When it comes to curb appeal, a Victorian style house never disappoints. Also known as painted ladies, most homeowners use color to highlight all the details of their beloved, historic home. Photo by Marina Rubina, Architect My personal preference are the houses that are painted in bolder colors to really make them pop. And…
Viewing historic homes
Scandinavian Houses: Let’s Take a Trip!
Since we won’t be able to take overseas trips anytime soon, I thought it might be fun to check out architecture from other areas. So let’s take a trip across the pond to see the exteriors of Scandinavian houses. A cute little row of white cottages line a cobblestone street. Doesn’t it look like…
Historic Galena Homes: Holiday Trip
My family did something a little different this year for Christmas. We took a trip to historic Galena and spent four days together to celebrate the holiday. Galena is a popular get-away location due to its scenic rolling hills and rich history. Galena used to be the largest city in Illinois, back in the…
Home Exteriors Tour in Huntley: Round Two
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…
Charming Old Homes in St. Charles
One of the things I love about living in the Midwest is the range of home types and architecture that are available. You’ll see a mix of brick, clapboard, small, and spacious homes. Here’s an example in the quaint, nearby river town of St. Charles, Illinois. Above and below is a beautiful Victorian that has…
Aurora Historic Homes: Part Two
Two weeks ago I shared a walking tour of Aurora, Illinois’ westside historic district. Today is round two of touring this amazing residential area with amazing historic homes. First up on today’s tour is this lovely clapboad Victorian home painted green with creamy trim and accents of red. Note the unique treatment on the windows…
Aurora Historic District: Residential Walking Tour
It’s been a while since I’ve published a walking tour of historic homes. As it just so happened, hubby and I went to see Shen Yun in Aurora, Illinois, which has a lot of older homes. We decided to go back on Sunday to snap some photos of the west side Aurora historic district. There…
Historic Homes of Yorkville, Illinois
Winter in Illinois can get a bit crazy and can change on a dime at any given time. For example, last week we received about ten inches of fluffy white snow. This week it’s much warmer and that fresh dusting of snow is already melting. Before all of the cottony drifts of the white stuff…
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…
Crystal Lake Historic Homes
This past weekend hubby and I took a trip to Crystal Lake, Illinois. It’s a medium-sized, quaint town that surrounds a serene lake with breezy sailboats and lazy sunbathers. We explored the neighborhoods lined with beautiful historic homes. The first house that caught my eye was this adorable blue bungalow with a sweet green door….
Historic Homes: Geneva, Illinois
Many of you, my readers, have told me how much you love my walking tours around neighborhoods that showcase beautiful homes. I typically focus on older homes because I find them unique and charming. But someday I’ll feature newer homes so you can see the variety of architecture in my corner of the world. Today…
Historic Homes in Wheaton, Illinois
One of the many benefits of living in the Chicago area is the diverse architecture you’ll find as you pass from neighborhood to neighborhood. It’s no secret my favorite places to walk are historic districts with their magnificent homes. I love the details you find on these old and charming beauties. Today’s walking tour features…
Historic Homes of Geneva, Illinois
Easter weekend brought fabulous weather to our neck of the woods with sunshine and warm breezes. Mind you, we sometimes have snow on Easter Sunday. But it was so nice out that we took a walk in my home town of Geneva, Illinois before heading over to my sister’s house for dinner. The historic homes…
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…
Historic Charleston and the Lowcountry: A Giveaway
Want to take a vacation right from the comfort of your own home? Today I’m giving away a beautiful book with gorgeous photos of homes and gardens in the lowcountry region. I’ve flipped through the pages of this hardcover book and thoroughly enjoyed all the architecture and vegetation that the Southeast has to offer. I’ve…
Walking Tour of St. Charles Illinois
Some of you may know that I’m training for a half marathon, which is 13.1 miles. I’ve run them before, but they’re always a challenge even if you’re familiar with them. I do love the training, but running can be hard at times. What I love even more is walking. Walking lets you take in…
