A New Appreciation For Craftsman Style Homes (Or French Country Meets Craftsman Style...A Match Made In Heaven?)

 I just returned home yesterday from being away for 2 weeks.  It feels great to be home.  Thank-you for all of your kind words and encouragement during my husband’s recent surgery and triumph over cancer.


Do you think I could give a Craftsman home a French Country touch?  Sure I could! 

I never really thought about this style before but we looked at a charming Craftsman built in 1921 with some really nice details.  All this downsizing house hunting exercise has got me thinking about every option and every style.

(A note about all these photos: I am using my Iphone and have to depend on the existing light and have very little time to snap as we are looking with our realtor)

First of all a killer front porch and circular front driveway.

Love the porch ceiling!

So far my favorite staircase with huge landing and picture window on the landing.

Top of the stairs.

Nice area in the master bedroom with original built-ins.

Master foyer.

Obviously lots of potential here. A complete gut job is needed, but the space is good with lots of light.

Could this become my new French Country kitchen?

Nice original front door.

What do you think about this old Craftsman?  Do you think I’d be happy here?  Would my French furniture fit in?

Blessings,

Kim

God Is Great, God Is Good...

Let us thank Him...for everything!

This is all I could think about when I woke up on this beautiful Sunday morning.  I saw these gorgeous sunflowers at Trader Joe's yesterday.

My husband had surgery this past week and thanks be to God all the cancer was removed!  We are staying in our Lexington house for now and I wanted to add some color and brightness with fresh flowers. 

I snapped a few photos this morning with my Iphone as I was appreciating their beauty.

God uses events like this to teach us about faith and his great love for us.

They remind me that God is in control.  Thank goodness!

 

And to stop and smell the roses because you never know what life may bring.  Priorities become very clear in times like this.

So count your blessings always and take joy in the small things with family and friends.

 

  

On a home decor note:  Look what I recently found at TJ Maxx in the sale isle.  It's a real preserved boxwood topiary.  The tag is identical to the preserved boxwood wreaths that  I ordered from Amazon at Christmas last year.  You have to periodically spray them with water to keep them looking fresh but I think it's so worth it!

Now you know the reason for my absence and sporadic blogging as of late.  (And social media...forget it! ha).  I'll be slowly coming back...but definitely coming back.  Hopefully stronger than ever with God's help.

Hey, I've got a Blogger's Brocanting Tour coming up quickly with a great bunch of gals!

Blessings to each of you,

Kim

Downsizing Home Search: Am I Really Looking At Victorians???

I told you a few posts ago that over the next year or so hubby and I are looking at homes in Lexington to begin the process of downsizing.  We are still in the quandry of “do we build” or “do we renovate/restore”?

I think it will be fun sharing some of the homes we see as we begin this journey.  Here are some Victorian era homes we have looked at:

House #1 was built in the late 1800s and has had some renovations already done.

View to the street from the front steps.

Four car garage! Hubby likes that!

Fireplace in the foyer! So Victorian!

Large dining room.

Updated master bath with clawfoot tub.

House #2 was built in the 1870’s and is definitely a Romanesque style.

Grand foyer and staircase.

 Notice the original tile in the grand porch entrance.

Beautiful ceiling treatment.

 

Perfect place for my own piano.

 

Farmhouse type kitchen.  The ceiling is tall and has been painted black.

 

House # 3 is a rare Chateauesque style with roots in French chateaux!  It was painted sometime in the 1900s and the paint is naturally flaking away to its original red brick. Notice the 3rd story tower and zinc finial on the left.

It was built in 1875 and even has a porte cochere!

A grand dame that needs lots of updating!  But imagine the possibilities!!!

Looking toward the music room with an inlaid floor on the perimeter.  Another fireplace in the foyer (on the left)

Of course it has a tower room!

Can you see the bottom of the stained glass window on the left?  It’s magnificent and large. The owners have previously tried to strip the staircase.

These homes are all magnificent and have good bones, but I’m not sure if I want to tackle a house this OLD.  They all have basements, attics, and boilers!!!

But I love these old gems and have a soft spot in my heart for them.  Hubby and I used to stay in Bed & Breakfasts a lot and these homes certainly remind me of them.  What do I like about  Victorians of this era?  Tall ceilings, huge moldings, pocket doors, lots of fireplaces, hardwood floors, and interesting architectural features like leaded and stained glass windows.

I know you are thinking…”This is a downsizing search?”  One of the comments from a dear reader on a previous post said she and her husband had “flunked” downsizing.  I think my hubby and I may be candidates for flunking, too!

Which of these 3 do you think we have already eliminated? Can you guess?

Stay tuned for more houses,

Kim

MIA Since The Haven Conference

I’m a post-Haven Conference party pooper.  I left just as excited and energized as everyone else, but I just returned after over 2 weeks away from home.

From Atlanta I went straight to Lexington to help my daughter move into her condo early for UK sorority activities.  This was a priority so blogging had to take a back seat.  More on that later.

Even if it’s old news now, I had the best time ever at Haven. The best part was meeting up with all the other bloggers.

The three musketeers headed to France in a few weeks.  Look out French people!!! lol   Kim from Savvy Southern Style, Shirley from Housepitality Designs, and Moi.

Kathy from Creative Home Expressions.

 

Jeanette and Jordan from The 2 Seasons blog.  Kentucky roots just like me.

Laura at Top This Top That and Yvonne from Stone Gable.

 

Susan from Between Naps on the Porch.

I had such a great time meeting and talking with Yvonne from Stone Gable.  She is such a fun gal!

The TWO Kim’s!!!  (One’s Savvy!!!)

  What a crew!  Becca from Adventures in Decorating leads the pack in this selfie!

If you haven’t been to Haven, you must attend next year!  You will make memories to last a lifetime.

Blessings,

Kim