Have you ever stopped to wonder what goes through the mind of an architect when she designs a house? Sometimes you see a home with great curb appeal and you wish you could live there. Other times you walk down the street and an ugly ducking of a house pops out and you wonder why…
Viewing architecture
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…
Bungalow House: An American Classic
One of my favorite home exteriors is a bungalow house. The first home I ever purchased as an adult was a Sears kit catalog bungalow. The minute I stepped inside the doorway with the realtor I knew I needed to call it my own. One day I’ll go back and take a photo of it…
The Return to Small House Living
Turn on HGTV today and chances are you might see one of the popular tiny home shows. Before the economic downfall, 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…
Tiny Houses: Inside and Out
Do you think you could live in a tiny house? I mean, really tiny, like a few hundred square feet or less? I’m always amazed by people who choose to live in tiny houses. Yes, the homes are cute but I need a little bit of space. It might be fun to transport one of…
Charming Older Homes in Riverside, Illinois
Last weekend was my grandson’s first birthday! My daughter decided on a lumberjack party theme and rented a little log cabin in Riverside, Illinois. It was such a cute party and I took lots of pictures which I’ll share in a future post. After the party, hubby and I toured the tree-lined streets and of…
Home Exterior: What’s Your Favorite Style?
When you drive or walk around neighborhoods, do you find yourself drawn to one particular style of home exterior? Or maybe you’re drawn to a specific color of houses. Today I’ve got a collection of home exterior styles to share with you. I’d love to hear what style you prefer most! Photo by JB Architecture…
Board and Batten: Inside and Out
Years ago we installed board and batten in our downstairs bathroom and also on the wall up the stairway. It’s one of my favorite architectural elements because it’s easy to install, it adds instant dimension, and it’s fairly inexpensive. In addition to all that, board and batten looks great both indoors and out. Today I’m…
Historic District of Sycamore Illinois
A couple weeks ago I took you on a walk with me along the tree-lined streets of Sycamore, Illinois. Today we’re taking another walk through the beautiful historic district of this charming little town. I’m such a huge fan of quaint architecture and if you follow my blog, I’m guessing you enjoy it as much…
Decorating with Doors: Inside and Out
Normally you think of doors as something you shut to create privacy, or something you open to allow entrance into another space. But doors are far more than a functional piece; they create architectural statements inside and outside your home. They can be sleek and modern, or paneled and traditional. Doors are beautiful in their…
9 Stairway Ideas to Love … Or Not
Several months ago hubby and I were talking about selling our house and moving into new construction. Now, we’re weighing the idea of staying put and making some major renovations. Our decision will first and foremost depend on finances because I refuse to be house poor. At first I thought it would be easier to…
13 Ways to Add Ceiling Beams to Any Room
One of the main reasons I’m such a huge fan of older homes is the architectural details that you just don’t find in most houses built today. Bulls-eye trim, room pillars, arched doorways, and all those wonderful things that add character to a home. Yes, you can certainly have them in a new home, but…
Quaint Village Homes in Geneva, Illinois
Older homes with wrap around porches and architectural detail have a charm all their own. Normally when I post walking tours of neighborhoods I choose to share the historic homes. But today, hubby and I ventured to Mill Creek subdivision in Geneva, Illinois to bring you a sampling of newer “village homes” that have quaint appeal….
More Historic Homes in St. Charles, Illinois
Last week I took you on part of my walk through one of the historic neighborhoods in St. Charles, Illinois. This week I’m sharing the rest of that walk with you. You’ll see mostly bungalow style homes on this part of the tour, but I’ve added a couple others too. St. Charles is right next…
Historic Homes in St. Charles, Illinois
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…
10 Painted Ladies to Love
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…