Several inches of snow fell in our area over the weekend which prompted me to get out and enjoy the scenery. While I was out, I snapped some photos of beautiful blue and gray custom homes in Naperville, IL. Naperville used to be a smaller suburb of Chicago until about 35 years ago when…
Viewing historic homes
Historic Home Exteriors in Lake Geneva
Today is the day I’m finally getting around to sharing the rest of my Lake Geneva walking tour! There are so many historic home exteriors in this town to enjoy. I’m toying with the idea of going back before Christmas to snap pictures of the houses decorated for the holidays. Above is a gorgeous…
A Walking Tour of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Seems like I’m getting the traveling bug out of me before we hunker down for the winter. My daughters and I took a short weekend trip to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I chose to go for a walking tour of the historic area and take some photos while they opted to nap Saturday afternoon. I…
A Walking Tour of Cambridge, Wisconsin
This is the third post I’ve shared about charming Cambridge, Wisconsin. I obviously fell in love with this small, quiet town in rural America that seems to have everything anyone could ever want. The Cambridge homes and neighborhoods were especially appealing. This beautiful white, classic home has an ample porch decorated for Halloween. The…
The Beauty and Charm of a Victorian Style House
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…
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…