Seen your kitchen...what's the rest of the house look like?
Comments (150)
kiffgirl
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agoBefore I address the request for more info on our house let me say to Bee that I'm ready to buy your house fully furnished as soon as your done with it. I just love it all.
And to Swhite10 - I adore your family rules and the little tree on the wall of your mudroom is fabulous. Can you PLEASE tell me where it came from?
Our crazy cave house was designed back in the late 70's. The property was part of a large estate that was subdivided into lots. The man who bought this lot discovered a pool or natural spring (we've heard both accounts, not sure which is accurate) and had an architect design the house around the pool. The original owner was a "science guy" and built a very eco-friendly/green house. There were lots of native plants inside (the ground floor was largely a garden) and the house is positioned to take advantage of the sun's placement during the seasons - so it provides as much heat as possible in the winter and the least amount in the summer. There is a 50' long bank of windows on each side of the house, near the roof and 14 skylights. We get a ton of natural light
The house is about 4 stories tall from the base of the pool to the roof. Large louvers are placed on the northeast wall, near the roof to draw air from the lowest level through the house for cooling. Truly a very effective design.
The house was remodeled around 2004. Heat/air conditioning was added at that time, but it is still fairly eco-friendly with concrete floors around the pool and bamboo floors throughout. We are very near the coast and heat/air isn't really necessary. As you can see, there are few doors or walls inside the house. Each room is on it's own level, some different by just two or three steps. Most rooms are rounded or angled, only the powder room is a perfect rectangle.
The waterfall is part of the filter system of the pool. I don't have a great photo of it working, but this one shows it on. The flow is adjustable.
Here is the living room area. The walkway behind is a bridge to the library and office den.
swhite10
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
What does the INSIDE of your house look like right now? hahahaha
Comments (51)We moved a couple of months ago and I had to let the yard (I can't be called a garden at this point yet) just be... no matter how painful it was. My focus was house house house... it was ours but we had rented it and they turned it into a crack house. Well, we kicked them out and after a month of making it livable we moved. However, the work had only just begun... we removed popcorn from ceilings, replaced fixtures and doors... and we still aren't finished. But my focus has shifted.... causing much distress for my poor DH. (He works a lot right now so the house is all on me) I have been digging out the years of neglect (When he and I began dating he was in a different house, which we lived in prior to this move... a master gardener had lived there prior and all I had to do was maintain it all). The house we are in now was his, but he doesn't bother with anything but mowing the weeds and it has been at least 3 or 4 years since anyone has done anything here other than that. All the beds had been filled with rock, the yard is weeds and sand, it is bad. The good news... we have gorgeous trees and a great spot on a lake... so the potential is there :) Back to the topic of the post, since I started focusing on the yard and my garden in the making the house has gone to hell. There are clothes everywhere, still boxes that didn't get unpacked, spare bed is covered in christmas stuff that needs to go in the attic, no clean dishes to be found, dirt and dust galore... Ugh! My kitchen is covered in potting soil and plant seedlings, cuttings, pots and trays. I don't have a potting bench or anything even close yet, so the kitchen has been converted. My ottoman has become my sort and send for my seed trading, there are baggies of seeds everywhere.. Everywhere! My living room is littered with bubble evies... it is terrible. Best part is, a friend of ours is in need of a place to stay for a little while so he;s moving in this weekend. I am going to go into cleaning shock... and yet I'm still determined to get in some yard work this weekend. We'll see how things turn out... this is my first real garden (of my own) and the first time I've been completely responsible for so much (I'm kinda young still... just finished college and am starting out fresh... but with the love of my life so its all good!). I'm just looking forward to next spring, when I will have been properly prepared and things can really look nice :) Kim (cottage style junkie and newbie)...See MoreResearching what your old house looked like
Comments (18)I do pretty serious genealogy research, and of course it took on a life of its own and has expanded to historical research and that includes the story of our property. I have finally fleshed it in from a lot of local oral history. It's part of a farm and I know the original owners from the time it was 'first entered' in 1805 when the N.W. territory was opening up. Since it was so old, it is mentioned in various local history books as a safe house to travelers, the location of a spring that the Amerindians, and first settlers used (we still use it for our water source), a road house, a coal company office site, farm. Various residents who have either lived in it or whose families had owned in in years past have shared old pictures of it (some dating from the Civil war) and I've connected on geneology forums with one of the descendants of the man who owned it longest and moved into it (or built the present structure ) in the early 1820s. She filled me in on family history and then I was able to learn more about it in the old newspaper files on microfilm. There are deed records in the courthouses and tax records and old county plats that help. Be aware when I researched it initially it is listed as built in 1900. I am laughing, because it was a default # they picked out of the air, since they normally would ask the owners how old it was and if they didn't know just list it as "older". Some official decided that they needed a more definitive number so they picked one out of the air. Those kinds of shennanigans can throw off people who don't know the ins and out of historical research and really set you off in the wrong direction. Old wills will often mention houses and properties too. Yes, I have a portfolio of information I build on our home, and add to it occasionally when I come across a previous owner's name I recognise when doing my primary research. Also be aware if you live in a city location, that streets and roads often changed names and even more often the numbering system on them changed. Old city directories helped to clarify exactly which old property you currently own, because they might describe it is 'the first house on the left past X street or NW corner of X and Y intersection....See Morefor Sidney4
Comments (5)Hi menmsmom, Thanks for asking. I'm not sure I know the color stain. The built ins in the family room were custom made and the work order just lists "cherry cabinets". The cherry island in the kitchen came from Haas and the order does not specify a stain color. They both must just be plain old cherry stain. I didn't use a glaze in either case. I'll check out your other question on the kitchen forum....See MoreWhat would your home look like if your spouse had to decorate?
Comments (52)Tannantok, you're describing my DH's place when I met him! He also had a beer can collection growing on his back patio. He owned virtually no dishes (eating out of the pan was the norm). When you walked in the door you were greeted by a picture of a big haired blonde wearing suspenders and not much more. Laminated to a piece of charred wood. Given to him by his mother. Current decorating would be blankets tacked up to the windows, but he'd also have 1000 watt lights all over the place. I tell him the sun would not provide enough light for him. Clothing would adorn all the lamp shades (if he used lamp shades at all...probably adorn the curtain rods. Bathtowels would be the floor mats. Steak knives would pin up things to the walls, and EVERY wall would have something pinned to it. He'd have a ginormous sofa with blankies and his dogs. No pillows, except for what was on the floor. And every cupboard would be doorless and the drawers self closing....See More
mtnrdredux_gw
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agojakabedy
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agoIf you've seen my kitchen, you've seen my house, because it's basically one big room! Please ignore the flotsam and jetsam of everyday life:
kateskouros
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agoswhite10
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agomelissastar
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agoformerlyflorantha
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agokateskouros
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agoboxerpups
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agopinch_me
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agoI live a much simpler life than most on here. My goal was to get an acreage where I had space for my animals and I wouldn't have to drive impassible gravel roads in all kinds of weather to take care of them. Price and location were primary factors. I found this one; perfect in every way - EXCEPT- for everything I changed!
The cosmetic things I did were my personal preferance. The previous owner liked it. All the essentials are here. I have done updating, of course, although none of it was critical. I hated the kitchen even though it had served the previous owner quite well - for 30 years. I wanted it nicer than that. The bathroom had been remodeled but I didn't like that either! I had changed the toilet to a tall one which eventually leaked and made the sub floor mold. Not knowing what was happening I knew I had to fix it. In the meantime the plastic and glass freestanding shower stall griped me every time I looked at it. I had seen a walk in shower while I was house shopping and my heart stood still! I HAD to have one of those.
I have plenty of outbuildings and animals to take care of and the house isn't real high on the decorating list. I have my wonderful new kitchen and bathroom with walk in shower. I did do a face lift on all the rooms when I moved in but just enough to get rid of paint colors I couldn't live with and green shag carpet that gave me the willies. There are still decorating things I would like to do, and maybe I will, but not now. I put in an air source heat pump 3 years ago. I've put in a whole new septic system. I dropped about $20,000 on it last year with the septic, kitchen and bathroom. That doesn't sound like much compared to some appliance lists I've seen on here. It's an old farm house. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. I like it here. It's paid for. I don't need more; all I need is a place for me and my critters. I'm happy.
My house is over a hundred years old, it will never look like anything other than what it is. In 1847 the U.S. Government gave my land to Elijah Murray for service in Ohio Company K, 3rd regiment. The reason for giving land instead of pay, the government didn't have the money but it did have the land. Giving 160 acres in exchange for army service encouraged settling in "the west". It has been sold off piece by piece since then.
Jodi_SoCal
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agoBoxer, yes I am an artist from a long line of artists but I don't paint. I'm a Graphic Artist.
The large gallery wrap in my dining room and the one shown below in my kitchen are both from Gallery Direct online. I love browsing their site!
The two pieces in my living room and the smaller one in my dining room are metal art. For some reason I'm really drawn to metal art. Don't know why.
In my kitchen.
Jodi-
beekeeperswife
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agopinch_me
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agokiffgirl
13 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
Adrienne Gray
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agoKateskouros - I love your playroom - I think I might steal the sleeping nook idea for our playroom window area. And I'm thinking of doing hanging bubble chairs, but I love your swings. Here's a floor in our playroom that may look familiar?
And the rest of your house is stunning too! (As are so many others - but the giggling infant trying to eat my toes precludes me from commenting all around)
marthavila
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agoboxerpups
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agobeekeeperswife
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agoOk, here are the pics, again. Who knows, maybe I'll mix it up and put a different one in there....again, sorry to have broken my link, but wow, pb is so much more organized now.
Here ya go:
From the kitchen looking towards the family room:
And it's been "revised" a bit since these photos, so this is a bit more accurate of what it looks like today:
The lamp ove the couch was added, I painted the brass on the fireplace and removed the old window with a mirror. Added the chests on each side of fireplace.Wasabi Green Living Room:
Foyer:
Chandy (not the moon) with a high gloss BM Wrought Iron Ceiling:
guest coat closet:
ceiling of coat closet:
The gal who has her coat hanging in the guest hall closet:
She is waiting for her "dad" to get home.My dining room:
The powder room. There are no photos of it, but imagine this wallpaper all over when you go in there. It is a "surprise" for guests:
And...I was going to post a before & after of the kitchen, you know to mix it up....but I just saw that pb deleted some of my newly created files!!! I can't find the photos! so I tried to upload some of my "before" shots,and it won't let me, it says they have been added, but they aren't crossing over to the next page where you can see them and access them. Oh brother. I've sent them an email.
Adrienne Gray
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agocherigw
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agopinch_me
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agocraftlady07
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agokateskouros
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agokateskouros
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agomarthavila
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agoboxerpups
13 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
cat_mom
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agoprill
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agoneesie
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agopinch_me
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agoThank you everyone. I can go to the barn without crying most days. One day soon I won't cry for a whole day.
(Her picture has always stood by my bed until I moved here. Its place here is the bathroom counter. It is just a snapshot taken over 20 years ago.)
This is Sophie ready to steal food. She ruled Brownie and was quite naughty to her. She would stand at the top of the kitchen steps and not let Brownie come up.
Brownie's last picture.
Missy July 2009
A long time friend has brought a mare and colt to stay here for a while. It's been a long time since I've had a foal around. Unfortunately, the foal is very sick. But, life goes on. I should have put my pet cemetery in a different place. I didn't know it would have so many.
boxerpups
13 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
John Liu
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agoWhen this thread was active, I was on the road and hadn't any pictures to post. Then I got locked out of my GW account. And then I got locked out of my Photobucket account. Sigh. That's why I am such a Johnny Come Latey here.
So, this is my 1911 Portland three story four square, (very) vaguely craftsman-cottage inspired. It is very typical of the houses built 100 years ago for the small urban lots here. It has the tight floorplan of a four square, the trim and built-ins popular at the time (indeed, my neighbor has the identical moldings - must have been a sale at the local mill then), and the misfortune to be inhabited by a very messy and cluttery family. Clever photography has hidden the half-built balsa airplane (err, maybe not) on the living room game table, one of the lazy cats on the chairs, the Lego Death Star that graces the dining room, and so on. I didn't tidy up the piles of books, and you may see the huge red balloon and the fencing foil, that are destined to meet someday.
So now you see the house into which my kitchen must fit. After reading the excellent threads on contextual beauty, I realize that my cherished Royal Tuscan kitchen vision may not be quite right for this house, and perhaps not my Space Odyssey kitchen vision either. I think I will be pursuing the contextually harmonious themes of Clutter And Clash. No, not the '80s band.
The kitchen is pointless to show, not just because it is a "before", but also because you can see one just like it down at Home Depot. I wonder what it was like before they gutted it?
kitchendetective
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agohonorbiltkit
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agomelissastar
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoOK...I've finally got a decent day, time and a working camera. So here are some pictures of the house my kitchen fits in! Baltimore's version of the painted ladies.
living room fireplace/stove...ignore the broom handle on the right, please.
the reading nook in the front of the house
the hall of mirrors (aka stairway)
my favorite part of the master bath...the reflection of the window on the shower glass
master bedroom fireplace...unfortunatly not working
one of the three stained glass pocket doors...this one to the master bedroom
Posting still-unfinished kitchen pictures next!
(See beekeepers wife...I did eventually post!)mtnrdredux_gw
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agomelissastar
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJohn Liu
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agobeekeeperswife
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agomelissastar
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agosteff_1
12 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
lisa_a
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agobeekeeperswife
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoprill
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agosummersucks
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agojudydel
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agophoggie
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agochiefneil
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoI'm coming in late to this thread, but here's a few photos. You can click on the photos to see more at my photobucket album.
Master bath with natural-cleft quartzite floors
{{gwi:1385408}}More master bath - the missus' makeup area. I made the little jewelry cabinet on the counter.
{{gwi:1385411}}Den (Scherr's cabinets, finished and installed by me)
Living room/music room (tile is tarvertine with copper accents in a pinwheel pattern)
Swimming pool (my daughter walks on walker :) This is actually the view directly out my kitchen windows. The waterfall cascades into the pond, then feeds back into the pool.
{{gwi:1754358}}The backyard at night, an awesome place for small dinner parties.
cat_mom
12 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
motherof3sons