Decorology

Category: Colonial

  • Inspiring Architecture: Poetry of Place book review

    Inspiring Architecture: Poetry of Place book review

    Poetry of Place is one of my favorite books of the year, hands down.  Perusing the book is like taking a tour through some of the most beautiful homes and properties I’ve ever seen, and the photography makes the escape complete.

    “Poetry of Place: The New Architecture and Interiors of McAlpine (Rizzoli 2017). Continuing the story from his best selling first book, Bobby McAlpine picks up where he left off delving into the heart’s longing for home and breaking the rules of traditional architecture, harvesting what is true to tell your own story.”

    Poetry of Place

    Below are some of my favorite moments from the book, but trust me, if these speak to you you have to see them all.

    Poetry of Place

    Poetry of Place
    AD, Baton Rouge, estersohn

    “This volume features the recent projects of McAlpine, one of the country’s most highly respected architecture and interior design firms, renowned for its timeless houses exemplifying the charm and elegance of traditional and vernacular English, American, and European styles blended with a modern sensibility.” – Amazon description

    Poetry of Place Poetry of Place

    From Tudor style homes to wooden lakeside homes, the book features twenty homes with the projects explained by Bobby McAlpine.

    Poetry of Place

    Houses featured include a Tuscan-style horse farm, a Colonial revival, exotic Florida beach house, and a European manor house.

    Poetry of Place I know I don’t really have to do any convincing when it comes to checking out Poetry of Place, the beautiful spaces speak for themselves.  You can pick up Poetry of Place wherever books are sold.

  • Early American Colonial interiors that we could still live in today

    Early American Colonial interiors that we could still live in today

    I grew up in an 18th century farmhouse, and we just went to Annapolis yesterday, so I was feeling inspired to look up some colonial interiors.  Here are some gorgeous examples of colonial exteriors and colonial interiors.  Some are authentic and others were renovated or new builds made to capture the colonial aesthetic.

    I love this color palette.  It’s quiet but rich at the same time. The wide plank flooring is also amazing.

    A classic colonial home. 
    The wainscoting, wide plank floors are gorgeous in this Pennsylvania museum house.

    This house has a modern look due to the clean lines and monochrome palette even though it’s early American!
    via Pinterest via Amazon: Early American Country Interiors

    An 18th century NJ farmhouse with a red dutch door.  It was for sale last year but was snatched up pretty quickly.

    This home along the Hudson was renovated.  Reclaimed wood planks are the flooring, and hand-hewn beams with plaster fill in are the ceiling.

    via jbmarchitect.com

    I think what’s so appealing to me about colonial interiors is that it harks back to simpler life.  No cords, TVs, phones beeping, etc.  I imagine that life was no piece of cake for early Americans though.

  • For the love of old houses…

    For the love of old houses…

    I LOVE old houses – so much charm, history, character, and individuality.  A lot of maintenance too – but the pay off is worth it.  I grew up in an almost 200 year-old colonial on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.  Hardwood floors with as many ups and downs as an old country lane, old glass windows that gave you “wavy” vision when you looked out of them…I have a special place in my heart for old houses.

    Here are some great examples of how savvy homeowners have turned their oldies but goodies into even better…ies…from the master of old houses, This Old House..

    The 3 images below are from the home of their Reader Remodel Contest, a 1920s Colonial Revival in Orlando, Florida.

     The kitchen was my favorite part of the renovation.  I love white cabinetry…and the space is so bright and airy..

    The family worked hard to keep the soul of the house in tact…

    LOVE the board and baten door…

    They also featured lots of great 1 room makeovers.  Here were some of my fav’s

    Before:

    contractor grade cabinets make me cringe…

    After:
    Gorgeous – love the floors…

    The kitchen below isn’t too far from what my parents are dealing with now in their 70s rancher…

    pretty amazing transition huh?  Check out the sconces above the stove hood…

    This living room is possibly my favorite redo – I think the fireplace is simply fabulous.  Love the built-in’s too.  Only thing I might rethink is the rug.

    Do you like old houses?  Have you ever lived in one and undertaken a renovation?

    If you want to read more about these makeovers go to This Old House or pick up the July 2011 issue…

    *disclosure: I received a copy of This Old House July 2011 to review as a sample