Laura posted this image on her blog on Monday and I was fascinated. I wasn't the only one. Curious about the floor plan... is that all one house? Yes, it is.. and others were curious too, so Laura did some more research, and scored more photos and a floor plan straight from the designer - architect Hugh Newell Jacobson
Photos by Robert Lautman
Did some stalking this weekend in Apalachicola. This little cottage had me requesting a double-drive-by.
Quaint and old? Check.
Well manicured yard? Check.
Fireplace? Check.
Cafe curtains in the windows? Check.
Little shed or guest house out back? Check.
Boat for the husband? Check.
Pretty darn cute... my kind of place.
And just for kicks... a few more photos of the terrihuahuas and our weekend events...
They loved the beach (so did we).
And the bay.
But Paisley didn't love falling out of the kayak (twice).
This (below) is what we call "terrierfied"... shaking in her boots, ready to get off the dock, half-hidden made her feel a little more secure...
How to transport 2 dogs to the beach (look closely)... terrier carrier:
This is where we stayed... for free. Yes, for free and we are so very grateful. The company that my husband works for is very generous and sees value in having a place like this... and of course we do too!
Behind the house is a short walk to the beach, and that boardwalk in the bottom left side of the screen leads straight to the bay.
Nice cold-tub (heater not on) and deck... and the girls loved the big open yard where they could run laps while we threw a frisbee.
This is what I bought at the city-wide-yard sale:
Periodic Table of Vegetables print it was $5 and I thought it was fun, a gold 3-tiered serving-thing-a-ma-bob, a square gold bamboo framed watercolor print with chocolate brown print, and some books!
What I wanted to buy, but passed up (and still cannot quit thinking about) was this antique, fully-refinished, mahogany chest:
It was a wonderful weekend... if you haven't been to the Forgotten Coast of Florida you should check it out! Be forewarned though, if you are the princess type who likes to shop at Barney's or boutiques, be pampered and waited-on, and if you don't like bugs or the outdoors, this might not be a good fit.
Captain Coleman Jenkins probably didn't have a proper "grave" because as the story goes... the old man was lost at sea... but roll with it... because THIS is what I found in my in-box late last night:
"Captain Coleman Jenkins" by Patricia VanEssche
Patricia VanEssche (aka PVE Design) is my home girl... really... her hometown is Louisville, Kentucky... which is (sort-of) my hometown too! Her parents founded Paul's Fruit Market (hello my Louisville readers!) a fabulous fresh produce (and more) market that happened to be my family's never-fail place to buy a Christmas tree! What a delight I found in my in-box yesterday evening. Amongst a sea of emails was this gorgeous illustration of Annmarie & Barry's house and a little note from Patricia.
Patricia, you'll be glad to know that coming up in my Boston post (if I can ever get around to it) is a picture of J.McLaughlin... even though we are just 'blogging friends' and have never met face-to-face there are always those moments where I think "Patricia!", so you know I stopped to snap a photo...
Thank you Patricia for a beautiful illustration, I know Barry & Annmarie are going to be delighted with such a thoughtful gift!!
Y'all are so nice in the comment section - just what the doctor ordered - encouragement and nice people... I needed an extra big dose on this Monday, and got one. Thank you! I want to reply to each and every comment, but my life at the moment is insane, so I thank you for understanding... and know that comments make me so happy! Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback!
Now, on to the EYE CANDY!
Annmarie let a "wicked" slip here and there... you know that's Boston for "awesome".
We stalked. It was indeed wicked.
An iced coffee for her and a DC for me, a minivan full of kids and it was: GAME ON
Auntie Erika taught these little ones "Stalking 101"...
Need I tell you... the weather was gorgeous!
Oh, just a garage with a whale weathervane. If my arms were big enough I would hug this building for being so simple and cute...
You know she has a brother next door:
This (above) is the one that we agreed Chance and I would puchase. My design studio would go over the garage... Annmarie will run a full service daycare and watch my (future) kids... oh wait, I think I made that part up.
Depending on the speed of the minivan sometimes I just got snippets... but I love it.
Those window boxes (above) make my heart race.
This house (above) was just purchased by Annmarie's friend Jenn - who I had the pleasure of meeting... I figured since I had met her it wasn't too weird to take a photo thru the side-lite of her front door!? We stalked all up on this baby... too bad we couldnt find an open window.
The local lighthouse... currently accepting applications for a person to occupy this place... ahem, I think I'll send my resume. Job description: raise and lower the flag everyday. I think I could get used to that... and the views: priceless.
I took so many pictures... this is just a handfull... you should see the camera phone pictures... oh my... I might need rehab.
Now... moving on to some other random points of interest kind of along the same line of real estate stalking... we hit this yard sale...
This is the shop where the whale came from... ahoy matey - The Quarterdeck
This is the back of Annmarie & Barry's house... it was as cute as the front...
A St.Bernard (this is for you Court) that was patiently waiting out front one of the town's antique/junk shops we hit up... I couldn't resist a photo...
Oh, just your everyday trip to the park looks like this in Scituate...
I knew y'all would want to know those paint colors... so I matched them for you... trim is closest to Ben Moore "Rockport Gray" and the wall color... I can't remember - look for a word from Annmarie in the comment section... Annmarie - give them the Martha original colors too... if you don't mind!?
I'll end on this note (above) it's Gordon, the mailman... the kids go wild. He throws around some high-5s and hangs for a bit. I was thinking 'ummmm Norman Rockwell eat your heart out'. This is a camera phone picture... not bad - it captured everything I wanted... bliss.
Coming up next... Brimmy and some city pictures... stay tuned folks.
And a random side note... if you have emailed me in the past week, you probably won't get a response... I'm playing catch up AND I have a dead computer (which did not magically repair itself while I was away). I'm doing what I can... but please have patience with me. My gmail account is the best to reach me at until I get my troubles mended. Thanks friends!
There is something deeply therapeutic about flying. Is it the fact that cell phones have to be turned off? Or the fact that you are forced into a perpective on the world where you realize that you are just a teeny-tiny spot on a map? As I headed towards Boston it was a beautiful day, we flew over Manhattan where you could see all of the city in detail. A peace came over me that my troubles (praise the Lord that I was leaving behind) are miniscule. The week from you-know-where was not coming along for the ride... a crashed computer, the broken refrigerator, and so much more all became invisible as I was able to get far, far away from them.
I'm not a jet-setter. I'm conservative and rarely give myself a break. I use credit card points for "free" travel, and I am not above sleeping on air mattresses (or in camper trailers). I think everyone needs to travel... whether by car or plane... go out and see the world! Everyone deserves and needs a break. It is the best form of therapy for the soul there is.
The book (Trail of Crumbs) and the bookmark (a little cutting of fabric that makes me weak in the knees, and coincidentally a recent purchase for my own home- it's very hard for a designer to commit to a fabric for their own home I lost sleep over this one, so I bought it):
Upon arrival at Logan International airport, my long-lost internet friend Annmarie met me at the aiprort. We headed thru town for a quick driving tour. Stopped at Flour Bakery for homemade Oreos and iced coffees. We walked past community gardens like this:
Feasted on eye candy @ Hudson (which was a smaller shop than I envisioned, but 150% better in person than any photo I had ever seen of it):
After wandering around Boston a little we headed to Annmarie's mother's house to pick up the youngest child Nora. We visited a little and I got a tour of the home where Annmarie was raised... I live for this kind of thing, is that weird!? I think people are fascinating and to be welcomed into someone's home is a delight for me! I didn't take any pictures here, I didn't want her mom to think I had lost my marbles... So from here we head to Scituate (the "c" is silent "sit-chew-it" is how they say it). Oh, and a random point of interest... love the Boston accent. I felt like a redneck when I'd let a few "y'all"s slip here and there... but they loved it... and no need to be embarassed of your roots.
This is probably going to be the longest blog post ever known to man... I am contemplating breaking it into pieces for fear that I might overwhelm you, causing you to miss the details.
Okay, I've decided to break it into pieces... I'm going to set the scene then proceed with more tomorrow.
The Cast:
Roan, 5 years old... big brother.
Lucy, 3 years old... big sister.
Ned, 2 years old... little brother.
Nora, 7 months old... the youngest.
Annmarie, mother of the year... no nannies/babysitters/house keepers, she does it all with the help of this guy...
Barry, father of the year. I haven't ask permission to post his photo, so I'll tweak it a little. Yes, I photoshopped those flipflops over socks, he would never. He is a very hard working bank-job man, who comes home and helps clean house, bathe kids, and reads bedtime stories. He also held down the fort during a recent jaunt to Paris that Annmarie & Lucy took... he is a good, good man. I know, it's insanely cute, their precious little family.
Me, 'faux auntie Erika', also disguised as a tourist who got her picture taken in front of the swan boat.
The Setting:
Their historic home, an old Sea Captain (Coleman Jenkins)'s house who was lost at sea... an early 1800s Federal Colonial, perfectly imperfect, precious and quaint... humble abode...
Above is the kitchen, about to be renovated! (Unfortunately, there is not a picture of it without me! What was I thinking?) Items of interest: green indicates cabinets to be removed in renovation, Ned's lawn mower, the beams on ceiling were "faux" and Annmarie had already ripped that one (shown above) down during my visit. There are many more changes in store for this space... but we'll save that for later!
And this is the wallpaper, we are keeping it. I love it. Husband Barry is unsure, but I told him to wait til the kitchen renovation is complete... then reassess.
Speaking of wallpaper... this is the nursery. I love this one too...
This vintage "carriage" (that's what Annmarie calls a stroller, I love it!) sits atop the mantel in this bedroom... my heart flutters at such preciousness.
Annmarie is very talented... how in the world she finds time for this I do not know, but the woman makes decoupaged plates. The Treehouse Press is the name of her business, and these little beauties are so delightful I could lick them (she also designs stationary). A perfect gift for an expecting mother. She has put a few on Etsy... the graphics are vintage, she hunts down old books, papers, paper doll sets, etc at antique shows... then spends hours in the very time-consuming decoupaging process. Her computer crashed last week (sound familiar), but once it is back up I'm going to do a feature on her talent!
This is the bathroom upstairs that was recently renovated.
The master bedroom. A very secure man sleeps amongst all this pink and flowers.
Kiki & Polly sketches that Annmarie bought on Etsy... they resemble her kids.
Yes, coffee was served in anchor mugs, vintage from a cruise ship.
Annmarie has tiny delights all over her house, these vintage cocktail napkins - hand embroidered with the calorie content... too cute! I should have photographed the whole house... I don't know why I didn't!
Okay... I'll save the rest for later. "Brimmy" (Brimfield) antiques (you won't believe your eyes),shopping, sight-seeing, and a plethora of real estate stalking was done... stay tuned folks!
Annmarie and family, thank you for your gracious hospitality!!
When I was home (what feels like months ago) I saw this house.
Isn't that a sad sight? (you might have to enlarge the photos for the full affect)
What happened along the way?
Someone mows the grass... who? The realtor?
It's up for auction.
I wonder who will get it?
And will they love her as much as the original owner who had her designed and built?
Somehow this beauty got ignored by someone.
If I lived there I'd love her and care for her.
Don't you wonder when you see houses like this... what went wrong there?
I love them separately, but together... too good for words.
In my opinion this is a perfect little house. I wonder who lives there?
I would drive by and stare and probably take pictures.
If only I could wiggle my nose and be right there, right now.
Thanks to Anna for posting this here, made my evening complete.
TGIF
[12/04 my parents school house just set by the house movers, waiting the renovation to begin]
I gather this subject is intriguing to others like me, given the feedback from my last post... so here are some more one room school houses... {Patricia, ever illustrated a school house? Maybe this will inspire?}
[this is in Snow Hill, Maryland]
[Kansas has a whole website dedicated to the One Room School Houses in their state]
[there are a ton of school houses turned B&B's - this has a school house suite - it is the Pitcher Inn in Vermont]
[here's a school house turned Garden center - Garden Thyme]
[and one from Beacon Falls, MA]
[here's one that I'm not sure where it's from]
Central Michigan University talks about the history of architecture in relation to one room school houses here.
Here are the ones Martha B {NIBS} sent to me... she says: I found the photos of the one room school houses in upstate NY. These two hadn't been used for years and were boarded up.
I don't know about you... but I sure would love to have one of these little beauties in my backyard... converted into an art studio, guest quarters, garden room... and the list goes on!
If you can't get enough - check this out!
This is a tribute to my parents:
[disclaimer - we (sister & I) are AUBURN GRADUATES... ignore their shirts]
So, this "design blood" that pumps thru my body comes from those 2... they are a design obsessed duo. They have (in addition to their "real jobs" (designer & marketing executive)... have renovated and restored more houses than I can count. Before we were born (in Norfolk, VA) they had an antique booth and spent weekends scouring for deals. This post in particular is about their renovation efforts at the farm... in a teeny tiny town in Southern Illinois. Dad saw the dilapidated early 1800s farm house and knew it was perfect (mom wasn't convinced, you see he tends to buy it - dream big, then have mom manage the project). He also had his eye on the town's One-Room School house that was about to be torn down...
Kathryn (aka Snippet & Ink) & Martha B (aka NIBS) and I have had some recent discussion about 1 room school houses. Kathryn's post about "school" inspired weddings, prompted me to fire off an email with photos of the one-room school house my father saved and had it moved 4 blocks to their farm property.
[Mt.Carmel Daily Republican Register, article on dad (in photo in front of school house)]
[yes, (a) that's a happy-crying face and (b) we got married in the dark- see light not turned on... it was an oversight - kinda funny]
When the boyfriend and I became engaged, I knew all along I wanted to be wed on the family farm. Here we are - in front of the Lancaster Zion United Methodist Church... which is next door to my parents farm property. It was built in 1840 (thus a door for women to enter, and a door for men to enter).
[photo credit Jason Reese - www.photorexit.com - those are white cowboy boots I'm wearing]
Alright, back to the school house. Here she sits in her new home behind my parents farm house and barn. New replacement windows, coat of paint inside and out... and there she is in all her beauty.
The school house pendants came from Visual Comfort. Fans are similar to Hunter Original. Chalkboards are original, as are the floors. Here she is set up for our Rehearsal Dinner.
Here is the "farm house"... circa 1800 - this is where we spend a lot of time since parents sold their home in Louisville, KY. In fact mom lives here - since dad took job in Chicago. They are back and forth frequently.
Here is a view of the barn and blueberry patch. I think dad searched for a windmill for over 5 years, until he found one that was in good working order.
You also may (or may not) recall this school house from my Christmas recap post. We do spend most family holidays down at the school house.
[daddy-o enjoying the fruits of his labor Christmas day @ School House- pecans on table from husband's parents farm in Alabama - the best in the world]
Sorry this post is all over the place... there is so much good design and architecture to share - I don't know how to stop. Here are a few other houses my parents have or are in the process of rehabbing:
[this house (above) has about a million books inside... anyone in the antique book business - leave comment, seriously... a gold mine if someone has the time to sort thru them]
[oh, and the school house has an Illinois map... here are the Illinois friends I have pointing to where they come from]
[this one was a major overhaul... a downtown c.1903 stone front bank building - mom + my husband]
[dad kissing mom because she has probably just said to him "you are crazy for renovating this building"]
[me (3rd from left) + girlfriends on wedding morning. this is my grandmother's house (background) not a good picture- it's like the 2nd oldest house in town - her cellar was a part of the Underground Railroad - mom and dad renovated it about 15 years ago]
[there's the mother duck and one of her little specialties]
[and because I thought this was funny - me and dad being stupid- after savoring some serious architecture at the Bernheim Forest in Kentucky - a whole other post entirely]
That's all (as if that was brief) I can find for now... HAPPY MONDAY!
Will post some pictures from Martha B (NIBS) of one room school houses in upstate NY tomorrow!
my brain feels something like this right now:
My internet provider was down all day yesterday, they really aggravate me. Do they know what this does to my blood pressure when it comes back on and my inbox is flashing red warning signs due to an influx of emails that would make most want to crawl under a desk and die?
Despite my anxiety level... two really fun things:
I challenged Snippet & Ink to "make this fabric a wedding"... and to no surprise she totally rocked it:
In her words: A slightly beachy, slightly nautical, very preppy Hamptons wedding in navy and green.
Mood: preppy seaside
Palette: navy, green, white
To my embarrassment - I had that clipping of fabric on my bulletin board because I love it - but had lost the source... anyone??
And on another Hamptons note... Absolutely Beautiful Things made my heart skip a beat when she featured this article on Steven Gambrel's Sag Harbor cottage. Precious is the only word that comes to mind - agree? Snippet & Ink's wedding could totally take place in the backyard...
And in case you don't follow the link to the article - I don't want you to miss this (the inside):
(annmarie, are you reading? this reminds me of your house)
Peace kids.
Happy Birthday (again) Mom!
I'm a wife, a designer, and the mother to a couple rescued terrier-mixes.
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