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…
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…
Happy Wednesday, friends! It’s time to head back (virtually) to historic Ferndale to see more of the town’s stunning historic homes. The first time I posted about our trip to Humboldt County, I shared a collection of the Victorian cottages. Today it’s time to see some of the other beautiful homes that grace the streets…
Victorian architecture lovers, gather ’round. Have I got some eye candy for you today! Ferndale, California has some of the most amazing examples of colorful Victorian cottages and buildings that I’ve ever seen. Walking along the quiet streets is truly unending pleasure. The entire area is filled with beauty and splendor that I wasn’t expecting,…
Who else is suffering gloomy spring weather right now? I’m raising both my hands! We haven’t had a pleasant spring so far but I’m not going to let it dampen my spirits. Instead, let’s pretend we’re overseas visiting the colorful gardens and homes of Spain. This little virtual tour is sure to put a smile…
Do you have memories of vacationing in cozy summer cottages? I have vague memories of a lakeside cottage vacation in Canada when I was just a little girl. A few years later I remember taking a trip to Arkansas to vacation in a woodsy cottage with my grandparents. Both trips are fond summer memories from…
One thing we miss living in America is the vast array of really old buildings and homes. Can you imagine living in a house that’s over 500 years old? I think about the lives and history of older homes here in the United States, but old houses in Europe have seen so much more. Today…
Have you ever visited the deep South and admired the gorgeous historic 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 least…
You gotta love spring in Chicagoland! It’s either snowing or it’s 60 degrees. There’s no in-between. So as long as there’s snow on the ground today, let’s take another snowy walk around an eclectic neighborhood in Downers Grove. Although today’s walk actually took place several weeks ago, I took so many photos that I’m still…
