House Love

A special thank you to everyone who gave me their honest feedback for my questions in yesterday's post, I really appreciate it!  It's great to hear all the different perspectives so that I can make a more informed choice about whether to open an Etsy shop or not.

I sometimes get asked if I have a favorite house among the ones I've written about over the years.  And I have to say that it's a tough question to answer.  I see so many different styles, from contemporary to all out Victorians, that to pick a favorite would be like saying you love strawberries more than peaches...I love them both!

But there are a few notable homes which come to mind when I think of the type of home I would want to create if given a blank canvas to work from, and the house I'm about to show you would be one that would surely be at the top of my list!

I have to honestly say that sometimes it is not only the house that I love, but also the homeowners.  In my career as a writer I'm happy to say that I've never come across an unfriendly owner, which makes my job much easier.  But there are some owners who you connect with better than others, and who you end up staying in contact with over the years.

The moment I set foot inside this gorgeous waterfront home I knew it would be something special.  Even from the outside you could tell it wasn't your typical house.  And it didn't take long for me to figure out that the owners were special people too, an added bonus for me!

Because I have so many photos to share with you, and because the house truly is the star of the show, I'll try and keep my comments to a minimum and just let you enjoy the beauty of this very unique and special place.

What's not to love about a house that has a boat hanging from the ceiling...

And a graceful floating curved staircase...

I love the stained treads, handrail, and detailed tread brackets against the crisp white spindles which resemble rope.

Lots of windows, including skylights, fill the entryway with beautiful natural light.

Off of the foyer is a round game table, grounded by a colorful rug.  To the right and down a few steps is an intimate sitting area with a one of a kind fireplace clad in old barn wood and created by local artisans.

Comfortable furnishings make this a perfect spot to read a book or simply enjoy the view.  French doors lead to one of the many decks found on the water side of the home.

Also located just off the gaming area is a small bar with a beautiful stained glass window depicting the view from the house to the opposite shoreline.

A large great room is the centerpiece of the main level of the home, featuring lovely antiques, soaring ceilings, and colorful furnishings.  Beautiful artwork and sculptures can be found everywhere in the house, and a series of french doors frame one of the prettiest pieces of art, the view to the water.

One of the homeowners is an artist, with a keen eye for beautiful things.

Located just off the great room is the spacious dining room.  A large custom made table, which comfortably seats 10, boasts a correctly oriented compass rose in the center.  A catwalk accessed from the master bedroom upstairs creates a unique ceiling and french doors flood the room with additional light, highlighting this beautiful handmade chandelier constructed from driftwood the homeowners collected during their travels!

A gourmet kitchen flows off the dining area and features a mix of stained and painted shaker style cabinetry.  Dark granite counters, professional style appliances, and two large islands make this a chef's dream kitchen!  I love the way wood and tile were used to create the unique diamond patterned floor, it's both stylish and practical!

As you head up the grand staircase you get a unique perspective on the first floor, and breathtaking views of the grounds and water beyond.  

No detail was overlooked, even the boat sports a vintage life ring, not seen from below.  And the white built-in bookcase holds a secret too...it is actually a secret door that leads to the downstairs powder room...I love that!

The entire upstairs is comprised of a lovely master suite and office area.  Soft yellow walls, punctuated by beautiful white trim highlight the curves of the room.  A semi circular headboard floats in the middle of the room orienting the bed toward the windows and water views, while providing built-in nightstands.

Narrow doors and luxurious draperies in the bedroom close the catwalk off from the dining room below, allowing for extra privacy.  But with just a step through either door, you can wind your way out to an upper level deck to enjoy a morning cup of coffee, or you can always put in your breakfast order to someone downstairs in the kitchen. 

 

Dormers create a light filled hallway which leads from the master bedroom to the bathroom and office/studio area.  

The bathroom is made up of his and her spaces connected by a sumptuous dressing area and ample glass fronted closets.  "His" side of the bath houses a large glass fronted shower with a television, while "Hers" features a deep tub for long relaxing bubble baths.  I love the ornate mirror and beautiful sconces which give a feminine feel to the space.

If any of you are avid golfers, this will tickle your fancy.  An upstairs balcony located off of the office area sports a gate which can be opened, allowing you to practice your swing out to the green located on the property's side yard.

Even the outbuildings on this property were carefully thought out and executed! 

Believe it or not there is even a large basement area with guest rooms, a covered stone patio, and a wine cellar...swoon!

If lounging is more your style, why not wile away the hours soaking up the sun by the pool, or laying in the hammock taking in that view?!

And if you grow tired of your surroundings you can even head out for an afternoon on the boat...for a little added relaxation.

I hope you've enjoyed touring this beautiful one of a kind home as much as I did when I photographed it.  The homeowners are both extremely hardworking people who appreciate every square inch of this home and I'm so happy they let me share it with all of you!  Thanks A & M!

Photo Shoots and Furry Friends

The last few days have been fun filled and very busy!  Wednesday I got to watch Fifi O'Neill in action once again while she styled a home for Cottage Style Magazine and another for Country Sampler Magazine.

There is so much that goes in to styling, and it really is an art!  If you've ever tried taking a photo of one of your rooms and then realized that it doesn't look anything like you see in a magazine that is because a lot of time and effort goes in to making a room look that beautiful.

Of course the stylists and photographers can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, as my grandmother would say, but they can take a beautiful home and make it even more beautiful!

And one of the ways they do that is to bring in beautiful flowers, fresh fruit, and yummy food to place in some of the shots!

I've been lucky enough to do a few shoots of my own lately, nothing compared to the major magazine spreads, but some where I needed to add a little something to make the shots a bit more attractive and special and let me tell you, it's not as easy as you might think!

Fifi always comes well prepared for each house she plans to style, but there are always those last minute flowers or pieces of fruit that you need to get once you are on location.  So for the second shoot on Thursday, which was for Country Sampler Magazine, I ran out to a local Mennonite farm and picked up some fresh fruit and a few flowers.

While I was there getting things for Fifi, I picked up a few bouquets for myself and for my own shoots.  When I woke up on Thursday morning to head to the second shoot, my house looked like a flower shop...and it smelled SO good in my kitchen!

The other key component of a successful magazine shoot besides a talented stylist is a fabulous photographer.  For both of the shoots the photographer was Mark Lohman.  Mark's accolades read like a who's who list of some of my favorite magazines!

And he's pretty darn funny too, just beware the hazardous conditions he'll put you in that involve plugging and unplugging lights!  Yup, yours truly has been known to help move furniture and wield an extension cord when called upon!

Watching a stylist like Fifi and photographer like Mark work together really is amazing.  It's such a collaboration borne of trust, and the end result is always spectacular as witnessed by the wonderful magazine spreads we drool over each time our favorite magazine arrives in the mail!

And speaking of trust, the homeowner's kitty cats weren't sure they could trust us, but there is a lot of trust on the part of the homeowners who open up their homes too.  We had two great sets of homeowners that not only trusted Fifi and Mark, but also helped to make the shoots so successful.

Opening your home up to perfect strangers, no matter how wonderful they are, isn't easy.  So it's always nice when you see a shot come together and the look on the homeowner's faces when they see the home they love and cherish looking picture perfect!

After a short while, even the kitty cats decided maybe these strange people weren't so bad after all!

During part of the shoot, I snuck out back and took some pictures of the beautiful waterfront setting of my friend Susan's home to share with all of you!

Not only is the interior of her home beautiful, but so are the views and the wonderful seaside touches she has incorporated into her yard!  I just love how she ringed this tree with shells!

Even with the hot weather, there is almost always a breeze on the water, so the waves were crashing along the shoreline.

You can see what a few storms, high tides, and erosion can do to the trees that are close to the shore!

And the Osprey love to build nests atop these old torpedo sighting towers left over from WWII.  They were circling all around it, making sure I didn't get too close!

Both of the shoots were so much fun and will result in truly wonderful spreads in their respective magazines, and I know those of you that read Country Sampler and Cottage Style will love seeing these two gorgeous homes!

After a yummy meal filled with great conversation and wonderful company we all hugged and parted ways.  Fifi and Mark were headed to Florida to shoot Fifi's guest house for her book!

Sometimes I pinch myself and wonder if I really do get to work with such great people and generous homeowners!  And I know that I appreciate every photo I see, whether it's in a catalog or a magazine, because they truly are works of art...each and every one of them!