As the suburbs of Chicago continue to grow and spread, it seems there’s always new homes popping up around our area. Most of this new construction consists of well-planned subdivisions with tract housing, providing new home buyers with the most square footage they can afford. This of course means that architectural amenities like ornate trim, custom…
Ever since I developed a keen interest in architecture and old houses, I’ve had an ongoing love affair with painted ladies … of the Victorian sort, that is. I love all the details they possess like gingerbread, fish scales, and bulls eye trim. Victorian houses are works of art and when they’re painted to show…
I know that the trend in exterior home colors these days leans toward neutrals, but I love homes cloaked in fun, bold colors. When we moved into our circa 1875 clapboard farmhouse, it was painted pink with green and white trim. I loved it! But when we painted it pale yellow a few years later, our…
After spending a little time on Houzz the other day, I had a whim to dedicate one day a week to stuff I love other there … and so begins Humpdays with Houzz! Each week I’m going to focus on some type of design element and share it with you. Houzz lets you easily embed…
If you’ve seen the movie “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray, you might think it was filmed in Punxsatawney, PA. But truth be told, the movie was filmed just a few towns north of where I live in Woodstock, Illinois. I’ve heard that the movie makers passed through Woodstock on the way to film the Blue…
One of my favorite weekend trips is a visit to historic Galena, Illinois. Even Midwest Living magazine has featured it on many occasions. Home of Ulysses S. Grant, Galena’s main street is a shopping mecca of boutiques, antique stores, and many restaurants. But what I love most about Galena is its rolling hills and historic…
This past weekend my daughter and I ran the Fox Valley Half Marathon, which means I’ve been a little too tired to think about decorating and taking photos. So I poked around my folders and found a slew of old house pictures that I never posted! How did that happen? So without further adieu, here…
A little over a week ago my hubby and I took a little jaunt over to Sycamore to take a walk in the historic district. I took too many pictures to share in one post, so this is part two of some beautiful homes in the Land of Lincoln. (You can view the first post…
Summer is a great time to think about sprucing up your front door. I love cruising around local neighborhoods for inspiration. What’s not to love about this little porch with its pink flowers and bright green mailbox? Little blue birds highlight the yellow, iron archway framing the entrance. I love a blue door with an…
Savannah, Georgia has some of the most amazing residential architecture in the United States, so beautiful that General Sherman didn’t have the heart to burn it down during the Civil War. Travel quite a bit north to a cozy, Yankee town just 60 miles west of the heart of Chicago, whose gracious homes remind me…
If you can’t tell by now, I love old homes! I grew up in a typical, suburban 1950’s quad level (a twist on the tri-level) and when I grew up, I knew I wanted something different. My first house as an adult was a bungalow-type Sears catalog home built in the early 1900s. As soon as…
Do you have a flirtatious front door? Does it entice passers-by to “come hither” for a visit? Or, is it more like mine and gives a cold shoulder? This will be changing soon when we paint our home’s exterior this summer, but for now, have a look at some flirtatious front doors in the ‘hood. Love the…
Since my teens I’ve had a passionate love affair with old houses. Doesn’t matter if they’re large or small … I love ’em all. When I was first married my mom and I would go for walks in historic districts, looking at the homes and sharing ideas on how we’d transform them if we lived…
Would you live in a pink house? Our circa 1875 Victorian-style farmhouse was pink when we first moved in 15 years ago. And although I didn’t mind since pink is my favorite color, we’ve since painted it a buttery yellow. I’m editing some photos of its exterior and hope to post them soon. For now, I’m giving a nod to our home’s…
