Stunning architecture! You just don’t see buildings built like this anymore. This building has withstood the test of time!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Category: HOME
House Plan TNH-PC-12A by Moser Design Group!
TNH-PC-12A by Moser Design Group. Simply fabulous! There is a reason that small homes are becoming more and more popular. Not everyone wants a lot of space. Or those who needed a lot of space at one point may find themselves in a home that is just too large, and too much to take care of when they only use a small portion. This plan is perfect for those just starting out as well as those who are downsizing, or prefer to live in a smaller footprint!
This plan has a classic Lowcountry look to the exterior, (and I love those wonderful windows upstairs…), but lets take a peek at the plan, wait until you see…
TNH-PC-12A plan is 977 square feet with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and luxurious 9′ ceilings downstairs. Perfect, right?
This plan starts with a spacious front porch – how wonderful will it be to sit out on the porch in nice weather. Gather with friends! I love when a front porch has a table and a lamp, and really looks like its being used.
Upon entering this home, you walk into the Living/Kitchen area, complete with fireplace! The only thing I would change for me, would be to add a half-bath downstairs for visitors. I don’t need a bathtub, so if the downstairs bathroom could be reconfigured with a shower and have the washer/dryer stackable combo fit in the master bath, that would be ideal, then, hopefully we could tuck a little tiny powder room in the Utility space and perhaps a bit underneath the stairs. That would close in the hallway door to the (now) Master Bath… (Easy for me to say, right?). While an extra half bathroom downstairs is not essential, it would be a nice extra.
This is such a functional plan!
Upstairs is another bedroom/bathroom – I wonder if you could have a shower stall, and add a closet in the remainder of the space. Moser has a wonderful website, be sure to check out their plans. This plan is TNH-PC-12A, PC = Petite Cottage. You can’t go wrong with Moser Design Group!
All images via MoserDesignGroup.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
A bit quirky?
Fred and I have started doing something over the past few years… it might be odd, but we like it… we’re removed some paintings from their frames. Not that the frames were bad, it’s just that we have so many paintings, and after a while it seems like you’re looking at so many frames it becomes distracting. We’ve taken a few paintings out of frames and have hung just the canvas over the years, and love it.
On left wall from top to bottom: Tim Bell, Marc Hanson, Dan Corey
On wall in front of you starting at top left and going clockwise: David Kasman, Marlee Brown, Don Stone and Ted Tihansky
Nothing like great memories, and each and every one of our paintings have just that!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Monhegan Photo…
Isn’t this stunning? Just look at those flowers against that magnificent sky.
This photo makes me smile! It’s kind of like when you were a kid, and you would plop down on the grass and watch the clouds… how cool is that?
Have a wonderful weekend! Catch you back here tomorrow!
House Plan: TNH-PC-15A by Moser Design Group!
TNH-PC-15A house plan by Moser Design Group. This plan is 999 square feet with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It fits right into any neighborhood in the Lowcountry area. A great layout for a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom home. Lovely entry porch, perfect for visiting with neighbors, or having your cup of coffee in the morning!
This plan offers many wonderful windows letting the sun shine in! There is nothing like daylight to make everything look so beautiful! When you cross the threshold you enter the living space, which is a combination living/dining – which works for me. I actually like that more than I do a separate dining room. I would say YES to the optional corner porch, and I would screen it! Then you have the best of both worlds! The kitchen is situated nicely with steps to the second floor to the right of the entrance to the kitchen. The kitchen has a pantry! Woohoo – happy dance! The side entrance takes you into the kitchen, or to the bathroom or washer/dryer area. I wonder if there is any room to put a tiny powder room underneath the staircase? That would be really nice!
The upstairs has a bunk room and loft, which is perfect for those who want to hang out in their own space. Depending upon your needs you could leave the section on the other side of the loft open to the downstairs living space or you could make that optional living space! It’s so nice that this plan was designed to give you options! Can’t beat it!
All images via MoserDesignGroup.com, used with permission…
Until tomorrow…
Charleston Photo – The Black Door
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.
Charleston Gate Photo – The Workmanship is Amazing!
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.
Charleston photo… Grand oak trees and Spanish moss…
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!
It’s so nice to have help in the kitchen!
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!
House Plan: Cape Sans Blas by Our Town Plans!
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!
Happy Father’s Day… from Charlie (woof)!
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!
Hard to come up with words…
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!
Donations for Mother Emanuel Church
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:
By using the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund
This city’s fund will provide direct financial support for the funeral and burial expenses of the nine victims of the senseless tragedy. Any funds remaining after the funeral and burial expenses are paid will be donated directly to the Emanuel AME Church for use as determined by its governance board. Donations to this fund are not tax-deductible. These denotations can be made in one of two ways ….1. By sending a check to
Mother Emanuel Hope Fund
c/o City of Charleston
Post Office Box 304
Charleston, SC 294022. By stopping by any Wells Fargo Bank nationwide and making a donation to the Fund.3. Texting ‘prayforcharleston’ to 843-606-5995 or go to www.bidr.co/prayforcharleston.
Mother Emanuel Hope Fund
c/o City of Charleston
Post Office Box 304
Charleston, SC 294022. By stopping by any Wells Fargo Bank nationwide and making a donation to the Fund.3. Texting ‘prayforcharleston’ to 843-606-5995 or go to www.bidr.co/prayforcharleston.
Lowcountry Ministries – Reverend Pinckney Fund
This Fund will be administered by the Palmetto Project (a South Carolina non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of South Carolians). 100% of the funds donated will be used in this community to support local initiatives serving his home church, vulnerable populations and youth projects that Reverend Pinckney was so passionate about. Decisions on the use of these funds will be made a task force of stakeholders made up of a member or members of Reverend Pinckney’s family, colleagues, representatives from Emanuel AME Church and other members of our community selected for their specific expertise. These donations will be tax deductible. Donations can be made by ….1. By sending a check to
Lowcountry Ministries – Reverend Pinckney Fund
c/o The Palmetto Project
6296 Rivers Avenue #100
North Charleston, SC 294062. Or by donating online at the following web site – www.palmettoproject.org
Lowcountry Ministries – Reverend Pinckney Fund
c/o The Palmetto Project
6296 Rivers Avenue #100
North Charleston, SC 294062. Or by donating online at the following web site – www.palmettoproject.org
PS/ some of you received this email yesterday… My apologies… operator error!
Until tomorrow…
House Plan: The Bartlett (NC0004) by Allison Ramsey Architects!
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!
One small change makes a big difference!
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!
Charleston Photo: A stunning walk…
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!
