Terrace Confession...

here

I have a confession...

For the longest time, actually, since 1992, I have always wanted to live in a Terraced House.

When we looked in Tasmania before we moved here, there was a terraced house in Launceston which needed some love, but was divine. I took photos of it and returned to NSW to re-design, sketch, and mood board this baby in my vision.

It was a fun past time, but the reality was that we were looking at starting a family and I my other love, old Australian heritage homes was calling, and so we settled in the house we now call home.

But, lately, I have been thinking more and more about the terraced homes here in Launceston...and one is for sale! Don't worry, I'm not buying it, but I have thought of arranging a look through...just to cure my 'thing' I have for these lovely homes

here

They have lovely French doors like this.

Well, this is actually in Paris...but they are just like this.

here

and the most amazing iron work ever.

Well, if you get one that has already been done up and renovated well.

These homes have there downfalls-

small kitchens, sometimes galley style

usually 2 bedrooms

not much of a backyard

....but I do love them so!

here

they are glorious!

the whole 'sharing a wall' thing is a worry too.

What happens if you get noisy neighbours?

For that reason, I would be after a detached terrace =0)

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This middle terrace is the one which is for sale.

It does have a bit of a yard, but after living on just under an acre, I don't think I could do this right now.

The boys would go stir crazy!

Maybe, this will be a retirement plan....a long way away.

I will watch the sale progress and see how it goes. It is still a lovely old lady and I am sure she will get an owner that will love her dearly.

It doesn't mean my re-found addiction will go away though

...there are 5 more for sale!! ;0)

A Wander With Me...

Before I start, I apologise for the quality of these photos as they were taken on my phone.

OK, Hi all!

Today we ventured out as a Family to watch Mic race at a little town called Carrick. For those that don't know, Mic is a cyclist as was very heavily into it until he had some major crashes and injuries and stepped away for a while.

So he had he second race in 13 years today and we were all there to support him.

But what do you do when they all ride away for 45mins or longer?

....the boys' and I go for a walk and drool over houses  (well , they collect Acorns and leaves and I drool!)   ;0)

This one above is stunning and a wonderful example of early colonial type homes.

The actual home is a warm white with grey trim and my little phone does it no justice - at all!!

I even got to see in the window of their dining room and they had a full setting of Bentwood chairs! I really wanted to have a look inside. Even the gardens were stunning.

I loved the garden of this home which was a little further along on the same street. Lots of leafy deciduous trees and beautiful trimmed hedges.

This is another early 1800's home and the detailing is wonderful.

Here is a close up view of the front. The whole home was white and everything was trimmed and manicured like they knew people would be about to look at their home today...I was that's for sure!!

weeklytimesnow.com.au

We are lucky here in Tasmania that there are so many 'old' homes that have been saved, restored and re loved. Its nice to see.

Whenever I am visiting my Parents in Sydney I am horrified to see the old homes being either knocked down to make way for modern boxes or renovated to look like, not sure of the word, but 'tramps' comes to mind.

This stunning 'palace' is in Melbourne and is Como House. It is superb.

here

Another gorgeous example.

This is actually a B&B in Richmond here in Tasmania, called Mrs Curries House.

Tasmania really has a love for old houses from our past. I think that was one of the things we fell in love with when we first visited on our Honeymoon back in 1998.

At the time we were looking at buying a 1/4 acre block in Bowral in the Southern Highlands, NSW and I had looked for something that embodied that old Australia that I have loved since I was a very small child.

Then I found......

Harkaway Homes!

This one happens to be not too far away from us in Westbury. I love it!!

This building company provides a kit form home to lock up stage, which they will walk you through.

The whole package has been based around the true Australian Colonial and early 1900's aesthetic.

This was the actual home we had looked at. I dragged Mic along to the display center which was miles away and sauntered through it like a child in a toy store!!!

REAL WOOD lead lights windows, REAL WOOD French doors, REAL window seats, 12 foot ceilings, wrap around verandas that are 2 meters deep.....sigh, and no Aluminium in sight!!

(just quietly I still want one and have an info pack coming to me as we speak...just in case)

This is the home from Westbury on another angle.

It is like our home but with more windows and weatherboards...and white!

The insides are amazing. This is an additional part of the kit, an entertainment ad on if you will.

How they have captured the old Australian charm and on such a low cost scale amazes me.

I am saving this image. Its like our home again, but with Dormers and we have always said, if we stay here and won the lotto, we would add Dormers!!

but, if we won the Lotto, I'd probably want more land and something that fits on it =0)

again, this is so like our house...makes me wanna paint, and plant...oh wait, that's what is going on ;0)

So my love for old homes doesn't have to end with the destruction and re build of modern monsters.

We can start again by building New World Old!

I hope you enjoyed what started as a walk around a quaint town to a rambling about one of my ultimate passions- old Australian houses.

See why I love them so?

top 3 images by me, untagged images are by Harkaway Homes

701st...

Hey there!

Apparently this is my 701st posting...or rambling depending on your take.

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you all for your support and for making me feel welcome in blogland.

Posts will be a little here and there as I take some much needed time with our little family.

I hope you understand.

So, I am showing this stunning kitchen in the meantime ;0)

just quietly I am thinking of roman blinds in linen for the kitchen...Mic doesnt know this yet!

Perfect Elements...

A perfect kitchen for me would have to have a few 'must haves' in it.

Like, white Belfast sink with bridge taps in nickle and loads of cupboards...

an amazing pantry, with a chalkboard somewhere...the door works for me...loads of ironstone which I use everyday in our oven and on the table, microwave everywhere (hate the plastic containers)

...and a 'wow' piece.

This would do fine =0)

Whats your perfect kitchen elements?

Ness xx

It's Perfect...thanks Miss Kris!

Now you know why this is my Dream Home!!
The beautiful Miss Kris lives not far from this gem and sent me these photos of the outside of my Dream Home...and I wasn't disappointed. I know I have shown photos of this home before (you can see one on my side bar under Dream Home), but now I have the whole visual package, I thought we would have another look...cause I never tire of this place!!
My Mum and I just looked over this home in huge view and every little detail of this exterior is just heavenly. I would walk in tomorrow...no worries!

Remember the living room? How could you not. Hydrangeas, iron stone, white sofas, French doors, fire place....sigh!
...ornate mirrors, loads of light...and gorgeous lighting.
The outdoors doesn't disappoint either.

But, this is the picture that started it all - the kitchen! Superb.

Now you see why this is my Dream Home, right?

I thank you Kris for taking the time to photograph this and send me an email with those stunning shots...made my day!!

Ness xx

A beautiful, busy day...

from my dream house file - unknown
My Lavender has finally 'woke up'!!

We have had the most beautiful, busy day today. A workout in the morning, mowing lawns, a trip to the beach to chase the boys along the sand and look for crabs and shells, a quick post, make dinner then off to Bootcamp!!! I feel tired just reading it.

I hope this is the start of some lovely weather over the weekend...we deserve it after all the rain.

I hope you all have a beautiful weekend too,

Ness xx

Lovin the light!

Felicitas Oefelein
Lighting for a room has always amazed me, how it can transform a room from bright, light, industrial overheads to warm low side lamps that make a room friendly and cocoon-like. The choices are endless. However, I am into this huge bowl shaped light which has been hung low over the coffee table. I imagine it looks wonderful lit and the fact it is not in a huge stairwell, or over a dining table (where you would expect to see it) impresses me even more. At least it would be easy to reach and dust!!! Anna Spiro's home via Content Agency
This pretty and unashamedly feminine one is from Anna Spiro's home. The flowers and pom-pom trim on the little shades is such a sweet pairing.

From my Dream Home file - unknown source

The Chandelier has always been a favourite of mine. Although, dare I say it, I have seen them everywhere lately and I think I am starting to tire of them a little. Maybe that's why I am into the first picture so much - its just different!

ZK Interiors
These ball shaped lights with clusters of Edison -type globes are starting to be seen more and more in Contemporary spaces...I think they work so well. There are some similar to this at our Airport here in Launceston, not as big - but effective.
We haven't made any huge purchases in lighting our own home yet. I have always wanted some shop stopper fitting...but I love the warmth of lamps and candles!
What is you favourite type of lighting???
Ness xx

Happy Weekend

From My Dream Home File - unknown source

I hope your weekend is full of happy times, creative endeavours or DIY masterpieces. I hope to show you all some of my own next week...as long as they work!

What ever you are up to - have a peaceful one.

Ness xx

Beach House Kitchen/Dining

The Dream House (from my files)

Regular readers will know this is my dream kitchen...I am not going to say that I will use all elements from this kitchen as it would be in my normal house -but I will take the banks of doors, painted beams and expanse of white thanks! of course the walls will be beaded.
Eric Roth Photography
Beaded walls like this, but all the way up. I am liking the check roman shades for the beach house too....and a Mora clock would just be heaven!

Coastal living
Easy going dining chairs that could be pulled up outside as well as used inside would be a great option....ah and there are the doors and drapes and limed floors.

Christopher Peacock Kitchens
Limed ceilings would be perfect - as would this kitchen! Baskets, stainless, scrubby wood and white. If I could take the main elements from the first kitchen and put them in here I would be done. Really I am not being too fussy here am I?

I will wrap up my dream beach house tomorrow with the rest of the tour...you might be getting bored!

Ness xx

Part 2 of My Beach House- Living Areas

from my files
Welcome to my 'Beach House'. Yesterday I took you through what would make up the entry hall, today I am showing you through the living areas. This image above is from the file marked "My Dream Home"...I don't see why it can't be my dream Beach House either.
Banks of doors (Ala Somethings Gotta Give), loads of squishy white slip covered sofas, iron stone on display, white Hydrangeas in huge glazed pots and loads of wicker and worn wood...ah!
House Beautiful
The walls would be beaded, and white to show of the vintage botanical prints which would hang in a group of 6 above the fireplace. There would have to be a silver industrial lamp somewhere too and definitely a sisal rug on limed floors.
Marley & Lockyer
Of course there would be some of my own grain sack pillows mixed with blue and white fabrics on the other ones to sink into while on the sofa.
Country Home
The ticking on these chairs here would be a perfect little accent on box cushions on the floor in a huge informal pile so the children could lay all over while they make beach collages! Wicker blinds are a must...and I am in love with the pitch forks!!
NZ House & Garden
...you know there would be LOADS of blue and white pieces about filled with fresh flowers too.
Skona Hem

As much as I love a traditional fire...I am keen on something unusual like this...in a huge convict sandstone mantel.

Coastal Living
A few oars on the wall, although probably done to death, I think would go great in our beach house. Not the new reproduction kind, but some old, worn scrubby looking ones with old flaky red paint peeking through...and an old racing number!

from Brooke Giannetti
This would be the perfect drapery for our living areas - long, full and light.

Restoration Hardware
On shelves would be linen covered books alongside others, removed from there colourful sleeves to show the subdued colours of their binding...all held up with some sort of tremendous corbel or Architectural piece as a bookend.
Victoria Hagen

A telescope to watch the yachts out on the sea and a big, beautiful Wing back chair to curl up in beside the fire on a chilly night would cap it all off.

Ness xx

Tomorrow I hope you will join me for a tour of the Kitchen =0)