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…
Is there anything that creates better curb appeal than the timeless charm of a Victorian porch? Today I’m sharing 14 examples from small to grand that feature the best of Victorian architecture. A pretty pink Victorian sports a large porch with unique details on the porch and the roof above. A simpler, lavender…
As I was reading a couple of the comments from a previous post about the Leo Cottage, 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…
It’s no secret that window shutters can boost the curb appeal of a home. You’ve probably slowed down to admire several houses that display charming shutters. If your house doesn’t already have them, enjoy these photos for ideas. And if you’ve got shutters, enjoy the beauty of these special homes, like this classic white historic…
Yesterday I was reading an article about interior design, and it mentioned that the most interesting rooms are those with a great backdrop. When you think of a room’s backdrop, think windows, flooring, and walls. You can spruce up flooring with beautiful rugs, and windows with curtains, blinds, or shutters. Walls can be enhanced with…
I’ve shared pink houses, blue houses, and yellow houses – how about the timeless and classic appeal of a white house? Today I’m featuring 12 houses, each with their own unique curb appeal. First up is a newer, suburban two-story with an attractive porch and an end-load garage. The only time I purchased a new…
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…
Grab a cup of coffee and sit back while you enjoy scrolling through this collection of curb appeal eye candy. Each beautiful blue house has its own style and charm. Be forewarned – you might find yourself itching to paint your house blue this summer! Some of these homes are quaint, some are grand,…
My mother never liked turning on overhead lights in any room. She preferred lamps, saying the overhead lighting was too harsh. I take after my mother in this respect. I swapped out low wattage bulbs in my dining chandelier to keep the light softer and more romantic. My favorite light is natural light from the…
Pink is such a fun, cheery color. Some people love it, some people – not so much. One thing I have to say, anytime I see a pink house while driving around, I always smile. When I was in college, there was an Indiana farm where all the outbuildings were painted pink. Not a red…
Welcome to Part Two of viewing historic holiday homes in Galena. I shared the first half of this tour on Monday. We celebrated our family Christmas in this historic town last weekend. Lucky for us, we got a light dusting of snow our first night there, which created a great backdrop for featuring some of…
This past weekend was our annual family “Christmas in Galena” trip. This was our fifth year staying at the same VRBO home. We always gather together the weekend before Christmas for three nights in this little town located in the hilly, northwest corner of Illinois. I snapped some photos of the historic homes that I…
Are you ready for more eye candy when it comes to charming Swedish cottages nestled in the woods of Good Templar Park in Geneva, Illinois? Last Saturday I shared the first batch of these cozy summer houses and today it’s time to see the rest. A couple times per year, Good Templar Park opens to…
Many of you know that I grew up in Geneva, Illinois, due west of Chicago on the outskirts of the suburbs. The town has a Swedish history and features Good Templar Park where members of the International Organization of Good Templars would come to celebrate Midsummer, which is Swedish Day, or “Svenskarnas Dag” in Sweden….
Not too far from where I live is a community of small, newer homes that enjoy waterfront living. I previously shared a tour of adorable cottages at Heritage Harbor, and today there’s more to enjoy. I love this new community in Ottawa, Illinois where you can find unique and affordable riverfront homes. There are also…
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…
