House Plan: The Eden plan by Allison Ramsey!

On May 26, 2016May 24, 2016 By Barbara StroudIn Daily Blog, HOME, House Plans2 Comments

This is the Eden house plan (C0231) by architect Allison Ramsey, (be sure to check out the real images of the interior)! Allison’s homes have such presence. They’re solid, beautiful and they look like they’ve been here for quite a while because they have charm. Charm and character is so important. There are many variations of this plan. I loved each one, so I decided to feature the original and let you check out the variations!

There is a small porch on the front of this house, which is so nice, then you step into the house and LOOK AT THAT ENTRY! You see straight through to the screen porch. What a magnificent view! I would put a wide door with mostly glass, like one from a cottage that we rented in Maine. It was magnificent and can really make a house! We would probably use that front Bedroom (2) as a study. The layout of this plan is so nice – and that screen porch… owie! Love it!

The upstairs has two additional bedrooms. I think I would use one for a guest room and one for storage, so I would only have one bathroom upstairs. What would you do?

Be sure to check out the website, it has been updated with many new plans and a new layout that is easy-breezy to view. So nice!

All images via AllisonRamseyArchitect.com, used with permission…

Images are not for construction or reproduction, they are property of the architectural firm.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

St. Johns Marsh as Seen Through the Car Window…

On May 22, 2016May 19, 2016 By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, Daily Blog, Photograph2 Comments

St. Johns Marsh as seen through the car window – Clay Township/Algonac, MI. Many times when I see a photo and grab for my phone there just isn’t time to get the window down as well. So… that weird reflection in the middle isn’t something in the marsh. Look at this sky. Those peeks of bright cobalt blue underneath the whites and grays of the clouds.

Read more about St. Johns Marsh via this link: bluewaysofstclair.org

Catch you back tomorrow!

House Plan: 102 Henderson Road by Our Town Plans!

On May 19, 2016May 5, 2016 By Barbara StroudIn Daily Blog, HOME, House Plans1 Comment

House Plan: 102 Henderson Road by Our Town Plans. We all know that Our Town Plans has gorgeous large home plans, but they also have fabulous cottage plans and even smaller house plans. 102 Henderson Road is 536 square feet, with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. I love the rustic look of it. This plan is as sweet as it can be with a wonderful screened porch (which adds to your living area!) and a small back porch and entrance.

Compact? Yes, but for those of you who are looking for small, and for first time home buyers who don’t need a large home yet, how perfect is this? Be sure to check out their website, they have plans for all sizes and styles. Gorgeous!

All images via OurTownPlans.com, used with permission…

Images are not for construction or reproduction, they are property of the architectural firm.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston – Beautiful!

On May 13, 2016April 29, 2016 By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, Daily Blog, PhotographLeave a comment

This turned out to be quite a dramatic photo. Those cool Italian Cypress (I think that’s what they’re called) trees are so striking, especially against a sky that is full of clouds and light! There are so many photos to be taken in Charleston – beauty… everywhere!

Back to normal posting 5/16!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Morning Walk

On May 12, 2016April 29, 2016 By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, PhotographLeave a comment

STUNNING! I took this photo in Charleston- just look at the sun reflected in the water… and that sky! Love the sky!

Back to normal posting 5/16!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Photograph – Sheer Beauty!

On May 11, 2016April 29, 2016 By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, Daily Blog, Photograph1 Comment

Charleston, SC

I love this house. It’s stately. Gorgeous. It looks like it can withstand the test of time. Solid. Classy. Gorgeous palms surround. I love the roof and all those windows!

Back to normal posting 5/16!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Dark & Stormy!

On May 7, 2016April 29, 2016 By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, Daily Blog, Photograph2 Comments

A dark and stormy Charleston sky. It was bizarre to see the peek of light all of a sudden! I took this photo while Fred was driving, no time to pull over. A great action shot, ha ha..

Catch you back here tomorrow!

A Cappucino Treat – at Black Tap Coffee!

On April 30, 2016April 29, 2016 By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, FOOD2 Comments

I took this photo while Fred and I were sitting at the coffee bar, looking out of the screened window at Black Tap Coffee in Charleston. It was a beautiful day, so it was such a treat to have the windows open.

I think it’s so cool how the design that they make on your cappuccino stays until the very last sip. This is coffee at it’s finest!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

House Plan: Sarah’s Shack by Madison Spencer Architects!

On April 28, 2016April 28, 2016 By Barbara StroudIn HOME, House Plans3 Comments

Madison Spencer. An amazing architect with a wonderful vision. Sarah’s Shack house plan is 1,100 square feet with 1 bedroom and 1 and 1/2 bathrooms.

Can’t you picture this home in Maine? Or anywhere for that matter. It reminds me of a small version of a cottage we rented one year in Port Clyde, Maine. It was unbelievable. This plan is so functional. The exterior I just love!

You walk into this plan from the wonderful front porch. The sitting room takes up a good part of the house, with a wonderful door and two French doors opening to the porch. Can you imagine? How perfect when entertaining! The Bedroom is compact, if you didn’t need the Desk area you could also make the bedroom a little larger to position a bed to make entry/exit from the bed easy for two people. I happen to adore the desk area myself. I find myself also liking my desk area to be near where we are living, so perhaps in front of one of the French doors would be nice, especially if you had a great view!

Built-ins in a bedroom are fabulous. The cottage we rented one year had just that, it was so convenient!

Read a bit about Madison Spencer… Be sure to check out Madison’s different projects. I am beyond impressed! Beautiful just doesn’t begin to describe!

Madison Spencer is an architect based in Charlottesville Virginia. He attended the University of Virginia in its heyday when the School of Architecture was led by Jaque Robertson and studied under Leon Krier, Demetri Porphyrios and Bill Westfall. His work takes him from Maine to the Caribbean and is of all scales. Of late he has devoted much time to the study of folly architecture – those more whimsical garden structures that fall somewhere between little house and hermit’s grottoe – on which he has lectured at the Sotheby’s Institute and the American Georgian Society.

For you down-easters, await the Temple of the Winds tower he is designing for an estate on Little Deer Isle drawings of which he will reveal soon!

All images via Madison Spencer, used with permission…

Images are not for construction or reproduction, they are property of the architect.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

If you use a gas grill, then THIS will make your day!

On April 23, 2016April 14, 2016 By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

We ran to Costco last weekend, as we walked in we spotted this sign.

Do you see these prices? WOW! We pay so much more than that this is hard to believe! A (regular) gas grill propane tank is 20#. So the max cost would be $7.49 (+ tax). If you took it in to have it filled and it wasn’t quite empty it would be even cheaper!

We pay more than twice that right now!

NOTE:

Tanks are not refilled inside the store, so do not take your empty propane cylinder into the store. The Charleston store refills propane near the Tire department (I think that’s what I read). Definitely not inside the store (for obvious reasons).

Catch you back here tomorrow!

House Plan: The Pemberton plan by Karoleena!

On April 21, 2016April 21, 2016 By Barbara StroudIn HOME, House Plans2 Comments

This is the Pemberton house plan by Karoleena. This plan is 1,300 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. This is a stunning modern take on farmhouse living. The impressive number of windows brings the outside in no matter where you are! Classy design, as always, by Karoleena.

Click to see larger image, or see MAIN living area detail in next image.

This house plan has the master bedroom/bathroom located on far left with wonderful closet space. Across the front you’ll see the Kitchen/Dining/Living, so well thought out. Located behind the main living space is another Bedroom, Bathroom and and another Bedroom on the far right. Joining the main home to the Garage and to the separate Media Room is an Entry space, which is where the washer and dryer are located. Very smart indeed! The Media room, the way it juts out a bit adds such interest to this plan. Making it a hideaway that is nearby and enjoys the scenic view, just like the rest of this fine home.

Here is the detail of the main living area. I can imagine myself living here… in a heartbeat!

Be sure to check out their website: “Karoleena is a custom home builder specializing in designer prefab homes. Our modern homes are built in beautiful British Columbia and delivered anywhere.” Not familiar with their manufacturing process? Be sure to check it out, it’s very impressive!

All images via Karoleena.com, used with permission…

Images are not for construction or reproduction, they are property of the architectural firm.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charlie (Jack Russell Terrier) Before (the hair) and After

On April 17, 2016April 6, 2016 By Barbara StroudIn HOME, Photograph, THOUGHTS4 Comments

When Charlie came into our lives he didn’t have “big” hair. They said it would get fuzzy in time, boy were they ever right! Look at the difference!

When this dog gets a bath you see how he’s not so big, but with all this hair he sure looks big! I wish I had his curls, ha ha. It’s fun looking back through old photos.

Enjoy your Sunday and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Easter Lily Idea…

On April 16, 2016April 6, 2016 By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, Daily Blog, THOUGHTS2 Comments

Such a pretty photo of the sunlight beating down on the Easter Lily!

Do you still have an Easter Lily and aren’t quite sure what to do with it? We always plant them outside (Zone 9 – Charleston, SC). They appear each year so beautifully. This time I moved the plant outside and cut the flowers and put them in a glass jar. They were beautiful for 4-5 days. When I Googled it, the directions said to keep about 1/2 of the plant, so I couldn’t put it in a tall vase, which was fine. When I have cut lilies, I do remove the stamen (see inside of lily where there is yellow, I just snip them off).

I will put the plant into the ground and see what happens next year! The lilies from years past mulitply!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Houseplan: 25 Bay Portsmouth Lane plan by Our Town Plans!

On April 14, 2016April 6, 2016 By Barbara StroudIn HOME, House Plans2 Comments

25 Bay Portsmouth Lane by Our Town Plans

Meet the 25 Bay Portsmouth Lane plan by Our Town Plans. Magnificent! This plan is 3,370 square feet, with 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The nice thing about this plan is that you have options for additional space. There is an optional Guest Suite (433 square feet) and an optional Attic Suite (680 square feet) available. Nice! The plan below shows the optional Guest Suite, check their website for the optional Attic Suite. Wow! The side porches both up and down make this house irresistible!

What a perfect house for entertaining. There is so much living space downstairs. From the wonderful porch, to the Great Room. Then the Dining, Kitchen (with a pantry!) and Keeping room – what more could you ask for?

What a Master Bedroom! With access to the wonderful upstairs porch. Two additional Bedrooms, each with Bathrooms, along with Washer/Dryer space – no running up and down the stairs with laundry. The Optional Guest Suite is located above the garage, what a wonderful space that is! Be sure to check out Our Town Plans website for more details including descriptions of features and images!

All images via OurTownPlans.com, used with permission…

Images are not for construction or reproduction, they are property of the architectural firm.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

A perfect way to enjoy the day!

On April 10, 2016March 28, 2016 By Barbara StroudIn Photograph, SC1 Comment

Charlie and I headed out for a quick walk a few weeks ago and came upon this in a neighbor’s yard. So inviting, the two chairs posed for conversation by whoever happened upon them. The azaleas blooming wildly in the background and this wonderful morning sun. Just beautiful! The leaves are falling at an alarming rate (as you can see), but it all adds to the beauty of the scene.

Take some time to enjoy the day! Catch you back here tomorrow!