
Why the Farm?
I've always been extremely passionate about old homes. In 2016, after living in a large Colonial that looked very much like this one, I set out to find a new old home so that my husband and I could down size. I pulled up a listing on the MLS, and that property was attached to this Colonial. I was simultaneously shocked and immediately smitten. I lived near or in Santa Rosa almost my whole life and I had never been aware of this house. Technically, it was smaller in square footage than our current house, but it came with 37+ acres, so not exactly a down size. However, you know that saying, "I can't unsee what I've seen?" Well, I couldn't unfind what I had found. I was immediately captivated - there was no going back. My husband was IN. It took us almost 12 months to get through the buy process, but finally we prevailed. I was immediately struck by the undeniable magic her walls and the surrounding acres exuded. I started blogging to document our renovation adventure to create Rock Haven Farm. It wasn’t long before a host of loyal followers, who also appeared to have consumed the magic, joined me on my adventure. As the excitement started to build, the fitting name for the house, “Mrs. Colonial”, was born.
THE RENOVATION PROCESS WAS HORRENDOUS! After many starts and stops, delays and chaos, an estimated eight month project turned into excruciatingly painful years. Anything and everything seemed to have been thrown at us: wildfires and resulting skyrocketing budgets, vanishing architects, incompetent superintendents, unimaginable city requirements, firings, floods, family tragedy, and yes, pandemic. Somewhere in the middle there was a major roadblock unleashed by a neighborhood angry mob; and I even had an audition for a major network television show. The executive producer loved it, I was in! However, Covid wouldn't go away and the show never materialized. You see, we experienced it all, and ALL almost killed me. I lost all desire and ability to share. The blog went on semi retirement. I felt like I was using all my strength just to get through each day and to jump over every hurdle thrown our way. I remember sitting at my drafting table with one last run of cabinetry to design, and I couldn’t do it, nothing would materialize. However, that wasn't the worst of it. What occurred on January 28, 2021, was the worst part of this whole thing. It felt like one big explanation point at the end of a bad paragraph. You can read about it at the "dedication" tab above.
Now with the renovation project in the rear view mirror, Mrs. Colonial at Rock Haven Farm is everything we wanted and so much more! She's a dream property, the one I couldn't live without out, and the one I can never leave. She's simply magical!
You're here, thank you! Let’s celebrate this beautiful home together, and life itself! Come with me on this journey to continually tinker with the interiors and the gardens. Let's build new additions to the farm and Mrs. Colonial. Let's frolic with the chickens, and watch the beautiful native creatures who also call it home. Let's welcome others to this magical oasis, put on events, and dream up new recipes in "Mrs. Colonial's Kitchen". I'd love to share it all with you. Subscribe to my blog below. I also have an Interior Design and Decorating firm called SSDesignHub, LLC if you'd like to see me over there.
