On Perspective

I left yesterday's inspection of the property feeling pretty uninspired. Work, work everywhere. An overwhelming amount of work.

Project scale: Insurmountable.

I had forgotten something, though. Renovations don't need to happen overnight. In fact, it's better if they don't. It's better to let a house settle and tell its stories before you come in and pull it apart and turn it into something it may have never wanted to be.

Today, we went and spent the afternoon with friends at a home we hadn't visited before.

The house is a similar era to the one we're (hopefully) taking on. The owners have been working on the place for the better part of a decade and it's not 'done' yet.

No one seemed too worried about it.

For us, as soon as we pulled into the driveway we both knew straight away it was going to be a good afternoon.

Because, there's just something about big old verandas on country houses that leads to good afternoons.    

I can't explain it, it just works. Kids running around. Adults having a drink, chatting, laughing. Colour and sound.

Our house doesn't need to be done straight away. String up some lanterns, some pot plants, a washing line. Fill it food and wine and people you love and happy afternoons.

No one's going to care if your walls are four shades of mint green for a while, least of all you.