Love Redesigned

The blue Founder’s house that Dahlia and Julian restore throughout the novel is a symbol that reflects The Benefits of Second Chances. As Julian and Dahlia restore the house, they simultaneously restore their relationship and build it into something sustainable for the future.

The Founder’s house is one of five built by the original founders of Lake Wisteria, and the one the founder Gerald Blake lived and died in. This house has also been Dahlia’s dream house since she was a child; Julian bought the house when it was for sale because he knew this. Initially, Julian wanted to destroy the house because he was angry with Dahlia after their relationship ended in college. Though he despised her, Julian was never able to bulldoze the house, knowing what it means to the woman he loved. Julian still threatens its destruction when Dahlia wants to renovate it, revealing some of the anger that he still harbors toward her. Julian’s plan to restore the house is spurred on by his mother’s plan to get him and Dahlia together, and the time they spend working on it brings them closer to one another.

The story behind the Founder’s house is also symbolic of Dahlia and Julian’s relationship.