A Getaway in The Mountains

 

 

Guys, it’s time! I have spent every weekend since late December driving from NYC to Mt. Pocono, PA since I bought my home. I took the leap and became a homeowner. This is something I had planned (and dreamed) of doing in my late 20s but the universe has a very funny way of working things out. So at 23 years old, after two years of searching, inquiring, and a couple of heartbreaks later, I made it happen.

If you don’t know much about the area, Mount Pocono is a great spot for weekend getaways (a quick 1.5 hour drive from NYC) and is perfect for celebrating special occasions with friends or family. There’s skiing/snow sports, hiking, zip-lining, horse riding, white water rafting – you name it, they got it. Can you imagine celebrating Thanksgiving surrounded by good company, nature, chirping birds, and scenic drives?! You’ll often see families of deer and other amazing wildlife. It’s cozy, defined. But you won’t be secluded from society. You’ll have access to everything you need for a weekend away.

My boyfriend, friend, and I put some sweat equity into the house, as expected. It needed a lot of work. But we fell in love with the house because it has SO much character… The potential was all there. Soon enough, we were tearing down walls with sledgehammers, pulling layers of flooring and carpet up – all in the dead of winter sometimes sans heat. It was a STRUGGLE but every moment of it was rewarding. None of us had much experience in this type of thing except Jason (my love), who has had some house-building experiences. All I knew was what I learned second hand from my Dad. He’s been a home builder and fixer-upper since I was a kid so trips to Home Depot are nostalgic for me. We hired a great contractor to do the difficult things like plumbing, electric, et cetera and they did an amazing job executing our vision. Together, we created a layout that allowed the home to be open and welcoming. I made sure that hygge would be infused into the aura and design of the space.

The kitchen, dining space, and living room are segmented not by walls but by furniture. Strategically designed so that when one is cooking for everyone else (usually me but I don’t mind since the kitchen is much more spacious than my own in NYC!), you can still be a part of the action. You can literally watch TV from the kitchen and partake in the conversations happening in the living room. Ideal for sports lovers and movie fanatics, you won’t have to ask them to pause the show when you leave the room. The great thing is, you can also have privacy if you want. The bedrooms are off to the side and there are nooks with cute chairs for you to sit on and work on your laptop, or step out onto the back deck to read or spend some time taking in the nature.

This home is our baby. We love it so much and want nothing more than for a group of friends or family to stay at a cool space, grill some food, and partake in some adventures along the way. This is where memories can be made. I always thought, what is the point of working so hard all the time if you can’t take time to enjoy it all? So, take time to escape the city or wherever you are, and make a trip to the mountains where you are bound to leave feeling rejuvenated, relaxed, and happy.

Now on Airbnb