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…
Viewing architecture
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…
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…
