House Pics

[isaku5]

Holy moly, what a gorgeous home!!! Enjoy it in good health

 

[pennquaker09]

Thank you all so much. Honestly, I really didn''t want to live in the suburbs. We''re young (23 and 30) and I thought it would be great to live in the city. Well, I was in for a rude awakening.

I''m from Birmingham, AL and down there, $450,000 (just a number) will practically buy you the world whereas in the city it buys you a rowhouse that needs work. Actually, think 400K is almost like the minimum for a house here. We looked and looked but we couldn''t find anything and everything we did like was too much. And the realtor went out on a limb and told us about a house that she heard was foreclosed. So, we came and looked at it and the area . . . very suburban, but we both agreed we liked almost everything about the place. I wouldn''t exactly call it a bargain because I don''t really have anything to compare it to, but I don''t think it happens very often. It was kind of a being in the right place at the right time. Janine, however, I have an uncle who lives in Bala Cynwyd and if I compared my house to his, yes it''s a bargain. We can''t afford the Main Line!

But our place didn''t look anything like this, it originally had siding and I personally abhor siding. I think it''s a southern thing. I basically wanted something to remind me of living in the south without actually having to live there. The people here are so much more friendly and the shopping is MUCH better. But anyway, the brick is not original, it was added by us, and we added the third garage space.

And Kaleigh, Nate works at CHOP. He''s there more than he is here. Since I grew up with an anesthesiologist for a dad, I''m used to it. His career will not be as demanding.

How did I get the ideas?

Well, most people find it odd for a 23 year old to like the kinds of things that I like. I really like traditional things. You''d be amazed a what a little bit of molding does.

 

[nebe]

I love what you did with the house, I just can''t believe you have a theater. That blows my mind. I''m from the North East and unless you live in Greenwich, that''s not normal. lol. Diamonds over 1/2 a carat aren''t the norm around here either

In any event, I hope you enjoy your new(ish) home and your new twins!!

 

[pennquaker09]

Well, I wanted a wedding band with channel set diamonds, but in the end we just got platinum bands. So, I suppose the house is a trade off for the diamonds. Yup, that''s right, boys want bling too!

 

[sevens one]

Hi,
Just wanted to say welcome! You''re home is lovely.
(I noticed that you mentioned your partner is a Peds Card at Chop)
Chop is doing wonderful things for our special little heart babies! Wish him well
for me.

 

[butterfly 17]

Oh my, I love your house. I think it is my dream house. I am moving there as soon as possible.!!!!

 

[MoonWater]

pardon, I need to wipe the puddle off the floor. dare I say I''d take that house over a diamond!

 

[pennquaker09]

Date: 11/4/2007 1:37:18 AM
Author: SanDiegoLady

Date: 11/3/2007 11:09:00 PM

Author: pennquaker09

Well, I wanted a wedding band with channel set diamonds, but in the end we just got platinum bands. So, I suppose the house is a trade off for the diamonds. Yup, that''s right, boys want bling too!

I have a friend who''s partner gave him a 3 carat princess and they had a custom setting made to show it off, it does in fact have channel set diamonds down each side. Soooo.. you can so totally have your cake and eat it too! lol It was the most amazing ring.

When the time comes, I know I''ll have one. Since we live in close proximity to Philadelphia, there are so many jewelers to choose from. I saw this band at Tiffany''s, and I fell in love with the design, but it was overpriced.

Honestly, I don''t have anything to complain about. None of this would be possible without the support of my parents and that alone makes me so grateful. I think it would be rare to find parents willing to pay for a gay wedding where I''m from. His family liberal, so there was a better response on that end. I''m practically in love with his mom.

It''s funny, my best friend and I had this bet/pact type of thing about who would get married first and who would have the biggest ring. Well, I''m getting married first, but she''s got me beat in the ring department.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Welcome and wonderful home! I am sure you will fill your dining room with furniture in no time. With twins on the way, might I suggest something from this line:

http://www.fisher-price.com/us/

cheers--Sharon

 

[Blenheim]

Your house is absolutely breathtaking. Congratulations on the house, the master''s program, and the twins!

 

[pennquaker09]

Date: 11/3/2007 9:16:08 AM
Author: Steel
OMG! pennquaker09,


I Love your home, I am GREEN with Envy!

Poor DH was just dragged in and shown your living room (mmmmhh panelling and your master bath mmmmhhhh and the home cinema mhhhh)


How do you get the ideas for the rooms? Please share. I am building next year and am driving myself demented trying to get ideas so as to create your type of style. It is so difficult.

Well Done.


ETA: Thanks Skippy, just saw ''em! Mhhhhhh

The most important thing is to figure out your style. My style and taste is probably 80% traditional and 20% transitional. I''ll never buy a home with humongous glass windows and ultra modern fixtures. I read a lot of design magazines and I watch HGTV on my DVR in the middle of the night. Whenever Nate is on call or works overnight, I don''t sleep very well.

Knowing what you want in the beginning, saves you time and money later. Are you using a custom builder or a national builder. Even though I like my job, I will say that the cookie cutterness is annoying. I get so tired of telling people they can''t get a certain model because it happens to be the same as the one on the next lot.

The most exciting room is also the most troublesome room, the kitchen. Now that I know we''re having twins, I wish I would have made it bigger. Also, if you have kids or plan to have kids, granite may not be the best choice. I so wish I would have gotten quartz.

I was planning on one baby not two! Even though I knew it was a distinct possibility.

 

[ephemery1]

Welcome Penn!! Your name caught my eye because I'm a Penn girl too... actually just finished my second masters at GSE... I assume that's where you'll be doing your masters too? I'm sure you're already familiar with the campus if your partner is at CHOP, but let me know if I can share any of my GSE pseudo-expertise!

Your home is lovely... housing is definitely getting a bit pricey in the Philly area. My husband and I are currently in Rittenhouse Square, but at some point we'll be making the move to the 'burbs... I'm hoping we have some of your good luck in finding something reasonably priced... we'll need more than luck to match your style though!!

And of course, an early congratulations on the new additions to your family!!

 

[icekid]

penn- add me to the list of loooove your house / so jealous! It really sounds like everything is falling into place for you now. New house, new babies! and a career you''ll love. how fun! And don''t forget, med school is always waiting should you decide you want a medicine career later. plenty of people do medicine as career #2 these days.

I''m in Philly too, but in Center City where I am in med school. And I SOOO feel your pain on the expense of living in the city. We will continue to rent until I figure out where I will do my residency, but I would looooove a house. Our dog would too! hehe.

anyway, just wanted to say hi and congrats on all of the good things going on in your life

 

[pennquaker09]

Date: 11/5/2007 8:42:36 PM
Author: icekid
penn- add me to the list of loooove your house / so jealous! It really sounds like everything is falling into place for you now. New house, new babies! and a career you''ll love. how fun! And don''t forget, med school is always waiting should you decide you want a medicine career later. plenty of people do medicine as career #2 these days.


I''m in Philly too, but in Center City where I am in med school. And I SOOO feel your pain on the expense of living in the city. We will continue to rent until I figure out where I will do my residency, but I would looooove a house. Our dog would too! hehe.


anyway, just wanted to say hi and congrats on all of the good things going on in your life

Both of my parents had really hectic careers(anesthesiology and law) and that caused them to get a divorce. I didn''t really have a relationship with my parents until I got to high school, and I hated that. Even though I didn''t plan on two at the same time, I do want . . . maybe two more kids and I want to be there for them. One doctor in the house is good enough.