On July 3, 2023, Jack and I realized that the time had come for us to move from our beloved 3 Squares Cottage. It’s hard to dig out after 24 years— to leave the place our life together had begun. But the call was too strong to ignore for another day. My parents, then 94, needed us to be closer. My hometown of Bountiful, Utah was calling.
We had many false starts between July and December. Prospective buyers chaotically lined up. 3 deals fell through. Interest rates nearly doubled. Our dedicated and heroic realtor, Heather Wood (Keller Williams, SLC), pushed, pulled, ran, lugged, packed, showed, encouraged, and comforted us throughout the arduous process. Against the odds of timing, Covid, health, and logistics, the stars finally aligned and we were able to close the deal on THE house that was waiting for us all along— rife with potential.
Part of the stellar alignment was that my son, Ian and his dad, Curt (Cutler Construction and Remodeling) made themselves available to vision and actualize their talent, skill, unbelievably heavy lifting, long days and nights or hard work to bring our dream of “Old Orchard House” into being.
Built by the Riley family in 1910, the home on the lower east bench of Bountiful and was centered with orchards sprawling to the north and south. Over time, much of the property was sold, a quarter-acre remaining. The house itself was last updated in the 1980’s, but previous owners had DIY’d various projects through the years.
Our renovation began in February and was fast-tracked to completion in late July. Because we had such a tight connection with our renovator, they allowed us to draw, dream, and design-build all throughout the expedited process. Below are before and after photos—some taken just days and weeks ago, showing our first winter holidays in our new heart-centered, home.
I hope you’ll enjoy a look. In peace, Kari (January 6, 2025)