Sparking Joy | On Tour With the Kid

Occasionally, on weekends, we attend open houses that we've seen online. We're on the lookout for an investment property, but sometimes it’s purely out of curiosity. The pictures in the listings can make a place look so inviting that you think, at the very least, it might provide some design inspiration—a new way to approach an ensuite or a walk-in robe that you’d never considered before. Perhaps there’s some element in the backyard that could fit perfectly in your own home if done slightly differently.

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However, often when we arrive, the photos can be misleading, making the space appear deceptively larger than it is, or for one reason or another, it might not suit our needs.

My mother always taught me, “You buy the worst house on the best street.” We lived in houses growing up that were in great areas, but needed renovations. I appreciate that she taught me how to see potential. At open houses, I've overheard many couples discussing things like “I don’t like the carpet” or “These tiles aren’t my style,” focusing on aspects that are relatively easy to change. Meanwhile, I tend to look at the bones of the house: What wall could I knock down? What colour should I paint that? Where could I eventually put in a fireplace? There’s a reason that shows like The Block have been so successful; they give a sneak peek inside someone else’s home and spark ideas about what you could do with yours.

Now and then, you walk into a house with all this in mind, and you realise it’s perfect. It’s in a neighbourhood I don’t know much about, but it’s only 15 minutes from the kids' school. The exterior is stunning, with a dark finish and a Cape Cod extension added to the second floor. Once we stepped inside, I found it faultless: a beautiful staircase at the entry, a huge openplan living area, and a view that extends all the way to the backyard, covered deck, double garage, and pool. The maintenance-free backyard was simple yet stunning. Then we entered the master bedroom and discovered not one, but two walk-in robes, an ensuite, and a spacious bedroom.

We spoke to the neighbours who were in their front yard, and they had nothing but kind words to share about the street and the area.

When I returned home, the dog had torn one of his chew toys to shreds by the front door. There was laundry to hang out and beds to be made. I noticed one unwashed dish in the sink and, in my mind, I thought, “This place is a mess; how nice would that other house be?”

Then a phrase my grandmother once said popped into my head: “Wherever you go, there you are.” It dawned on me that, yes, that other house was lovely and well laid out, but it looked its best because people were coming through. If we lived there, it would still contain all of our belongings. There would still be laundry to do, kitchens to clean, and dog mess to pick up. The grass is always greener on the other side, but sometimes you need to find joy where you are before looking elsewhere. The Block is on tonight, and that will do for now.