Category: HOME

It’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood!

On By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, HOME, Lifestyle, Photograph, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

So far, 2026 is proving to be a motivational, “get things done” kind of year. From drawers to moving furniture around (again) and the subsequent cleaning that comes with each move, it’s exciting to be in the same house, yet have it feel so different. Future 2026, make a shift from white walls to walls with color? We’ve always loved saturated color, darker colors. Then made a change to all white. Fresh. Now, it’s getting tiresome. Especially with all…

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2026 – May it be the best year yet!

On By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, Photograph, SC, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
View from nearby. Charleston, SC.

Well, now that we’re a few days into the New Year – how is it going? Sending wishes that it will be your best year yet! Many of us are striving to be healthier, eat cleaner, exercise more. Coming soon, a few recipes to help with that endeavor (and I’m sure a few that won’t). My philosophy is that to be good (eating wise), it’s ok to not be perfect. Allow yourself a treat now and then and then get back to it!

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Capturing A Moment During a Scenic Walk in Charleston, SC!

On By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, Design Inspiration, Flowers, HOME, Photograph, preservation, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
Historic home in Charleston, SC

January is almost upon us so we thought we would get a head start on health and fitness and head out on a fast walk. Somewhere different. We usually walk our neck of the woods, which is beautiful, but… It’s so nice to get out and walk somewhere different. Different views which are so nice! I had to do a good deal of walk/running to keep up with my husband because I kept stopping to take a photo…

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A Peek At The Beautiful Things in Life!

On By Barbara StroudIn Design Inspiration, Garden Center, Photograph, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
vintage earn, red berries, fence with roping for the holidays

Happy Wednesday! Where does the time go? It seems like it was just Halloween! Thanksgiving flew by and now Christmas is very, very close! For many of us there is so much to do to prepare. It’s good to start early, which I used to be good at, but now am running behind like most of you. It’s all good, we can only try to get everything on our lists done, right? Wondering what cool place I was at with such a beautiful view (in the image) – see below…

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Christmas Candle from Charleston Candle Company (Great Gift!)

On By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, Favorite Things, HOME, THOUGHTS2 Comments
Christmas Cactus blooming in hot pink and Charleston Christmas Candle

Are you looking for a lovely gift? A special holiday gift for someone to let them know you’re thinking of them? This is an excellent idea! A friend gave me one last year, and it’s been so special (and every time I see the candle I think of the person who gave it to me). It’s a lovely scent, not overpowering – just right!

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Holiday Shopping in Charleston, SC!

On By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, Design Inspiration, Favorite Things, Photograph, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
Selfie in mirror at The Dewberry Hotel in Charleston, SC

I have to say, Charleston, SC is about as festive as can be. We haven’t been downtown in quite a while so it was nice to get out on a cool day, walk the streets, pop in the shops and check things out. Visitors in our own town. What can be better? You’re home in 5 minutes, no packing required!

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The Little Barnwell House Plan (203155) by Allison Ramsey Architects!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, House PlansLeave a comment
Little Barnwell House Plan by Allison Ramsey Architects.
Little Barnwell House Plan 203155 by Allison Ramsey Architects

Isn’t this a charming house plan? I love everything about this plan. For one, the porches – divine! A nice covered porch across the front, a screened porch on the side and a smaller covered porch in the back. There is so much curb appeal with the handsome windows, stunning door with surrounding windows – this is perfection. Let’s take a peek…

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A New Book Shop in Charleston, SC – Ladybird Books!

On By Barbara StroudIn books, Charleston, THOUGHTS1 Comment
Ladybird Books on King Street in Charleston, SC.

Ladybird Books, new to the Charleston, SC scene opened late October of this year. We stopped in and checked it out, it’s SO nice – the kind of nice you don’t want to leave. It’s welcoming and it was refreshing to see so many young people (in addition to older people) looking at books and BUYING…

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A Stunning Display of Floral Beauty!

On By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, flowers, Flowers, gardening, Photograph, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
pink "confederate roses" in south carolina

This reminds me of the tissue paper flowers I made in grade school, does anyone remember those? I took this photo in Summerville, SC a few weeks ago. I saw on a post from last year that I took a photo of the same stunning bush of flowers, but a month earlier. They were darker in color and just as stunning. I did a reverse Google search to figure out what it’s called…

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The Sound of Music – SPECTACULAR!!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Charleston, Favorite Things, music, THOUGHTS4 Comments
The Sound of Music

Looking for something to do in Charleston, SC this weekend? Have I got an idea for you! Check to see if there are any tickets remaining to see the Sound of Music and the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Wow! I couldn’t have been more impressed! The show started on 11/4 and runs through 11/9/25! From the very first note I was captivated right until the end. Each and every person on the stage was out of this world fabulous.

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Rethinking the cut mum idea…

On By Barbara StroudIn gardening, HOME, Photograph, THOUGHTS2 Comments
Cut sunflowers in a vase, dining table, windows with green trees, paintings on wall

Isn’t this time of year the best? The cool temps, the light, the darker nights and the lighter mornings… It’s so perfect for a cozy day in or a beautiful day outside. One thing puzzles me, we had the coolest Halloween I can remember (here in Charleston), yet one big bad thing doesn’t make sense…

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Oak Island Retreat House Plan by Allison Ramsey Architects!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, House PlansLeave a comment
House by Allison Ramsey Architects
Oak Island Retreat House Plan by Allison Ramsey Architects!

I love scrolling through the house plans on Allison Ramsey’s website. (Allison Ramsey is a company name and not a person, in case you’re wondering who Allison Ramsey is, hehe). If you visit Beaufort, SC (as well as just about anywhere in the south) you will see so many Allison Ramsey homes. You may not KNOW they’re one of theirs because their homes seem to blend so well with the existing architecture which is classic and stunning.

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Stormy Skies and Rain For Days!

On By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, Photograph, THOUGHTS, weatherLeave a comment
high tide as seen on a rainy day through a car window

Let me start by saying the past few days (and the next week) have been sunny and beautiful. Today we will experience the coolest temps IN SIX MONTHS! That’s a long time to wait for cooler weather! I doubt it’ll stay this way for too long. It’s not too chilly, highs are still in the 70’s. I’m doing a happy dance regardless.

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You Made It! #happyhumpday

On By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, flowers, Photograph, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
Vase with magenta color flowers on a table in the window.

Well, you made it to mid-week! So happy hump day (Wednesday) – woohoo! This is an older photo (last September) – it looks like a bouquet of flowers I bought at Whole Foods. I’ll pick up the $5.99 bouquet if they’re fresh and ready to bloom soon (sometimes two). This was a pretty explosion of color…

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