Where should it be located? How many bedrooms do we need? What towns should we consider? Do we want brick, or maybe siding, or even yet… HardiePlank? Should the master bedroom be on the main floor or upstairs? What lot should we choose? Building a house can be taxing… oh yeah, we need to consider the community tax as well. AHHHHHHH! After months of searching, Darren and I might have found the house for us. The community, the neighbors, the amenities, and the house design all bring a smile to our faces and a “home” feeling to our hearts.
Located just outside the borders of Matthews, NC, Callonwood Estates combines old world charm with everything you expect from a modern, well-planned community. The professionally landscaped grounds, interconnecting sidewalks, and resort-like amenities are welcome mats for residents and visitors alike to the superb community of Callonwood.
Community shopping, including grocery stores, pharmacies, and restaurants are just minutes away. The Siskey YMCA with health and sports programs for every age level is also nearby. A short drive takes you into quaint downtown Matthews with its parks, festivals, farmers market, library, restaurants, and other shops.
Ideal in both lay-out and design, the Preston model of Orleans Homes truly captured our attention and left us envisioning a life in Callonwood. A formal dining room and study greets you upon entry into the Preston Craftsman, then you are lead into a family room with eat-in kitchen and loads of cabinet and counter space, including a granite center island. A guest suite is tucked in near the family room, providing a retreat for family and friends. The second level features a master suite and luxurious master bath with a walk-in closet and sitting room, 3 additional bedrooms, a full laundry room, a hall bath, and a spacious home theater.
As I toured the house, I imagined Athena playing in the family room on Christmas morning with stockings hung for the mantle and a popcorn-strung tree as the center piece. I pictured Darren working quietly from the study as Athena and I played games up stairs. Standing in the guest room, I smiled at the thought of having room for all of my family to visit at once and the home theater/playroom was the perfect place to hold family night. The model kitchen might have been spotless, but I was imagining it with flour-covered counters and egg-filled bowls as Athena and I learned to bake new recipes. The house was calling to us; we were home.
We drove around the community searching for a lot to match the warm feelings that we had for the house. A father and daughter were playing soccer in their yard on one street; a group of adults were hanging out in their driveway with lawn chairs and opened doors on another street; and a mother was in the yard with her two young children on yet another street. There didn’t appear to be an unwelcoming street or neighbor. Each pocket in the community also had its own character with parks and common areas alongside wooded lots. Watching the father play sports with his daughter filled my heart with joy. Even though she is much older than Athena, I can picture them being our neighbors.
We’ll make our final decision on Callonwood Estates this weekend, but my visions of Athena playing in the yard and baking cookies with me in the Preston Craftsman kitchen make the thought process that much easier.
Darren, I think we are home.
I have no idea who you are, but I like you 🙂
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ditto
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I think you just sold me on the neighborhood, I had no idea these places existed, and that house – wow!!!!
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I’m getting more and more excited about it. It must be the right house for us because I can’t see anything bad about it. 🙂
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I love it. good for you. Enjoy
Cynthia
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Thanks!
I hope you’re having a great day,
Lesley
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I’m thinking maybe I should become a neighbor. It’s appealing to me too! 🙂
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And i bet you got this for what a 1-bedroom would cost in NYC or downtown LA!
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Less 😉
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We lived in Matthews in the early 1990’s. It was a beautiful place to live and raise our kids.
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Music to my ears 🙂
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It looks apple pie yummy. These decisions are hard but something good is tugging at you.
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certainly looks and sounds like a place you can call home… wonderful…
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Well now, I could live there! How lovely. I think “feel” has a lot to do with finding home.
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It’s fate with houses – if it’s right for you, you will have it!
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I love following you on these life decisions. I love your rationale.
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I love your comments; you are always so thoughtful. It’s like hearing from family 🙂
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Just lovely. Just love the kitchen/living floors!
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Wow sounds like a great neighbourhood and fabulous house. I know you haven’t made a final decision but Congratulations it sounds like you’ll probably be going for it.
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Wow, I love it! Like the person said before I agree “The right house will be easy and you will move right in” the wrong house is not yours GOD has something much better in store. I am very excited for you and your family. Melody
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looks and sounds like home … just go all out for Sustainable if you can … Congrats
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I know the area… it is a nice area.. what would the elementary school, middle and high school be? I know when I moved to Charlotte from Asheville I had to situate my housing to get the right elementary school….
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I am so in love with that house! Must be a dream to live there 🙂
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Congrats!
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WOW – those pictures look lovely. Something you would find in a post card. I could see me playing around that house… especially that pool! XOXO Bacon
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I think that’s one of life’s most amazing feelings … finding exactly where you are supposed to be. Congratulations!
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It sounds like you’ve found it, I hope you are able to make your decision well!
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That looks like a very large house, Lesley. Have a great life there! I know you will.
Incidentally, I put a link to your Wordppress.com blog on my blog, genekgarrison.blog.
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Sounds perfect
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Buying a home with all the hopes and dreams of your little one in mind, is an exciting time and one I remember as if it were yesterday. I even photographed the first dirty handprint on the wall. Enjoy!
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That is a beautiful house and hope that it works out for you. Love that kitchen. I use to babysit my niece and we use to spend lots of time in the kitchen when she was young and had so much fun. Lots of flour but fun. Could see you doing that with Athena!
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Gorgeous, looks very appealing. My style 😉
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Lesley,
Congratulations on your move. I hope you will feel at home wherever you decide to settle down in. My husband and I were actually contemplating the Charlotte area a while back and we actually still seriously consider it especially since we have good friends in the area and always have a great time when we visit. Plus, their restaurants are fantastic!
I wish you the best in your move.
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I love the title of your post. It’s very much like a Zen koan. As you know, home is where the heart is… Thank you for your continuous support and encouragements. It means a lot to me.
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Congratulations! It is really beautiful. You know it is the right place when everything starts coming together and you have peace about it. Blessings, Diane Roark http://www.recipesforourdailybread.com
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You will love the Mathews area! Great choice! Best of luck to you.
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How funny! I am planning another house hunting trip and Charlotte is on the list! We won’t be your neighbors though (;-D) as planned communities are not our thing. It looks lovely but we don’t like the restrictions involved. I don’t want someone else telling me what color to paint the front door or that I can’t put a deer fence around the garden. Congrats on finding “your spot”!
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I understand the restrictions part, but for a new family like us it seemed like the best place for a sense of community for Athena. 🙂
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Wow! Absolutely gorgeous.
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Very excited to see the three of you take root in town!
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Nice looking home!
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We were just in Raleigh, NC for 3 days – incredibly beautiful area with great parks, Lake Johnson was a wonderful place to walk the dogs, Kanki Japanese hibachi 4 stars, Firebirds Woodfire Grill 5 stars, downtown quite quaint – community looks great enjoy, incredible beautiful older homes along rte 70/50 and Masonic Temple has 2 fantastic buildings; one was called Ancient Free and Accepted Masons – impressive area
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Beautiful! I actually work in Charlotte and live just below the border in South Carolina! It’s a small world!
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what a beautiful home and a great community it seems!!!
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Gorgeous!! Congrats on your choice — looks like a perfect fit for you guys. Enjoy the fun of picking everything out — we haven’t done that in while, and I LOVE that process. Even though we are most probably in our “forever” home, we always tour the area builders’ annual Parade of Homes!
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Looks like a beautiful house!
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Lovely home & community!
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Absolutely wonderful community Leslie. Looks like a great place to raise a family. Just so you know…”they all bundle!”
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Looks fabulous, we are buying a new house ourselves, it wont be anything as grand as you have there. As older folks we are downsizing, but what a stressful time it is, buying and selling. I look forward to escaping to the golf course at every opportunity.
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Will you still associate with us rift-raft?
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Thank you yet again for the thumbs up. Always appreciate your support! 🙂
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CONGRATS on finding the “perfect house” … It is simply beautiful!
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What a lovely house!!! Congrats on finding a new place to call home! 🙂
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i mostly agree with you. when i looking for a home, i have top 3 to consider, which is LOCATION, LOCATION & LOCATION.
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You are so funny! Love the tone of your features as always. Thanks for your likes and hope you keep coming back. As far as home shopping, i say location. Welcome home then. à bientôt, Tristane
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May you all live happily ever after
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Wow, I want to move to America now 🙂 My grandfather lives in Charlotte – he’d be delighted lol
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