get me out of this apartment

Every year since 2006 has been a moving year. First I moved into my dorm, and then one year later moved out. Three months later I moved back into the dorm (and in the same exact room! why couldn't I have just left my stuff in there?!) Then six months later I moved out to head to Louisiana where I moved into an apartment. Then six months later I moved all my crap into storage only to get it out three months later and move into a different apartment. Then a year later I moved everything into storage for a month and then into a different apartment. Then a year later, into my final college apartment. But it doesn't stop there! A year later I moved all my crap to Lafayette and into A and I's first apartment, only to turn around a year later and move it into a bigger apartment. Lost? I am to, but I do know that it equals WELL over 10 move-ins and outs. 

Moral of the story - I AM SICK OF MOVING. Our lease here is up in January and we are waiting to see if we can renew on a month-to-month basis. We both desperately want a house, and have the finances to do so, but we don't want to buy (and waste all of our down payment money) and then have A get a job in Houston. (He's a petroleum engineer and it seems that all roads lead there.) He should know about a new job here in Q1 2013, so after that is when we will start looking. Oh, did I stay start? I meant resume...I'm addicted to looking online already. 

So, being that I look every day too much, I've come to find my must haves. 

Unfortunately, every house in Louisiana that is new/newer looks like this:

I really hate the garage in the front thing, but if we end up staying and buying here, that is most likely what we will end up with. Womp womp.

But back to my must-haves. I absolutely MUST have a kitchen that has while/cream cabinets like below. Yes, I know I could do that myself, but if we are going to pay the extra money for a new house, I want it to be done for me! And I wouldn't go so far as to say that the exposed brick is a must, but I'm in love with it. Although A would add here that a gas stove (like in the second photo) is an absolute must.

 Not loving the cabinets in the below picture at all, but I saved it because it's a must for me to have an open floorplan. I LOVE to entertain, so I want to be able to be in the kitchen finishing up and still interact with the guests. 

We both also really want a living room plan that looks similar to below so we can mount the TV on top of the fireplace. And really, I just want a mantle so I can decorate it. I REALLY hate that none of my apartments have had one!!

 And last on the must have list is an outdoor fireplace. Our friends just recently bought in Youngsville (burb-ish area of Lafayette) and their house has this. They mounted a TV on top and it's the PERFECT place to watch Saints games on cold nights!! (And an extra mantle? Yea, I'd be ok with that.)

This dream below leads me into the category of custom build. Which of course will not be our first home, but one day down the road that's what we'd like to do. This is my best friend's boyfriend's parent's house and his dad is a contractor. I'm not lying when I say that my dream has always been to have a "Beauty and the Beast" library in my house. The nook at the top has a window that overlooks the water. Yep, I'd spend ALL of my time there!

 all photos via zillow.com - last photo via myself