The first thing that I did was go back and take pictures of the houses in the same block as Billy Baldwin lived, as well as some around the corner from his house. One of the things I loved most about this neighbourhood is that the houses are all very different and have such incredible architectural details. Let's have a look, shall we?
1) This house has echoes of Palladian arches on several levels. The portico has a slight arch, which is shown again on the top floor. The fanlight over the front door is reflected in the windows on the third floor, too.
2) In this shingle house, the main spot of colour is the blue door and pediment which brings to mind the classic Wedgwood blue Jasperware. 
3) What makes this otherwise plain house really stand out is the colour selection. The grey shingles, pumpkin shutters and deep red door are inspired choices. 
4) Another grey house, but with crisp white trim. The dentils over the top arch set off the center window on the top floor and the gothic windows below.
5) This house is massive, and I couldn't get the whole thing in one shot (from my vantage point in the car). But the details on the ground floor and top floor windows are amazing.
6) There are several houses, including this one right across from BB's house, that have these red roofs. The plantings on this are lovely, and the side sunporch is where I'd spend lots of time. 
7) There are subtle arches over the ground floor windows, and the columns are echoed in the windows above the front entrance. 
8) Not a great picture, but if you look at the pattern on the porch railings, and then look at the sidelights on the front door, you can see the attention to detail. This house is a lovely pale yellow with pale blue-grey shutters and white trim. 
9) One of Baltimore's leading interior decorators lives here and this house has been published a number of times. Although the huge cherry trees block much of it, you can see the fanlight over the front door and the lattice-work on the side porch. 
Which house is your favourite, and why?
#8 - and I swear it's not because it's yellow. I'm a sucker for symmetry and the fretwork railing. And a third floor which always seems like such a good get away. The last one was a close second. It's a truly beautiful neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteOoh... tough one! Number 6 or 9... I'm a sucker for a grand entrance and enclosed porches! I love the cherry trees number 9 has both because they're beautiful, and they add a little privacy! Both houses look very warm and inviting to me.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, they are all lovely, but the last shot--it's those blooming trees that have me distracted in favor of that house. I do like that the owners of the gray-pumpkin-red, went with such bold color choices.
ReplyDeleteDid you look here for your lost camera? http://www.ifoundyourcamera.blogspot.com/
ReplyDelete#6, sun porches are such a fabulous room to have.
ReplyDeleteSorry you couldn't find your camera :-( I love the closeup view of the house with the wedgewood blue door! I love the face that the door is probably 42" wide, and the matching carved statuary transom above and the rounded entry ceiling and the windows above it, and the beautiful columns..get the picture?I could go on and on!
ReplyDeleteI have to go with #1. I love the way the eye travels up from the door (with those neo-classical style columns on the portico)to the beautiful balustrade under the third story palladian window.
ReplyDelete-Glad you got a new camera.
One of the things that I do with a digital camera is take the first picture of a sheet of paper with my name, e-mail, and mobile number on it. I also say "reward offered". Then I lock the picture into my camera so it doesn't get erased. At least that way, if someone's honest, they will be able to contact me if they find the camera.
ReplyDeleteI would love to own a house in roland park! beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI'll take #3, please. The shingles, the colors, the funky sunporch addition make me think there's probably some pretty creative, non-traditional stuff going on inside too!
ReplyDeleteOh, and thanks for the camera "ID tag" tip! I'll add one to mine before it goes outdoors again.
#4, but it was a tough decision. The front door is not too "grandiose" as to not welcome everyone in. Reminds me of the homes in Seattle (home). You just know there is a pot of tea brewing & lemon bars in the oven!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful journey ♥
Can I have two please?: #6 and #9....I just cannot decide. Those cherry trees are gorgeous! I will have to post our house with the cherry tree in bloom that I took a couple of weeks ago. All the blossoms are gone already. These homes are just so beautiful! Every one.
ReplyDeleteOh sigh, oh sign. All so lovely and so stately (and thank you for noting the dentil molding - one of my favorites....not to mention so many spell it incorrectly). Can't pick a favorite, love them all.
ReplyDeletethis is to hard, but I'd have to say #9 and I have no specific reason - it just spoke to me. And it said - pick me, pick me!
ReplyDeleteI'm the former owner of picture no. 9 and am flattered by all the nice comments. We planted those trees and restored the house. It's a great neighborhood and we miss our neighbors. Unfortunately the picture doesn't show the hundred of daffodils that we planted in the side beds of the front yard. I drive by just to see them! Roland Park is so pretty in the spring. And by the way, I am not a famous interior designer. I decorated the house with some help from my sister and occasionally when I was stuck I called on my friend, Stiles Colwill (who is well know designer) to help.
ReplyDeleteAnon@10:15... thanks for stopping by. I would have taken more pictures, but I was raising a bit of suspicion driving slowly by houses and taking pictures. Next time, I should grab the dog and walk with him, so I look more natural.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I will try and do another drive by this afternoon and get some pix of the daffs while they're still out.
Roland Park is stunning in the spring. At our house there, we had loads of daffs on our front hill and the most incredible azaleas... which the subsequent owners tore out! I am not as happy driving by our old house as you are.
And you couldn't get any better design advice than from Stiles!
I am going with # 8 , I do love the yellow color combination, and the beautiful symetry, the dormer winows. Like others it just spoke to me. The appeal from the street view draws you right in.
ReplyDeleteAs a gardener I would like to send my compliments to anon at 10:15 (my birthday, good omen) on the beauty of her vision. Henry Mitchell, the late great garden writer, often mused the most beautiful gardens are those in our heads. I think even he would admit this vision is heady. Great job and thanks, pigtown design. I worry about your lurking and stalking from a potential legal point of view, but am shamefully pleased with your results!
ReplyDeleteHome Before Dark... I have seen the legal issues of lurking and photographing discussed at length on some of the photography sites. Apparently, you are allowed to photograph houses, cars, people without permission, as long as you're on public property.
ReplyDeleteHere's an interesting brochure that photographers who make images in public spaces should carry.
I'm so glad you've looked into this! With the demise of our beloved magazines what would we do without you brave men and women armed only with a digital camera and the burning desire to bring beauty to us starving—but too cowardly—to do it ourselves readers. Bless you and be careful out there. If we need to have a Beauty for the Web Defense Fund at the ready, we stand by on alert. Hope you get the picture of the daffodils!
ReplyDeletesorry about the camera, meg. no fun i know- i've been there, more than once...
ReplyDeleteand i'll take #3 even though that asymmetry of the addition to one side isn't exactly my favorite thing- *but* i bet that sunroom is gorgeous on the inside, and i'm a sucker for walls of paned windows. i'm also drawn to #3 because it looks NOTHING like the homes here, even in our oldest and most traditional neighborhoods.
now is this a drawing, like "i married adventure"? will connor be picking our names out of a hat, and giving us a brand new home? i hope so! ;-)
I'm not worthy of any of these high style homes but...I really like #2's extra wide blue door. Don't see many (or any) like that. It took guts to do the pumpkin shutters on house 3.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Terry I love #3, only thing is I believe he is worthy of all these houses, lol! I also loved
Delete8 and 9 and 6 .. darn I can't decide.
I love #9,,, wish I could peek inside.
ReplyDeleteCk out A life's Design for a tour of some Atlanta home's, scroll a few posts back.
Thanks for the tour.
Love Nr.6, looks a little bit like the solid houses I know from my childhood in Germany. My grandmother owned a house very much like it. I love attics, the dormer windows are so nice and the front yard, lovely. I love the porch and it lookes like the rooms are with high ceilings, all major points for it. The other houses are nice too, but this one is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Katiedid. Can't decide between #6 and #9. Sideporch! Cherry trees and daffodils!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful neighbourhood.
They are all wonderful! I love looking at old houses that have been so well maintainged.
ReplyDeleteI love this one the best, it has all you need. so gorgeous! it brings back memories for all.
ReplyDelete