I am a super nerd for old homes. I love the charm, I love the details that people used to really care about including in a home to make a house special- crown molding, pocket doors, ornate door knobs. You name it in an old house, and I inevitably love it.
I went out to capitalize on the gorgeous weather yesterday and and took a long leisurely walk though the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston yesterday. I LOVE this neighborhood. Gorgeous homes, fun center of town with bustling shops and restaurants. I grabbed a cup of tea at one of the best bakeries I know of in JP called Fiore's, and set off on my walk-about.
I initially started my walk to look for houses that had sun rooms I liked, to take photos to use as inspiration for my own back porch. Brian (the hubster), and I have been drooling over the idea of enclosing our back porch with glass and making it a year round space (but more on that at a later date). While looking at the nice homes I stumbled upon one of the most amazing homes I think I have ever seen, at the corner of Elm and Greenough.
Whoa. Be still my heart. Old, huge, gigantic knotty tree in front. Hello lover.
I think I need to give some back story as to why this house is so appealing to me. You see, for as long as I can remember I have told Brian and all my family and friends that to me, my dream house is the one on the block that all the kids are somewhat scared of because they think it is haunted. I know, you're totally thinking "Weirdo..." but I just cant help it. I think it is the historical nature and the fantasy that there are hidden rooms and staircases that are only seen after you twist a candle sconce on the wall to the left.
Doesn't the big knotty tree just make that house's presence? In my mind someone buried gold underneath it to hide it from a greedy relative. I know, I've lost it. My imagination runs wild 24hrs a day. I'm sure you pity my mother for having to raise me as a child.Anyway, I stopped to snap a bunch of photos of this house because it had me at hello. Sadly, the sun (while warm and amazing) wasn't really in the right place, so the photos came out a little dark, but overall I think you get the idea. I will try to take better photos on another day so you can see the full grandeur that is this amazing home.
While continuing my walk down Greenough I spotted this lovely sunflower design on the house next to my knotty lover. Isn't this house just a picture perfect dream with all that lavender and scalopey detailing? (Yes, I know scalopey is not a word, but it fits oh-so-perfectly, doesn't it?) You know you are drooling right now, just admit it.
So, instead of causing this post to make you feel like you walked in real time with me as I show you picture after picture, I will just show you the last house that made me feel like chaining myself to the front door and demanding that the owner allow me to live in one of the units.
(Units?? you are probably thinking. Yes, many of the houses, even the most stately of homes in Boston, either were created to be multi-family or were broken up into multiple units for the sake of making enough room for all the people that wanted to live in Boston despite the fact that there is no more land to build on. Fascinating, no?)
So, without further ado, presenting my ultimate dream home on Alveston St:
Isn't she a beaut? She even comes complete with her own octagonal OBSERVATION TOWER! Does that not scream, "I am so fancy I come with my own house cock-pit" to anyone else but me? Chances are you can see the Boston skyline from the observation room too. Ahh. Be still my heart.
And because I am a total nut, I looked up the property information on the Tax Assessor's website. Three units, and by some amazing miracle- one owner. One single man owns all that awesomeness in house form. Not three condo owners, but ONE owner which means that possibly rich, but obviously tasteful people are living inside this house right now.
I. Am. So. Jealous.
Oh, and did I mention that the house is valued at over $1.2mil which means of course that it is actually worth way more.
Did you just hear that?
It was the sound of my dream running screaming for the door and then slamming it in my face. I will definitely never be the proud (and potentially broke) owner of this amazing $1.2mil plus home. Or any home valued at that kind of price, ever in my life.
But doesn't it put home regions and accompanying values in perspective in your mind? Put it this way, you might pay the same $1.2mil for a small, 1,300 sq ft 1940s home in San Francisco. Or you could buy a 6,000 sq ft mansion in Jamaica Plain.
It's your call. :) If anyone has $1.2mil they would like to bequeath me in their will, please let me know. I have just the splurge, uh, I mean investment, in mind.
So, do any of you have house envy? What is your idea of the perfect home and where would it be located?
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