Wish list

Whilst daydreaming about the possibility of this house,

I keep thinking of things I would like to put in it.

That is, if my offer is accepted. If it is I will have to wait for everyone of these things very patiently. Not my forte.

Number 1

is a newbed.

Mine is only a couple of years old, but its awful. Like sleeping in a hammock. Which is fine on a warm afternoon but not every night.

Number 2

A Chesterfield sofa. I've always wanted one.

Number 3

A kitchen like this. Not happening anytime soon. I was supposed to do this in my current home.

We decided to move and maybe do it in a new house but I may be broke after I buy a house I like.

Number 4

My husband and I have always wanted a library. The home I like has one so its actually a possibility.

Number 5

A master bath.

Our 40-something Cape Cod does not have one and I never thought it was important to me until my oldest daughter turned 12 and nothing was my own anymore. I'd prefer to find my things where I left them.

What things are on your wish list? Are they impossible dreams or a shopping trip away?

Cross fingers, kiss elbows etc, OR what's a girl to do?

I was at this lovely home this weekend and...

this freakin' awesome pad!

I really liked the first home and would be honored to call it my own but it is now number two on my list.

The house above is also over budget. If  a small miracle were to occur and enable me to purchase this home I would have the dilema of being cash poor with this flooring.

Under this is sub-flooring. 

 It is really sculpted carpet.

 I was incredulous. What would I do?

Grin and be thankful!

The house was built in 1995 with an interior imported from 1985,

but what a GREAT house.

OOOOOOOOH! Double cross for me. :)

How old is this house?

So many people love classic, old American houses.

Would you ever gues that this house is brand new?

It is brand new along with oodles of others in select Ryland and Ryan home communities.

If you live in an area where these are being built, it doesn't come as a surprise, but for those that live in parts of the country where big residential building is just more cookie cutter crap, this is interesting.

 

The neighborhoods incorporate melange of architectural details  and styles like Federal, Victorian Stick and Queen Anne, as well as others.

This neighborhood, within the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia, is intended to blend with the city's historic old town.

The man in the sales office called it, "neo-traditional". The historic look is accompanied by more modern open floor plans.

 

The lots in this develpment are the size of city lots too.

I know all this because in our desperation, we visited the sales office and, although enticing, I felt as though I'd be selling my soul. The place has a odd, movie set feel that is hard to capture in pictures.

We are off to see this beauty this weekend.

It is a bit over budget. It looks promising. Cross your fingers for me.

Preoccupied

I've been completely preoccupied with househunting and a kitchen update so I can sell this house, but more on that later.

I have been somewhat obsessed with a very large and rather groovy house.

It needs a little help with an identity crisis. It seems to be Brady bunch on the outside and Olive Garden on the inside.

Don't even get me started about the colors.

It is absolutely gigantic!

I really think that this would make a lovely library, without the pool table and light fixture of course. It has French doors enclosing it and more of that odd, distressed black trim.

The 90's called and they want their faux finishes back .

This house wants a Barcelona chair and an understated palette.

I know, understated is trendy but even a lover of red has to know when to stop.

 

Don't you think the above is a fair dose of mid-centuy and rustic?

I don't really know what I could do to liven this up.

Any thoughts?

Wishful thinking

In much of my home search I am led to parts of Virginia that make me swoon with desire. In particular is Montressor Farm near Leesburg, Virginia. It is about five miles north of Leesburg on Route 15. This is not just any farm to me.

 It is the birthplace of my great- great- grandmother, Maria Marlow Rust (Miss Minnie),  and quite a character from what I heard.  The George Rust family lived on the farm before the Civil War, although I have not done enough research to know if they actually built it in 1750 and exactly when they left.

It was for sale as part of a bankruptcy, and I believe it still is for 1.4 milion, a pitance for a Leesburg farm. The annual taxes alone are over $23,000 !

It is sadly well over my budget, but I REALLY want it. It has fallen into disrepair.

I still want it.

Col. E.V. White bought it after the war, along with a great deal of land around Leesburg. Other owners came along too. Most recently a couple ran a horseback riding camp from about 1954 to 1972.

I often wonder how it has changed over the years and where Miss Minnie played. Her uncle Armistead, being the eldest, had the nearby Rockland Plantation that is still occupied by Rusts.

Rockland

I'd hate to bother them but I am awfully curious about Montressor Farm and I need to start playing the lottery too.

Fruit to fashion

Beginning with a fruit juice stand and a colorul shift, Lilly pulitzer has become a fashion icon that epitomizes summer, resorts, and preppy looks.

I don't normally do posts on fashion but the frustration of updating my kitchen has me ready for a diversion.

I am a total sucker for Lilly Pulitzer dress.

They are so delightfully feminine.

The originals collection is a fresh breath of retro.

A preppy look might be just the thing for Father's day.

Looks like this were my standard summer attire along with Lilly dresses

 before baby. My vast collection of Lilly no longer fits. I might want to start collecting again or else I am going to have to quit eating all those cakes.

Confessions of a bedroom slob

As I lay awake last night wondering what our next house might look like, my mind drifted toward thought of a master bedroom. I couldn't help but fear that it will be the same embarrassing mess. Because I sleep on the same side of the bed as our dog ( our dog is on the floor on an awful blanket that she loves) I could smell that the weather is warmer thus creating a smellier dog. Gross.

I have always been a bedroom slob. Baskets full of laundry in need of putting away, books and papers on my nightstand, and stuff I didn't feel like hanging up draped over a chair are standard.

I have now added a dog and husband to the mix.

My husband used to be neat a pin. Now his dresser top is cluttered with an array of belongings. I guess, like heat, a mess transfers to a lack of mess.

We also have only a tiny closet that my husband uses. I have what appears to be an enormous armoire but it doesn't hold all of my clothes so it can't be that big. I have the use of a lovely mahoghany highboy which would be great if I were 6'5", but I am 5'1" so I need to stand on a chair to see the top drawers and all of my jackets are on the chair, so you see my problem.

Nice closet but who has two dresses?

I see a basket under this bed. I wonder what they are hiding. Could it be the man of the house's files? That is what is under my bed.

If my dog would sleep on a normal dog bed that would be a start. Or maybe a heated dog house in the backyard...

A master suite with large closet would help. I could stash my laundry baskets in there.

It most likely won't be this perfect but I am going to try harder.

Seriuosly, does anyone wonder where these people hide their ugly alarm clocks?