With all of the changes that happened over the last few years, one of the hardest parts of it was letting go and moving out of my home. I dreaded that day. Often though, the thing we don’t want to do the most, is exactly what we need to do… and what leads us on a new journey. Today, I wanted to say goodbye to the original Wood Grain Cottage… the house that not only built this blog… but built me.
As many of you may know, it can be incredibly hard and emotional to sell a home you’ve so lovingly cared for. When I first built the original Wood Grain Cottage, I had no idea what would happen, but I certainly didn’t expect for it to change my entire path. Without even knowing it, the first day I published a blog post all about the building process, the house started building me into the person I am today. Throughout my days, and years, spent working on the house and adding in all the custom and personal details, I found myself. I found the path God wanted me to take. What an incredible blessing.
I’m late in sharing the news, but in February of this year, the original Wood Grain Cottage sold and I handed it over to a new family. It was a bittersweet moment for sure, but through all of it, I knew God had a larger plan than anything I’d ever imagined. Walking through the house for the last time, and seeing it empty, was difficult. With tears in my eyes, I walked the familiar floor-plan that I watched evolve from a paper drawing, to the house I had made my home. Even though it was incredibly hard, it was exactly what needed to happen in order for the next chapter to start. A chapter that would far surpass anything I could have thought possible. God always knows best.
Here’s one last tour of the house, completely empty, right before I handed my keys over.
The living room…
The kitchen and breakfast nook…
The dining room…
The entryway…
The master bedroom and bathroom…
The hallway…
The office…
The guest bedroom…
The laundry room…
And, the front of the house…
If you want to look back on any of the seasonal home tours, or projects I’ve shared throughout the years, click below. That’s the fun part of having it all documented on a blog!
Here’s a list of sources for the house too.
And so… to the house that built me, that loved me, that let my creativity spread like wildfire, I send one last hug. May it bring the new family a lifetime of happiness.
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Shayna,
I just want to hug you right now. I can’t imagine how hard closing this chapter is for you, but I do remember well walking through my own empty first house right before handing over the keys a couple of years ago and playing “The House That Built Me” over and over on my phone as I cried, saying goodbye to each room. I had to chuckle a little bit at your laundry room because that was one of my very first inspiration photos 6 years ago when I first got the idea to start my own blog. YOU inspired me to want to start my own blog, even though I’m sure you didn’t know it, and I can’t thank you enough for that. God has so many incredible plans ahead for you, friend, and I can’t wait to see what He has in store for you. Big, huge hugs, girl!
This is only the beginning of something amazing.
You are so sweet!
Oh Lauren, thank you! It can be so hard, can’t it? I had no idea I was who inspired you to start a blog! I’m so happy you decided to go through with it because you have so much amazing talent to share with the world! Hugs right back at you! 🙂
Like you said, he has a plan…and you are living it. Congrats on having the courage to follow the plan, even when it seems hard. I cant wait to see what comes next! You got this!
Thank you, Cheryl! I’m looking forward to sharing more about our new home!
Shayna, I know how incredibly hard leaving the home that you put your heart and soul into must have been. But God had other plans for you. We just have to trust in him and never loose your faith. I loved watching you as you made your home better and better all the time. Now you are turning a very neglected home into something beautiful. God bless you both on this journey.
Thank you so much, Yarlette! God’s plan is definitely perfect, and I’m so loving this new chapter He’s blessed me with! We have so much love to put into our new home!
Such a lovely home, and the new family will love it, too. Very excited for your new chapter in life. You are so talented! Closing the door the last time is so difficult, but you’re on your way to new and even better things.
Thank you so much, Tracie! I’m definitely looking forward to loving our new home very well! 🙂
You got this girlie! ?
Thank you! 🙂
You’ve got this girlie!!
: )
God Bless and Keep You.
Hugs,
Thank you, Cindy! 🙂
Shayna, Things are always happening FOR you. Best wishes on your journey ahead. Just remember, what you are leaving behind is a structure….you are taking the memories with you. Nothing has meaning, except for the meaning you choose to give it. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying it is easy by any means….I wish you a LIFETIME of happiness.
Thank you so very much, and you are so right! 🙂
Shayna, you are very brave indeed. ? God says he will give us a double portion of blessing for our former trouble and bless the latter greater than the former. Looking forward to seeing what comes next!
Thank you so much, Judy! I am definitely looking forward to this new chapter He’s blessed me with! God is so good!
It’s strange in that my iPad has been acting up and crashed as I got to the last picture. Black screen. I felt sad but then I came back later and this time I’m still remembering all the projects you did and some you redesigned again and how forward thinking you were in design. It all looks so current. So it sold.
You’ve moved on and so it was time to close the photos to this place. It’s going to be great to see the things your artist eye has done to this space.
I’m glad you can blog full time. You were so very popular and now it’s all on Instagram and You tube!! Congratulations!!! And welcome home!!!
Thank you so much, Gwen! I’m looking forward to this new chapter in our new home. It’s such a blessing! 🙂
Just like you, my husband and I are getting ready to move from our much loved log home. We started the building process on Labor Day weekend in 2005 and moved into what we were thinking would be our forever home in November of 2006. This has been a long and hard decision for us, but we both knew it was time. It is just the 2 of us and 3600 sq ft is time consuming to keep clean plus log homes require a lot of maintenance. I am at the point of my life that I want to enjoy living and not live to clean and maintain a house. With that said it is not easy to walk away and I am sure that I too will cry and linger a little longer on that last day.
I wish for you many years of happiness, joy and love in your new home and in your new journey.
Oh, Stephanie… I feel for you! It’s always hard to leave a home we love and put so much of ourselves into. There’s nothing wrong with lingering as you say goodbye. In my mind, it’s the only way we can properly say goodbye. Sending hugs your way!
Hi Shayna! Happy for you that you are on a beautiful journey! I’ve been reading your blog for years. I love everything you do! I’m wondering if your old DIY projects will still be available? There’s some I haven’t gotten around to yet lol. Thanks! Kathy
Thank you so much, Kathy! My old DIY projects will absolutely still live here on the blog and be available, so take your time working your way through them! 🙂
Thank you and all the best to you!
I am just now seeing your post …. May I say …. I saved your blog post from your original Wood Grain Cottage Christmas tour…. Because I fell in love with the Breakfast Nook… I duplicated that look at my home and everyone loved it !!!! Thank you for sharing … Your talents and decorating gifts have blessed me and inspired me!!! Cannot wait to see the completed rooms in your new home !!!!!!