It is so much fun to bop around the Charleston streets and alleyways, you never know what you’ll see!
All the different layers and textures are amazing… the architecture is stunning!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
You may have noticed I have been posting photos this week – back to normal posting next week! b.
Look at the skill and workmanship that went into making this beautiful gate, I’m not sure who the blacksmith was? When you stroll around Charleston, SC the beauty is evident everywhere you look. We have wonderful craftsman that have created some beautiful things, all of which add to the charm of this great city. Phillip Simmons was the famous Charleston blacksmith that created many works of beauty until his death in 2009. Iron gates live on forever… a testament to his passion and skill.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
You may have noticed I have been posting photos this week – back to normal posting next week! b.
Spanish moss hanging in the old oak trees… stunning! Sometimes a little erie, ha ha. I think it adds a bit to the gracefulness of these trees.
I have heard people say that it will choke the tree and the tree will suffer. I have read that’s not true, whew! It lives independently of the tree, it just uses the tree for support! Nature is so interesting… unless it ‘s a bug, my opinion ;)!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Charlie. My faithful companion… well, at least when I’m cutting up veggies. He never misses a beat. He can be in a deep sleep, and when I reach for the cutting board his head lifts… when I open the drawer to pick a knife *BAM* there he is, right by my side.
I know I have mentioned that Charlie can’t have regular dog treats (or regular food). He had pancreatitis (a few years ago) and we almost lost him. So the beast (I say that lovingly) is on special (ultra low fat) food, and no more treats… well, the old fashioned ones (I used to bake him peanut butter oatmeal cookies which he loved), now days instead of “making cookies”, we “make carrots” – I cut the baby carrots in half and he is thrilled. Frozen green beans are another daily treat with cucumber, tiny bit of broccoli, kale, loves lettuce, the crunchier the better, so there are options and he is thrilled.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
27 Cape Sans Blas House Plan by Our Town Plans. This plan is 2,267 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms.
Character! Tons of it! (See a real photo at the bottom of this post). The drawings are amazing, but there is nothing like a photo to really envision what it will look like. Although, tweaking one small thing can really alter the appearance. Customize it to fit your style!
The main floor has an open Great Room/Kitchen area that you enter from the generously sized porch, which is really an extension of your living area. Measuring at roughly 31′ x 10′ this is a large space, great for gathering, reading, or just chatting.
For us, the only thing I would change, would be to remove one bathroom… keep the powder room, that’s always nice, but have a Jack & Jill bathroom between the two downstairs bedrooms, which would also add space to the bedroom on the corner. Maybe just a shower and no tub, that seems like it would allow space for a door or pocket door or something similar…
The upstairs contains a Bunk Loft with bed niches (see the Our Town Plans website link at the beginning of this post to see real photos of the interior) and bathroom!
It’s nice that there is also ample storage!
Look at the character! I love it!
All images via OurTownPlans.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
This portion of the post is written by Charlie the wonder dog!
Dear Dad,
Happy Father’s Day! Thank you for bringing me home all those years ago, even though I had very big feet for a Jack Russell… and the fact that I didn’t like you at first, not just you, any male… I was so scared (just look at my ears) – I can’t talk about it, but you saved me… and you’re my hero!
Even when I may have been a little bit bad, you usually laugh at me first, which fills my heart with joy…
You’re fun! You take me through creepy trails and we have fun getting close to critters that move fast!!
You walk me all the time, and we go on adventures and have a blast!
Thank you for showing me the sprinkler… I am so grateful. Oh, and for driving a kiddie pool all the way from Michigan to South Carolina so I would have my very own place to get cool, you know, for the times, when the sprinkler just doesn’t cut it!
The best part of my dad is when I know you’re almost home! I wait patiently…
You’re a very cool dad, and I think about how lucky I am to have you in my life!!
Love,
Charlie
Back to Barbara here:
Me and my dad…
Fred and his dad…
I would like to say Happy Father’s Day to both of our dads. We are so fortunate to be blessed with the two best dads on Earth. I just wish mine was closer :)
Love you dad(s)!
xoxo,
me
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Tragedy strikes. Lives are lost. The community pulled together. I am so proud to live in Charleston, SC. An event that could have divided our city has instead made it stronger. I have seen a difference in the way people treat each other, and it is absolutely amazing! Our hearts all break for the friends and families who lost loved ones. The fact that it happened in a church just made it more horrific. These will not be easy times for the families, the church, the community, but we need to continue to pull together and be there for each other… Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.
Want to help? From the Charleston-SC.gov website – they are taking donations – details are below.
*If you cannot help financially, just keep on with your thoughts and prayers!
Thank YOU!
For those who want to respond to the tragic event that occurred on June 17th at the Mother Emanuel Church, we ask donors to give in one of two ways:
This is the Bartlett Plan (NC0004) from Allison Ramsey Architects. This plan has 1,794 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Perfect living for this day and time!
One of the reasons I like this house so much is because it doesn’t look new, like something built in a subdivision with 100’s of homes that all look the same. It has character and class, not to mention a fabulous front porch!
When you walk into this home there is a nice foyer space and an elegant staircase. The first room you come to is the living room with a wonderful fireplace. It seems like a majority of the plans I feature are open plans, where the living/dining/kitchen are all relatively open to one another. This plan is different, for those of you who aren’t big on the open plans. Our home now is not an open plan, they both have their pluses and minuses… One good thing about a plan that is not open… MORE ART because there are MORE WALLS!
This plan has a nice size kitchen and dining room with french doors that head out to a deck, how nice for when the weather is beautiful! I like that there is a downstairs Master Bedroom/Bathroom with a Utility room close by.
Two bedrooms upstairs with a shared bath and sitting room – perfect!! This is a really nice plan!
All images via AllisonRamseyArchitect.com
Catch you back here tomorrow!
See how one small change can make such a difference? This slipcover was made by Cheryl Arnold from The Slipcover Shop, her slipcovers are always beautiful, fit perfectly and she makes the process so convenient!
Just look at what a transformation these slipcovers make! (I’m going backwards here, you’ll see the “before” at the end of this post)… This is the latest slipcover, we wanted no pleats, and just plain white cotton duck fabric. It washes and dries like a dream! Simple too, no loading up your car and dragging a chair (or worse yet, a sofa!) somewhere! In most cases, Cheryl orders the fabric, once it comes in, she comes to your house, cuts out the slipcover (which amazes me!), then takes the fabric home and a week or so later, brings you back a slipcover. So the chair never left the house!
If you have a sofa or chair that is still in good condition, but you think needs an update, check out a slipcover. How can you beat it? Throw it in the washer/dryer – it’s great!
We had this slipcover made years ago (10+), saw one similar in a magazine and showed it to Cheryl. We bought the fabric at ABC Carpet and Home when we were in New York City – what a great place! Cheryl made the slipcover and W O W ! What a difference it made… you’ll see why…
Here is the original chair. The fabric is in good shape, but didn’t go with our furnishings – but all that changed! If you need a slipcover, or pillows, I highly suggest Cheryl. We love it! She has also made us covers for pillows and cushions and even a dog bed! The cotton duck is amazing stuff, and the slipcover truly transformed this chair!
Here’s her card – Highly Recommend!!
UPDATE: Had a question about the weight of the fabric, trying to decide between 9oz or 14oz – I asked Cheryl, and she said that our fabric is 10oz. She said 10-12oz. would be nice. 9 oz. is a little light in her opinion and 14oz is too heavy. She does prewash the fabric. Hope that helps! I love our fabric, it’s perfect!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
I took this a few weeks ago. We’re walking along, early to beat the sun… we turned down a street in the neighborhood and look at this! The lone pine tree standing so tall against the bright sky with the sun peeking through the horizon… the dramatic trail of the airplane against the brilliant blue sky.
STUNNING!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
This is the Shad Shack Retreat plan (1381) by architect John Tee. This plan is 1,826 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. Just look at that sweet front porch, the wonderful screened porch and the lines of this house that make it look like a cottage built years ago, when there was so much charm. I love this!
The Master Bedroom/Bathroom is in the front of the house, with the Living/Dining/Kitchen in the back of the house, which I really like. It’s more private. It’s wonderful to have a screened porch off the Great Room, so you can open those French doors and have a nice breeze flow through the house on a nice day!
With two bedrooms upstairs and a little living space, I think that’s perfect. I would opt for only one bathroom, unless I had two people upstairs that clearly needed their own space. John gives two options for the upstairs, this is my favorite. You check it out and see which you like best, or what would work for you!
Images via JohnTee.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
A Charleston gate photo for you today…
Another beautiful “Spring/feels like Summer” weekend in store! Enjoy!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Home is where the heart is, right? Absolutely! I would rather be home than anywhere else! Our backyard is turning into an oasis. Hard work? Oh yeah, getting everything cleaned up and ready for summer. It’s so worth it! I love the hydrangeas peeking through and the focus on the palm in this photo.
Happy (almost) summer! Catch you back here tomorrow!
Ooh ooh ooh! Love these plans! This is TNH-LC-10A (LC = large cottage) by Moser Design Group. This plan is 2,457 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. 10′ ceilings on the first floor, 9′ on second. I love that the master bedroom is that sweet little separate space on the right. Fabulous isn’t it? What a dream to have a front porch that wraps to the side – so nice!
This is a great plan for so many reasons. First of all you have a separate dining room for those of you who really use a dining room. I think I would make it a reading room, and put some really nice barstools at the bar area in the kitchen… or maybe I would use the dining room? Hmmm… Possibilities! The Kitchen and Living spaces are together which is so nice! THERE IS A PANTRY! Five stars for that alone! A rear porch, which I love, a powder room right off the porch, which is handy when you’re working in the yard! A sunroom! Which is heavenly! Ok, I’m ready to move! Hee.
The upstairs has two bedrooms with a shared bath as well as attic/storage or playroom space. Art Studio?? Whoa Nellie!
All images via MoserDesignGroup.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Goo57, one of the sweetest little guest cottage plans ever!
I love outbuildings. Brilliant ones anyway… So i’m going to feature them on occasion. Many of them would make amazing studio’s, wouldn’t they? Whether you’re an artist, woodworker or any craft where you need space to have your tools (be it a hammer or a paintbrush) left out, so you can pick up where you left off! Sometimes I may feature a garage or a garage apartment, other times a guest room/art studio or even a garden shed. There are so many charming and efficient plans out there, and I gravitate towards them, so I thought I would share!
This plan is G0057 by Allison Ramsey Architects. I think this would make a fabulous art studio/spare guest bedroom!
At first I thought I would leave the Living area as is and use the Bedroom as a studio, but why? Now looking at it again, I think I would use the Bedroom as overflow when we had company in town. A bedroom, bathroom, and coffee pot for guests. We wouldn’t need a kitchen, a sink would be nice for cleaning up brushes, etc., as well as for making coffee or tea. The living space could be used for painting, with maybe a few chairs at one end and a nice floor lamp, so you can contemplate what you’ve done… I think this is the sweetest plan!
I would love to be able to offer guests their own private space! I love to dream about these plans! How would you use it?
All images via AllisonRamseyArchitect.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
ARTFOODHOME.COM 