Sunday, September 9, 2012

With Old Houses, It's All in the Details

And this place is crawling with details. Let's start at the top and work our way down shall we? River rock and shells from the nearby river adorn the front of the house. The small windows with the divided lights are the attic windows. Notice the facia board is carved and painted.

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Other gables are shingled. If you look closely there are two rows of odd shaped shingles in the middle. I never noticed that until just now. When it comes time to paint I think those will need to be a contrasting color.

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The keyhole window... it opens. Seriously. Very, very cool. The divided lights are stained glass. If anyone knows what those metal rods are sticking out, please let me know. It is a mystery to me.

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Just below the window the front porch takes center stage. This photo shows the only two missing pieces of the fretwork. The missing ball is in the basement, so really only one tiny piece needs to be remade, everything else is still here. 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8452/7962855834_39d9605db9.jpg

I think this side is even nicer than the front. 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8309/7962845624_1616c5518c.jpg

But this little porch just off the dining room might be my favorite. I see a wicker chair and a fern in that little round part. 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8303/7962872534_1d01f44d19.jpg

I've lived here for almost a month and I just noticed that this porch railing is completely different...

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than the front porch railing. I discover something new every day.

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But out of all of it. This field stone foundation is my very most favorite part of the house. It's a shame we don't build them like this anymore. 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8033/7962867462_f7212e5579.jpg

21 comments:

Nancy said...

I love older homes, and yours is a beauty!

What wonderful construction details just on the outside. I look forward to seeing more of your house.

The porch railings are interesting - almost like one is "Hers" and one is "His."

Lori said...

What fantastic details!! Amazing and beautiful!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful :D **New Follower**

melanie said...

(drool)

Anne@Kitschy Vintage said...

It's so charming! Makes me miss my first little home, a 1909 cape cod. It also had those cool touches, which just aren't built into houses any more. Lovely!

Tombstone Livestock said...

Think that was really meant to be "Your" house, the detail on the side of the porch roof looks just like a spinning wheel. Can you imagine the work that went into chipping each of those stones for the foundation? My house is 100 years old but no fancy details here, foundation is granite rocks, but stacked and filled with mortar as is not chipped or squared off at all. Love your new house. Keep the pictures coming, glad you are getting settled in and are finding time to blog again.

The Barn Door said...

That house is just yummy!! I can almost smell gingerbread cookies baking!!
Karen & the Hounds

Unknown said...

Your house is awesome, top to bottom!

Elaine said...

Such beauty!! You will be finding "new" things about the property for years!!

Angela said...

The rods might be to hang planters on? Love the house. Miss seeing you.

bettyj said...

What a beautiful piece of history. Cannot wait to see more.

Lynda said...

WOW! The building really took a lot of time and love to create such a beautiful home. That person must have loved living there.

thecrazysheeplady said...

Wow! This house rocks!!!

Jayne said...

Wow!! The details on that house are just gorgeous. I'm glad to see a close-up photo of the 1892. I was wondering what it was made of. The fretwork on your porch is the prettiest I've ever seen. Simply beautiful. No idea what those rods are on either side of the window. At first I thought they might've had something to do with shutters, but I don't think a keyhole window would have had shutters.

Karen Anne said...

Amazing.

Maybe the evil lawyer knows what the metal rods are for. That's a very complex window - two layers of glass? I am having trouble figuring it out.

June said...

I wonder if you sent a photo of those rods to "This Old House", the PBS program that they might have an answer for you?

Christine said...

I'll post more about the window, Karen Anne.

Pam Ward said...

Maybe those hooks are for hanging a Large wreath?

tainted with a positive view said...

I envy you. Your house has so much character - it is amazing. My thoughts on the hooks? A wreath, or possibly for planters, like someone else suggested.

Lori Skoog said...

Your new home is exceptional! Especially love all the details. Bet you are having fun getting that attic together.

Unknown said...

This is one of the incredible blog I've ever seen. I love also old houses and I am glad that I came across here. Thank you for sharing this with us.