home renovation | They went west

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Hale, sweet hale

May 25, 2015

Hale = house in Hawaiian and it is about dang time I told you a little bit about where we have landed now that the flip house and project that brought us to Kauai in the first place is under contract.

It is a long, long story full of misfortune, adventure, redemption, surprise, and incredibly good luck and great timing. BUT it is a little too long for one or even two blog posts. The cliffs notes version goes like this. . .

Sometime in November we realized the Ele’ele house was nearing completion and we would have to find a new place to call home on the island. we had no idea where that would be or what kind of budget we would have or if financing would be an option now that we were both gainfully employed in the eyes of the state.

We put together a list of homes to see on the east side of the island (our favorite part of Kauai for the incredible mix of people, places and activities. Also, mountains. We are mountain people and Kauai has incredible mountains that were most definitely calling our name) and hit the road with our realtor to check out something like 10-12 properties in one day.

We walked into the first house that happened to be at the tippy top of our budget (and truly out of it if we were being realistic) and fell in love. Really. Hard. The rest of the day of showings was a total waste of time, we knew nothing would compare to the first house and that sadly, we could probably never call it our own.

Cue the incredible good luck – our business partners on the flip house (also partners with R’s mom on another property on the north shore of the island) decided it was time for them to list their north shore property and move on to focus on their health and other businesses. This meant that R’s mom might be looking for a new property to invest in on island and maybe some new ‘business partners’ a.k.a family members to share a home with. Fortunately for us, that is exactly what she wanted to do and the three of us combined just might have the budget to get our dream home.

There is so much to tell about this house and how we nabbed it – it was slightly more complicated than the the short smash-and-grab job described for you here, but for now I’ll just say it was on the market for about 6 years and the way our offer, closing and the sale of the property went down it is hard not to believe in fate or that this house was just waiting for the three of us to show up.

We closed the last weekend in January and moved out of Ele’ele that weekend with only a few minor things left to take care of before that one would be listed for whoever it had been waiting for.

Living in this house and finding our place in Kapaa has been a dream. We have wonderful neighbors, mountains all around and a yard Ellie gets to explore and I get to mow with a riding lawn mower. It is a little bit country, a little bit mountainy, but one hundred percent our home. Enjoy a few select pictures and come visit!

Next time. . .playing tourist, being too uptight for the tropics and leaving the rock for the first time!

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For Sale

March 15, 2015

Regularly Scheduled Programming

January 25, 2015

3 comments

Time flies in the tropics, that’s really the only way to explain the fact that They Went West has been MIA for the last two months. Ok, that’s not the only way, but it is certainly one of them. We’re not ones to make excuses, but with the holidays, visitors, new jobs, a big move, and frenzied dash to the finish line of getting the project house ready to list, a break from the blog was just what we needed.

Before we kick off a stellar year of tropical blogging (or at least semi-stellar year, we are occasional bloggers at best. . .) here’s the low-down on the last few months.

December: It’s hard to name all of the good things that December brought to R and I, but one of the best for sure was my successful thesis defense. I shouted this from the rooftops and every social media platform so most of you are well aware that after two and a half years, 10 courses, and one thesis I am a MASTER. Seems like a strange title doesn’t it? MASTER. Wow. It seems like the grad school + full time work years went all at once and dragged on forever at the same time. It was the hardest two years of my life and now, I can say that it is done, I did it, I passed, and I am pretty sure it helped me land a job in my field in Kauai. Friends and family here on the island tell me that it is not easy to find a job, especially one in your field of expertise, and that pays better (even if only slightly) than mainland jobs. Well, by some miracle, and a lot of hard work I was able to land a job that accomplished all three. If that was all December brought, it would have been more than enough.

But that wasn’t it! R and I got to experience our first island Christmas in December as well. There were things we loved about it and things we missed about CO desperately, but most of all we enjoyed spending it together. We kept some traditions from home (fondue on Christmas Eve – without a fondue pot, that was interesting!) Champagne on Christmas morning (With fresh squeezed OJ), and added some new ones (coconut waffles for breakfast, lounging on the beach even though it was windy and almost chilly!). Facetimed with our families to open presents and enjoy a beverage or two or three together and then just relaxed the day away. We didn’t run from house to house or party to party – we just relaxed. Something that neither R nor myself are very good at.

Now, let’s talk about ringing in the new year – island style. Our neighbors had warned us, islanders do it UP on NYE, and boy they weren’t lying. Fireworks are pretty much illegal in Colorado, and for good reason since the state has been torched every summer by pretty significant wildfires, but to our knowledge no ban exists in Kauai. I think there is a registration process when you buy fireworks here, or something like that, but it sure doesn’t seem regulated in anyway. Our neighbors had fireworks galore. . . big ones. I’m just going to come out with it and be honest. . . I hate fireworks. It’s true. I like them at Disney World or Fourth of July show, but in your neighbors backyard at 3:00 a.m. I’m not a fan. Our NYE revolved around homemade pizza, pajamas and Netflix and that was just perfect! Thankfully our neighbors were nice and didn’t carry on until 3:00 a.m., but that is mostly because the power went out island wide on New Year’s Eve and once all the works were lit, there was nothing else to do but go to bed and hope the power was back on by morning. Thankfully the lights did come back on and the rest of the holiday weekend was spent prepping for the first full week of work since I started the job in December.

January: Nothing like the start of a new year to kick things into high gear (I’m starting to think R and I don’t operate in anything but high gear), we got down to business, me at my new job, Richard frantically working to finish the lower house renovations and last odds and ends needed to get the project house listed. While that was going on, we were also simultaneously closing on our new house – YES!! – NEW HOUSE and getting ready to move. See what I mean, always operating in high gear, never a dull moment! The new house story is one for the next post, but last week we packed up a uhaul with everything we own (kind of nice that everything we own fits in one medium sized uhaul) and headed to the east side of Kauai to settle into the new place.

So, that’s where we are and where we have been for the last 2 months. Life on this little island is starting to feel normal. Not that I know what normal really is supposed to feel like at this point, or if it even really exists, but a routine is starting to take shape and regularly scheduled programming has resumed. The edge is starting to wear off and I’m finding things I really, really love about living in Kauai. New job, new house, new city, same island and it’s all starting to feel so good.

This year I hope to keep bringing you updates about what it is like to live and work in Kauai, How we care for and transform this new house into our home, and what happens with the project house as well. A deeper look at the culture we’ve encountered here and what we’re learning from it. So keep reading, and virtually visiting our little island through the blog. Until next time. . .
XO,
RT

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Workin’ It

November 3, 2014

4 comments

I think the closer you get to the equator, the faster time goes. I know that isn’t true, but it sure feels that way. How else could it be November already?! The last month has been an absolute whirlwind and we (ok, Richard) has made enormous improvements to this little house. Before we get to all those improvements here is a quick list of our October highs and lows –

High: I started working part time as a freelance marketing designer and thankfully I have been busy! I’ve been working with R’s sister and her dance studio to start some new communication efforts and recruit new students. So far results have been really great and I absolutely LOVE working this way! I am also two tests away from completing the research requirement for my M.A. and will spend all of the time I can in November wrapping up the final paper. I defend my thesis December 4th so if you don’t see any posts in November, just smile and send calming thoughts my way. However, working from home is starting to give me cabin fever a bit so I’ve decided to apply for outside jobs when I see them come up. I found a marketing position opening at a non-profit garden/education center and would appreciate any positive thoughts you have. It would be such a fun job! All I can hope for at this point is an interview but that would be fantastic!
Low: R made an unwilling and unknown sacrifice to the sea at the beginning of the month in the form of his wedding ring. It’s somewhere it the middle of Kalapaki beach. I hope it turns up in a fish or sunken treasure cove somewhere far away someday, but until then he is running around with a naked ring finger.
High: Best care packages EVER arrived from my family. First we got a HUMONGOUS box of goodies and belated birthday/anniversary gifts for Richard that included our favorites from Trader Joes and Colorado. We got copious amounts of green chile, cookie butter and my personal favorite – caramel apple candy corn (look it up it will change your life!) We also got some amazing home decor with the colorado flag on it and we love showing our CO pride. Then the unimaginable arrived, my sister and her BF overnighted us food from our FAVORITE restaurant at home. Seriously, it was SO GOOD, and tasted exactly like home. We must not get too used to these kinds of deliveries, but we sure appreciated them!
Low: Scorpions. No stings, but still, SCORPIONS. Do not let this deter you from visiting, they are small and they are outside, but they are gross. If I can handle them, you can definitely handle them.
High: New friends/visitors: We had our first non-family visitors stay with us this month. Some friends of friends were on island taking an extended honeymoon to backpack this beautiful little island and what do you know, Hurricane Ana also dropped by the same weekend they arrived. This meant we got to spend two rainy days with awesome new friends exploring our side of the island.
Low: Hurricane Ana – so far we have had 3 major hurricane scares since we have been here. I think Richard and attract bad weather. From 1,000 year floods to out of the ordinary hurricane patterns maybe you should stay away from us 😉
High and Low: We got our HI driver’s licenses, mine said I was a man. It was hilarious, but it also required three trips to the DMV. Yuck!

Ok, now for the stuff you really want to hear, all about dat house, bout dat house (Anyone else have that song constantly stuck in their heads? Well now you do, enjoy…)

I think that R is part transformer robot or at least half energizer bunny because he has worked constantly and tirelessly this last month and this house has seen enormous improvement. First, creepy apartment #1 has been turned into an amazing master suite that is multifunctional. Whoever owns this house after us will have unlimited uses for it. It could be an art studio, a rental, a workout room, you name it! An amazing bathroom has been added to this suite and it got a major facelift in the form of new paint, tile and trim. Additionally R fashioned the most incredible sliding doors for the bathroom and the lanai. They glide effortlessly and look big city apartment chic. This room went from being a bug-infested hot house to a beautiful, multifunctional apartment.

Creepy room number 2 that sits between our kitchen and the room formerly known as creepy apartment #1 is now a screened in Lanai. This room had a head start before we got here as our partners tore out the floor and shoddy shelving, but Richard has turned it into functional and most importantly livable space. In Hawaii people spend a lot of time outside. I mean, of course you do, it’s Hawaii, but really most of our neighbors have their TV’s out in their carports and use the carport as a functional living space. Our house didn’t have that space until now. Now the lanai is screened, tiled, painted, and ever so awesome! We bought a used patio table at a clearance sale at the local habitat for humanity thrift shop and now this room is the one we use the most in the house! We eat out there, work out there, enjoy the cool trade winds when the do show up out there and all in all just enjoy living in this space.

With the completion of these three rooms the improvements to the upper house are almost complete. No idea what we are doing with the super-creepy-under-the-house apartment thing, but that will change soon. R will also be able to start improvements to the lower house soon which means that we are closer and closer to getting another house and another project all the time. Check out some of these amazing rooms! And (shameless plug alert) if you know anyone that needs a contractor in HI, send them our way or at least to MCSquared Design Studio for more information.

Until next time

XO
RT

Ooooh look, pictures!

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There will be bugs (and lizards and hurricanes!)

August 12, 2014

Home, _______ home

August 4, 2014

We are here

July 29, 2014

1 comment

Everywhere we go in Kaua’i we get asked where we are visiting from and how long we are staying, however, we are not here to vacation (I do hope this little excursion helps us to relax just a little bit though.) We came to Kaua’i to work. Richard is a general contractor and architectural designer (check out his awesomeness here) and the biggest reason for our move is that he was offered the opportunity to update/renovate/gut/rebuild a property with two units on the southwest side of the island in a little town called Ele’ele. Did I mention that we are also living in this property that needs a total redo? Well we are. It’s definitely an adventure in and of itself. Thankfully the main living area was spruced up by a good friend of ours before our arrival and it is actually ~~very quaint and quite cute~~ (depending on my mood it can also be a frustrating little box, but most of the time it is cute and provides us all the shelter we need) to boot.

I’m also here to work. I have a master’s degree to finish with just a thesis project due in December remaining (check out my program here, I highly recommend it if you are interested in furthering any communication/design/technology/journalism education you have) and by some miracle I got to keep my fab job in Boulder and I am working remotely as a marketing and design wizard goddess. (Wizard goddess is a wayyyy better title than what I actually have – basically I make/create/design e- marketing things for the greatest school on the planet.)

What can I tell you about Ele’ele? Not a whole lot. It is tiny, especially coming from Boulder a town of 100,000+ and more restaurant and shops than you can believe. According to the last census data there are about 2,000 full time residents in Ele’ele and there is also a grocery store, a McDonalds, a few small restaurants, a bank, post office, Ace Hardware and a church. When you think about it, I guess that is all you really need. Ele’ele is situated between Port Allen and Hanapepe (funky little artist community that reminds me of a microBoulder).

Even though Ele’ele is a short drive to exotic beaches and stunning mega resorts, at the same time it could not be further away. The residents of this community that we have met are the nicest, most caring people we’ve run into in a long time and that’s saying a lot considering we’re from Colorado which is also known to house a big bunch of nice people. Our neighbors here are hard workers, generally in trade type businesses like Richard and some are life-long residents of Hawai’i. We’ve already traded stories and fruit (everyone in this neighborhood has some kind of amazing fruit tree. We happen to have avocados, two types of mangoes, papayas and mandarin oranges) and it seems like Richard will have a great pool of helping hands for the big job he is about to take on. Our next door neighbor is 92 years young and has been a lifelong resident of Ele’ele. She’s lived in the house next door for more than 60 years!

So that’s a little bit about where on this big blue planet we are currently residing. Come back next week for the fascinating history of this house (or at least what we know about it) and some pictures of what we’re about to take on!

P.S. Did you know? Kauai Coffee Company is located just 2 miles from our house in Ele’ele? It is the largest coffee plantation in the United States and produces more than half of the Hawaiian Coffee you love? Come visit and we’ll take you on a tour of the estate and maybe throw in a delightful coconut iced coffee from their cafe.

-R+T