3.25.2009

Could you live in one of these??





When we knew we were moving from Colorado to Illinois 2 years ago, I immediately jumped onto the Historic Properties web site to peruse around. I knew what I wanted....an old charming home. I was willing to forgo a finished basement for crown molding, an eat-in kitchen for french doors in the dining room, a master bathroom for hardwood floors. But this is me, and I told my hubby that I would be willing to sacrifice the "extra room" for a charming, small 3 bedroom home.



I found it immediately, and completely fell in love at first site.











My home hit 100 years old this year, and even though we are cramped in this home, I love it more every day. This home sits on half an acre, has extensive gardens in the back, and is blocks from charming downtown.



I decided to head back to this website and show you what all I found today.... This historic queen Anne is in Historic Greenville, ohio and dates 1902, is $579,000 and is a whopping 5700sf.









This home above is in Norway, Maine ...it dates from 1894, and is just my style. Living quarters are upstairs with a retail space downstairs.



And, right in my price range of $149,000 with 2100sf.










oh, and be still my beating heart! This home above is in Redlands, Calif and was built in 1902, has a wrap around porch and is listed for $589,000 with 2771 sf.






And this Victorian Queen Anne above sits in Sac City, Iowa......it was built in 1893, is listed for $269,000 and is 5500sf! Are you kidding me? 55oo sf......










and last but not least, this home is in Mound City, Illinois. Built in 1913, is used as a B&B right now, sits on over 2 acres, is listed for $329,000 and is 4379 sf!









Did you see one that stops you in your tracks?
Please do tell me, what is your "style" dream home?
xoxo











40 comments:

♥ miss.michelle said...

...oh Kasey! I have my "DREAMY" home right close to my house. I will take a pic on my next walk. It's totally "ME"!! :D

Can't wait to show you ;)
Have a Nice Day!
<3~michelle.f

Amanda said...

Gasp!! They are ALL beautiful!! I really love that one in Maine for $149K- with the little retail shop, I would love to own a shop someday and always say I want to live above a store on a "cute little street." But, maybe not in Maine :) Too cold for me.

Chablis said...

I just screamed my way through your whole post!!!! I'm drooling and swooning, and coveting...oh, coveting.

My husband knows that this is exactly how I want to find a house as soon as we are in the postition to buy one. (yeah right, we're in the air force...moving every 3 years)

The last house is definitely speaking to my heart. However, I would take ANY of them. I really love the home in Maine. I've always thought it would be so fun to have a great boutique, or maybe a flower shoppe.

*The Beautiful Life* said...

Your home-buying sounds like mine was! I was after history & details and boy did we get it! My home is 118 yrs. old and is in great shape for her age! :) While I do love the style of this home, my "ultimate" style would have to be perhaps something more like the Queene Anne's that you showed or even something like you might find in the Cotswolds in England. But alas, I do like my old gal...she's pretty "needy", though, so buying any old home should come with a warning: MUST LOVE D.I.Y. OR HAVE A TRUST FUND DEDICATED TO REPAIR/RENOVATION!
:)

I've got my eye on that one in Norway, Maine so hands-off everyone! ;)

Ruth

Heathahlee said...

Wraparound porches are my dream! My dream house would have a huge porch with a swing on it.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I just love old architecture! My most favorite thing in the world! Have you ever seen "storybook homes"? If you Google it, amazing homes come up! I think they are wonderful! Some I am sure, would call me strange. It takes all kinds though!

the wild raspberry said...

you know that i love old homes...mine is a 1901 craftsman style home...i love the fine woodwork, the wavy glass windows, the high ceilings...
sometimes i miss my cottage style farmhouse--it is quite different to decorate a mission home. BUT, i love it and i'm thankful everday for my husband bidding on it for me!
great finds today,
chasity

koralee said...

i love them all..my hope is to one day have a home as beautiful as yours inside and out...
just have to thank you for your music selection....love the song ordinary day...my daughter dances and she really wants to use it in her modern or lyrical solo..so thanks...keep those great tunes coming!!!xoxox

goddessof4 said...

I love them all!!!! My dream house is from the movie "Practical Magic" I want a wrap around porch and a conservatory /sun room ,pocket doors,butlers pantry,tin ceiling.I want it all!!!!! Sara .... We did install a tin ceiling in one of our rooms!!!!

Michelle, All Home and Love said...

I'm right there with ya! We sold our typical 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath colonial and downsized for charm. It was so worth it! Our girls now share a room and we don't have the finished basement or big family room any more but I would never go back. We looked at a few old homes in our search and from the moment we walked into the very first one, I knew I needed the character they offer. Nothing lifts the spirits like some wavy glass and glass doorknobs.

All the homes you posted, including yours, are gorgeous.
~Michelle

Unknown said...

Just here lusting after the homes in your post and I now DEFINITELY will be designing my own future home, infact this is a sign I am going to sign up for that architecture course this summer! Wish me luck, lol I am going to mention being inspired by you and put a link to your page in my application if you don't mind.
CHEERS

Wendy said...

I love historic homes!

So tell me...did you define your style yet? ;-)

Anonymous said...

They are all gorgeous, but I would take the one in Redlands with the wrap around porch in a second, if I could get the poolman to move..that will never happen..but it is gorgeous!! Lovin' the flicker sweetness too!

The Little Red Shop said...

I agree with the gal who mentioned the home from "Practical Magic." What a dreamy house! I believe that it was a temporary set...built on Whidbey Island, Washington just for the movie. The Sac City, Iowa Queen Anne is definitely my cup of tea...

Blondie's Journal said...

Beautiful homes Kasey but I love little old houses the best. I have been to St. Charles many times and have never seen one home I didn't like.

Happy 100 years to your cute little house! :-)

Jane

Tracy ~Seeking Refinement~ said...

I'll move in with Tara - the Redlands home is the one that made my heart skip a beat! It is so fun to look at these! what great finds.

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

Thank you SO MUCH for telling me about this website. I had never seen it before and just got totally lost in it. All of these homes are so charming. And I can't believe the prices on them! I might have to move... :-)

Unknown said...

Those are SO beautiful, I especially love the one in CA. My problem is, I want the house to "look" old, but not actually BE old. I'm too lazy for all that maintenance. :)

Backyard Candle Co. said...

most definately it would have to be old, never new. if i could have it my way, it would be a bunagalow style. i am always drawn to them. the houses you pictured are gorgeous! your house is darling too! :)

Anonymous said...

All are beautiful!! I especially love the one in Redlands Ca. My family owns Redlands Ford and my late brother had the most charming little historic house in downtown Redlands. The whole town has such richness and everyone takes such pride in their yards. And noone's house is the same. No track, cookie cutter homes. Such history behind every one you see. And rose gardens....well you would just love it!!
You could sit on his patio and just watch everyone walk by on their lunch hour from the hospital down the street or with a various assortment of pooches in the early evening. You don't even have to lock your front door!! I am still holding on to the house I just can't seem to let it go. All though I know one day I will probably have to. That will be another sad day:(

Lara said...

We moved almost 2 years ago from Atlanta to rural Minnesota because we found our dream home. She is an old Craftsman - circa 1885. I'm not sure how she looked in 1885 because there was a heavy dose of remodeling in the 1920s. But I love her!

The couple we bought her from really wanted to turn her into a Victorian, but I'm slowly but surely taking out all of the "fancy" and making her mine!

Congrats on the centennial birthday of your old gal :)

LuLu said...

Congrats on the anniversary! your home is completely charming!! Redlands was calling me at the moment... but they are all dreamy.
LuLu

Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on Top said...

I have ALWAYS been in love with historic homes. The Queen Anne house makes my heart go a flutter. ;) But I love them all.

Kris said...

You have such a lovely home. Phil and I have been looking for just such house. I told him I don't need extravagance, I want small and charming, a bit of history and curb appeal. Oh' and within a reasonalbe price range.

I love all of the homes you showcased, but the one for me would be the house in Norway, Maine. It is my dream to open up a vintage/arts boutique and what better than to be able to live above your dream.

Have a happy day

Kris

Katy said...

I love older homes. Those are all fun.

Pretty Little World said...

These are gorgeous older homes! We're house hunting right now, but not in any of these places, and definitely not at some of these prices.

I'll just have to settle for imagining myself in one of them!!

Vana said...

are you kidding me? I'm moving to southern IL...only there can i afford such house.
THe house in main street in Maine is my type of house.

Unknown said...

The last home is my dream outside home. hopefully it is just as fab inside too. Your house is adorable too. i love yellow houses. . mishelle

Ali @ Betty and Violet said...

It was so fascinating to read your post! I love all of the properties you have shown, and (living in England) it never ceases to amaze me the very size of houses available in the US and what they sell for!
I am lucky enough to live in my dream home which is an 18th century (c.1780) Malt House, red brick with red tile roof ~ lots of rustic charm (code for falling apart a bit!)
I love your home BTW ~ beautiful!

Jen Kershner said...

Oh stop it! I want one too. I guess if I can't have an old house with all that character I will have to build a "new" old house!

Rue said...

Good morning Kasey :)

I'm living in an old dream home now, but if I had to choose any of these it would be either your house or the one in Redlands. I have a thing for yellow houses :)

xo
rue

littlebyrd said...

I saw a couple that caught my eye! I love old homes. Ours is 1925 and we love it. We wish it had a porch though - I guess that is one feature I really would love to have.

Tamara said...

This is so fun! I really like the one in Greenville! It reminds me of the homes in Hylands Denver! My husband would probably say I like it because it is one of the most expensive, but don't listen to him, it is always about the details!
But my favorite will always be
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/photos-kansas/AtchisonGlickMansion.jpg
this home in Kansas!! And no, I do not believe it is haunted!

Brandie said...

I am a sucker for big, sweeping front porches. I love them. I'd like a big old back porch too that I can rock my babies and grand-babies on. A big backyard with lots of space to run and plenty of big tree-climbing trees. A huge gourmet kitchen for me to bake and cook up all kinds of deliciousness in. Plenty of fireplaces, crown molding and french doors. A big old claw foot tub to soak in. *le sigh* Perfect.

Shannon said...

All of these homes are gorgeous! We moved back to the midwest from the west coast so we could buy an 'old and charming' home in-town (walking distance to library, river trail and coffe!) and have over 1/2 acre of yard. Greek Revival built in 1852. 3000 sq. feet. I'm in my dream home! Yes the bathrooms are small- and there is always a project underway- but I would not want a McMansion if you paid me.

gwengoods said...

love the storefront, we might move there in an instant, I did want to live in Maine!

mrs boo radley said...

I'm all about the small-ish living quarters in Maine.

I can't believe the price tags on the Midwestern homes...so different than from out here. My jaw always drops when I drive down old streets back there in my hometown and see the current housing prices.

We're in a tall, lean townhome right now...not conducive to my husband's music endeavors--and we don't have a separate studio space--so we're looking for either a house with a good basement that we could turn into a studio, or something a bit more industrial with living quarters (improvisation may be in order). We're totally excited!

Definitely staying out here, though--but we both have Midwest roots.

traci said...

they are all beautiful but since we are dreaming...i will take the california house but it has to be on lots of farmland and i will take the maine house as my second home where i will have my photography studio downstairs and my second home upstairs. thanks for allowing me to dream kasey.

Lisa said...

I WOULD HAVE TO SAY IT IS THE STORE FRONT WITH THE LIVING SPACE ABOVE.

THANKS FOR SHARING.

HUGS FROM MAINE

Leanne said...

I browsed that Historic Properties for a little bit the other night.... WOW!!

I love that place in Maine.

Darling home, Kasey. St. Charles is a beautiful community.