Architecturally I'm all over the place...Georgian, Cottage, Gothic Revival, Bungalow, Italianate, Farmhouse, Greek Revival.
I just crave charm. No cookie cutter suburban dreams for me. No mcmansions, just give me a house with character.
Give me porches, windows, pickets fences, angles, peaks, bays, chimneys, shutters, window boxes, light paint colors and patios.
Give me trim, light, nooks, hardwood, subway tile, free standing tubs, transoms, glass knobs and 5 panel doors.
Give me potential, good bones and good views.
Give me pretty flowers, light breezes and singing birds.
These are the things that charm me.
What charms you?
Our house is for sale, too, and we are looking to either buy or build. The thing is, there isn't anything old in CA except in San Francisco. And I don't live there! CA lacks a lot of charm unless you live right on the ocean. So if I want charm, I'm going to have to build it. We did this once, so I guess I can do it again.
ReplyDeleteLove all those houses - I could see me living in one of them!
That second one is by far my favorite
ReplyDeleteIt has such a charm about it and very welcoming!!
Stop over for my give away when you get some time
#2 and #4 are my faves here. As much for the gardens as for the houses. My home didn't come with a lot of charm, so I've slowly been adding it myself over the years. It's been fun.
ReplyDeleteLove house # 2. It has such charm and detail. I love cottage style houses. They are full of character.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure that I didn't write this post? LOL We share the same thoughts on how a house SHOULD be! I CRAVE the charm as well....I HATE cookie cutter homes - unfortunately, I'm stuck in one right now and trying SO hard to make it charming with accessories and furnishings...living in the moment but DREAMING of the future!!!!
ReplyDeleteNooks and dormers for sure.
ReplyDeleteThe second home and the 3rd from last....those are my ideals, though all the others are fabulous too.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally with you, nothing suburban for me either. Though that's what we're in right now...albeit a 25 year old ranch that *used* to be considered the suburbs of Fort Wayne :)
So excited to see what you end up with. It will be a jewel I'm positive!
This is exactly the way I am too and it makes it really tough to make decisions sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI could live in any one of the houses in your post... wonderful!
I could pick any one of these house you have shown. I love them all. I would NEVER buy a new house. What charms me is old millwork, large windowsills, original fireplaces, old floorboards, doors...the list goes on.
ReplyDeleteStop it! I can't stand the cute. Love them all, too. And here I am in a cookie cutter suburban ranch. Oh well. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see the house you choose. I'll live vicariously through you.
Hand me the keys to any one of these and I'd be a happy camper!
ReplyDeleteKat :)
Those are all such beautiful houses! I too love all of the things that you mentioned, and I adore old houses, but we live in a town where the oldest houses were built in the 1930s, and most of the houses here are new and have no character at all. We are living in one of those new houses right now, and are trying to give it some old character. Some of the things that we have added to our new house may turn off most people today, but I love my "new old" house! :)
ReplyDeleteOOOHH one of each please!! Oh ..we can't order them for play houses? Darn!! Okay ..Eanie Meanie Miney Moe catch the house of my dreams..
ReplyDeleteDreaming in Tx..Cindy
I love all these houses but number one in particular. Love the fact that it looks like its been added on to and just adore the little tower - what a fab place for your kids to go and read or just hang out! I love all the features you do but sadly none of these styles are particular to the UK - we just had to add our charm where we can! Thanks goodness for blogs like this to inspire us!
ReplyDelete~Sam
Lovely eye candy. Trim work, mouldings, grand proportions(even in small rooms), wood or tile floors, and just a little detail on the simplest of items(like floor registers) just make me sigh with contentment. Outside the house, a lovely garden in bloom always makes even the saddest house have potential. A lovely front door can add so much charm.
ReplyDeleteThe exact same things, but you knew that ;)
ReplyDeletexo,
rue
This is great. You've got all the architectural elements just about covered--beautiful choices. I once lived in a house with wainscoting, cove ceilings, woodwork aplenty, brass hinges.
ReplyDeleteb
i am right with ya girlie
ReplyDeletei'm always drawn to the charming homes , ones i'm certain are filled with potential, bustling families, sentimental treasures, & hard wood floors ( sigh....)
xo
Oh I'm right there with you... charm it is! We were desparate when we bought so had to go with a cookie cuter home and am trying so hard to add the charm i want.. but it's never going to be like a old home.
ReplyDeletexo,
LuLu
Same here! Give me an old house, with wood floors & solid woodwork, a porch & a lawn, a big white kitchen & a wood burning fireplace. Heaven!
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding me that I really do love my house. Sometimes during Iowa's cold winters I wish I lived in a new house that wasn't drafty, but what fun would that be.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Nancy
You said it...glass knobs & nooks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the eye candy!!!
I love all those things too!!
ReplyDeleteall of those things and picket fences with rose bushes
ReplyDeletexo
elyse
I take any of them! I dream of an older home, always have. Problem been DH is not a handyman and contractors are expensive. I'm not sure I will like a reproduction house. They putting those up and I have visit with friends that love their repro house. All the architecture just brand new with a hefty price tag attached to it. Humm...Lovely blog, blessings, Marta
ReplyDeleteI am right with you on all of it! Good luck with your House of Dreams!
ReplyDeleteKate
All of these charm me!!! I have a "thing" for widows watches, so that first one makes my heart go pitter patter!!! There is a VERY old colonial (I'll try and get a pic of it) on the country road we are building on with one and I have loved it for YEARS. Infact if it went up for sale I think I would scrap building!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you Jen!! Love that we are taking this journey with you!!! I'm with you on CHARM all the way! I have my work cut out for me with making anew home "old" :)
Kristi
This post...these photos...made me so happy. I so agree with you.
ReplyDeleteHow did I miss this post!? Oh Jen, all the homes you showed just made me ache. I'm so glad that the first home we ever bought was an old one. It would be so weird to live in a new one. You are going to LOVE living in an old home, nothing like it. Can't wait until the picture of YOUR house is up!
ReplyDeletethose are beautiful. #2 and #5 are my favorities. i love character too, my house has none. bummer.
ReplyDeleteNumber six is my favorite. I love little places tucked away in the trees. Definite musts are, front porches, American flags, picket fences, vegetable gardens, screen doors that slam just a little bit, and a squeaky stair or two. I love the fun of wondering about the people who lived their lives in that home before we came along.
ReplyDeleteI love love love old houses. Hubby, not so much. He likes the old look but new:)
ReplyDeleteOur last home in Florida was a shaker shingle & stacked stone in a neighborhood of brick houses. I loved it. I now live in the cookie cutter house. A nice big house but not my norm. I completely understand your love of charm.
all of the above!
ReplyDeleteMichelle
Oh, a wraparound porch. What a delight (and something I will never have in the city!). But that's ok. I'll keep my charming neighborhood and vacation in places with wraparound porches!
ReplyDeleteHello! I back-tracked over to your page from Meadowbrook Farm and you have definitely charmed me!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I are also stuck in the suburbs for now, but our heart is in the same place yours is!
I look forward to reading your blog :)
Oh my glory, each and every one of them charm me. Sigh....
ReplyDeleteLOVE charming cottages!
ReplyDeleteI love them all!!!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI love all these images so charming. What charms me is our 200 year old stone and clapboard farmhouse and our gardens. I love to sit on our front porch with an old fashioned milkshake and a deck of cards with my family and watch the birds fly by. its heaven on earth to me.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on that, love a house with charm. Your pictures are my dream houses!
ReplyDeleteHi: Do you know the architect and/or location for the first house on your blog? Here is a link to the picture:
ReplyDeletehttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7Tc6LOrEamk/S55M23I-WiI/AAAAAAAAF3s/KhM_sIFUWr0/s1600-h/1.jpg
I'm very interested in speaking with them. I'm wanting to build a home in upstate New York. The design is spot-on for me.
Thank you,
David
David,
ReplyDeleteThat house is the Seasons of Cannon Falls River house. It is not a new house but an old one that was renovated. There is an entire book based on the house that you can find here: http://www.amazon.com/Celebrating-Home-Decorating-Holidays-Seasons/dp/0823068412
You can also google it and find more info and pictures. Good luck!