HOME SWEET HOME

This post is long overdue. I have been meaning to write about how my husband and I, expats, have been able to build our dream home in a foreign country. (Dominican Republic). Obviously, life happens and now we are celebrating our third anniversary in our dream home.

Our HOME

Before I designed my home, yes I drafted the entire plan, I wanted to create an open concept feel that was simple, elegant and where everyone who come will feel at home. Although this was my hope and dream for my home, it still surprises me when visitors and family come and they say it feels very “homey” and they don’t want to leave. Well that’s another topic I won’t be discussing here.

My husband and I both did our dental and medical degree in the Dominican Republic respectively and fell in love with the place and people. So although I did move on to train for my specialty and work in the US, the Dominican Republic has been my home since. While in the US, in an effort to pressure my husband, I told him I would only move back if we are able to live in a gated community with a hotel on site; something unheard of in the Dominican Republic at the time except for the exclusive Casa de Campo for the rich and famous. I said that to him at the time because I had completed my specialty training in internal medicine and pediatrics and obtained my first job at a federally qualified health center in the city of Wallace, NC. Wallce was a very small rural community that boasted a population of approximately 4,000 people at the time. But the town had one of the most exclusive and exceptional gated communities I had ever seen. I did live in the community which was approximately seven minutes from my job. After being at that community for one year, I knew I needed to live somewhere with a similar concept.

So you could imagine the surprise I got when my husband calls me one day which was exactly two years to the date of my request, telling me that he found the place. And the best part, it was only a five minute drive outside the city limits where we currently resided.

Entrance of community

Fast forward to two years after we purchased the property, we decided to start building. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. We were so excited. We found an architect and I showed him the plan I had diligently worked on for three months. I was most proud of the kitchen which I designed to the nearest inch.

Kitchen

Then it was time to find a builder. The first quote was way over what we could have imagined spending. Disheartened, we debated on whether this was the right decision. Like with every difficult decision in my life, I approached my mother for advice. She actually came to the Dominican Republic with me and we prayed on the land. Then her advice was to go ahead and start and the money will come. So said so done like we would say. We found a builder who was willing to work with us within our price range and within eight months our home was completed.

Under construction

The building process was the most challenging as I was very specific on what I wanted and I couldn’t be there most of the time. So my husband would send me pictures so I could make sure everything was going as planned. There were instances where problems arose and walls and stairs had to be torned down.

We didn’t have much of say on certain items that were placed in the house such as the sinks, door handles, etc but we did have to purchase our own light fixtures which allowed us to put our own personal touch.

Stairs before and after

Also due to the budget, there were two items that were left unfinished which included the laundry room and a built in master closet which we have yet to tackle.

Currently we love entertaining in our backyard. We do pay for HOA fees which includes security and garbage pick up.

Backyard

I am still in awe we were able to accomplish this and it shows that with faith and whatever the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.