Fred (my husband) and I went out to lunch on my birthday, we headed to S.N.O.B. (gotta love that acronym) and had an amazing lunch. This is the view from the front of the restaurant (while we were waiting for our table, I thought I would be productive)!
Gotta love Charleston for so many reasons… the cool old buildings, unique shops, fabulous art galleries, the food, the people, the climate (well, most of the time)! If you haven’t been, I highly encourage you to visit!
This is the view from atop The Vendue – a wonderful inn located in Charleston, SC with a rooftop bar and lounge that offers the most amazing views of the city! If you find yourself in this wonderful city do check it out!
Sparta SL1810 by Southern Living House Plans – Lew Oliver, Architect
Isn’t this a sharp house? The exterior is exquisite. I love that wonderful porch, especially with no spindles! The doors and windows are fabulous. Those small windows at the top just add so much!
Sparta SL1810 by Southern Living House Plans – Lew Oliver, Architect
I really like the layout of this plan. Personally, I would make that front bedroom a guest room with it’s private bath, and keep the master bedroom in the back, and use “bedroom 2” as a study, so it’s tucked away in a quiet place which also gives your guests their privacy! I would love to hear from any of you who have a closet off of your bathroom… I wonder if it would get humid in the closet that way? Or is it fine? Dining, kitchen, living all open which I love! That is one sweet screened porch on the side as well! What a treat!
I took this photo a few weeks ago on Broad Street in Charleston, SC… If you look towards St. Michael’s the sky was tumultuous with cool dark clouds, rain was definitely on the way… but, if you looked the opposite direction, clear skies and nothing but sun. No chance of rain. Crazy!
Looks like a painting doesn’t it? This is the view from the James Island Connector… Fred was driving and I rolled down my window and snapped a shot with my phone. Not too bad! The clouds were wicked cool!
Such style! I think this house is has very sharp lines, and definitely fits in the coastal landscape of the Charleston area (and far beyond!) I wouldn’t have a problem building this house anywhere! Great porches, one open and the other is screened. I love the windows on the second floor. It reminds me of a cool old cottage we rented in Maine!
Charlie looks a bit like he’s ready to hop in the pool and float around… Dogs need cones for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s after an injury, sometimes it’s when they have skin allergies that cause them to bite, chew or scratch causing more harm than good. We took Charlie to our local vets office… we have to stop the chewing/biting… It truly only takes a very short time and the results aren’t good. Our vet recommended the ProCollar. My heart sunk, when he mentioned it, I was thinking the old timey plastic hard cone that fits around their neck, but blocks their view entirely. This ProCollar is amazing. It’s almost as if it makes him more comfortable. He’s happy with it on, he rests well (easy to take a nap when you have a pillow ready at all times!). There is fabric around a sturdy blow up ring, so you can inflate it however you like. It’s not perfect, but nothing is. At times he can still reach something, but only occasionally does he even try when the collar is on. We call it his “Mikimoto’s” hee hee… and when we put it on, he gets a carrot. He’s thrilled with that.
When we go to bed we take off the ProCollar, but if he wakes us up scratching or biting, the collar goes back on and he immediately falls asleep. The collar is made by Contech, you can purchase it from your vet, Petco, Amazon, etc. If you have a dog or cat that needs a collar for whatever reason, this one works well for us! We just ordered a spare. Can’t be without this! He won’t always need it… soon (I HOPE!) it should cool off and the allergies lessen. We’re looking forward to that!
As you can see below, it doesn’t stop him from doing what he loves… watching for the kitty cats!
I received the most beautiful orchid for my birthday… what a surprise! And, may I say, what an awesome gift! I am trying hard to make it live forever! If you have tips on how to make that happen, let me know!!
[Art] Top painting is Ride Down Powell by Darrell Hill. Bottom painting is Bowens Island by Ken DeWaard. Wooden Bowl by Joe Fidler (Thanks dad!!)
Bright orange key chain… made by me, hee hee… why did I hang it there?
This is an modern take (to me) of a country farmhouse type plan, I found this house plan on Houseplans.com – it’s very cool, I love the layout, the wide porches
This Signature Plan 888-7, designed by Nicholas Lee, is 2,168 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. The layout of the first floor is nice, it’s open, and most importantly it offers wonderful deep overhangs for the porches which help keep the house cool in the hot months.
FIRST FLOOR – A country farmhouse plan (888-7) via Houseplans.com
It’s nice how this floor plan separates the guest rooms from the master bedroom. On the left hand side you have the office, master bedroom and bathroom and on the right hand side you have the guest rooms which share a bathroom, and in the center of the house you have kitchen, dining, great room. For Fred and I that would be more than plenty, we would do without the upstairs…
SECOND FLOOR – A country farmhouse plan (888-7) via Houseplans.com
The loft is accessed by a ladder from the main floor. You could always use that space as storage (much like you would use an attic with a pull down staircase). If the ladder was in the way or you didn’t want to draw attention to it, you could move it when not needed. A climate controlled attic… at least in the south that would be really nice! I remember the first time I put red and white taper candles in the Christmas decoration box. When I pulled it down the next year the candles had completely melted. Many of our good ornaments ruined (not by the candle wax, but from the heat).
Let me start by saying… if this post looks familiar to some of you, you aren’t crazy. I write my posts ahead of time and schedule them to publish. I was using the software’s new updated version which had a bug that allowed the scheduled post to publish immediately. Sigh… Did you have a deja vu moment just now? ha ha…
Moser Design Group. One of my favorites. This Guest Cottage (TNH-GC-02A) may be small but it packs a powerful punch in terms of livability! If you use this as a guest cottage your guests may stay indefinitely! I think this would be a great house for a single person without a lot of “stuff” that wants to live on a smaller scale. I like that philosophy and you see more and more tiny houses popping up!
Guest Cottage TNH-GC-02A by Moser Design Group
I think I would screen the entry porch, it not only allows you to open the front door and windows across the front, it also gives you a little privacy since your living area is on the front of the house. This plan has a nice and efficient size bedroom with a bathroom right across the hallway, as well as a utility room!
And… this small house/guest cottage has stairs that lead to a loft, which could always be a spare bedroom, storage space, office, etc. I love endless possibilities!
Guest Cottage TNH-GC-02A by Moser Design Group
Check out the Moser Design Group website for more information on this Guest Cottage (TNH-GC-02A) by Moser Design Group – it is also know as KC-697… do you remember seeing the Katrina Cottage plans that were available through Lowe’s? This is one of those plans. I loved those from the moment they appeared on the market! It doesn’t appear that Lowe’s is still in the house plan business, but lucky for you… Moser Design Group is!
Last week, Fred took the day off for my birthday. We had a great time as well as a fabulous lunch! We headed to Slightly North of Broad (S.N.O.B.) – We both ordered their wonderful meatballs served on top of polenta with a side of green beans. I opted for a side salad, and Fred ordered a white bean soup. Both were fabulous!
Slightly North of Broad (SNOB) Meatballs over polenta!
This was kind of like spaghetti and meatballs on polenta instead of spaghetti. It was out of this world good! I wasn’t sure how it was going to be. But SNOB’s polenta is wicked creamy (I just know there can’t be cream involved, right? Probably skim milk ;) ha ha)… It was tremendous!
Where do you like to eat when you’re in Charleston? We have so many wonderful options! Where? What do you order? I love to know the scoop! hee hee…
Sweet cottage isn’t it? This is the Poet’s Cottage (NC0022)designed by Allison Ramsey Architects out of Beaufort, South Carolina. They have quite a reputation for excellence. It shows in each and every one of their house plans. Just look at the character in this house. I love the roof lines! This plan is 1,768 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. This is a plan that will appeal to the masses!
So many wonderful features… a front porch. Ahhhh, who wouldn’t love that? Then you walk into a generous size living room complete with a fireplace, from there you walk through the dining room (or head up the stairs to the second floor) and into the kitchen, with a powder room tucked between the dining and kitchen. Do you see what I see off the kitchen? A porch!! I would screen it and when cooking keep my kitchen door open to let the fresh air in. In the back of the house is the master bedroom and bathroom with a walk in closet.
I love the upstairs, two bedrooms, a bathroom and a sitting room! Very generous bedrooms for sure! This is a great plan tucked into a nicely sized footprint. Not too big, not too small, it’s just right!
CHARLESTON, SC – recently named the 2014 Friendliest City in America by Conde Nast Traveler! Not to shabby, eh? Charleston is a magical city to live in. I wasn’t born here (GASP), I’m from Michigan, but I have lived here for over 25 years! So I know a little bit about what I talk about. There is so much to do in Charleston. With the close proximity to the beaches (yes, not just one beach, but many beaches), great food, and I do mean everywhere, gorgeous historic homes that make you proud to say you live in Charleston!
Ok “y’all” let’s keep up the good work and try for next year as well!
FRIENDLIEST CITIES: #1. Charleston, South Carolina
Several visitors praised this “quaint and special little gem” for embodying Southern hospitality at every turn—so much so that they “would consider living there full time.” The historic town earned accolades for its blend of “undervalued local culture,” history, and natural beauty, as well as the “incredible food” and Charleston City Market, with its boutiques and art galleries. In short, Charleston is the total package, landing it atop the list for the second year in a row.
Botany Bay (Edisto), South Carolina. Stunning beauty everywhere you look! Winding paths, wildlife, birds, water, gorgeous old oaks, palm trees, unspoiled beach. You just can’t beat it!
Summer is so good for fresh food, isn’t it? Do you take advantage of your local farmer’s market, or do you have a garden? Oooh, there is just nothing like fresh produce! This was a fabulous dinner, grilled chicken topped with a mango salsa, some great cucs and scrumptious tomatoes bedazzled with a little olive oil and vinegar… and some home made slaw… with vinegar instead of mayo, and for dessert… corn on the cob! Pretty isn’t it? Enjoy your summer time meals while you can!
ARTFOODHOME.COM 