Old or new---that is the question.

This is more for me to sort out my own feelings but I know some of my friends (and readers) like houses and decorating as much as I do.  I have found two more houses that I really like (one just came on the market).  I REALLY like them both.  They are on the same street and they are the same price.  One is new and one is old.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE old houses.  We lived in an old house before we moved to Virginia and I loved it.  This old house has been lovingly restored and tastefully updated adding a beautiful white marble master bathroom and HUGE walk in master closet with built in dressers and shoe cubbies.  It has a gorgeous backyard with an incredibly landscaped garden.  The grass is some exotic variety that is heat and drought resistant and it looks like a putting green.  It is cushy to walk on.  Although Dave claims you need a special lawnmower to cut it?  This house is so charming with leaded glass interior transoms and an old quaint corner sink in the powder room.  The problem is....we have gotten used to living in a new house (built to look old though).  We are now accustomed to large closets and bathrooms all around.  We have had a walk out terrace with a guest room and play room and office. We are used to a lot of space.  This old house is charming and beautiful but it is essentailly 3 bedrooms and there is no playroom or study.  They call a narrow attic room a 4th bedroom and Will wants to live there but there is no closet and it would be very tight. Since it is an attic with slanted walls, there is no way to add a closet.  And since this house is at the tippity top of our price range, we cannot do an addition anytime soon. I know, I know....we don't really need all that space but we sure have gotten used to it.  As much as I love this house, I worry that we will feel crowded as the kids get older and we will have no room for guests.  

This is the kitchen of the old house.  It has been recently renovated.  I did not take the photos.  I copied them from the listing, hence the blurriness.

Okay, now onto the new house.  This house is craftsman style (which has never been my favorite) and so the outside is not my style.  BUT the inside is stunningly beautiful. The entry and upstairs hallways are really wide with incredible millwork you usually see in older homes. They are wide enough for substantial furniture and upstairs there is a built in reading/window bench. There is a beautiful study and fabulous kitchen (very similar to my current one).  The kids bedrooms are big and their bathrooms are beautiful (white marble again).  The floors are wide plank dark hickory.  There is a little "homework" area  with two built in desks and a small mudroom.  There is even an elevator shaft should we need one down the road.  This house has a "media room" or playroom too.  It is a big house but it feels cozy and warm.  Oh what to do?  I think we will make an offer on one of these houses.  I just don't know whether to follow my heart or my practical side....I think if we had two kids, I would definitely buy the older house but I think with 3 kids (and Scout) we need the space.  I feel lucky that after my last disappointment, I have found two houses to get excited about but I cannot make a decision....HELP!  Dave likes them both too.

This is the kitchen of the new house.  It reminds me of my last kitchen.  Again the photo is not great but the best I could copy.

  P.S.  The boys had a good day at school today AND there are BIG things happening for Miss Kate this week too;)  More soon.