Monday, January 17, 2011

Old house love

Hello. My name is Londen and I am obsessed with old houses. I have been oohing and aahing over them for as long as I can remember.

Sometimes when I get an idea in my head I just can't seem to stop thinking about it. Thinking about buying an old house and scouring realtor.com has become my new obsession.

Old charming homes on pretty tree lined streets....especially if it's within walking distance to a cute little town. A strolling type neighborhood where you can see a variety of vintage homes like craftsman, American four square and cute cottages just by walking down the street or looking out your window.

Country Living

One that might need to have some work done...well, maybe not that much work.


Country Living

A house we can work on and make our own...again. I would love to find something that has a hideous kitchen so we wouldn't feel bad about ripping it out and starting from scratch.


Cottage Living

Now don't get me wrong...we love our little house and the town we live in. It's within walking distance to the little downtown and the train that will take you right into the city.

If only we could move our much loved Sixty-Fifth Avenue to a street where the majority of houses weren't built in the late forties, fifties and sixties. The funny thing is the town we live in has homes that were built in the 1800s and has charming vintage homes too. There are just not enough of them and they don't go on the market very often.

Better Homes & Gardens

Only time will tell if my daydream will even happen this year or next. There are lots of pieces to the puzzle that need to match up first. I just wanted to share my crazy thoughts with you. Hope you're staying warm where you are, it has been very cold here in the windy city.
Posted by Sixty-Fifth Avenue at 8:24 PM

29 comments:

  1. Living It At HomeJanuary 17, 2011 at 8:30 PM

    I saw that feature about the first house you have pictured! I fell in love with it too and was asking myself....(self)"How the heck were they able to do all of that?" It was obviously a second home! That would be fun to do but we have never renovated an old home! It is a fantasy...yes! I hope your dreams come true....it's a good one to have!

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  2. Cassie BustamanteJanuary 17, 2011 at 8:32 PM

    i am sooo with you! i drool over the same homes. in this are of the country and in our town, i would need at least 700,000 to get a house i want, so i will keep dreaming for now!!! one day when i don't live here, maybe i will have that dream home. it doesn't need to be big- just sweet, charming, cozy, and lots of trees and sidewalks!

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  3. KLMJanuary 17, 2011 at 8:34 PM

    Oh yes... it's part of my dream. I always refer to 'in my dream home I want this and that.... etc etc etc'. Right now we live in a nice quiet neighborhood, about 1.5miles from the old town center and right around the corner from the middle school... however the majority of the homes in my neighborhood are 40-70's. Old... but not old enough, but than again I grew up in a home that was built in 1729 so I really miss living in those super old homes! :)

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  4. Simply LKJJanuary 17, 2011 at 8:44 PM

    I have always wanted to own a home like the one my grandparents owned on Long Island, but my dad always said, "it would be best to build a new one like theirs instead". Not quite the same...they don't build them like they used to!

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  5. the gardener's cottageJanuary 17, 2011 at 9:28 PM

    hi londen,

    i can only say that it took me almost 30 yrs to finally get into our old home. i loved raising my sons in a big 'new' house with all the bells and whistles and now it's just the two of us in this little old place. it was worth the wait.


    xo
    janet

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  6. MarthaJanuary 17, 2011 at 9:37 PM

    I really, really love old homes too...that is my dream to move into one someday in a quaint little neighborhood in a seaside town:)

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  7. Silver Lining DecorJanuary 17, 2011 at 9:45 PM

    I dream about old homes too. I live in a historical area with many beautiful old homes, but like you said, they rarely go on the market. And when they do, you will pay big bucks for them ;)

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  8. StefJanuary 17, 2011 at 10:45 PM

    I drove past the perfect house for our dream business venture last night. It was literally five steps to old town, behind the courthouse, perfect for a cute boutique, it had a big for sale - bank owned sign on it. And above it, a big SOLD sign. I couldn't believe it, how did I never see this house before, HOW?? It would have been perfect. EXCEPT, that it wasn't beat up and waiting for renovation. That's part of my dream, too, fixing up something really really old.

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  9. Hello Lover...January 17, 2011 at 11:26 PM

    I 100% agree! We live in a vintage condo building and the details and floor plan would just not be found in a new home. I know we won't be here forever though so I am constantly looking at old homes on real estate sites!

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  10. Blondie's JournalJanuary 18, 2011 at 4:04 AM

    We live in an older home...just not old enough for me! Many homes in our neighborhood are over 100 and I LOVE them! I'd even take on the extra upkeep. I love walking around looking at them and would take photos if I dared! But my home is the right size and we have labored over every room, It would be hard to give up!

    XO,
    Jane

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  11. www.thewhitefarmhouse2.blogspot.comJanuary 18, 2011 at 4:58 AM

    I am with you. Even though our house was built in 1890, I keep looking at others and daydreaming. Unfortunately, someone redid our whole house and took out all the old stuff to update it. Now I am on a quest to bring it back plus some. The one in town I love just went for sale. I would love to buy it! I made an appointment with the realtor to take a wander through it though. LOL

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  12. Amy ChalmersJanuary 18, 2011 at 5:53 AM

    I LOVE old houses too Londen, but live in my first new house (hubs built it....before we met). My heart, like yours, belongs in an old home.

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  13. Michelle HughesJanuary 18, 2011 at 6:42 AM

    I am right there with you! We are constantly on zillow. I like my house now, but I really want to get my hands on an old house with good wiring and plumbing. Oh and within walking distance to a little town too... maybe with a coffee shop and a few fun boutiques. Picky huh? Hope your dream comes true!

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  14. KateJanuary 18, 2011 at 7:29 AM

    I love old houses too. One of my favorite things to do is drive down streets in established neighborhoods and imagine what it would be like to live in some of the houses. My husband claims that until we can afford someone else to maintain the old house we're going to live in new ones. So, I'll join all the other ladies and dream away....

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  15. Handbags*and*PigtailsJanuary 18, 2011 at 8:24 AM

    In my neck of the woods these are the kind of homes that are everywhere...and for sale. And Id bet the farm that you'd be shocked at how low the prices are. Its amazing how prices differ in various areas.
    Id let you come live here and help us re-do our terrible kitchen:)

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  16. Abby M. InteriorsJanuary 18, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    Thanks for sharing your vision! You have to put it into the world and see what happens. :-)
    xo,
    abby

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  17. annie@mostlovelythingsJanuary 18, 2011 at 6:27 PM

    Hi Londen.

    Your post really hit home today...while I am enjoying 77 degrees in SoCal and have totally enjoyed remodeling our house here...turns out we may be returning to a little town with old houses and a darling little village. So I've been fixated on realtor.com lately. I don't think it's crazy at all...you never know where life is going to take you! Stay warm in the windy city.

    Annie

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  18. WendyJanuary 18, 2011 at 7:40 PM

    great post -- i love the character these homes have... so charming and warm feeling. the last two images are my favorite!

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  19. AnitaJanuary 19, 2011 at 1:39 PM

    I DID IT- or should I say, am doing it. Unlike the feature from Country Living, it is our only house and we are doing a lot of the work itself- finishing up year 2 1/2. Check it out at homestory-anita.blogspot.com

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  20. French Basketeer.comJanuary 19, 2011 at 5:14 PM

    Londen, I also am crazy about old houses, even if as recent as the 40's and 50's. My sister loves new. She wants a house that is like 2 years old or less. I never understand that, though of course with our old house something always needs a little repair or maintenance....but it's the Soul of the old homes....fingers crossed, I am sure your Home will come to you....xxoo A

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  21. Melissa Marie HeadJanuary 20, 2011 at 3:37 PM

    I remember that home from BH&G and loved it - I live in an old house and it is so fun but a lot of work!

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  22. RenéJanuary 22, 2011 at 8:24 AM

    I'm so glad you shared your thoughts so that we could see all of the pretty old houses. Old houses are the best by far.

    -Rene

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  23. Lisa @ Shine Your LightJanuary 23, 2011 at 6:37 PM

    Londen, I just found an awesome blog that is all about the renovation of a very farmhouse in New Hampshire. Have you heard of it? - For The Love Of A House.

    Their renovations are amazing.

    I love older homes and bringing them back to life too. Only problem is the lack of the money tree!

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  24. Ricki TreleavenJanuary 25, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    I love older homes, too. My dream would either be a 1920's cottage or a mid-century modern with lots of glass and nice white walls for my art.

    Thanks so much for visiting my blog and your comments about my daughter's bedroom re-do. She has enjoyed all the comments! :D

    Blessings!
    Ricki Jill

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  25. Jenny Watson BlogsJuly 3, 2013 at 2:37 AM

    All of these images are looking fantatsic.

    http://www.invillas.com/

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  26. UnknownJuly 9, 2013 at 4:34 AM

    These older homes are looking so adorable, thanks for the sharing.

    Villas in Tuscany

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