New Irregular Blog Series: "Love" Houses

If you've been following this blog for a while, you might have picked up that I'm not very good with doing regular blog series.  (And if you're new, well, I'm not good with doing regular blog series.)  I like to write about what floats my boat on any given day, so I'm better with irregular posts.  BUT in my mind I like to have some sort of organization so one of the new irregular series I'll be doing around here will be "Love" Houses.  These are the houses that have been featured in magazines or online that I just can't get over.  The articles I go back to for staring at time and time again.  The ones that I feel disappointed about when the text runs out.  The ones that get me dreaming & excited.  Some are old, some are new, but these houses are my favorite and go in the "love" pile and I thought it might be fun to share some of them on the blog.

My first favorite house/ estate is called Cherryfilelds (yes, it has a name :)  and belongs to John Dransfield and Geoffrey Ross (of Dransfield & Ross) and was featured in Elle Decor's July/ August 2010 issue.  Text is by Peter Tersian.  Photography is by Simon Upton & it was styled by Carlos Mota.

{I dream of having a massive living toom large enough for multiple interesting groupings.}

Dranfield & Ross actually traded for this house with its owner, Nancy Pine AKA "Princess" (an "outrageous" fabulous widow in her 80s.)   They foudn the house but it wasn't on the market.  They would stalk the house until they finally made an appointment to meet with Princess.  "They made a deal on the spot" and just needed to wait until Princess could find a house to move to.  They waited months while she searched and finally she asked them what type of house they had.  It was an 1806 farmhouse and they ended up swapping houses.  They think of her as their Auntie Mame and she visits when they're out, leaving notes.   My favorite part is that Princess says "The best time to visit someone is when they're not at home."   



"The building is long & rambling but it's only one room deep, so all the major rooms have light on both north and south sides."---- ummm, a-mazing. 

{You know I loooove these pools}

I love the conservatory-feel in some of the rooms:


{love their pup!}

...And find myself more & more drawn to black.

Light & airy yet dramatic at the same time:


I love that the house has a combination of airy rooms & moodier rooms. 



The kitchen is so charming.  Again, it's got that fresh-deep thing going on that I love.


I love this shot of the butler's pantry: 

{Heaven}

Everything feels so authentic & collected.  It feels carefree & relaxed yet elegant.  It's a laid-back formality that's really refreshing.  I just want to be there when Iook at the pictures.

You can view the article online at Elle Decor here and I'll be posting more "Love" houses every now & then!


I'm off for the day, but hope you had a great weekend!!  Only a couple more weeks until school's out for the summer & I can't wait!!! (my husband's a teacher)  I have the window open right now & have to be honest that I'm finding it harder & harder to buckle down in the office.  Outside's calling!!  eeeeeeeeeeek



xoxo, Lauren

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

24 comments:

pve design said...

I love gathering images of what I love and also taking time to just enjoy life and not always feel that work is number one. Love comes first....even if it is a pretty lamp or a chair!
Enjoy Summer.
pve

Anonymous said...

gorgeous!!! love those white slipcovers in the last picture.

Heather Peterson said...

I love the LOVE pile. Moving twice in the last two years, I got rid of a lot of inspiration images from over the years, but there's a nice thick stack that I will never let go of. Thanks for sharing yours!

Heather
loveyourspace.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

I LOVE what you LOVE!!! This is an amazing home. Styled, yet, but warm and welcoming. My favorite combo.

My boys have their last full day today, a half day tomorrow and then....Summer!!!

xoxo Elizabeth

Unknown said...

This home is so gorgeous- I love the black foyer space, the first living room area and that black cabinet in the kitchen...so so gorgeous. I absolutely love this idea for a series- regular or not, I'll definitely be following!!!

Bonnie said...

I collect "LOVE" images as well. I look forward to this series! Thank you

kayce hughes said...

Love all of your picks!

diane@onlinefabricstore said...

love the idea of an irregular regular series. I have done these for a while but oneof the speakers at the design bloggers conference suggested it so I "grew" my series. It really makes blogging a bit easier when writers block sets in (although thats usually not my problem) check out "Can u sppot the trends", "Go big or go home", "Book of the month club" and "Color of the month club" at http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/blog.

I like your choice of a series...as one who has followed your blog for a while now it is easy to identify why you would like a particular room.

Enjoy the summer with those two yummy boys of yours!

The enchanted home said...

Whats not to love...its all amazing! So elegant yet very inviting. Love all the choices, just gorgeous!

Kathysue said...

I love to pull together my all time fav images and see the collage it can make. I can see why you love all teh above images. The very first is so Laurenesque!!! I love the fact that you do a collected over time look. Design should be a process that takes place over time and YOU my dear do that look so well!! Happy Monday,Kathysue

Barbara Jordan Dettweiler said...

What a unique home with so many interesting details! I love the room with the alcoves and all of the great accents they have in there...

http://bjdhausdesign.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

What an amazing space, like you said just the right mix of airy/light & moody/formal. Gorgeous.

Mary Ann Pickett said...

I like how the spaces all feel light and comfortable...notice not much pattern or clutter? I love this home, too!

Donna Benedetto said...

This is a beautiful home and you can tell that is really reflects the people who live in it. You feel like you could move right in ...not to formal and not to casual..just right.
I can see why it is in your love pile. Looking forward to your next one.

Unknown said...

I loved this home, especially that living room. I skip from thing to thing to. It's a designer thing!

Brian and Staci said...

oh man oh man oh man oh man!!!! how I am going to love this "series" of yours!!! We are meeting this Friday with the Nazi Accountant :) Crossing fingers!!!!!!

Mona Thompson Providence Ltd. said...

Love your irregular , regular series. I'm the same way. I start them...and then??? Love this house too. Mona

Wendy said...

Ive loved this home since I saw it on the cover of Elle Decor last year. The wall of french military maps was inspiration for a wall of nautical charts we have in our family room.
It's great to see it featured in your blog :-)
Wendy-

under spanish moss said...

Great new irregular series. This is a great house. Adore all of the rooms! Good luck with staying on tasks.

Karen said...

Lauren,
If this is the first example of "love" houses I'm in! I too loved this house.
Karen at Garden, Home and Party dot com

Loretta Fontaine (EcoHappy Blog) said...

Lauren- Princess says "The best time to visit someone is when they're not at home." Eeek! Too funny!

Just a beautiful, beautiful home!

Loretta

Unknown said...

Love your blog-just found it. I think that I might have a serious crush on that butler's pantry.

I'm a teacher too and have to admit that I am looking froward to a bit of a holiday.

Anonymous said...

Such an amazing home. So warm and inviting! Especially love the gorgeous pool house! So chic!
xo E + J

espe said...

I just LOVE your blog and I just chuckled that you picked this house! I bought two copies of the magazine that carried this gorgeous effortless elegant home! So I am so with you on this one!

Espe