Do you enjoy taking walks and looking at homes and landscaping? I sure do! So while I was on vacation a couple weeks ago, I made sure to take walks in the neighborhood near our Airbnb rental in order to snap some photos of the beautiful vacation homes along the shore of Lake Michigan. …
Viewing architecture
Your Front Door: Make a First Impression
Remember that saying, “you only have one chance to make a great first impression”? The same can be said of a house and its curb appeal. An easy way to improve your home’s first impression is with the front door. Check out these pretty examples and consider giving your door a fresh coat of paint…
Summer Vacation in Saugatuck, Michigan
Have you ever visited Saugatuck, Michigan? Our recent family summer vacation there revealed loads of charm in a hip and historic lakeside artist community. This charming blue home with white trim is a private residence that’s tucked in between shops and restaurants. It seems like an odd location for a home, but it sure is…
Victorian House Collection with Major Curb Appeal
Spring is a great time to enjoy a walk outdoors and when you can stroll through a neighborhood with a Victorian house or two, it’s all the better! Here’s a collection of homes with major curb appeal that I think you’ll enjoy. Victorian architecture is a style that lets you play with color and…
The Beauty and Charm of a Victorian Style House
When it comes to curb appeal, a Victorian style house never disappoints. Also known as painted ladies, most homeowners use color to highlight all the details of their beloved, historic home. Photo by Marina Rubina, Architect My personal preference are the houses that are painted in bolder colors to really make them pop. And…
Scandinavian Houses: Let’s Take a Trip!
Since we won’t be able to take overseas trips anytime soon, I thought it might be fun to check out architecture from other areas. So let’s take a trip across the pond to see the exteriors of Scandinavian houses. A cute little row of white cottages line a cobblestone street. Doesn’t it look like…
Red Barn in Snow: The Best Winter Scene
My goal this January is to not only help myself enjoy winter more, but to do the same for you! So I’ve gathered together something I love seeing in winter – a red barn in snow! Above is a Finnish house with a small barn. I’ve decided that in order to find their home…
Historic Galena Homes: Holiday Trip
My family did something a little different this year for Christmas. We took a trip to historic Galena and spent four days together to celebrate the holiday. Galena is a popular get-away location due to its scenic rolling hills and rich history. Galena used to be the largest city in Illinois, back in the…
Charming Old Homes in Southwest Michigan
We still have a few fall leaves clinging to their trees even though a thin blanket of snow covers the ground. Before we hit all-in winter, I thought I better share my fall photos of charming old homes from my trip to southwest Michigan. This is the first beauty that caught my eye. You know…
Home Exteriors Tour in Huntley: Round Two
Last week I shared a collection of charming old homes in Huntley, Illinois and today is the second half of the home exteriors tour. I love when a town has an abundance of beautiful homes that it requires more than one blog post! An updated Victorian home sits proudly on the corner of a…
Charming Old Homes in Huntley, Illinois
Fall color is in peak season here in Illinois! A recent trip through Huntley, Illinois to my grandson’s football game resulted in an impromptu photo shoot of charming old homes lining the streets. Huntley is a fast-growing town of about 25,000 people at the far northwestern edge of the Chicago suburbs. Like my town,…
Beautiful Brick Homes: From Stately to Cozy
My husband is from Pittsburgh and one thing I always notice when we visit his home town is the abundance of brick homes. He appreciates their low-maintenance appeal, while I love the diversity of style you can find in a brick house. Photo by Charles Hilton Architects One thing that would make me very…
Victorian Home Exterior: Off-the-Chart Curb Appeal
When considering all types of home styles, I think the Victorian home exterior is probably the most ornate and intricate. Common features include towers, turrets, dormers, and wide wrap-around porches. All of which you’ll see in these gorgeous homes with off-the-chart curb appeal! Photo by David Heide Design Studio Victorian style evolved from the…
Pretty Homes and Scenes in Door County’s Fish Creek
Last week the whole family headed up to Door County, Wisconsin for a five-day vacation in a beautiful modern farmhouse. We stayed in Baileys Harbor but the first place we visited was scenic Fish Creek. I snapped some photos while walking around because this bayside town is so quaint and charming. A charming white church…
Would You Live in a Red House?
Everyone seems to have a favorite color house. My first house was blue, the second one was a creamy off-white. My current home is butter yellow. But truth be told, I’ve always loved a red house! Photo by Most red houses are converted barns, which seem to be growing in popularity. Photo by Ryan…
Let the Sun Shine In with Gorgeous Skylights!
Growing up, I remember friends who lived in homes with skylights that always seemed to leak or were dirty. So I’ve never been much of a fan of skylights until now. There are a lot of amazing options to let the sun shine in from above. Photo by Lisa Gabrielson Design I’m fascinated with…
