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…
Viewing architecture
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…
The Beauty of a Stone House
Earlier this week I posted a photo of an historic stone house on my Instagram account. It received a lot of positive feedback. Since so many others love stone homes, I thought I’d share a few more here on my blog. Photo by Rikki Snyder A stone house immediately evokes a sense of charm….
Window Shopping: What a House Needs
Window shopping is what I always do when I look at a home to purchase. What I mean is – the windows are one of the most important home design elements in my book. I love lots of windows and the more unique, the better. Photo by Hinkley Lighting I’m the type of person…
Cabin Inspiration: Sweet Summertime
I’m in the mood for some homes with cabin inspiration! Apparently the month of May decided to stay in bed and April had to do double-duty. Too many cool rainy days! But now, June has arrived and we’ve got warmer sunny days which is putting me in total summer camp mode. Photo by Goose Creek…
Hunting for a Starter Home with My Daughter
Do you remember the excitement of searching for your very first home? Today I’m heading out with my daughter and her hubby to find their dream starter home! My daughter is a stay-at-home-mom so they’re living on one salary and need to be conservative while house hunting. I collected a batch of small houses –…
8 Built-In Ideas for the Living Room
One thing I love about older homes is the unique built-in ideas you find within their walls. It’s nice to see some of the newer homes adding these custom features. Photo by Lisa Tharp Design I started writing this post about built-in ideas for every room in the house, but I found so many…
Create Character with Bead Board
Character is the main reason I love old homes. Quirky rooms, quality wood trim, built-in cabinets, and more. All those things that lend charm and interest. You can create character in your own home with something as simple as bead board. Photo by ML Interior Designs Bead board is fairly easy to install and…
The History and Charm of a Red Front Door
A red front door is often found on traditional homes but they’re pretty on a variety of architectural style houses. Here are 11 examples that show how to make your front door stand out. Photo by Gatling Design I’m totally smitten with this rustic front door that reminds me of a home you’d see…
Two-Story Porch for Ultimate Curb Appeal
Have you ever visited the deep South and admired the gorgeous plantation homes with a two-story porch? This architectural feature provides ultimate curb appeal for the appreciative eye. Photo by Brickmoon Design The thought of having two porches, one up high, is a dream home feature I’ll probably never get to enjoy. But at…
Nighttime Curb Appeal for Shorter Days
Shorter days create a seasonal coziness both inside and outside the home. See how nighttime curb appeal can be achieved with porch and landscape lighting. Photo by Creole Design You don’t have to get overly complicated with landscape lighting to enhance your home’s curb appeal in the evening. Sometimes all that’s needed is a…
