This House on a Rock Changed My Life
Two years on and the gratitude is still real
It’s been two years since we moved to my dream home. It has absolutely changed our lives in so many ways. I think I was a little bit afraid to even dream of a house like this. I have always loved mid-century homes yet I never thought I’d have the opportunity to live in one. Hello - houses crisis! I just didn’t think it would be possible.
Just quickly - the Style Studies Essential Course is still open, we started Module 1 today. It’s not too late to jump on in - all is recorded to access whenever suits.
The space - we have never lived in a house before, only units and apartments.
The air - it’s so nice to have all the doors open and let the house air out.
The view - we look over bushland and the Yarra River.
The quiet - frogs, owls, birds is about as loud as it gets.
The garden - lizards included. The kids just love running around outside.
The feel - some houses just feel good, this is one of them.
Most of all it is just a wonderful home that works for a family.
We like being together in the one space and there is room for that. Does it have a butlers pantry, ensuite, walk-in-robe? No. It is not needed (although honestly, I do miss an ensuite sometimes)
Do you ever give yourself the time to let yourself wish for the kind of life you want to live?
Let me tell you something a bit weird about this house.
In the months before we moved, I was listening to a song called ‘You and Me On The Rock’ by Brandi Carlile. I heard her on a podcast talk about this song and something in me also craved to live in a house on a rock. I had an urge to put my hands in dirt and tend to a garden, I know, who even am I?
But we were living in an apartment so I couldn’t let myself think too hard about this idea. Nevertheless I kept listening to this song.
I build my house up on this rock, baby
Every day with you
There's nothin' in that town I need
After everything we've been through
Me out in my garden and you out on your walk
Is all the distance this poor girl can take
Without listenin' to you talk
I don't need their money, baby
Just you and me on the rock
I had been listening to this song on repeat before we found this house. I was literally listening to it when I drove out to see the house for the first time.
When I was driving away from the house (I’d already fallen deeply in love with the house by that stage) I was listening to the song again. I realised that when I was walking though the house, strangely the ‘underhouse storage’ opened to a rock.
The house is literally a house built on a rock.
Weird huh?
So maybe as I was singing along to this song, it was a way of bringing this house to us.
I guess there are lots of songs out there, lots of ‘signs’ if you look for them. So maybe it’s a good idea to keep those ideas in your head of what you want to do. Or better yet, write them down. I can’t explain how we landed in our dream house but a series of events lead us here and it goes to show that anything is possible.
Maybe even find a song that speaks to you too - let me know what it is!
I might lose you here, but I thank Rosemany everyday for this house.
I know it sounds a little woo woo but Rosemary lived here since 1963. I am so grateful that she wasn’t a fan of The Block or Changing Rooms in the 90s and most of the interiors are left in all of their original glory. I am so grateful to Rosemary and I know she was just a smart, incredible and wonderful person.
Who needs a gratitude journal when every single day we just look at each other and say wow, thank you for this house.
Have a beautiful week legends.
Your friend,
Lauren