Years of Dreaming and Planning

After more than three years of dreaming, planning, building, making what seemed like thousands of decisions and lots of waiting…so much waiting, we are finally home.

There is still plenty happening around here. The landscape is very much a work in progress, construction continues on the potting shed, and there a few piles, projects, and many details still waiting for our attention. But slowly, this house is beginning to feel like ours, and I can hardly tell you how happy that makes me.

As I prepare to leave for France, I thought this was the perfect time to give you just a little peek inside. Not the grand tour quite yet—just a few favorite snapshots and little corners that are already making me smile.

So much thought went into this home. There were countless decisions along the way, from architectural details and finishes to lighting, fabrics, furnishings, and all of those tiny choices that somehow become the personality of a room. Some things were planned from the very beginning, while others evolved as the house came together. And, as anyone who has built a home knows, there were certainly a few surprises along the way!

There will be plenty of time to share more. I promise to circle back and take you through the rooms one by one, the choices we made and what inspired them. For today, I simply wanted to share a few little cameos of a home we waited a very long time to call our own.

And now, for the first time in more than three years, leaving for France feels just a tiny bit harder. That is saying something.

France, of course, has a pretty powerful pull of her own, and I’m packing my bags as I write this.

If you’ve been thinking that it’s time to come along with me, there are currently two A Taste of Paris trips open for registration in 2027.

The Loire Valley is France at her storybook best—magnificent châteaux, glorious gardens, beautiful wines, charming villages, lush interiors, wonderful food, and history that is anything but dull. It is an extraordinary part of France and an experience I am so excited to share.

And then there is Paris Flagships—the Paris experience filled with the iconic sites and museums, incredible food, and three outstanding cooking classes, including one at the famed Le Cordon Bleu. It is an action-packed week celebrating the beauty, flavor, history, and unmistakable magic of Paris.

Both trips are currently open for registration, and I would love to have you along.

For now, I’m soaking up these last few days at home, finishing projects, watching the landscape take shape, and enjoying this place we dreamed about for so long.

And then, it’s off to France.

Be sure to follow along on Instagram and Facebook, I’ll be sharing plenty of the beauty, food and fun along the way. And who knows? Maybe next time, you’ll be experiencing France right alongside me.

XOXO Lorie