The Search for Home | A Colonial Farmhouse

Long before we knew we’d be settling in Amherst, we thought about buying a house in the area. My husband had just gotten a position at the college, a position extendable for up to three years. The question was “should we buy or rent in the meantime? “ We decided to rent because as much as we loved it here, we wanted a permanent position as soon as possible so our family can start growing roots and feel like a part of the community. That being said, we had no intention of staying here longer than necessary and buying /selling in a whirlwind could have resulted in major financial loss – a risk which did not make sense to us at the time.  Nevertheless, we had a peek at the market in those early days and one of the first houses we looked at still tugs at my heart strings so I thought I’d share it with you. 

It’s a beautiful farmhouse in Florence Village, a good 20 minutes drive from Amherst, right across the street from a teensy antiques shop. (Which I found serendipitous at the time!) With white siding and pale blue shutters, the exterior alone had me enamored. There’s a little deck that leads to an intimate backyard dining area with french garden chairs and a hydrangea bush… A gem, really!!

The interior photos, although (obviously!) not staged, held a lot of charm and potential. I had imagined how I’d refresh the rooms and add to the home’s inherent charm and in the process was inspired by the work of esteemed decorators such as Phoebe Howard with her chic and timeless bedrooms, Mark Cunningham with his easy and edited interiors, as well as the kitchen of architectural designer Nancy Fishelson, which I’d saved years ago for just the right project. But talking is one thing, let’s have a look inside!

In the end, although our circumstances have changed, it was a good thing not to go for it with this particular home. In the year that’s passed we had time to explore the town and its surroundings, and refine our wish list in terms of what we’d like our dream home to be. We also realized that location is essential for us as well as staying in our desired school district. So I let go. Sort of. 

If you were curious, the house did not sell last year and the listing was removed. I’d be lying to say I’ve not been checking up on it during our active search this year and I must confess I still find myself thinking about all that potential inside. And who knows? Maybe somewhere down the road…