroom and bathroom.  Off of the living area is a large stone patio perfect for al fresco dining. The third floor has two bedrooms for the kids and includes a shared bathroom and then enough space for a master suite with a bedroom, office, dressing area and bath (with a very large tub).   Beautiful garden areas surround the house.

Pictures from House #2 (they were painting when we visited)

Front of Building

Stairs to main floor

Fireplace in the basement (1 of 4)

Dining Room

Living Room

Kitchen

Kitchen

One of the many bedrooms

Another bedroom

Master Bath

Patio from Living & Dining Room

Backyard Gardens

House #3  Historic flat with private yard and close to town

Located less than 5 minutes from city center and across the street from a large park, this four bedroom - three bathroom flat is on the first and basement floor of a large historic home remodeled in the early 90's.   The first floor has a nice entry way and the best eat-in kitchen of all the options.   A living and dining area; master bed and bath room (not connected); guest/kids bath and one bedroom for the kids to share finishes out the top floor.  The basement has a workout area; play area; large laundry room; two guest bedrooms (one to use as an office) and bath room.  This is the only option with air-conditioning (the American's saying we need it and the Italians saying we don't).   There is a large private yard for just for our use.

Pictures from House #3

Front Door

Entry Way

Kitchen

Kitchen

Living Area

Dining Area

Master Bedroom

Master Bath

Kids Room

Kids/Guest Bath

Bedroom #1 in Basement

Bedroom #2 in Basement

Laundry Room

Workout / Play area

Large Yard

I'll reveal which one we chose in an up-coming blog!  Can you guess correctly?

nell'Arena

Nell’arena is Italian for “in the arena”

“In the Arena” is in reference to a Theodore Roosevelt quote that I read in (my favorite book of 2013) Dr. Brene Brown's book Daring Greatly - so named after the same quote. 

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly…”

In October, I was offered the opportunity to take an ex-pat assignment in our European offices which is located in Comerio, Italy.   And while most sane people would jump at the opportunity to move to Italy – I foolishly said no at first.  I liked my current job, I am good at my current job and I wanted to stay in my current job.   I said no at first because I was safe in my current job.   Luckily for me, my leadership was reluctant to accept no as an answer and I soon agreed to go.

Looking back, it is amazing how one can see all of the pieces coming together and know they are on the right path.  For me, I had two clear signs.    

First, my husband sold his business in July and by October was just starting to think about the next opportunity (which turns out to be a stay at home dad living in Italy!).  We would have never been able to make this move if we still owned the businesses or if he had another opportunity in the works.      

Secondly, in October I was in the car with two of my sisters (headed to visit the third) and we discussed the Roosevelt quote as my sister had recently heard Brene Brown reference it.   We all agreed that we wanted to live our lives in the arena.   It was also this very same car ride where I first mentioned the possibility of moving to Italy.

As time as passed and the “opportunity” became concrete with announcements, dates and specific plans,  I've come to realize that I am standing in the arena.   I am both excited and scared (shitless) - and I know this is where I am meant to be.