Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Tour of Homes

Julia at Hooked on Houses is hosting a Tour of Homes. I always love to go on tours of homes when they are available locally. Click on this icon to see a list of all the homes featured. I'm looking forward to seeing the homes on this cyber tour!


On the tour, I'll show you the outside of our home and an addition we made after moving here. The cottage style house is about 13 years old. We sold our other home when the area we were living in went commercial, and a campground trailer park was put in right in front of us! We found this house when it first went on the market. It has been a 'fixer' upper...we have had to do lots to it! But I liked the style and the view from the porch from the beginning. As they say...location, location, location! And the house is in a great location!


The front porch is almost the length of the house . Here is a closer view of one side of the porch.
I made this picture while sitting in one of the rockers. We are across from the largest of seven lakes. The house sits at an angle on the one acre lot.

Before I show you the addition made to the back, I want you to see a before picture. Look right past the cute little redhead and you will see what was behind the house. When we bought it, there were 2 sets of French doors that lead out to the most hideous red deck you can imagine! Before we even signed the papers, I knew that we would have to do something about the deck! I wish I had a better picture of it so you could see how ugly it really was!


We decided to add a screened porch. After getting several estimates, we found a contractor that we liked and decided to go ahead with the project. This is one view of the screened porch added to the back of the house.
Try to overlook the huge elephant ears (a gardening mistake LOL) and you can see how the contractor tied the porch in by adding a roof line that matched the one already there. I really enjoyed working with this contractor. He understood what we wanted from the beginning.

The porch addition actually has two parts...a screened part and a part not screened in. This picture shows that part.
I like the curb appeal of this house, and have enjoyed living near a lake. There are lots of little things I would change about the house, but if we had it to do over, we would buy this house again....mostly because of the location and views!

The inside of the house has been a real challenge...I'll show that another time when I have a chance to get together the before and after pictures! Thanks for stopping by.

45 comments:

Picket said...

Morning girl...oh your home is beautiful and the view!!! lol Love...love...love those porches and those white rockers across the front,,ohhhhhhhh! Ok now give the tour inside! lol Hope you are having a great week friend!

Southern Lady said...

Diane, forget location. Your home is beautiful by itself ... having the gorgeous lake view is just lagniappe.

And I love all those porches! You have the best of both worlds with the back porch partially screened and partially open. And I really like how the contractor raised the roof over it ... very nice!

I enjoyed your tour and hope you will share the inside with us someday.

Sincerely,

Janie

Anonymous said...

Morning Diane! Your home is gorgeous! I said last week it was the prettiest on the block! Love the view and I dream of having an enclosed porch someday. Your contractor did a fantastic job! I don't think I would ever go inside. I know what you mean about the deck I had a "redwood" stained one before when that color was popular in early '80's!lol Very pretty home, Jeannette

Blogger said...

Your home is so beautiful and yep it is all about location, location, location and you definitely have a great one!

I had to laugh about your gardening mistake, lol...haven't we all done those? I have a few right now that I need to fix, but will wait for the fall.

Come see my Open House if you get the chance, thanks!

Bella

Dawn said...

Good morning Diane. Your home is very beautiful! If I could have my wish it would be a home like yours. I just LOVE the porch and the back looks just as nice.

take care,
Dawn

Marie Louise said...

Your home is lovely. It looks so sunny and peaceful there. And the redhead is a cutie too!

Anonymous said...

wow! it's beautiful - cozy and inviting.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous home, Diane. I'm with Picket...love to see interiors, please!

Thanks so much for adding your home to Julia's tour and thanks for your input on our dining room. I've never had a blue room, so this is a big departure for us. J is thrilled with the idea of blue. I guess he's grown tired of the gold, so we shall see how it looks when painted. Painter guy will be by soon to bid. Our DIY painting days are long past.

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

Diane, I love your porches!! Not to mention your amazing view. Your house is just adorable. Now I'm pressing my nose up to the windows, trying to get a peek inside... :-)

Thanks for joining the blog party! -Julia

Anonymous said...

Ok ..Im ..in love with your house! Oh your porch... Love it so! I would never leave this porch if I had one likethat with the screen and all. With that lake close by I think I would just set me a bed up right there and dream away!!!! Cant wait till you take us inside! Susie H~

Abbreviated said...

Thanks for the tour !

Love those elephant ears !

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Diane, I just LOVE your house! Wow, is it gorgeous, I don't think I've seen it all before. So pretty & the porch & screened porch in the back is just to die for. I could live very happily in a house like that AND you're on the lake. You are SO BLESSED!

xo,
Rhoda

Nancy Rosalina said...

Good Morning Diane, Love the tour! Beautiful home, porches and view! My favorite is the screened in porch. Blessings, nancy

Barb said...

Hi Diane, A beautiful house in a beautiful setting. I love porches. We have a patio but there is something about a porch that a patio can't begin to compare to.

Hugs,
Barb

Kim's Treasures said...

Morning! Your house is beautiful! You did great with the covered screened in porch! I love it! Your contractor did an awesome job making sure the addition flowed with the older part of your home! Thanks for sharing! Have a great day!
Kim

bj said...

Oh, my word, girlfriend...your home is just BEAUTIFUL. It is very close to my DREAM home, I'll tell ya. How blessed you are to have it and to have it so close to a beautiful lake.
Thanks much for sharing this pretty thing with us.....
love, bj

Trixi said...

You have a beautiful home and I love those porches. Location, Location, Location is why we bought our home. We can fix the rest!

CIELO said...

Oh, Diane... what a beautiful house... and that porch with the white rocking chairs is a dream--my dream of a front porch...how blessed you are!

Wishing you the sweetest day, a day rich in loving thoughts for others, a day soaked in warmth and happiness...

Hugs

cielo

Unknown said...

You have such a gorgeous home and I especially love the gardens. What a lovely setting. KNOCK ~ KNOCK anybody home? I wanna come in! I'll be back when you get home as I want to see what you do inside!

Anonymous said...

Diane, your home is so beautiful. I love the style and the lake view. Your addition is like a magazine photo. In fact your whole house is like a magazine photo. Can you tell that I totally love your home. smile! The rockers suit the divine design, as well as the landscaping. I want to see the inside now.

I'm glad you like my antique prints. If you goggle the artist there are repros at Grandma's Attic. She has both of my prints for sale plus many others. The original prints, like mine, are very rare. Who knew, I have had mine for a long time.

Have a wonderful day.

Love ya , Jeanne

Alexandra MacVean said...

Your home looks so PEACEFUL! :) It's beautiful.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Diane your home could be in Better Homes and Gardens magazine! I love it.

I actually love the Elephant Ears plants! I saw them fro the first time when we visited some gorgeous plantations in Louisiana. They are very lush and tropical looking.

Marie said...

Your house is SO BEAUTIFUL!! That front porch and landscaping made me swoon! I love your blog and I'm bookmarking you to come back again later! :o)

Anonymous said...

Hmmm ... there's something missing from the picture of the rockers on the porch. Me! Sitting there, looking at the lake.

Thanks for giving me that beautiful view of the lake!

Tara (Random Acts of Home Decor)

Fifi Flowers said...

What a wonderful location and the curb appeal is charming!
Thanks for sharing!
Fifi

Gone said...

Diane,

What a lovely home!! I love the porch with the swings and the screened porch...and the water!

***Make sure you come back & check out ALL my pix...cuz blogger wasn't letting me upload but a few to begin with...now they're all there...and YES, THEY ARE THE BEFORES!!!

~Blessings,
Jan

Picket said...

Hey girl...it's me again...I have tagged you..please come by and see the details!

Grandma Faith said...

I agree with all the other comments about your beautiful home. Your blog is great. I am new to all this but I am sure enjoying it. I've got so much to learn about blogging. I am also a retired teacher. I have seven grandkids and one of them is named Connor. Seems you have so many blog friends already, but if you have time, come by and visit me.

The Berry's Patch said...

OHHHHH I just love it! It's gorgeous! I can't wait to see the inside.

Brandee :-)

Picket said...

hey girl..I went back and did some catch up reading on your blog! I loved those 5 songs...those first 2 I use to sing all the time! lol lol That's fine then about the tag..I should have been keeping up! lol Have a great night girl1

Darlene said...

WOW..you live in the home I WANT to live in!!!!! It is sooooo beautiful and looks sooooo cozy and comfy and the porch, just lovely. LOVE it...I can't wait to see the inside!!

nikkicrumpet said...

Wow....I'm having a SERIOUS episode of "porch envy" Your house is Gorgeous...but I so badly want a porch. I think porches just scream "WELCOME"...and lets not even talk about that stunning lake view. EEEEEK now I have "view envy"! Thanks for the tour of your beautiful home. Can't wait to peek inside.

Kelli said...

Your home is gorgeous! Oh, that porch! I would love to sit and relax with a tall glass of lemonade. :0)
~Kelli

Anonymous said...

I love the porch very much! Can you introduce me to that contractor? lol!

The Beauty Bargainista said...

just stunning what you have done with it! :) Beautiful!!

Anonymous said...

wowza, I thought the picture was one from a realtor, not yours!!!

love love love it, if only my cottage came with a porch like that...

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Your home is lovely and I love screened in porches. I can't wait to see inside. Thanks for coming and visiting me!

The Summer Kitchen Girls said...

Slowly we are making our way through the house tour!! Hasn't this been a fun day? We've barely had time to really sit down and enjoy everyone's post!
We just love your porches - the outside is so beautiful. You must enjoy it very much!! Some day we'd both like a back porch - just like yours.....what's the contractor's name....and does he travel????
Smiles!!
Karla & Karrie

Sew Pink said...

Thanks for stopping by my house tour. I just love your porches. I could sit out there with an ice tea and a good book for hours:)

Mary said...

Beautiful home! I'm in love with your porch overlooking the lake. And the redhead is cute, too!

Bonnie said...

Diane, you told me to look past that cute little redhead, but I COULDN'T! He is just too cute.

I love your front porch and your curb appeal and the view, but what I really am jealous of is that lovely screened porch.

Rhondi said...

Your home is gorgeous!! I'm sure you many happy hours in your porches. We sure could use a screened porch here in the summmer.
Rhondi xo

Mrs. Gray's Class said...

This is the house I dream about - love it and can't wait to see more pictures.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for coming by and saying hi!

I LOVE your home! It is beautiful and so charming...nice porch too!

Can't wait to see the inside tour!!!!

Blogger said...

Hi Diane, I have something for you over at my blog, come see, come see! :) Bella