There were 24 steps leading up to the front porch. At the landing, there were two huge old white azaleas. The porch was about 10-feet wide and was paved with terra-cotta tiles. It extended beyond the sides of the house by about 12 feet on either side and was wonderfully shady. There were huge old roses along the thick stone wall surrounding the porch. It's hard to see, but there are two chinoiserie-style lanterns hanging in front of the columns. There were always loads of hanging plants and flowers, as well as urns and planters filled with geraniums, impatience and other flowers. Most unfortunately, the arriviste family who bought the house pulled out all of the roses and azaleas, as well as the hedge at the bottom of the hill. They also got rid of a lot of the interior details, including a spectacular mirror and fireplace surround.
I am still hunting for the detail photos of the inside of the house. I can't imagine I would have gotten rid of them, so they're around in some storage box.
what a beautiful home -i love front porches and such a lovely garden :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful photograph. Priceless.
ReplyDeleteDon't you loathe tasteless folk who just can't leave well enough alone? Surely the arrivistes who bought the house just should have built something they liked without mucking up this one. Idiots. They are everywhere.
ReplyDeleteGotta agree with everything posted so far.
ReplyDeleteAL... they spent six months re-doing the house before they moved in. It did need upgrades (like A/C) but they also added a chunk on the back, and tore out all of the cyprus cabinet doors in the two pantries. You know some contractor was just over the moon about that!!!
ReplyDeleteSome people in my neighborhood have ripped out mature azaleas too -- I don't get it.
ReplyDeleteCharming image Meg :)
You can see where you developed your interest - this home is absolutely lovely. What a treat to cartwheel on its lawns.
ReplyDeleteAgree with you, Aesthete, and the others. How in the world could anyone rip out fireplace surrounds and such, especially when they were as beautiful as you say? A travesty!
ReplyDeleteShe was a beaut P-D and what luck to have grown up there. It must have been a tremendous influence on your aesthetic. As a military kid, I really don't have that kind of grounding. Or those kinds of photos.
ReplyDeleteWhat do they say? "You can't go home again."
Really beautiful home! The front lawn is pretty amazing!
ReplyDeleteTruly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhat a house! Yes, loving today's weather compared to the last few. Went out yesterday for a 4 block walk to get a cup of coffee - coffee tasted great but I started questioning my intelligence on the walk back.
ReplyDeletegorgeous!! It is a beautiful house!! I love the walkway and the front door is very nice :)
ReplyDeleteI love this house and those big bushes are part of what makes it so perfect. What made the people who bought it think that getting rid of them was a good idea? Of course, people who take out original cypress pantry cabinets are clearly incapable of appreciating warm details like original cabinetry or a porch surrounded by flowering bushes. These are clearly people who belong in a sterile mcmansion.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great house, especially the porch. Nice curb appeal, too bad the next owners couldn't appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteWhy in the world get rid of mature landscaping?!?! It takes years to get that very desirable effect. I am board with the group on that one as well as the fireplace and mirror. However, I reserve judgement on the old cabinetry. I would have to see it to decide. Some old cabinetry can be cleaned up beautifully. Some is just so horrible you have no choice. Meg, I would go with your judgement on that one if you have seen it personally!
ReplyDeleteKatie... my mother had re-finished all of the cabinet doors. They were about 4x2' each and there were probably eight doors. The doors were just the most beautiful colour.
ReplyDeleteI won't even talk about them painting the original mahogany chimneybreast over the huge fire place. When I asked the owner why she did it, she said because it was originally that way. NOT!!!
They turned the house into more of a craftsman-type place, which is fine, but as you can see, it's not the style of this house.
Gorgeous in every way.
ReplyDeleteWow - those steps, so grand. Having grown up in a 60's contemporary style home, this just blows me away. No wonder you have such class - you were born into it!!! Just beautiful. Find the interior photos - it just keeps getting better and better. :)
ReplyDeleteJoni