Crazy week in Wicks land! Yep, it’s official – We Are MOVING to Santa Barbara! I know a lot of you have been shocked since we announced the big news last week. We are pretty surprised too because we actually planned this entire thing SO last minute. Let me back up a bit and give you a little of the backstory.
Jeff and I have been living in Pleasanton since Emma was 4. We’ve lived in the SF Bay Area even longer than that and we’ve loved every minute of it. Pleasanton is the most adorable town providing the perfect life for Emma to grow up in. The schools are amazing and with Emma being an only child the town filled with kids and families made it one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. In 2006 we purchased a new home that had 4 bedrooms, a pool and was perfectly situated in a cul de sac. We loved that our home was a haven for Emma and all of her friends. Sleepovers were a constant and that meant the world to us. After Emma left for college Jeff and I decided to downsize our larger home for a smaller house in our cute downtown area near friends. We found the PERFECT sized home just 4 houses from our friends and the rest is history. We gutted the entire house and made it ours in just a few months. I loved the process so much and the opportunity to design each space with Jeff. This was our first time renovating and I still can’t believe how much fun we had from start to finish. Time has flown and I can’t believe that we’ve had this home for 5 years this June! Amazing…
Recently over the past year (especially with COVID), I’ve been feeling pretty antsy. Pleasanton is a wonderful town, but with Jeff being able to work from anywhere – I began dreaming bigger. I lived in Santa Barbara back in the late 80’s right after I graduated from college. My parents had moved there while I was in college and it was a WONDERFUL period in my life. Santa Barbara holds so many special memories for me – it’s where I fell in love with Jeff, got engaged then married. We refer to it as our magic place.
I shared my thoughts about possibly moving with Emma and she loved the idea. I have to mention that she is one of the most supportive people in our lives. She drives on change as much as us and always looks to the next adventure. She encouraged my dreams and mentioned that Jeff and I should head down south to SB, San Clemente & San Diego to check out the vibes and home scene there. The next thing you know I talked Jeff into heading to SB for a long weekend and Emma decided to tag along. He has always been interested in moving back to the beach and loves Santa Barbara as much as me. Jeff went to school in San Diego and loved living by the water. He often surfed and loved the relaxed laid back life. The idea of moving there wasn’t a difficult decision for him so here we are..
Last week we drove down to SB for the weekend and decided to stay at the Hilton. This hotel is one that we stay at often because it’s located right by the water, near State St. and affordable. We had THE BEST TIME. We hit a few restaurants that we loved: Santo Mezcal, Toma & The Shop Kitchen for brunch. We walked down to the beach, drove around the Riveria & Mesa areas to check out homes, shopped in Summerland, and even drove by Oprah’s house. ;) Everything was perfect. The sun was shining all weekend long and we just knew… it was time to jump off the high dive and try something different. The next thing you know we decided to put our house on the market and move down to Santa Barbara! This was such an exciting moment for all of us! We called our family, friends, and more to tell them the news. Everyone was so supportive and excited for us. While our friends are sad to see us go they have been our friends for 20+ years and also love to travel so we plan to see them all the time – whether in SB, the Bay Area or someplace else. As to Emma and my niece Walker who work with me, they plan to fly into Santa Barbara directly from their airports once or twice a month. The other days they can work remotely like they’ve been doing. Maggie will obviously be coming with us. ;)
Once we returned from SB we decided to list our house immediately to take advantage of the hot market in the Bay Area. Houses are going super fast where we live since everyone working in the Silicon Valley areas and San Francisco areas can now work from home most days. The suburbs are where it’s at and without people having to make the drive in to work every day they can live a little further from where they work. Plus, Pleasanton is the cutest and a desirable place to live! As of this moment, our house has sold and is currently pending.
We don’t have a home in Santa Barbara yet for the very same reason – houses are going FAST there as well. Most homes sell within a day or two of being listed so it’s important that we’re already there so that we can pounce on homes as soon as they are listed. To make this work we’ve decided to rent something for a month or more to allow us the opportunity to see what’s available and to get to know the different neighborhoods. More than likely we will be faced with some sort of renovation situation… that will dictate whether we can live in the house during the process or not. Last time around we stayed in a rental the entire time. I’m hoping we won’t have to do that this time but we shall see. It’s all so exciting and new and crazy. But it feels right. :)
I’m really grateful for all of the support that so many of you have given us throughout this past couple of weeks. You have made this process all the more fun and exciting. I know a lot of you love my current Pleasanton home and will miss it (as will I!) but I promise to create something just as cozy and gorgeous – and hopefully with a view of the beach. Wouldn’t that be amazing? We’re so ready for this part of our life to begin!
Future Home Ideas
I’m looking for something with a view, preferably in the 1.6-2.1 million price range. We love the Riveria and Mesa/Alta Mesa areas. I am okay with a good amount of renovations and a fixer as we really want to make this home really ours. Anywhere from 1800 – 2200 sq ft would be amazing. A small courtyard space like we have now with a fountain or fire pit would also be nice… That’s pretty much it! I can’t be too picky considering the crazy market and our price point but we’ll keep our fingers crossed and buy as many lottery tickets as we can in the meantime. ;)
Of course, we’ll keep you in the loop and share every little bit of this process with you as we move forward! xo
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Kristy,
Iβm thrilled for your family. This new adventure is what life is all about. Excited to follow along through this fun process.
π₯° SJ
Iβm so excited for your move to SB! I have been living in SB for the last 8 years and itβs truly a a magical place.
Iβd love to connect and share recommendations for the area since weβve had so many changes just over the last 5!
Fun fact, the company I work with is heavily involved with Cisco Webex which I know is where Jeff works!
Wishing you both all the best. A new adventure is always fun and so exciting. We have done it many times and have always thoroughly enjoyed the process!
I couldn’t be happier for you both. Life is unpredictable, so go find that home of your dreams (hopefully on the water) and enjoy each and every day with one another!!! Don’t go too small as I am betting that y’all will have grandbabies in the future!β€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈ
What an exciting time for you and Jeff! Did you sell your home furnished or will you take all if your furniture to the new home? Canβt wait to see what you end up purchasing. Best wishes!!
So excited for your family!! Santa Barbara is so beautiful. Thanks for bringing us all in your amazing new journey π
So excited and happy for you guys. Looking forward to your new adventure. Many blessings to you guys always.
Congratulations on your new journey!
My Sister and I follow you religiously and canβt wait to follow your move. π€ I hope all goes smoothly for you. π₯°
Yay yay yay!! So excited for you all! Iβll be (hopefully) doing our beach house around the same time. Although we are on the beach so I have to contend with the coastal commission and all of those permitting nightmares, so I may be a step or two behind you) Iβm so happy to be able to glean some of your knowledge and know how (not to mention stellar taste!) on my journey. Wishing you all the very best!
809 Margo St, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
Ugh, sale pending but the wide open doors and view!
So great! New adventures!
So excited to have you guys moving to Santa Barbara! I have called this place home for the last 8 years and it really is a magical town :)
I’d love to connect and share recommendations since so much has changed just in the last 5 years!
Welcome to SB and I hope to see you around town :)
I’m so happy for you and Jeff!! I wish you the best of luck in finding your new home. I can’t wait to see everything you 2 are going to do in Santa Barbara!!
So exciting!! Canβt wait to follow your adventures in SB!!π
I am so happy for you and Jeff, congratulations!! May you both continue to enjoy all of lifeβs blessings…. Best wishes to you both, I look forward to following your journey π₯°
Rosanna
Wishing you and Jeff the very best! We are looking to downsize but actually want to get two places! One here near our kids and grandkids and one that we can travel back and forth near the beach when we decide we have had enough of winter!
It will be exciting to share your journey! Canβt wait! π₯°π
Such exciting news. I canβt wait to see the whole process unfold. So interested in seeing what that area is like, and visit in the future. Onwards and upwardsπππβ€οΈπ
I am so happy for you and Jeff! I canβt wait to follow your beach life!! CONGRATULATIONS ππππΎ
If you can’t find your home in Santa Barbara, I can help you find a home in San Clemente π‘
Kristy,
Iβm so excited for you and Jeff! I watch your stories everyday and canβt wait to watch your journey to Santa Barbara!
Congratulations! Very excited for you both and canβt wIt to see your new home
I am so happy for you and Jeff. What an exciting time. I hope you find the house of your dreams!! π
YAYAYAYAY! So exciting…my favorite part of CA! Congrats! I am a Realtor in PA and totally understand…the market in my Philly area is crazy as well…everyone reevaluating. π€ Congratulations…Santa Barbara is stunning! ππ
I wish you a happy life wherever you go. A lot of blessings for you and your family!
I’m laughing! I always say the same when we’re building/buying a home to renovate…”we will be buying lottery tickets”! A realtor once told me, “Even the people buying ten million dollar homes, still wish they could buy a twelve million dollar home.” It put it in perspective. Our recent renovation we’ve been hiring contractors for, I think for the next house, I won’t have to finish every corner of it within a year. It might be ok to wait to finish a room or two. Finding the right location, in your case, the view, I’d be more willing to compromise on taking some time with certain areas to renovate. *My wish for you, is for you and Jeff to find the house with good bones, in the beautiful spot you’re dreaming of!
(please delete 2 of my duplicates..I got a response of something about it needed to be less duplicated, so I edited it down, not realizing it had already submitted! I’m sorry my comment is causing extra work! )
I canβt wait to follow along with your move and renovation of another house! Your style is beautiful and one of my favorite Instagram accounts to follow. I love to see what Jeff is cooking also !!
Kristy,
So excited for you and Jeff! What a wonderful experience! Enjoy your new adventure to the fullest!
Xoxo,
Jessica
Wow I canβt believe youβve been in this home 5 years. I found your account during the reno and have loved it ever since. You, Jeff, Emma and now Walker ;) are the kindest people and a breath of fresh air.
I am SO looking forward to your new adventure!!!
Just so excited for you as you begin your new adventure! Canβt wait to see the new home you choose. You will certainly make a lovely life there.
So exciting. Thank you for sharing so much. Canβt wait!
So excited for you. Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
So excited for your guys! I love that you’re following your dreams and jumping right in. We also live in the Bay Area and are exploring Santa Barbara to Coronado as our next (and hopefully last) renovation adventure. I’ll be following along closely to get ideas. I know you’re next home will be even lovelier than the one you’re leaving behind. It must be bittersweet … but I can tell it feels so right. xo
Loved reading this lovely story! Canβt wait to see how your next chapter unfolds! Iβm sure it will be magicalπ
This is such exciting news and look forward to tag along(lol) on the journey with you both. Can wait to see the home and share in the Renovations. Best of luck!!!
A new chapter in your lives! Amazing! Enjoy the adventures……life is grand!!
Congratulations, so
Excited for you and Jeff of course Maggie.. The whole experience is going to be so much fun .. just enjoy the ride ..life is short.. make it sweet! XO Katrina π€
Wishing you and Jeff all the best in your new adventure π
Im so excited for you both. I also love Santa Barbara. Beautiful place. I look forward to seeing your journey. Best of luck on your wonderful and fun house hunting!
Kristy and Jeff,
Iβm so excited and happy for you! You two are so cute and inspiring. Your news about moving is a little bittersweet though, because I absolutely love your home in Pleasanton. But I know you will find the perfect home in SB and I know you will make it just as beautiful as your current home. It will be great fun to come along on this adventure with you and watch the progress from the beginning.
I live in a small town in Ventura County called Camarillo. We are about 45 minutes south of SB…so I think that almost makes us neighborβs :)
Thank you for sharing this special time and again, Iβm so, so happy for you!
Love, Jen πππ
We live in Canada and Santa Barbara is so beutiuful. We have gone there lots and you will love your new adventure. Good luck Kirsty and you will find your forever home.
I am so excited for you and Jeff!! I love that you refer to Santa Barbara as your “magic place”!! I have my own “magic place” and I hope to move there soon…hopefully the next couple years. I am looking forward to following you on this journey!!
Congratulations to you both. Every time I read a post from you I smile… you are so cheerful and positive.. and full of lots of great ideas and tips.. canβt wait toβseeβ what the move to SB brings… wish I lived in sunny CAπ… but we make the best of where we are still some snow on ground here in PA.
Needless to say… canβt wait for Spring.!!
A
Kristy, I’m so excited for you and Jeff! I loved visiting Santa Barbara when I lived in Pleasant Hill, CA. (I’m now back in Texas) I look forward to seeing what you purchase and of course what you design. Are you itching for a new design aesthetic or are you sticking with your current? Either way, I can’t wait to see! Best wishes for the house hunting process! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
Congratulations Kristy & Jeff! This will be so fun to see how things unfold and watch you do your design magic. Thank you for allowing us to follow along. May you find the home of your dreams in your dream city. :)
Iβm so happy and excited for you and Jeff!
I used to live in the Bay Area, and Santa Barbara is my most favorite place in CA!! Congratulations!
Iβm so excited for you and canβt wait to follow along your journey. I know your new home will be fabulous you have such great taste.
Congrats on your new journey! Canβt wait to see what you end up buying near the beach. Itβs all exciting. We recently bought a beach house in Florida. Everything modern mostly white and sparkly wanted it to be beachy. Even bought a decorative surfboard. Iβm sure you will find a home with beautiful ocean view. Best of Luck!
So excited for you Kristy! Santa Barbara is an amazing town – what a dream come true!
My husband and I are just putting our home in Connecticut on the market and are making the leap to who knows where. When it feels right weβll know. So weβll rent maybe in a few different areas βtil we land in our forever home.
I am excited about the change and adventure!
Iβll be following along with you and Jeff and watching you design your new home. Iβm sure it will be amazing! Iβm so excited for you!!
Huzzah!
I am extremely happy for you two! I canβt wait to see the home you choose and the Reno process. I know the new house will be as FABULOUS as the one you have now. I will miss seeing your current beautiful home. Congratulations! πππ
So happy for you guys! Can’t wait to see the magic you perform on your next home. Thanks for taking us along for the ride. All the best to you!
I found you on Instagram not too long ago and just love being part of your virtual world-I canβt wait to see all of your new adventures- wishing you all much health and happiness
Kristy!!!
Congratulations on your new move!!!
I plan on moving to Moonstone Beach in a couple of years….
I went to college in San Luis Obispo, at Cal Poly and ended up living there for a while, then raising my family in Orcutt/Santa Maria. My son is currently in Santa Barbara and my daughter lives in San Diego!! You mentioned all the places I’ve lived and I was super thrilled!!! So excited for you both!
Thanks for sharing!!
I’m so happy for you both! Can’t wait to see the new house!
I love your enthusiasm and love of adventure. I was so surprised that you would leave your beautiful home in Pleasanton but after reading your email I now understand. I look forward to seeing your new home and watching your renovation and design process.
Good luck with your move and I hope youβre quickly able to find your dream home.
PS. I knew your house would sell quickly.
Dear Kristy
I have been following you and Jeff since just prior to your move and had the privilege of following you both and that wonderful renovation.
I wish you both much happiness and prosperity on your move to Santa Barbara. It sounds exciting and full of hope.
Take care and keep staying positive. Here in Perth Western Australia, fortunately we have barely been touched by the pandemic and we feel very fortunate for that.
Sending you much love and best of wishes to you and your loved ones. Look forward to seeing your Instagram journey.
Mary
Kristy!!!! This is so exciting! I did not see your renovation process with the Pleasanton house, but certainly love the results!! My husband & I are ready to make a change too, but Iβm a little scared to make the move. I love my house & neighbors! Seeing your process is going to be exciting & Iβm sure you will have the same excellent results!! Thanks for the inspiration!!!
So Happy for You Guysππ»ππ»ππ»ππ»ππ»ππ» Good Luck on Your Future Home. Cant wait to see what you guys get Iβm pretty sure is going to be Beautifulπ€π»ππ»ππ»
. What an exciting time in your life!! I canβt wait to see and hear all about your new adventure. Thank you for sharing – you are an amazing couple!!
So exciting! Congratulations on the news! I love your current home but I can’t wait to see you renovate a new home. I live by the beach in Maine and it’s just magical living by the water. Super excited for you guys!
Excited to follow your journey as you search for the “perfect” new home to settle into. Renovation will be fun to watch. Love your current home but totally understand the desire for change. Good luck and I will be following!
Congrats on this new phase in your lives. Best wishes and looking forward to your updates :)
Thank you!! We’re so excited xoxo
Excited for your new adventure..soo much work but sooo much fun too..good luck finding your new habitat
Hi Kristy
I live in the Riviera in Santa Barbara on La Vista Grande in the eucalyptus Hill area. Iβve been in Santa Barbara for 16 years as my husband got a job there and we had to move from Newport Beach. I know the town really well and I would love to show you around! You can email or call me at (949) 689-9810. Ive stayed in that Hilton many times and we walk on the beach all the time. Iβm a Meeting and Event Planner so I love your decorating? Love the restaurants you listed! Welcome to Santa Barbara! π
Thanks so much Kaye!! You’re so sweet. I’ll definitely reach out. :)
Happy Easter,
xoxo
Hi Again
Btw…. we spent 5 years building a custom home and I designed and picked out every detail inside. Itβs stunning! One friend said itβs like staying at a resort. Youβll have to see it. Iβm double vaccinated and David will get his second shot next week.