FunCycled’s Repurposed Idea House – Welcome Home

Hi Friends!

On December 3rd, we signed our names on a line around a table full of lawyers, mortgage brokers, and a realtor. I can’t tell you how much it meant to have the best support around us when we bought this house.

They aren’t paying me to say this, but I have to tell you all about the amazing people who made the process seamless for us.

Mike Rankin from ClearPath Mortgage Solutions is an absolute rock star. This is the 2nd house Mike has helped us get a mortgage for and I couldn’t recommend him any higher. If you need a mortgage, he’s your guy!

Elena Furciniti is the paralegal for attorney Paul B. Sheer. You can email her at admin@pbslegal.com. She went out of her way to make this day so smooth for us! She had my back from day one and was on top of EVERY little detail.

Also, I know everyone has a real-estate agent that they know and love, but if you want someone who’s as kind as can be, has a big picture perspective, and knows how to negotiate a deal, MaryGrace Katonah is where it’s at! She helped me so much with the sale of our 1805 Dream House.

We closed on the house at 10am and at noon, we had 4 contractors installing a new roof, furnaces, electrical, and poured concrete slabs. I love adventure and learning new things, but learning to love change has evolved in me over time through seeing how risk can be rewarding and fun. Ten years ago, I would never have taken the risk of buying a fixer upper while still owning a house that wasn’t even under contract yet, and balancing a huge project while running a thriving business. Never. Ever. Ever. I would have told you that I hate change actually and that I’m happy with my steady tiny paycheck and never wanted to move. John has taught me the value of risk, the joy that comes from trusting in God alone to provide, and the faith it takes to challenge and pursue a dream.

Driving to the Repurposed Idea House, I cried, and cried, and cried some more. I wasn’t sure if I made the smartest decision of my life or if I’d end up regretting it more than anything. There were so many unknowns, so much to do; would I end up hating all the work? Would my kids resent all the time we’d have to invest into this project? Will I go broke making it beautiful again? As the thoughts came in my mind, Look Up Child started playing in my car. It was like God swooped down and reminded me to look up. He’s right there in ever tired day, every overwhelming moment, and every family decision. He’s got this. He loves me more than I know. He loves my family more than I do. The decision was made, now lets make the very best of it.

So in I went to meet with the contractors. I walked into the kitchen to find that our delightful neighbor had left gifts for my kids and beautiful old pictures of the house for us. Bring on the tears again, but it was happy tears. Knowing that love was poured into this place and I was near a neighbor with a kind heart made me so happy. I mean, look at this beauty!

The previous owner, Eleanor, was born here 95 years ago and has lived in this farm house her whole life. On December 3rd, for the first time since 1805, the keys for this home were given to someone outside of the family. They were placed in our hands. We will make this beauty shine again, Eleanor, room by room. Through sweat and I’m sure some tears, we’ll take this gift and give it our best work. Reviving the old through as much repurposing as possible.

In the months and probably years to come, I’ll be sharing our adventures and projects from this house right here on the blog.

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In other news. last week, ACE held it’s February #CreativeEconomyMixer at Darn Good Yarn in Clifton Park. NYS Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner led an engaging discussion with Darn Good Yarn founder Nicole Snow and me, with a focus on Women and Entrepreneurship. I was thrilled for the opportunity to talk about women in business and what it takes to build a successful business.

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

If you like what you see, please like FunCycled’s Facebook page to keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. Last but not least, let us customize a furniture piece for you. We create custom furniture and will deliver for customers in upstate NY and also ship throughout the US. Send us a note with what you would like using our contact page. Or buy something that we’ve already designed from our furniture for sale page.