FAIRY TALE LIVING - THE STORYBOOK STYLE HOUSE

They are called Storybook Style homes.
[Well, the name is obvious.]
Storybook homes were a product of the early 20's
and had passed from popularity by the late 30's,
a casualty of the Great Depression.

The depression put a bit of a damper on all that quaintness
and probably the $$ it took to create them...
They originated in California, and so they have some of the best examples -
but there are storybook style homes in many parts of the country and the world.

These storybook homes are in beautiful Carmel, California
They're adorable.

The town they are located in is adorable.

The setting is magical -

ocean,
beach,
cypress trees
and fog...

like a fairy tale....

They are picturesque,

quaint, and charming.

They have cobblestone paths,

arches and arbors,
cottage gardens, 

forged iron lanterns,

Whimsical arched doorways, 

wee little chimneys that would rival Disney's best efforts

and steeply pitched gables are part of the charm.

Some have steam shaped shingles 

made to mimic thatched roofs.

Some have eyebrow windows

and exposed timbers,

others have multipaned windows overlooking cottage gardens

It seems the setting is as important as the house itself.

Los Angeles county is also home to many of these homes -
this one located in Glendale...

Away across the pond,

the British village of Blais has a few of these quaint homes...

and more - found all over the United States and other parts of the world...

This home is known as the witch's house - located in Hollywood, California.

Although it could resemble a fairy tale involving one, the name came from the owner who liked to hand out Halloween candy dressed as a witch...

The Witch's House is one of the earliest storybook buldings, built in 1921 by a Hollywood art director, originally serving as the offices for Willat Studio - a silent film studio.  It was moved to Beverly Hills in 1926, (or possibly 1934 - accounts differ).

 A real estate agent purchased it upon hearing that interested parties were going to tear it down and build something else.  He and another Hollywood art director undertook a comprehensive restoration of the home and brought it back to its former glory.

But whatever the story, these Storybook Style homes are a whimsical and charming part of history that delight the eye and warm the heart,

whether found in the US, the UK or Europe.

France

Europe

New Zealand

I look at these tiny little fairy tale cottages and the curmudgeon in me wonders...
"What if you lived in one of them and woke up one day and couldn't take another minute of 'cute'?
Or became sick to death of 'charming?'
What if you craved plain.
Unadorned.
Strait lines.
What then?
.
.
.
But I do like this place...
Still charming, but not overdone...
with a little english country garden style yard that is perfection

and inside, more classic than cute -
I could live in this kitchen without a minute's hesitation

And they lived happily ever after.....

QUESTIONS FROM READERS:



Hi,
Your blog is just Dreamy!! I love houses and design oh so much. I joke with my mom and husband I should wear a sign "will work for money to design". Doing it yourself is my main way to go as I have young kiddos and a limited budget. I just spent 4 days transforming a yucky oak kitchen with beigy-pink Formica to white painted cabinets with black painted Formica counters 😄.  

Painting oak is not very fun at all- but super rewarding

That being said I have to ask you about the exterior of our home.  We just redid the front porch as it was literally collapsing from awesome 1960s construction in Chicago.  I am trying to convince my husband that our house was born to be painted brick or washed. Would you please share with me your opinion? I truly respect it and believe you will know the right choice. Here is the exterior. Our master is in the back with terrible white vinyl siding. That's another great reason to paint it all white, then the siding will blend in a smidge better.😉

Thank you thank you for any insight you may provide. The shutters definitely need to be redone and sized properly; but I am waiting until we decide about exterior so that I don't have to change colors on new shutters. Thank you thank you!!!



First, Brava! on your kitchen repaint - looks great!  Can't wait to see it with the hardware on - you will send a photo, won't you?

So your home is what is lovingly referred to as Greek Revival.  People who wanted to emulate classic Greek architecture,

back in the day, painted  these homes white to look like white marble - It was a very formal look - a power look as you will see by the most familiar photo below...

That's right, The White House.

However, your house is not a state building or a national monument... it is a home - and so we want it to look welcoming - right?  Your new porch is beautiful and I love all the detail and the stately columns.  As far as painting the brick goes, however; I'm not seeing white as the answer.  

I fear white would blend into the porch and make it disappear and you would lose all that lovely detail you just created.  

A whitewash on the brick could work if the wash allowed the brick to show through enough to offer some contrast.  This is popular in the South - and I wish we had more brick here in Southern California just so I could do this - but alas, we dwell in stucco land...

As you can see on this partially whitewashed brick house, it mutes the common red brick and softens the look.  

Hard to find an example with your exact portico, but use your imagination a little and you will get the gist of it.

As for paint - I think that a medium beige/gray would keep the stately feel and allow the porch to shine.  

Similar to these colors...

While these examples are not Greek Revival, they do show the white against the gray and beige tones.

There doesn't have to be a lot of contrast, but enough to be noticed.

Not necessarily recommending Yellow, but I love how the architectural elements pop against the house when they are entirely different colors... just not '90's colors....

You mentioned trying to match the vinyl or aluminum siding.  

There is paint specifically designed for siding, so I wouldn't worry too much about trying to tie in to that color.  

If it is white, the portico may be enough to tie it together, as in the photo below...  

If it is a more unfortunate color, both Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore paints have a  product specifically for painting aluminum and vinyl siding.   I'm sure it comes in a wide variety of wonderful colors!   

Good luck!  So happy you enjoy decorating and reading the blog!
Best,
Claudine

LAUNDRY ROOMS - A CUTE PLACE FOR A LOT OF DIRT

THE LAUNDRY ROOM...

Growing up in different parts of the world, 

the laundry room was a space in the garage 

or the unfinished basement. 

My mother only used the dryer in the Winter or when it rained.

She liked the smell of laundry hung on a line in the sunshine.  

That was my job - hanging them out and when dry, taking them down and folding them.

Growing up, we never had a 'laundry room'.    

Now that I do have one

I have put off decorating it to the very last.

Mine isn't large.

More galley-like than actual room.

There is some storage, but no sink.

It has a small window.

And almost enough room to turn around.

Its going to be a challenge to make it inviting.

so I'm seeking inspiration today...

There's not a lot of opportunity for cute in a laundry room.

Generally speaking they are utilitarian

small areas with large ugly appliances

and few areas for display.

Hard areas too.

By hard I mean hard surfaces.

Not a lot of softness, unless the laundry that week is particularly large....

Still, many of you manage to inject a lot of design into a small package.

I've been inspired by these photos of completely cute laundry rooms.

This is super cute if your washer and dryer take up space in a kitchen...

hide them!

Love the sink.  I don't have one, or the space for one in my galley style laundry, but if I did, I'd put this sconce over it!  Front loading machines allow for a nice tidy countertop - and the laundry is a good place for marble!

My laundry room is also a storage area.  I have cabinets above and a long floor to ceiling cabinet to the side of my machines.  Its where the light bulbs, cleaning products and tissue gets stored.  My isn't nearly as organized or as cute at this.  Love the tissue storage in the baskets.

If only.... 

Big room, lots of storage, cool floor.

Even a closet laundry can have style.

Love this stainless steel backsplash.

Gray cabinets.  I love gray cabinets.

 Fresh white subway tile walls and basket storage

Looks great!

I love everything about this little laundry area.

Especially the high wainscoat beadboard.

'Loads' of charm, too.

More gray - seems to be a great color for a laundry room!

Planked ceiling and paneled walls

and a great warm wood butcher block counter

I love this room

Oodles of style here.

This is the second room I've seen with only one machine...

Does it do both, do you think?

Well, yes... there is such a machine. 

 This one is by LG.

Customers seem to like it, although it can take up to six hours to do a load...

If I changed to this machine - I could add that sink....

Ah, here's my dream laundry,

windows galore,

big counter, sink, french door and a bench...

and super cute horizontal paneling

Another tight little spot with lots of style

A stone veneer wall takes laundry up a notch

I'd guess a big family - 

If you need two of each and a sink large enough to bathe

a St. Bernard...

Corrugated metal wall - rustic cuteness.

Glass cannisters for the suds - adorable.

Laundry sign - LOVE it.

Kind of crazy about the baskets...

Drama with the dark planked wall...

I need to find a space for hangers in my laundry room...

Simple and sweet.

Strong wall color prevents boredom in this room...

Great idea

White and bright

and I love the table - wish I had room for one!

QUESTIONS FROM MY READERS:

Hello. Hoping you can help. Our new farmhouse is done in warm, rich historic shades of green, golden ecru and olde forge mustard with cottage white trim. We are now finishing our basement. I used BM revere pewter thinking a lighter color for the basement. It doesn't flow with the rest of the colors. I'm looking for some color inspiration. 
Please help!
Sent from my iPhone

REVERE PEWTER is a truly gorgeous color, but lacking that gold undertone that would blend well with the greens and golds you already have in your home.   It is a cool tone,a gray with a beige undertone. Here are a few lighter colors that will probably blend better, having a little more warmth in them to go with your rich tones.  If you want to stay on the lighter side, you can still bring in those rich tones in the furniture, fabrics and accessories.

Muslin by Benjamin Moore is a nice neutral some warmth and less gray than the Revere Pewter.  

Benjamin Moore SHAKER BEIGE is a soft warm beige/tan

Good Luck!