The Story

Where it all started…

Her side

It all started with the McGuire House. In 2011 our journey began and that Fall he moved into a historic home built in 1879, in the village of Glendale, Ohio. The history of the home was appealing to us both and the location - a charming neighborhood where Stephen grew up. I still remember the first time I toured the house. Stephen had seen it first and brought me there to get my opinion. We were still just dating so it was a bold move you could say, but I was thrilled to be a part of the process. As the real estate agent walked us through the home, my first thought was that the house was very outdated, but in good living condition, and being a designer (and probably a little naïve) all I saw was potential. We had one moment alone during the tour when we walked down into the basement of the home. Stephen grabbed me, and we kissed. I think it was an unspoken thing that we agreed at that moment, that we wanted to build something together (in more ways than one). Little did we know that we’d literally have to do work to every surface of the house (and our relationship too) but looking back I have no regrets. The house did have potential and so did we. We were bold, inspired, full of love then and still are now.

His side

Originally, I had my eye on the house next door. I’ve always been interested in historic homes because of where I grew up in the Village of Glendale. The house next door just caught my eye as an interesting historic home that was in my old neighborhood. Then, one day, driving to visit Bluebird Bakery in the Village Square, I noticed our future home again. This house was next to my “dream” home and was for sale! It had been on the market for some time, but I hadn’t paid much attention until that Autumn. I remembered sitting along the edge of it’s back patio when I was in preschool. It was a birthday party held for the granddaughter of the former owners. Each of us was giving a birthday gift to her in celebration of her fifth birthday. Not long after officially noticing our future home, I visited my parents across the railroad tracks. My father had nonchalantly placed a real estate clipping for the very same home in my mailbox. It all kind of snapped into place. It was like an invitation. It got me thinking about tackling the awesome responsibility of making a house a home. I had no idea how to buy a house nor the work it would entail. I was focused so much on the practicality of the finances. Could I buy this historic home? I was a bachelor at the time. I had an amazing apartment overlooking Eden Park in close proximity to the first full time teaching job I ever had at a prestigious private school. Only a few months prior, I had met the love of my life for the first time. Would it freak her out if I was already settling down? I took a chance and nervously asked Lauren if she would offer her opinion on the place. I wanted to include her because I already saw a future with her. If she would have expressed any disinterest, I doubt I would have had the courage to embark on such an endeavor.