Sunday, February 22, 2009

SundayStills - architecture

My favourite - architecture - is this week's theme.
I still feel a bit self-conscious taking photos of people's homes
but really, if you are going to live in such houses and renovate them so beautifully, then perhaps it is an honour to have people come by and take pictures?
click on any picture to bigify for details

Below, we have an adorable Gothic Vernacular next
to a majestic Queen Anne Revival
Here is a better view of the seamless renovation and winter landscaping that begs a visit in summer.

And in case you thought the Gingerbread House wasn't quite big enough here is the east view.
This has been an ongoing project for years, and is still ongoing, as you can see. This side isn't quite as seamless as the other and the sliding glass doors and wrought iron railings are just so wrong.

And one more (because I had so much trouble choosing...)
Just in case you think I only like old things,
I find this remodel of an assuming bungalow on the corner up from the other two quite appealing. The window arrangements add so much simple character and match perfectly with the lines of the design. Even the shed doors in the small garden area have a zen feel to them.
Again, begging a visit in summer.
For more architecture views see SundayStills

49 comments:

  1. Very cool! I love the older houses. They have such character.

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  2. I love the old houses...you captured them very well! :)

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  3. The last is my fave with its simple innovation for design and light. I'd like to see the indoor rooms there.

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  4. You wouldn't feel sheepish going inside for photos, would you?

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  5. My favorite is the smallest one. I love old houses and that one is adorable. I could sit in their garden on a hot summer day, sipping ice tea...

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  6. Lovely houses! Such style is few and far between out here...usually only a handful per city, and they stick out like a (very pretty) sore thumb.

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  7. Thank you CTG Ponies and Andrea, older houses are such a joy to discover.

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  8. Ruth yes I would feel "sheepish", but I would definitely try if I were invited in. I did try to catch views through the windows, it appears to be an open plan inside...

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  9. Paula, I often walk past this corner and slow down in front of that house and dream...

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  10. Thanks, Kitty. I love the variety of styles nestled together. Sadly, many are being demolished for something more ... boring.

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  11. Comes from indecision, Ed. And the fact that these are all on one block next to each other, I thought it an interesting mix.

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  12. I love old houses like these. Character with style!

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  13. Beautiful! It's nice that the houses are being renovated instead of torn down...they have such character. Nice job!

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  14. Those houses are beautiful. Where exactly do you live?? I'm moving there :)

    Mine is up over at my photo blog.

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  15. I love that old style of house. I like the country gardens too.

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  16. Great houses. I love the first two especially!

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  17. I love it - great interpretation of the theme!

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  18. Great pictures. I love the old houses would love to have one of these on my farm.

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  19. being a single - I like the feel of small cottages and bungalows. beautiful captures.

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  20. Prairierunner, exactly. Though there are many that are not being renovated but torn down for something bigger, gtyyup, which makes me so sad.

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  21. Flo, let's do a house swap for awhile - Ontario for Hawaii!!

    (I live in Burlington, near Toronto).

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  22. Shirley, I'll be back with more photos of their garden in summer.

    Would look great on your farm, Rising Rainbow.

    Thanks, The Wife. I love watching how the Gingerbread House has been coming along (it used to be all white), but I love that little one best.

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  23. Char, maybe that is why I also love small cottages. I cannot imagine myself filling up so much space.

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  24. That cottage really is cute and may be my favorite. But I also like that more modern one at the end.

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  25. Yes, I would be hard pressed to choose, Citizen, if I were offered them both.

    Luckily, I won't be offered, so I can fantasize at will for either one!

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  26. Ooh, I love these houses, & would love to see inside them all.

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  27. I am nosy enough, Meggie, to go any open houses!

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  28. Wow, what great photos! I love the third one the best! What character that house has! I often find myself driving by lovely houses and wondering what kind of people live in them, what they do, how they like their house and so forth.

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  29. Jen Mo, there is a lot of character there, that's for sure!
    I am sometimes surprised when I actually see the people who live in certain houses as I have already made up a fantasy life and they weren't in it!

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  30. Those older houses are just to die for....

    (my little weatherboard house has nowhere near the character...)

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  31. Yes, well, I only take pics of the beautiful things, Frogdancer.

    (so I guess you house will be safe)

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  32. Great photos! Very interesting houses, you must go back when the gardens are in bloom:)

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  33. Thanks, Far Side of Fifty, stay tuned ;)

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  34. That hurts my brain somehow - they have a window through their fireplace???

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  35. It must save having to decide what to put on the mantel, Geewits. Interesting, though. Have never seen that before.

    Kylie, yet it looks nothing like your own abode, I'm betting?

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  36. That gingerbread house is amazing...I would have loved to have talked to the original designer and picked their mind.. what an eye for detail..

    I used not to like sliding glass doors but have grown to accept and love them for all they offer.. I suppose it depends where they are located and how they affect the final look...

    I love the simplicity of the Gothic stone design too..

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  37. Gwen, the original owner was a contractor and lumber dealer (!) and his brother a painter and decorator.

    French doors would have been a better choice IMHO.

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  38. Well with a background like that how could they help but build anything they wanted... They did an amazing job...
    and you are right, French doors for a house with that much detail would certainly have been the best pick!!!

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  39. I love the Gingerbread style. My wife is ready to move, even with the work involved.

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  40. I LOVE LOVE house photos. I have posted some on my blog in the past but these are gorgeous!

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  41. Regular Guy ha, she is a brave woman!

    Glad to have you here visiting, Sandy

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  42. They are beautiful. I love the old houses best, such character, and I always wonder what went on with the history of them. Our house was built in 1923 by a train driver (called Locomotive Engineer in those days.

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  43. So is yours a 'railway cottage', Amanda?

    I could never live in a bland new build - oh wait, I do. Damn. That's why I'm fixated on collecting images of old character filled houses.

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  45. It's fun to take a ride thru your town...I'm always telling my husband to slow down when we go nice towns like this just so I can oogle a little better...esp at night so that I might get a peep inside!...Great houses...

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  46. Oliag evening is the best time for long, slow strolls through neighbourhoods, before the curtains are drawn...

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