Since leaving our childhood home a few decades back, this house is one of only two homes she has lived in that truly had her life blood in each and every room. She tended the beautiful gardens and embraced the "vacation-like" village she has called home the past 8 years. After the unexpected loss of our father 18 years ago, she decided to make some changes in her own life and left her home in Kansas City landing in the Philadelphia area. A new position, a career ascending to higher and higher levels and a house at the beach were part of her unfolding plan. She discovered the Jersey Shore and chose to have a commute to work when she wasn't being sent to South America, Europe, or Asia. She never minded the drive because each time she came home it was like being on vacation. One Friday night in February she met the man who would become the love of her life. In the middle of major construction to her beach house, she was now balancing work, the remodel, and her new love.
She and I had worked on many design projects for her various homes over the years. Her Kansas City rancher was her first "owned" home. She began to acquire quality furnishings, custom window treatments, and even experienced a small kitchen remodel after an appliance failure. The townhome in Chesterbrook touted a gorgeous innovative fireplace she designed, but neither home came close to the comfort and beauty of the Jersey Shore house. The initial conceptual plans for the remodel were put to paper the winter after she moved. I had flown in from California to brainstorm, measure, and start the programming process of design. The second day I was there, our mother called to tell us that she had 4th stage breast cancer and had been secretly ill for over 10 years. I mourned her death for the rest of the visit though she actually lived another 4 years. Her illness inserted an additional difficulty in the design and construction process making it hard to focus and extending the length of time to complete the project by 2. My sister's plans had been to improve the home for the ease of selling someday and to get to enjoy the home in the meantime. She planned to work until she was eligible to retire, and then decide whether to move close to my family and start a fun business or to continue to consult with her company and enjoy the house for a few more years.
Cooking is her hobby and her collection of cookbooks is to be envied. Many wonderful meals and treats have come out of the beautiful room we created. As an educator, we teach our students to find things to inspire them when designing their projects. I had saved a periodical with an amazing kitchen design in it. One of the advantages of knowing someone their whole life, is knowing what they like even before they do. I took the magazine to her and she embraced the concept like I knew she would. Living 4 hours apart (I had moved to Maryland) makes it impossible to be present for all decisions. Having the inspiration pictures from the magazine was the ideal reference when I could not be present
Her future husband arrived in mid remodel. His love of restoring sail boats and his knowledge of construction helped her to keep her sanity and stress levels low, plus he liked to clean house; what luck! Six months after the home was completed, they were married in the livingroom with me at her side. With both our parents gone and a new husband to share her life with, it was time to accept that all things change, and at the end of the day, it is only a house, but honestly, it was a really great house and I will miss it. In a poor economy she got her full asking price. The buyer's daughter was an interior designer and recognized what we had acconplished and the quality of workmanship she had demanded.
She claims we will see each other more, though I no longer can drive to where she will live. Time will tell if that is true. Thanks for the memories you made little house at the Jersey Shore. When she arrived some doors started to close, but now she has a new life ahead and I for one am looking forward to the next chapter.
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