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Posts Tagged ‘architecture’

The Atlee House – an embellished interior

Posted in Inspiration, Musings, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on February 18, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Though I enjoy viewing beautiful homes from the exterior – I mean who doesn’t love a stroll through New Orleans’ French Quarter, or a drive through Kenwood during dogwood season?  But to get a look  inside – that’s pure joy.

So here’s a peek at some of the detailing inside the circa 1800 home of the founder of New Windsor (Take a look at the exceptional architecture in this little town here).  Click on any image to enlarge it.

Hope you enjoyed this mini tour of New Windsor and the Atlee House.  For details about houses for sale in New Windsor, check out our Vintage Homes for Sale page.

Thanks for reading,

Virginia

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New Windsor, Maryland – an architectural treasure

Posted in Inspiration, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 13, 2015| 3 Comments »

I have long loved New Windsor, Maryland for its exceptional collection of early 19th century homes.  I first discovered it during my college years – my then-boyfriend (now husband), Chip, attended college in Westminster, Maryland, and the best route there from Frederick was Rt. 26 to Liberytown, and then a left onto Rt 31 (which has some beautiful homes.  Have someone else drive so you don’t miss any of them!).  Rt 31 takes you right into the small, but charming town of New Windsor.  Take a look:

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And all these houses are just along the first couple of blocks as you come into town.

On this particular occasion, a friend of mine, Mary Ford-Naill, had told me about an extraordinary house she was listing on the market and thought I may enjoy seeing.   When she told me it was in New Windsor, I was immediately interested.  And when she showed me the pictures of it, I couldn’t resist.

Because I know so many of you are as keen on architecture as I am, I asked Mary and the home-owners, if I could share it with you on my blog.  So here’s the Atlee House, New Windsor, Maryland, as I saw it just last week:

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The Atlees were the founders of New Windsor.  They first New Windsor Atlee was the second son of a prosperous Lancaster, Pennsylvania family.  And being a second son, he had to go make his own way.  He traveled into Maryland, found the rolling, Carroll County plat listed on the maps as New Windsor, bought it and settled in.  The house is dated to 1800.  The current owners, who run it as a B&B,  have some pictures of it from history:

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This one is my favorite!  The girl’s name is Bessie Roop, and her dog is Shep.  I just love that the dog made the picture, and his name was noted for posterity.

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This was from the mid 20th century, when it was painted white.

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This view from above, shows the old barn (which burned), and the town of New Windsor rising on the hillside beyond.

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At some point during the latter half of the 20th century, it was used as a boarding house, with the boarders fed from the produce of the once-extensive gardens.

I’ll take you inside the house in my next post, where you’ll see the deep windows, the old built-ins, the brick walls, and spectacular attic and basement. (Not to mention the full commercial kitchen  – yes, I’m lusting after their stove and huge fridge!).  The Atlee House and several others in New Windsor are available for sale.  Click here for more information.

Thanks for reading!

Virginia

 

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The Doors of Paris

Posted in Inspiration, Musings, tagged , , , , , , , , on February 4, 2015| 4 Comments »

I have always had a love of architecture, and doors in particular.  They are the life-line to the space within, and as such have far more impact than we often give them credit for.  As I strolled through the extraordinarily beautiful streets of Paris, it was the seemingly infinite variety of portals – size, shape, color, embellishment – one right after the other.  Take a look:

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This beauty is along the boulevard St. Germaine on the Rive Gauche.  Extraordinary as it looks to us, this is a typical door along the beautiful Paris boulevards.

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Okay, so the red is a bit over-the-top.  But the almost Asian look of this one made it a stand out along the square in front of St. Sulpice.

Along the Rue du Cherche-Midi, a quiet street of

Along the Rue du Cherche-Midi, a quiet street of elegant shops.

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Just down the Rue Napoleon Bonaparte from Laudauré.  I just LOVED to be able to peak into the courtyards when the portals stood open.

Classic Parisian door. Note the Nuit et Jour sign. I LOVE those!! Some of them even lit up. I can think of sooo many times I could have used one!

Classic Parisian door. Note the Nuit et Jour sign. I LOVE those!! Some of them even lit up. I can think of sooo many times I could have used one!

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Looking into the courtyard of the Art Academy (yes, the one that wouldn’t accept Claude Monet and his friends).

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A peak through the doors into the Grand Salon of the Art Academy.  In a time before electricity, this glass ceiling was a critical innovation for clearly seeing art.

That’s just a taste of the delightful doors, and some of what’s behind them!  Hope you enjoy this little peak at Paris.

Thanks for reading,

Virginia

 

 

 

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Heading to Paris!

Posted in Inspiration, Musings, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on September 28, 2014| 5 Comments »

I’m heading to Paris this week, and just can’t wait!!  I’ll be staying with my dearest friend, who is currently living in the 6th Arrondissement, just steps from the Luxembourg Gardens, The Cluny Museum, and La Seine.

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It’s a beautiful neighborhood, but then is there a Paris neighborhood that isn’t?  Not only am I obsessed with home decor, I also love to cook.  And, yes, I’m a huge Julia Child fan.   Just outside our door is the famous Raspail food market.  And I can’t wait to explore it!

 

If I can get them to understand what I want, I’m hoping to gather produce, flowers, bread, and meat, and bring them all home for a fabulous dinner!  Oh, and a bottle of wine, of course.

And then there’s the Montemarte neighborhood, where we are going in search of a fabulous, 5-story fabric store (in anticipation of which I’m bringing at least one empty suitcase with me!)  And everywhere we go, we’ll be seeing sites like this:

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And of course, this:

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And we’ll be heading to Belgium (she has a Suburban – yes in Europe, she’s got a Chevy Suburban!) to fill it up at the Ciney Puces:

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Have you been to Paris recently?  Any suggestions on some not-to-be-missed markets, sites, or events?  I’d love to hear about it!

Thanks for reading,

Virginia

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And the winner is . . .

Posted in Inspiration, Tag Sale Updates, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 12, 2014| 2 Comments »

Yes, I’ve finally committed to a paint color for the Chartreuse & co barns!  The winner is:  Railings for the window and door frames, Cornforth White for the mullions – both from Farrow & Ball.

And here’s the really cool thing:  As I stood there, staring at the face of the barn, trying desperately to envision it painted grey, charcoal, anything, Rosanna (owner of Bella Villa shop in Aldie) approached me and asked what I was doing.  I explained my agony:

“See those silos and how they’ve weathered?  I love those colors and want that pallet for the barn . . . but how ?”

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Rosanna, gifted stylist that she is, offered this suggestion:  “Why not just sand it and seal it.  Keep the weathered look you love, and just freshen the paint on the trim?”

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I could have kissed her!

So where you see the dark green paint now, we’ll have the Farrow & Ball Railings.  The mullions (the inside dividers of the windows) will be Farrow & Ball Cornforth White, plus, because it’s an awesome part of the barn structure, the upper barn door (partially open in this picture), as well as it’s hardware and track, will be painting the Railings, too.  All the rest will be simply power washed, lightly sanded, and sealed to preserve that beautiful, natural aged, gray and white wooden appearance.  Can’t wait to see it complete!

So we lined up the paint, the painter, and a block of sunny days.  But, of course, nothing goes as planned.  As work began we realized that all the old wood framing around the windows was completely gone.  And by gone, I mean you could push your hand into it and pull out wood pulp!  I couldn’t believe it!  But as luck would have it, Rob, who was doing the painting, is also a gifted carpenter.  He is actually recreating the window frames exactly, to match the circa 1920s pieces.  Some of the painting is complete, but the whole project will be ongoing into fall.

NEWS FLASH!!!

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Beginning with our  August event (August 15-17), Farrow & Ball paint is available at Chartreuse & co!  Yes, that fabulous, best-in-the-world paint that I’ve been gushing over for years (Bedroom Redux, Color Happy, Before & After, Laundry Room Blues)  We’re working with Patrick Street Interiors, the local stockist for the paint.  You’ll find a seasonally edited selection of the 750ml cans (approximately a quart) to try on your furniture, or, as I have done, all over your walls!  Be forewarned:  Farrow & Ball paint spoils you for all other paints.

Thanks for reading!
Virginia

 

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Springing Forward

Posted in Inspiration, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 12, 2013| 6 Comments »

Think about Spring and what comes to mind?  Warm sunshine on your face.  A breeze carrying that kiss of warmth and promise of summer.  And gardens bursting into their own.

This Spring is bringing me the most spectacular garden I’ve ever had.  And it’s been such a rewarding lesson in being faithful to a vision.

Here’s some befores, some durings, and you’ll just have to wait a little on the full-on afters:

Beginning the Monday after our February sale, Jared Herman and his team arrived and began the earth moving.

Beginning the Monday after our February sale, Jared Herman and his team from Old Towne Historic Landscapes arrived and began the earth moving.

As the footers were poured, I began to see Jared's 2-dimensional design come to life.

As the footers were poured, I began to see Jared’s 2-dimensional design come to life.

I had tried over the years to create a pretty little shade garden along this wall. The only thing that thrived was poison ivy. Solution? A water feature!

I had tried over the years to create a pretty little shade garden along this wall. The only thing that thrived was poison ivy. Solution? A water feature!

The brick paving throughout is artwork, but what I really can't wait to see is the water wheel that's going to be hinged on the iron frame built into the pond's coping.

The brick paving throughout is artwork, but what I really can’t wait to see is the water wheel that’s going to be hinged on the iron frame built into the pond’s coping.

Around here, you either Go Big, or Go Home. Jared totally got that one. This spetactular outdoor fireplace was built straight, on a hinged base. Once it was set, Jared and his crew lowered one side to create a convincing 'ruins'. It appears that the fireplace, over the years, has pulled away from the crumbling house walls. Amazing.

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The irrepressible crew, who worked through wind, rain, and snow to finish this huge job inside of a month.

The irrepressible crew, who worked through wind, rain, and snow to finish this huge job inside of a month.

The crumbling wall.

The crumbling wall.

From inside the planting beds, accented with 'windows'.

From inside the planting beds, accented with ‘windows’.

The crumbling walls on the north side of the entry.

The crumbling walls on the north side of the entry.

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The plants are coming in this week. Can't wait to see! I'll be shooting pictures all summer long . . .

The plants are coming in this week. Can’t wait to see! I’ll be shooting pictures all summer long . . .

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This one’s of Jared, the mastermind and creative genius who saw our barns and could see the gardens they needed.

So there you have it.  Our work in progress is becoming pretty spectacular.  Jared’s planting a beautiful wisteria in that picture of him.  He planted it and trained it’s branches over the ‘ruins’ and up the fireplace.  The other plant he’s featuring?  Hydrangeas.  I almost cried when he told me.  I absolutely LOVE them.  And dogwoods, and magnolias.  Historic, timeless plants to complete the vision.

But what do I love most about the whole construction?  The stone and brick used in the walls and fireplace is all salvaged from toppling farm buildings right here in Frederick County, Maryland.  So in our own little way, we’re preserving something of those other barns that couldn’t be saved.

Happy Spring!  Hope you’re inspired to go out and create something wonderful in your yard.

Thanks for reading,

Virginia

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Last time I saw Paris . . .

Posted in Inspiration, Musings, tagged , , , , on August 6, 2012| 1 Comment »

The last time I saw Paris, it was timelessly itself, very much like the first time I saw Paris over 20 years ago. But this consistency should not be mistaken for lifelessness. Paris, for me, has maintained its freshness, its beauty, and, yes I must say it, its chic in a way only Paris can.

And what made it extra special this time, was that I was seeing it all with my daughter, on her first visit.  Seeing it through her eyes helped me to see it in a fresh way.  It’s the details that shine.  The desire to make every thing they create beautiful sets the Parisians apart.

Here are some images of our visit:

An apartment building on the Isle de St. Louis, the smaller of the two islands in the Seine

 

I found myself fascinated by the variety, details, and beauty of the doors of Paris.



Katherine’s first real look at Paris, as we emerged from the Metro into the Tuilleries Gardens (the Louvre is in the background.).

 

The well-known face of Notre Dame cathedral. But this is not my favorite view of it.

 

The spectacular flying buttresses of Notre Dame, photographed in the delightfully quiet garden behind the cathedral. One of my favorite spots in the whole city.

If you go, look for the side streets and don’t forget to look up. Some of the most charming parts of the city are the quietly elegant quarters where tourists fear to tread. Also – don’t miss the fabulous ice cream shop on the Isle de St. Louis. It’s swoon-worthy.

Thanks for reading,
Virginia

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Marietta, Ohio – vintage perfection

Posted in Inspiration, tagged , , , , , , on July 10, 2012| 107 Comments »

I’ve just returned from Marietta, Ohio. You may not have heard of it, but it’s one of the most charming towns I’ve seen. I didn’t say city, for this is clearly no cosmopolitan place. It is a town, a truly all-American small town.  And as such, it’s just plain lovely.

And what may be most charming about it is that I don’t think Marietta realizes how charming and extraordinary it really is. That’s partly because it’s seen a population growth of nearly 0% over the past 20 years. Coming from a place that’s experienced nearly 100% growth over the same period, that sounds delightful!

But it’s not just this quiet consistency that make Marietta so inviting. It’s the downtown, full of stunning architecture, which boasts a thriving Front Street, facing on the Ohio River.

We go to visit friends, who we helped move from Maryland to Ohio nearly 25 years ago. As we’ve returned to visit them, we’ve watched the town evolve as their family grew. We’ve become charmed by it and return each time contemplating how pleasant it would be to live there.

After Mass on Sunday, I strolled back to my car and just had to snap these pictures to share with you the loveliness of it all. (Please excuse the quality of the photos, as I only had my iPhone with me.)

I had parked my car right in front of this porch and it’s garden.

Here’s the whole house. Note the amazing curved front.

A couple doors down was this lavender charmer.

The attention to details is part of what sets this town apart.

And this is the delightful front porch (which people actually use in this town!). Isn’t it decorated with such flair?  The leaded glass filling in the end of the porch, the mirror hung by the door, the inviting furniture arrangement all draw you to it. I would have loved to drop in and share a glass of lemonade with this creative decorator!

The view of the dome of St. Mary’s, across the street from these houses

Another view of the curved-front house. This image shows the extraordinary architecture more clearly.

St Mary’s front entrance. Not at all what you’d expect from a quiet little town in Ohio. And the interior is even better!

What’s tempting is that many of these houses have For Sale signs out front. This 1903 Cape Cod boasts twin french doors leading onto the porch, and a front garden just perfect for hydrangeas. (Yes, I’ve thought about it . . .)

Detail of the french doors.

Want something a little larger? This 1919 beauty is also for sale, and has a pretty bricked patio and finished basement (for $269,000!)

And they all have such lovely yards.

But this butter-yellow brick beauty is really my favorite. (and it already has hydrangeas!)

This is it’s front. Don’t you just want to move in?!  If this one were for sale, I’d probably have Chip packing us up already.

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And just look down the street!

It was 4th of July weekend, and all the flags were flying.

I think I need this wrought iron fence and gate.

And if you like something more formal . . .

And, oh the porches! This one is on an early 19thC white brick home. These porches gaze off into the ethereal town cemetery. Sounds creepy, but it’s absolutely lovely in a Midnight-in-the-Garden-of-Good-and-Evil kinda way.

The House of Seven Porches. Though only these four are apparent from the street, it does make one anxious to see the rest.

And did I mention that Marietta is a college town? To top it all off, Marietta has the vibrancy and engaging activities that come with having a thriving college located in the middle of town.

Bottom line – if you’re ever in Ohio (a haven for great vintage finds), drop in on Marietta. Take a stroll down front street, breath in the beauty of the scenic river view, and enjoy the shaded streets with their exceptional collection of fine architecture.

Do you know of an exceptionally charming, yet little-known town?  I’d love to hear about it.

Thanks for reading,
Virginia

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