I LOVE this Cottage

I absolutely LOVE this home for sale down the street from me on 53rd Street. The homeowners have taken great care to preserve the lovely roof, original six over one windows, and have repointed the brick with appropriate mortar.

The upstairs has been converted into a fantastic master suite with private bathroom and there are 3 other bedrooms on the main floor.

The kitchen has been opened up to modernize the floor plan but the owners were careful to retain the original butler's pantry. In the back yard you will find a winning garden with bubbling fountain and special cottage which would be perfect for a studio or home office.

This home is listed with Keller Williams Realty - 912.232.8580

Not an architect, no problem! Floorplans made easy online.

Interested in taking on a big renovation project but don't have the time or know how to develop your own floor plans? No worries.  www.floorplanner.com has just the thing to help you out. The online resource allows you to use their 2D and 3D interactive floor plan software free once a year. You can also sign up for different packages based on your use starting at $29 per year.  The program is easy to use once you get the hang of it and allows you to enter your dimensions, drag and drop furniture, and view the layout from every angle so there is no second guessing how your project will look once complete.

Thanks to my friend, Matthew Allen, who first showed me this site.

Lighting & Hardware Inspired by the Past

Rejuvenation is a Portland, Oregon based manufacturer and retailer specializing in vintage styled lighting and hardware.   The store was born out of necessity--the owners could not find enough period lighting and fixtures to properly renovate their storefront and soon found other homeowners in the same situation. They began stockpiling original period lighting, doors, windows, and hardware. As they gained momentum in the early 1980's they decided to start up their own manufacturing company and the rest is history. Rejuvenation has built its success of the past but the company has its eyes on the future.  Their company is dedicated to becoming carbon-neutral and dedicates 10% of their proceeds back to community organizations.

Check out their website. I guarantee you will spot something that delights you:

http://www.rejuvenation.com

Special thanks to my preservation-minded friend, Erin Melick, for sending along the link.

Fall window boxes

Fall window boxes, here I come! I am in the process of painting my new flower boxes that Steven Spoon built for me. Dilemma, dilemma, dilemma. Paint them white like my home? Or h'aint green or a funky fun color to complement my chartreuse door.  I need counseling.

However, I do know what I want to put into the three boxes. Semi-edible assemblies of lettuce, peppers, some herbs, a flash of color, and something that cascades down the front here and there. Maybe some mums or ivy... Inspiratin comes easy. Its the perspiration that gets me.

What I have learned online:  if you have the boxes custom made, make sure to have your handyman drill a couple of small holes at the bottom of the boxes to ensure proper drainage.  Once this is complete, fill the box up to about 2'' from the top with a mixture of peat moss and dirt.  Dig a tiny hole and add the flowers making sure to space them appropriately to allow your flowers to spread. Depending on your choice of flowers and how much sun you receive, water accordingly and feed 1 -2 times a month (http://www.ehow.com/how_4870695_plant-spring-window-boxes.html),