Monday, May 25, 2009

Heartstrings House Tour

Here is another "corners of the house" tour.

This one in particular pulled on all my heartstrings...

The house is amazing in so many ways:
Architecturally, it is a work of art. The woodwork, 
leaded glass, the garden... you'll see it all in detail.


The way the sunlight thoughtfully makes it's way 
through the doors & windows...





I fell in love with these windows.
(and this radiator )


Then there is a level upon which the entire 
contents of the house is a work of art...
"I Spy Art."

I Spy a pair of tinfoil balls. 1 gold, 1 silver.



Then, on a deeper level, there is an 
emotional element that pulled me in.
There was family here, where 3 children grew up.

Those children are all close in age to me, 
so when I see things like these, it brings back memories:



An airplane made out of Gennie Beer Cans.
(Just so you know, this was the cheapest beer 
that a teenager could buy on Long Island in the 80's.)


"This certificate entitles the holder to 5 gripe-free munchie runs."
A timeless certificate, that's really useful, especially these days.


Here's a brilliant brochure on 
wear & care for your orthodontic head gear.
I see early influences of Milton Glaser & Peter Max.


REAL Silly Putty.


At one point, this house was ruled by an amazing and artful woman. 
I didn't know her, and I've only recently met her daughters,
but I can tell you what I see:
This was woman ahead of her time.

She slept here.


Look at how she collected & appreciated things of beauty.
And whimsy.
Someday, my kids will have to go through piles of tchotchkes
just like this, and they will mutter under their breath as they do it.
They will say things like: 
"What the fuq should we do with Mom's leaf skeletons?
It's not like we could keep them, OR throw them out"



Either way, there was one thing that was apparent 
as I made my way through this house:

This was a Mama that loved and cherished her kids. 
There was evidence of her encouragement everywhere.



I love the sewing/crafts room.
There are some Etsypians who would kill for this space
and all of it's contents.






Here are some more details from 
the bedrooms & bathrooms...




It's funny how some things find a home & just stay there...




A couple of gems from the office...





back downstairs...


In the pantry...



On to the kitchen...
I Spy something old, something copper, and something blue :-)



you can tell that BIG things 
went down in this part of the house...



I Spy a metal change dispenser. 
Was there a Good Humor guy in the family??




Then there's the oven.
It's the same oven we had in my kitchen growing up.


Look! It's 4:15. Time for General Hospital & Nacho Cheese Doritos.
(ed note: MJ is right... GH was over by then. HAD to be Edge of Night!)


I love the cleaning instructions... 


and the logo & type design, plus the pattern behind it.


Guacamole about to happen, any minute.



There were secret sneaky items like this everywhere.



Vows were taken here...




An outdoor collection...


A still life.


A flirty potting shed...



Looking up at the kitchen window.


Thanks for following me through this beautiful house...


And thank you Maggie & family for letting me in.

If you let me back, I'll help you sort through the single socks. :-)
xoh


29 comments:

Magpie said...

I find this both exhilarating, and heartstopping. Thanks - I love seeing it through your eyes.

modernemama said...

Every photo a tells a story - and what a treasure trove to choose from... such a comforting and unquestionably stylish home

Formerly known as Frau said...

wow that house has gems at every turn. I love every inch of it.

Elena said...

Just beautiful, nostalgic, heartbreaking. And then, a gorilla suit...

Heidi - what an eye!

Maggie - thinking of you.

Pickle Horwitz said...

Beautiful. I love the baby gowns hanging above the bed.

P.S. I spy YOU in the gorilla shot!

Who me? said...

I love these photos- from the blue jars in the window to the I-spy ---just wonderful. (sooooosh sooooon)

Beck said...

What a lovely, lovely house. The thought of packing it up is making my heart feel a bit broken, but how magical to have had that house - and the owner - in one's life.

G-Ro said...

OMG, I love it, every well-trodden warm waxy inch of it!

Mad said...

My heart is fluttering a little fast here. The beauty of all this and the love--it is all taking my breath away.

Debra said...

I house with a little whimsy and great old bones. What a dream!

Jean Martha said...

OMG. When can I move in? That house is bursting with love.

jae said...

I've never seen a house tour before that made me feel like I knew the people quite so much. Talk about letting your personality show in your home....it is magnificent!

Elissa said...

As one of the neighbor kids, I spent so many hours in that house. From the mother of the house we learned to use a jungle gym to stake our cucumbers, paint our dining rooms red and frame our children's finger paintings. We learned to use old wool rugs as garden mulch and to create multiple compost pits. She was truly gifted - my father called her the only true artist he ever met. But we also learned from eavesdropping on the top stairs during years of the mothers nighttime visits to my parents and other neighbors that some people never recover from divorce grief. The mother of that house was complicated.

Unknown said...

Wow. Just wow. beautiful

Thank you.

Woman in a Window said...

Holy HOly Hell! That is beautiful. You don't know. That is so freaken beautiful. Apparently you do know...you took the pictures. wow~

kathy a. said...

so gorgeous! i wish my house was nearly as terrific. there is some fabric in the last photo that i used in our very first house!

Bwen said...

I know this house well and have never stopped marvelling at it. I second Elissa's father: the owner was a true artist. Thank you for detailing her incredible creation so beautifully.

alejna said...

I just totally fell in love with that house. Thank you for sharing those beautiful photos.

Furrow said...

Thank you for sharing this. Maggie is one of my favorites. I feel inspired now to make my home a work of art.

Unknown said...

I swear this is your long lost twin just born a little before you! What a lovely story that you told through your photos, an homage to someone so special!
Terry on Herbert

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

omg...you had me at the front door!! I looovvveee this house and everything about it, right down to the ape bust in the sink. (huh? ;-) And love your use of the word Etsypians...that's a keeper.

Thank you for sharing this. A++!!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful -- truly truly beautiful. LOVE the white baby clothes hanging over her bed. That woman was an artist, and you couldn't have captured the essence of her home more artfully. XOXO Heather

onesilentwinter said...

OH MY!!! okay i am going to go through again!!

Cheryl said...

Wow. I'm kinda speechless. The image that really stays with me is the one of her bed with the baby clothes hung above. I love all the whimsy. Thanks for sharing this.

Janet said...

What an amazing woman she was!

G-Ro said...

I just HAD to take another tour. Thanks for re-linking with the varmints shot. Dang.

painted maypole said...

i've learned so much about Maggie and her mother. thank you.

this house is a dream house. truly.

Janet said...

That mirror with the beads and dried lilacs...beautiful!!! And is that a real turtle on the tub? I had to come back and look at this on a bigger screen, the pictures warranted it :-)

Amanda said...

Love and character seep into the very bones of a home. I love the spirit that flits through these images. Also, I adore Maggie.