Turn on HGTV today and chances are you might see tiny homes being featured. Not too long ago, the housing trend was leaning toward McMansions and then around 2009 a movement toward small house living was launched. You’ve probably seen those tiny houses that are less than 500 square feet in size. While that’s a…
Viewing architecture
The Charming Homes of Maryville, Tennessee
Raise your hand if you’ve ever been to Maryville, Tennessee! My daughter and I traveled there last fall and it just occurred to me that I never shared my walking tour of neighborhoods that feature some of the charming homes of Maryville. Maryville is about 18 miles south of Knoxville. I had never been…
Charming Craftsman Style Curb Appeal
I’ll bet more of you are going for walks now that the weather is warming up. Do you like to walk around pretty neighborhoods while admiring the daffodils and tulips? I know I do. One of my favorite housing styles I like to see on my walks is the charming craftsman style that originated right…
The Great American House: Book Giveaway!
Yes! It’s time for another book giveaway and you’re going to love this beautiful coffee table book dedicated to the beauty of traditional homes. I’m giving away a copy of The Great American House to one lucky winner! (This post contains affiliate links.) To enter for a chance to win, simply leave a comment at…
Front Porch Flag: Show Your Patriotism
As I was reading a couple of the comments on the Leo Cottage post last Sunday, I was inspired to write a post showing examples of a front porch flag. Some of you mentioned you enjoyed seeing the U.S. flag flying from the cottage’s porch. So here’s a few more that I think you’ll enjoy!…
Yellow and Green Homes in Beautiful Naperville
Today is the final round of my walking home tours in Naperville, Illinois. I think you’ll enjoy these pretty yellow and green homes in a neighborhood of custom residential housing on the northwest side of town. Some of the houses on today’s tour are more creamy than they are yellow, like the one below….
Home Exterior Colors: Neutral and White
Welcome to round two of home exterior colors in Naperville, Illinois. Last week I featured a collection of blue and gray houses in the snow. Today we’re looking at beautiful houses in white and neutral tones. Most of the houses on today’s tour are new, but a few are old. All of them have…
Beautiful Blue and Gray Custom Homes in the Snow
Several inches of snow fell in our area over the weekend which prompted me to get out and enjoy the scenery. While I was out, I snapped some photos of beautiful blue and gray custom homes in Naperville, IL. Naperville used to be a smaller suburb of Chicago until about 35 years ago when…
Painted Staircase Ideas and Inspiration
For some people, stairs are simply a vehicle to get from one floor level to the next. And then there are some of us who view stairways as a potential work of art. They can add architectural beauty to a home. An easy way to customize a stairwell is with paint. Here’s a few painted…
Historic Home Exteriors in Lake Geneva
Today is the day I’m finally getting around to sharing the rest of my Lake Geneva walking tour! There are so many historic home exteriors in this town to enjoy. I’m toying with the idea of going back before Christmas to snap pictures of the houses decorated for the holidays. Above is a gorgeous…
A Walking Tour of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Seems like I’m getting the traveling bug out of me before we hunker down for the winter. My daughters and I took a short weekend trip to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I chose to go for a walking tour of the historic area and take some photos while they opted to nap Saturday afternoon. I…
Stone Wall Decor: Adding Texture to the Home
Something about the fall season brings out the need for warm and cozy texture in the home. Pillows and throws are a simple solution, but what about the architectural appeal of a stone wall? In my childhood home there was a large stone wall fireplace in the center of the room, running up to the…
Affordable Riverfront Homes at Heritage Harbor
Last Wednesday I shared a tour of adorable cottages at Heritage Harbor, and today is part two of the tour. I love this new community in Ottawa, Illinois where you can find unique and affordable riverfront homes. Each home has some type of unique detailing, like the cute shutter treatment on this gray waterfront…
Cottage Style Homes at Heritage Harbor
Are you ready for the most adorable collection of cottage style homes? I recently found out about the Heritage Harbor community located about an hour southwest of where I live. It comes complete with a community pool, marina, and riverside living. One house is just as cute as the next so it’s hard to…
Vacation Homes on Lake Michigan: Walking Tour
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. …
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…