A Shocking Discovery—The Dollhouse Continues To Surprise Me!

August 4, 2025 by 56 Comments

Welcome to the 862nd Metamorphosis Monday! This house keeps blowing my mind! I've owned this cute cottage home for just over a year now. I thought I had uncovered all its secrets, all its hidden history over its 87-year existence. NOPE! Before I share this recent discovery, I promised you a view of how the front of the house looks with all the new plantation shutters installed.  This also ties in with my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, Storybook Cottages



More Plantation Shutters For The Dollhouse & A Simple Change With Big Results!

May 26, 2025 by 54 Comments

Welcome to the 852nd Metamorphosis Monday! There have been so many updates at the Dollhouse over the past two weeks, both small and large. I often wish things moved at a faster pace. It's easy for me to focus on the things I still desperately wish to get done, forgetting just how much I have accomplished over the past year. Sometimes, to calm my always-plotting-the-next-update-brain, I will walk from room … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Dining Room, Living Room (Downstairs), Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , , , ,



Had The Dollhouse And Its Roof Cleaned—How Did It Turn Out?

May 19, 2025 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 851st Metamorphosis Monday! When I moved into this adorable cottage last June (aka, the Dollhouse) I noticed a lot of deferred maintenance. The couple from whom I purchased the home worked in a job where they knew they would only be here for 2-3 years, and I'm guessing they didn't want to spend $$$ on a house they would only be living in for a short time. In the photo below, a bit of dark … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , ,



Gardening Updates, Beautiful Dovecotes, & A Missing Sneaker

May 17, 2025 by 25 Comments

It is finally starting to feel like spring here. I am loving these warmer temps! The garden here at the Dollhouse is fully awake now, so I thought I'd share what plants/flowers survived the past two years of 3-foot tall weeds and neglect that it experienced. You may remember when I shared these Lenton Roses earlier in the spring. Thanks for your help in identifying these!   Before we visit … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gardening & Birding, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , , , , ,



Beautiful, Whimsical Wallpaper For My Guest Bath & Mini-Mudroom

April 14, 2025 by 47 Comments

Welcome to the 846th Metamorphosis Monday! Thanks for all your awesome input yesterday regarding the baskets for the filing cabinet console I recently added to my office. I had to agree with those who left comments saying that neither the 3-basket or the 4-basket option worked well since the 4-basket looked crowded and the 3-basket option looked awkward. I have removed all the baskets for now, so it's back … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , , , , ,



Three Baskets, Or Four, For The Lateral File Cabinet?

April 12, 2025 by 103 Comments

I was going to save this update for Metamorphosis Monday, but I'd love your opinion now since I need to make a decision, then return something that I'll be sharing in this post.   You may remember that I recently ordered a lateral file cabinet for the office. It all started with me wanting something on which I could place a lamp. That's often the crazy way I decorate: Want lamp lighting in one … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Office/Craft/Sewing Room, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: ,



Take A Tour Of Beautiful Sunnyland, A True Labor Of Love Throughout Its Restoration

January 13, 2025 by 16 Comments

Welcome to the 833rd Metamorphosis Monday! Kathryn, a lovely BNOTP reader, recently shared some wonderful photos of her beautiful 1909 home in Kansas named Sunnyland. Don't you love that name?! Kathryn wrote, "The name, 'Sunnyland' is etched in limestone on the turret. The house was built in 1909 and we are the 6th owners. The original owners were pioneers of the town and made money as the town grew. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Historic Homes Tagged With: , , ,



A Cozy Reading Corner For A Cottage Home Office

November 4, 2024 by 102 Comments

Welcome to 823rd Metamorphosis Monday! A few days ago I shared a chair I had added to the office. In that post I asked how you liked it, and the reviews were mixed. If I counted, I think more of you liked it than didn't, or perhaps the ones who didn't were just being polite. lol   I was a little surprised that a few folks didn't think it worked well with the rug. I love mixing prints as you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, BNOTP Library, For the Love of Birds, Office/Craft/Sewing Room, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , , , ,



Creating A Cozy Seating Area For The Office, How Do You Like The Chair(s) I Chose?

October 30, 2024 by 42 Comments

The last time we checked out the office was a few weeks ago when the plantation shutters were added to this room. Around that same time, or maybe it was a few days after, I stumbled across a chair I really liked while shopping for something else on the Home Depot website. I didn't realize HD had branched out into offering furniture on their site. It reminds me of the days when the Home Depot Expos were … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Decorating, Office/Craft/Sewing Room, Storybook Cottages



2 New Additions For The Butler’s Pantry & 1 For The Kitchen

October 19, 2024 by 36 Comments

One of my favorite rooms in the Dollhouse is the Butler's Pantry. A few weeks back I shared in a post that I was thinking about purchasing a toaster oven since the oven that's here in the Dollhouse kitchen takes absolutely forever to pre-heat. I'm used to my double oven back in Georgia which heats up super fast. I ended up buying the toaster oven (that's also an air fryer)  I mentioned in that previous post … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Closets & Pantries, Halloween Decor, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , , ,



The First Ever Tablescape In The Dollhouse Dining Room

October 17, 2024 by 35 Comments

Welcome to the 838th Tablescape Thursday! I can't believe this day has come! I actually have a table on which I can set a table setting right here in the Dollhouse! Yaaaay! About time, right? Let-me-tell-ya, it was a process and a half getting it here since Rooms to Go, from whom the table was purchased, doesn't deliver to the state of Ohio. After searching high and low for several months, this table from … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Halloween Table Settings, Halloween Tablescapes, Historic Homes, Storybook Cottages, Tablescape Thursday Tagged With: , , ,



Awesome Way To Lift Furniture, Wish I’d Known About This Tool Long Before Now!

October 6, 2024 by 20 Comments

Oh my gosh, I just recently discovered and used the most amazing tool! Have you ever wanted to lift up a heavy piece of furniture, but didn't have anyone available to help? I have been wanting to remove these little knob-like feet from under the bun feet on my desk for a while now since my desk is a tiny bit higher than I would like it to be.   These are smallish feet that I wanted to remove. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Office/Craft/Sewing Room, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , ,



Retiring & Replacing An Old Flag, Plus 2 Bits of Really Good News!

October 4, 2024 by 35 Comments

I love it when I'm out walking and pass by a home proudly displaying our country's flag. I've always wanted to fly the American flag on the front of my home in Georgia, but the only place that a holder could be mounted is on one of the columns, and the columns are round in shape. I've never found a holder that I thought would work properly on a round column, plus I had some issues a few years back with the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , , ,



Silk-Wrapped Bulbs For The Dinining Room Chandelier & Updated Dish Storage

October 3, 2024 by 13 Comments

Welcome to the 836th Tablesape Thursday! When I last shared the dish storage here in the Dollhouse, this is how things looked.   After bringing up several more boxes, this is how things look now. The new additions are the rest of the soup tureens that had been stored inside the china cabinet in my dining room, and Noritake Colburn dinnerware and coordinating glassware that had been stored in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dining Room, Storybook Cottages, Tablescape Thursday



Dollhouse Updates: You’ll Never Believe How Much I Brought Up This Time!

September 30, 2024 by 22 Comments

Welcome to the 818th Metamorphosis Monday! So much has happened since I shared my last post for Tablescape Thursday. As I'm sure you've heard, we had a big weather event across the southeast. I was scheduled to head to the Dollhouse last Thursday, but I stayed put until things looked better in my area mid-day Friday. I had one of the best drives up I've ever had with very little traffic and no major backups … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baths, Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , ,



6 Major Purchases That Could Not Wait: What I Purchased & Why

September 17, 2024 by 23 Comments

When I bought a second home a few months back, I wasn't sure how long it would be before I moved there full-time. So I had some tough decisions to make about what to purchase for the home right away, and which things could wait. After thinking it over, I did what I always do when I'm in an unfamiliar situation and not exactly sure where to start—I started with the "knowns." In my mind, there were two … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, My Nest, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , ,



2 Updates For A Cottage Dining Room, One Is Small But Surprisingly Impactful!

September 15, 2024 by 20 Comments

Welcome to the 816th Metamorphosis Monday! If you've been reading BNOTP for a while, you may remember when I changed out the badly yellowed, plastic candle covers on my dining room chandelier for Lumiere's beautiful, realistic-looking candle covers.   At that time, I also upgraded the bulbs in my chandelier to these beautiful, silk-wrapped bulbs. I love this look for a chandelier sooo … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Dining Room, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , , , ,



The Best Way To Remove Tape Residue From Hardwood Flooring

September 9, 2024 by 28 Comments

Welcome to the 815th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! Hope your weekend was awesome! I have a house full of painters here right now, they are working on finishing up the painting in the kitchen and the basement.  I'm still anxious and nervous about how the kitchen desk restoration will look in the kitchen once that is completed. I'll keep you posted on how it turns out. Today, I'm sharing a smallish … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Historic Homes, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , ,



When Am I Selling My Home & Moving? Answering All Of Your Questions

September 4, 2024 by 71 Comments

Ever since I shared in a post that I had purchased a home near family in Ohio, I've received quite a few questions via comments and emails. Today, I thought I'd try to answer some of those questions, although I'm not sure I have all the answers myself. Before we jump into the questions, let me give you a little background about how I came to find the home I've come to affectionately call the "Dollhouse" due … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Historic Homes, My Nest, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , ,



Reglazing, Refinishing The Bathtub—How Does It Look? Plus, Hummingbird Visits!

August 21, 2024 by 52 Comments

Over the years I've had the pleasure of going on a lot of historic/old home tours, almost always at Christmastime. I've also attended gatherings and holiday parties that were held in very old homes. One thing I've noticed about really old homes is that "things" are not always perfect. During a holiday party, if you happen to visit the bathroom, you may notice a little darkening of the grout over in a corner … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baths, Before & After, Historic Homes



From Hidden, Weedy, Window Boxes To Window Boxes Filled With Flowers

August 12, 2024 by 87 Comments

Welcome to the 811th Metamorphosis Monday! Back when the Dollhouse was listed for sale in 2022, this is how the landscaping looked in the front yard. Notice the small tree on the right that's planted right up against the house. Two years ago when this photo was taken, you could barely see the window box behind it on the lower window, and you couldn't see the one under the top window at … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Garden, Historic Homes, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , , ,



2 Mysteries In This 1938 Cape Cod: 1 Marked Solved, 1 Still Unsolved. Any Ideas?

June 24, 2024 by 42 Comments

Welcome to the 804th Metamorphosis Monday! Buying a 1938 Cape Cod has been an interesting, intriguing, and sometimes challenging experience. Some days are days are challenging, and some days are filled with mystery and intrigue. In a recent post, I shared a mystery electrical switch that I discovered in an unusual spot in the master bedroom. If you look closely at this picture of the room when the home was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Storybook Cottages



A Few Bathroom Updates & Cute Daisy Towels

June 19, 2024 by 41 Comments

I'm back home in Georgia, arrived late yesterday afternoon. The painters arrived bright and early this morning. There's been lots of pressuring washing going on, the actual painting outside will start tomorrow. I'm not doing a color change, just refreshing the exterior paint in the areas that are painted. During my time in Ohio, you know I had to make a few visits to my favorite grocery store, Dorothy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baths, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Storybook Cottages



Beautiful, Affordable, Comfy Bed & Mattress, Plus, A Special Secret Storage Space

June 17, 2024 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 803rd Metamorphosis Monday! If you've been following along, you may remember that the closing on the Dollhouse took place on the 30th of May. The sellers had asked to stay through the 14th, but they ended up moving out on the 8th, except for a few items that they came back for over the following week. They graciously allowed me access to the house a bit earlier, which worked out great since I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Storybook Cottages



More Dollhouse Adventures, Including Trapping Myself In One Of The Rooms!

June 15, 2024 by 45 Comments

It feels like I've been working on projects inside the house for weeks and weeks, when in reality I've only had access to the Dollhouse for about a week. I'll be sharing the temporary sleeping quarters I've created for this week's Met Monday. Over the past week, when I haven't been building something, taking boxes to the nearby recycling center, meeting with internet installers, electricians, plumbers, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, My Nest, Office/Craft/Sewing Room, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , ,



Setting Up My New Office & Playing In The Dining Room

June 10, 2024 by 28 Comments

Welcome to the 802nd Metamorphosis Monday! So much has happened over the past week since the closing on May 30th. I wish now I had kept a diary of sorts, detailing each day. At the end of each day, I fall asleep the minute my head hits the pillow, but if you were to ask me what I did that day, I'm not sure I could remember half of it. I've been in almost constant motion since arriving in Ohio. Things are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Dining Room, Living Room (Downstairs), My Nest, Storybook Cottages



Let’s Tour the Basement, Bedrooms, Baths and Gardens In The Home I Just Purchased

June 3, 2024 by 93 Comments

Welcome to the 801st Metamorphosis Monday! When I last left you on Saturday, we had just taken a tour of the downstairs part of the home that I recently purchased. If you missed that post, you'll find it here: Not Going To Make You Wait—Let's Go Inside The Home I Just Bought.   Before we head upstairs, let's go downstairs and check out the basement.   You may remember from my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historic Homes, My Nest, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , , , ,



Not Going To Make You Wait—Let’s Go Inside The Home I Just Bought

May 31, 2024 by 115 Comments

The closing on the house went great yesterday—no hiccups. There were 5 of us present at the closing: the title agency representative (not sure of her exact title), the seller, the seller's realtor, my realtor, and of course, yours truly. The representative leading the closing sat at the head of the big conference table with the seller to her left and the buyer (me) to her right. Our realtors sat beside us, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historic Homes, My Nest, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , , ,



New Lanterns While The Original Lanterns Are Undergoing Restoration

October 30, 2023 by 13 Comments

Welcome to the 770th Metamorphosis Monday! Several years back I shared some of the beautiful design features found in my son and daughter-in-law's 99-year-old cottage home. Many of the original elements of their home remind me so much of the storybook cottages you see in Carmel, California--like these adorable lanterns they have on either side of their front door. A while back, one of the lanterns became … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Historic Homes Tagged With: , , , ,



This 1970s Kitchen Just Got a Dramatic, Down-to-the-Studs, Beautiful Renovation!

April 10, 2023 by 39 Comments

Welcome to the 741st Metamorphosis Monday! If you love a dramatic Before and After, you're going to love today's reveal! My son and daughter-in-law live in an older neighborhood where many of the homes were built in the early 1900s. I think their home was built in the early 1920s, if I'm remembering correctly. The previous owners did a kitchen update at some point, we're guessing in the 1970s based on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Historic Homes



Where Would You Love to Live–Beach, City, Mountains–or Somewhere In Between?

October 3, 2022 by 43 Comments

Welcome to the 714th Metamorphosis Monday! I guess I've always been a city girl, not "hard-core city" like living in Atlanta, but more low-key city living, life in the burbs 25-30 minutes outside a big city. That lifestyle has worked well over the years, especially when my son was in elementary, middle, and high school. Back then, schools were the most important factor in choosing where to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Home Tours



A Weekend Stroll Past Beautiful Historical Homes

November 6, 2021 by 11 Comments

How about a weekend stroll? Did you bring your water? How about a sweater, it's chilly out today. Actually, I think I took these photos on a warm, summer day but just never got around to sharing them with you. Often when I'm visiting family in Ohio,  on the weekends we will walk to nearby restaurants for dinner. The view along the way is always wonderful because we pass by so many beautiful, old homes … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historic Homes Tagged With: ,



Hidden Away at the End of the Lane…

February 11, 2020 by 26 Comments

To date, the best historic home tour that I've ever taken (and I've taken a lot!) was a ramble (that's what they call them) I took with The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation to Newnan, Georgia. I've never seen so many beautiful old homes in a single day as we did on that trip. I'm used to historic home tours where there's one or two knock-your-socks-off homes on the tour, along with 3 or 4 other … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historic Homes Tagged With: , , ,



A Summer Sunday Stroll

August 28, 2019 by 59 Comments

I'm making the long drive home today, wish me luck! Last time it involved a bit of drama...read more about that here: Drama on the Drive Home. Hopefully, I won't encounter any 18-wheelers with exploding tires this time. Ugh.   While I'm driving all day, I thought you might enjoy a nice stroll through some of the beautiful neighborhoods in this area. I snapped these photos as we walked to a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historic Homes, Home Tours, Storybook Cottages



Buying Furniture for a Storybook Cottage & Fall Wardrobe Updates

August 24, 2019 by 32 Comments

So, ya know that storybook cottage I dream of finding one day? (Read more about it here: Storybook Cottage.)   I'm pretty sure it will have a chest like this inside someplace.   You may remember, my daughter-in-law and I just added this chest to my grandsons' bedroom. I'm obsessed with the color!   Here's a closer view of the color...just a perfect shade of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, New Old Homes, Storybook Cottages



Having Tea at Max Gate, Thomas Hardy Style

July 24, 2019 by 23 Comments

Welcome to the 566th Tablescape Thursday! This past Saturday we visited Max Gate, the home Thomas Hardy built after he became a successful writer.   I hope to share additional photos of the home in the future, but for this week's Tablescape Thursday, we're going inside the dining room.   I always appreciate the beautiful homes I visit during my travels, but sometimes I think … [Read more...]

Filed Under: England, Historic Homes, Tablescape Thursday, Travel Tagged With: , ,



Like a Beautiful Phoenix Rising From the Ashes

April 8, 2019 by 46 Comments

Welcome to the 532nd Metamorphosis Monday! Several years ago I created a blog post about this beautiful coastal home that was once located on North Carolina’s Inner Banks (River Dunes) in North Carolina. The home was designed by Historical Concepts, an Atlanta Architecture and Design firm, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Coastal Living magazine.   Historical Concepts designed the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beach & Lake Homes, Before & After



A Tour of Lough Eske Castle, County Donegal, Ireland

September 13, 2017 by 31 Comments

Thanks so much for all your well-wishes over the last few days. I can't speak for all of Atlanta, but my immediate area seems to have fared quite well. Hurricane Irma was mostly a tropical storm when she arrived here, so though we got plenty of wind and rain and the lights flickered a few times, we never lost power. My biggest concern was that a tree would come down, but thankfully that did not … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historic Homes, Home Tours, Ireland, Storybook Cottages, Travel Tagged With: , , , ,



Tour Historic Dunboyne Castle, A Beautiful Irish Castle

August 21, 2017 by 31 Comments

Welcome to the 447th Metamorphosis Monday! Good Morning! It's 7 AM here and I'm writing this on my second morning in Ireland. The first is a bit of a blur since I didn't sleep at all on the plane ride over. Rather than bore you with that, how about a tour of  the lovely castle where we stayed on our first night in Ireland. This is the older section of Dunboyne Castle. I'm not sure if they have actual … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Historic Homes, Home Tours, Ireland, Travel Tagged With: , , , ,



Tour Two Historical Homes & Guest Cottage: Beautiful Estate located on the Mobile Bay

February 22, 2017 by 28 Comments

Note: This post would have been up yesterday but my blog had a bizarre hiccup and I lost over half the post after it was completely written. Argggh. I have the best hosting company, though and they did their best to help me retrieve the old post. We got back about half of it, so thankful for that. Tour Two Historical Homes & Guest Cottage oF a Beautiful Estate located on the Mobile Bay Alabama has … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historic Homes, Home Tours, New Old Homes, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , , ,



The Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour, 2016

December 5, 2016 by 31 Comments

Welcome to the 410th Metamorphosis Monday! Was hoping to share my front porch decorated for Christmas, but we've been getting some much-needed rain the last few days, so couldn't snap any photos. So for this Met Monday, we'll go on a Christmas Home Tour in Marietta, Georgia to see how others are decorating and transforming their homes for the holidays. This home reminded me a lot of the cottages you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Holiday Home, Christmas Home Tours, Historic Homes, Home Tours Tagged With: , , , , ,



Tour the William Root House In Mourning, Oldest Home in the City of Marietta

October 15, 2016 by 26 Comments

Recently a friend and I visited the William Root House Museum & Garden. The Root House was almost demolished back in the 1980s because it had fallen into terrible disrepair. Fortunately, some savvy folks realized it was the oldest known home in the city of Marietta and preservation efforts got underway just in time. In 1989, the Cobb Landmarks and Historical Society acquired the home and it was moved … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Halloween Decor, Historic Homes, Home Tours



The Week I Took a Staycation

October 8, 2016 by 67 Comments

Have you ever taken a Staycation? This past week I took my first and it was truly a lot of fun! From time to time I get e-mails from friends who are headed to the Atlanta area and are looking for ideas on what to do and where to go during their visit. I'll definitely be referring them to this post in the future.   FRIDAY: My friend, Linda, flew in on Friday, September 30th, and we wasted no … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Historic Homes, Home Tours, Travel, United States Tagged With: , , , , , , ,



Take a Tour of Beautiful Mimosa Hall

September 14, 2016 by 22 Comments

Pssst: I've been sharing pics on Instagram from my trip to the Atlanta Botanical Garden to see the wonderful Chihuly Exhibit. You'll find those here: BNOTP on Instagram Back in May of 2010, I was out for a walk in Roswell with a friend and we passed by historic Mimosa Hall. I've never really been able to get a good look at Mimosa Hall because the front yard is so wooded. Even in winter it's impossible to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historic Homes, Home Tours Tagged With: , ,



11 Impossibly Romantic Homes That Made My Heart Beat Just a Little Faster

July 29, 2016 by 15 Comments

This morning I fell down the rabbit hole. It started out innocently as I revisited (and drooled over) a home I had previously shared. I fell in love all over again. Then I visited another and another. I've posted tours of some really wonderful homes over the years and you'll find them all under the "Home Tours" category at the top of the blog. I chose a few this morning that have a romantic storybook … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Home Tours



Own an Antique-Furnished, Historic 1891 Queen Anne Victorian Home for $422,000

March 29, 2016 by 29 Comments

Your name is Emma Hamlin. The year is 1885 and you're marrying the esteemed Rev. John McCandless.   Your father, Henry Hamlin, a local merchant and banker has decided on an especially wonderful wedding gift: a beautiful Victorian home built in the "High Queen Anne" style. The interior will be filled with gorgeous moldings and trim in beautiful cherry and oak woods. The home will have all the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historic Homes, Home Tours Tagged With: , , ,



25 Things This Charles Faudree Room Taught Me About Design

February 17, 2016 by 68 Comments

I grew up in a very plain, utilitarian environment. My mom was very sick throughout my life, so I'm not sure if she ever had any interest in decorating or design. I'm guessing she would have if she hadn't become sick because she loved creative pursuits like embroidery and crocheting. Before she became so sick and while awaiting my arrival, she crocheted this lovely luncheon set complete with little … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Decorating, Home Tours Tagged With: , , ,



The Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour

January 4, 2016 by 25 Comments

Welcome to the 362nd Metamorphosis Monday! Happy New Year! How were your holidays? I hope you were able to spend them with those you love most. I was away for a while, visiting my son, dil and grandson. It was wonderful seeing them! Unfortunately, the trip back home was an adventure, and not in a good way. I'll share that story very soon, complete with pictures, because there are lots of lessons to be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Holiday Home, Christmas Home Tours, Historic Homes Tagged With: , , , ,



A Storybook Nursery at Rosedown Plantation in St. Francisville Louisiana

September 8, 2015 by 15 Comments

A while back I took a trip with a friend to Louisiana and we toured a number of the beautiful, old homes there. One of the homes we toured was Rosedown Plantation in St. Francisville seen in this photo from Wikipedia. The oak alley leading to this home is enchanting. If you're ever in the area, stop by and see it in person.   Rosedown is located in West Feliciana Parish was the home of Daniel … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historic Homes, Home Tours



Tour a Beautiful Victorian Home, Rebuilt After a Devastating Fire

July 21, 2015 by 51 Comments

Yesterday we toured the outside of this beautiful Victorian home belonging to Christy and Don. You may remember the original home was destroyed by fire after a lightning strike. It's really scary to think that lightning can cause such destruction, isn't it?   We'll start our tour here in the entry and a grand entry it is with a beautiful curving staircase. I think it may have been around … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historic Homes, Home Tours, New Old Homes Tagged With: , ,



A Beautiful Victorian Home Rises From The Ashes

July 20, 2015 by 42 Comments

Welcome to the 338th Metamorphosis Monday! In 2008, the unthinkable happened. A storm came and lightening reduced this beautiful Victorian home to charred rubble. The owners, Christy and Don, began a new, determined to rebuild their home following the design of the original house as their guide.   It took two full years to bring it back, but oh my gosh, is it wonderful!   I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Historic Homes, Home Tours, New Old Homes Tagged With: , ,



Prepare To Be Charmed: A Walking Tour

June 12, 2015 by 70 Comments

Last week when I was visiting family in Ohio, I drove around through some of the nearby neighborhoods. The majority of the streets are tree-lined with sidewalks on both sides. So charming! I noticed new trees had been planted in a few spots, probably where a tree had died. I love that the folks who are living here today care enough about their lovely city to preserve it for future … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historic Homes, Storybook Cottages Tagged With: , , , , ,



In The BNOTP Library: New Rooms for Old Houses

June 3, 2015 by 3 Comments

I must be an old soul because I've loved old homes for as long as I can remember. Historical homes are truly special and the author of this book, Frank Shirley, totally gets it. He speaks my language and I love the way he cares about the subject of renovating or adding on to an old home in a way that does no harm.   In the BNOTP Library: New Rooms for Old Houses: Beautiful Additions for the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: BNOTP Library, New Old Homes Tagged With: ,



A Screened Porch For Ocean Breezes

May 29, 2015 by 10 Comments

What better place to have a screened-in porch than at the beach! When Carla and her hubby were building their beach home, Carla came across BNOTP. Carla said, "We just finished our house at the beach last summer. While we were building, I found your blog, and you convinced me that we needed to make our back porch bigger. I am SO glad we did!"   I asked Carla for a tour of her wonderful … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beach & Lake Homes, Porches



Tour A Historic Savannah Row House On Beautiful Monterey Square

May 13, 2015 by 27 Comments

The exterior of this wonderful historic row house in Savannah reminded me a little of Carrie's apartment in Sex and the City.   I think it's the steps that had me thinking of Sex and the City, well that and the door. But wait until you see the inside!   So elegant and beautiful!   Just look at that newel post! I love a beautiful newel post. I was once told on a … [Read more...]

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One Of My Favorite Homes Is No More

May 12, 2015 by 48 Comments

One of my favorite houses is this wonderful home that was once located on North Carolina's Inner Banks (River Dunes) in Oriental, North Carolina. It was designed by Historical Concepts, an Atlanta Architecture and Design firm, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Coastal Living magazine.   Historical Concepts was inspired by nineteenth century coastal design and envisioned a home that could … [Read more...]

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In The BNOTP Library: Creating A New Old House

April 25, 2015 by 5 Comments

Old homes have so much character and charm. Unfortunately, they also require a lot of repairs and updating to make them comfortable for every day living. The book I'm featuring from my Decor library today offers an alternative for those of us who love old homes but not so much the expense of maintaining them.   In the BNOTP Library: Creating a New Old House: Yesterday's Character for Today's … [Read more...]

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Beach Home on Tybee Island With A Fabulous Screened Porch

March 20, 2015 by 26 Comments

Grab your bathing suit, sunscreen and straw hat, we're headed off to the beach for the weekend! Ever been to Tybee Island? Tybee Island is an island located just off the coast of Savannah, Georgia. I've been there a few times over the years while vacationing in Savannah. You can't go to Savannah without driving over and having breakfast at The Breakfast Club. There are some absolutely stunning homes … [Read more...]

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In Case You’ve Forgotten, This Is How Summer Looks

February 17, 2015 by 30 Comments

So cold! I hope this is Old Man Winter's last hurrah, his last 1-2 punch before he makes his retreat for another year. I could use a little reminder that spring is coming, soon to be followed by warm summer days. How about you? Last May a friend who loves old homes as much as I do, took me on a wonderful tour of some of the beautiful historic homes in Louisiana. I took way too many pictures on that trip … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gardening & Birding, Historic Homes, In the Garden



Tour Beautiful Westview, A Classic Greek Revival Designed For Today

December 17, 2014 by 16 Comments

Last night as I was working on this post, I kept thinking, "I know this house!" You know that feeling when you see someone in passing and you just know you've met them before. It nags and nags at you all day, until finally it dawns on where you first met. This morning as I continued working on this post, I decided to watch the video at the site where I found all the wonderful pictures I'm sharing today. … [Read more...]

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In The BNOTP Library: The Great American House

December 17, 2014 by 5 Comments

Later today I'll be taking you on a tour of a beautiful "new" old house at Between Naps On The Porch. As I was working on that post last night, I kept thinking the house looked so familiar. Then I realized why; it's a home that's been featured in one of my favorite books!   In the BNOTP Library: The Great American House: Tradition for the Way We Live Now Author: Gil Schafer III Hardcover: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: BNOTP Library, New Old Homes



A Dream Fairytale Cottage Comes To Life

November 17, 2014 by 58 Comments

Welcome to the 303rd Metamorphosis Monday! Have you ever thought of downsizing to a smaller home? Tonita who blogs at Shabby Chic Tiny Retreat first got bit by the small-house bug when she walked into a tiny straw bale home at the California State Fair. Giving up her cell phone, Tonita took that money and began to save a $100.00 each month. After 7 years she had saved up enough to buy her own small … [Read more...]

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The Way Neighborhoods Used To Be

October 28, 2014 by 110 Comments

This past weekend I took a little trip to visit family in Ohio. I always feel at home when I'm there because the older neighborhoods are very similar to those you would find driving through any of the older cities and towns in Georgia. The homes are anything but cookie-cutter. As I drove down the streets oohing and ahhhing over the architecture and beauty of the older homes, I wondered how we ever … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historic Homes, Storybook Cottages



Rehab Addict’s Nicole Curtis Bungalow Makeover

October 27, 2014 by 62 Comments

Welcome to the 300th Metamorphosis Monday! Do you ever watch the show, Rehab Addict on HGTV? I don't catch the show as often as I would like but I always love seeing the latest old home Nicole Curtis, the star of the show, is saving from demolition. Nicole has a big soft spot in her heart for old homes. In this interview where she was asked about her passion for saving old homes, Nicole explained her … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Historic Homes



Tour Nottoway Plantation, South’s Largest Remaining Antebellum Mansion

October 17, 2014 by 40 Comments

Back in May of this year, I spent an entire week in Louisiana and Mississippi touring 13+ antebellum homes. I've never taken a whole week for the sole purpose of touring historic homes, so this was a real treat. One of the homes we toured was Nottoway Plantation, located at 30970 Hwy—405 on the Mississippi River Road, 2 miles north of White Castle, Louisiana. Nottoway is said to be the South's largest … [Read more...]

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Tour Laura Plantation, A Creole Plantation in Vacherie Louisiana

September 5, 2014 by 26 Comments

Today I'm taking you inside Laura Plantation, another one of the many plantation homes I toured with my friend Linda on our trip to the New Orleans area back in May of this year. Laura is a Creole plantation located on River Road in Vacherie, Louisiana. It is midway between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. I've heard the word Creole many times over the years but I never knew exactly what it meant. Per the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historic Homes, Home Tours



Tour Designer Carolyn Westbrook’s Home, The Oaks

September 3, 2014 by 15 Comments

Have you ever been looking at homes online and suddenly thought, "I know that home!" That happened to me recently when I came across Designer, Carolyn Westbrook's plantation home, The Oaks. I recognized several of the rooms from having seen them in one of her books, Carolyn Westbrook Home. After living there for many years, I guess she is ready for a change because her home is now on the market and … [Read more...]

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Tour A Historic Waterfront Lodge on Lake Placid

August 29, 2014 by 16 Comments

It's a conspiracy, I'm convinced. I really am doing my best to just enjoy these last warm days of summer. After all, this is how the weather in Georgia looks during the month of September. Fall doesn't even really think about arriving here for another month.   But try as I may, I keep stumbling across beautiful scenes like this and I'm suddenly thinking of autumn. Doesn't this room just lure … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beach & Lake Homes, Historic Homes



In The BNOTP Library: Coming Home

August 22, 2014 by 8 Comments

For as long as I can remember, I've said to anyone who would listen, I'd love to live in an old house one day. I love the architecture and sometimes quirky personalities of older homes. I especially love their anything-but-cookie-cutter design. One friend used to always say to me, "Don't buy an old home, build one!" She would remind me if I built a new-old house, I could get all the features I wanted and … [Read more...]

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Tour The Studio Apartment Where Frances Parkinson Keyes Wrote Her Novels

August 20, 2014 by 31 Comments

Yesterday we toured the Beauregard-Keyes home, the home American author Frances Parkinson Keyes purchased and restored with the help of architect, Sam Wilson. (To see a full tour of this home, check out yesterday's post here: Tour The Beauregard-Keyes Home )   During the restoration process, Mrs. Keyes lived in a little studio apartment on the property behind the home.   I was … [Read more...]

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Tour The Beauregard Keyes House & Garden, New Orleans Louisiana

August 19, 2014 by 39 Comments

Back in May I traveled to New Orleans where I met up with my friend, Linda and we had the most amazing week touring some of the beautiful old historic homes in Louisiana and Mississippi. One of the homes we toured was the Beauregard-Keys home located at 1113 Chartres Street in New Orleans. The Beauregard-Keys home was built in 1826 by architect Francois Correjolles for Joseph Le Carpentier, a wealthy … [Read more...]

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Tour the Beautiful 2014 Southern Living Idea House in Bluffton, South Carolina

August 12, 2014 by 43 Comments

Did you try to access BNOTP today and found yourself staring at a blank page? I awoke this morning, sat down to create a post and discovered that was not going to happen. Apparently Comcast was experiencing some kind of major routing/networking issues and it effected many sites nationwide. My host, Liquid Web, was effected by the outage and from what I read online, the outage impacted several network … [Read more...]

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A Christmas Story Movie House, Part IV: The Upstairs

August 5, 2014 by 31 Comments

We're headed upstairs today, touring all the rooms upstairs in the home featured in the movie, A Christmas Story, including Ralphie and Randy's bedroom and the bathroom where one of the funniest scenes in the movie took place. During my visit to Cleveland, Ohio to tour the home, I also visited the A Christmas Story Museum, as well as the gift shop across the street. The pictures I took inside those two … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Holiday Home, Christmas Home Tours, Christmas Movies, Historic Homes, Movie Houses, TV & Movie House Fun Tagged With: , , ,



A Christmas Story House, Part III: The Living Room

August 4, 2014 by 68 Comments

Welcome to the 288th Metamorphosis Monday! Bob Clark, the Director and a co-writer of the movie, A Christmas Story, had trouble finding funding for this now iconic Christmas movie when he first set out to make it. He had an extensive history of making horror films so none of the production companies felt comfortable funding him in the making of a comedy/family oriented movie. His next movie was Porky's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Holiday Home, Christmas Home Tours, Christmas Movies, Historic Homes, Movie Houses, TV & Movie House Fun, United States Tagged With: , , ,



Inside The Kitchen of “A Christmas Story” Movie House

July 24, 2014 by 60 Comments

Welcome to the 306th Tablescape Thursday! A visit to the 19th-century Victorian home used in all the exterior scenes of the movie, A Christmas Story, is an interactive one. As we stepped inside the front door for the tour, our guide immediately invited us to have a seat in the living room. Whaaat? That's not something you normally get to do while touring a home! I knew right then this wasn't going to be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Holiday Home, Christmas Home Tours, Christmas Movies, Historic Homes, Movie Houses, Tablescape Thursday, TV & Movie House Fun, United States Tagged With: , ,



Tour A Christmas Story Movie House: The House & Neighborhood

July 23, 2014 by 31 Comments

Recently I took a trip to Ohio to visit family and while there I decided to do something I've been wanting to do for ages. I hopped in the car one morning and struck out for Cleveland to tour the home featured in the movie, A Christmas Story.   This wonderful old Victorian home located at 3159 W. 11th Street in Cleveland Ohio, was used for all the exterior shots of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Holiday Home, Christmas Home Tours, Christmas Movies, Historic Homes, Movie Houses, Travel, TV & Movie House Fun, United States Tagged With: , , ,



Where Am I?

July 22, 2014 by 80 Comments

I'm traveling today, headed back home. I can't wait to share pictures of where I've been the last few days. This photo is a big hint! Can you guess? :) Update: Check out THIS POST to see where I was when this picture was taken. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Holiday Home, Christmas Home Tours, Christmas Movies, Historic Homes, Movie Houses, Travel, TV & Movie House Fun



Rosedown Plantation: In The Butler’s Pantry

July 17, 2014 by 107 Comments

Welcome to the 305th Tablescape Thursday! Pssst: My content area is wider now here at the blog... so horizontal photos are going to look a lot bigger/better. Yipee!  But, I have a question for you about the size of the vertical pictures. You'll find that question part way down in the post. Please leave a comment answering the question regarding the size of the vertical pics you'll see in this post. Let me … [Read more...]

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The Lost Dreams & Ghosts of Longwood Plantation

July 15, 2014 by 59 Comments

No matter how much you hear about Longwood Plantation before you actually visit for a tour, nothing can really prepare you for what you find inside. This six-story, 30,000 square foot mansion was designed by Samuel Sloan, a well-known architect from Philadelphia for cotton baron Haller Nutt and his wife, Julia. Construction on Longwood began in 1859. It came to an abrupt halt in 1861 when word reached … [Read more...]

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In The BNOTP Library: Home Sweet Home: A Journey Through Mary’s Dream Home

June 21, 2014 by 23 Comments

Did you know Mary Engelbreit wrote a book where she shared her storybook home and gardens? I was late in learning this, her book had already been out a few years. I've always liked her whimsical, spirit-lifting art and I enjoyed her magazine when it was available, but I had no idea what to expect when I ordered the book she wrote sharing her own home. After it arrived, I loved it so much I immediately … [Read more...]

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The French Quarter Home of General L. Kemper and Leila Williams

June 20, 2014 by 57 Comments

In early May, I spent a week in Louisiana and Mississippi touring beautiful historic homes with my friend, Linda. Almost all of those homes allowed photography, except for two. One home Linda and I toured was the home of General L. Kemper and Leila Williams, located at 712 Toulouse Street in the heart of the French Quarter. This historic 1889, 2-story townhouse is actually hidden from street view. The … [Read more...]

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A Formal Dinner Party in New Orleans, Kemper & Leila Williams Style

June 19, 2014 by 41 Comments

Welcome to the 301st Tablescape Thursday! When I was in New Orleans the early part of May, one of the homes I toured with my friend, Linda, was the home of Kemper and Leila Williams. Their home, located in the French Quarter at 712 Toulouse Street is actually behind another home, the Merieult House at 533 Royal Street. The Merieult House (shown below) serves as the entrance to several buildings, … [Read more...]

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Tour Beautiful Oak Alley Plantation in Louisiana

June 3, 2014 by 51 Comments

You can't visit Louisiana without a trip to iconic Oak Alley. It's the plantation home that so frequently appears in magazines and almost any advertisement for Louisiana tourism. You may also recognize it from having appeared in a number of movies, music videos and other productions. It's this view! Oak Alley's famous "alley of oaks" captures your heart and draws you toward the beautiful, Greek Revival … [Read more...]

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Dining in Beautiful San Francisco Plantation, Garyville, Louisiana

May 29, 2014 by 23 Comments

Welcome to the 298th Tablescape Thursday! While on vacation in Louisiana and Mississippi a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to tour San Francisco Plantation in Garyville, Louisiana. Linda and I were really lucky because the day we toured it was the absolute last day it would be open for the whole summer. San Francisco is going through a restoration all this summer and will reopen for tours on … [Read more...]

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Greenwood Plantation, St. Francisville, Louisiana: Part II

May 23, 2014 by 18 Comments

Earlier this week we toured the downstairs rooms in Greenwood Plantation, a plantation home located in St. Francisville Louisiana. If you missed that post, you'll find it here: Greenwood Plantation, St. Francisville, Louisiana: Part I. You may want to read that post first and then come back to this one. You'll find a link to this post at the end of that first post about Greenwood. Greenwood saw a … [Read more...]

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Greenwood Plantation, St. Francisville, Louisiana: Part I

May 20, 2014 by 33 Comments

Greenwood Plantation, A Greek Revival Home in St. Francisville, Louisiana Greenwood Plantation, a Greek Revival home in St. Francisville, Louisiana, was one of my favorite homes of all the homes my friend, Linda and I toured on our trip to Louisiana. Greenwood is located in West Feliciana Parish which is about an hour's drive north of Baton Rouge.   In 1960, something terrible happened to … [Read more...]

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The Colorful Shutters of New Orleans, Plus A Video

May 16, 2014 by 38 Comments

When I was in New Orleans last week, I had a love affair with their colorful shutters. They were everywhere in the French Quarter, as were lots of pretty wrought-iron balconies decorated with window boxes spilling their flowers out into the streets.   Color!   Vivid beautiful color!   I was fascinated by all the shutters--shutters with real working parts that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gardening & Birding, Historic Homes, In the Garden, Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,



Dining in Rosedown Plantation, St. Francisville, Louisiana

May 15, 2014 by 73 Comments

Welcome to the 296th Tablescape Thursday! Last week while touring plantation homes across Louisiana and Mississippi, I was happy to discover photography was allowed in almost every home we toured. Today we are venturing inside the beautiful dining room of Rosedown Plantation. As you can see in this picture from Wikipedia below, Oak Alley Plantation isn't the only Louisiana plantation home with a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historic Homes, Home Tours, Tablescape Thursday



Historic Arlington, Home To Raccoons Now

May 13, 2014 by 58 Comments

I've been going through the thousands of photos I took last week while touring 13+ historic, plantation homes in the states of Louisiana and Mississippi.  As I was looking through some of the pictures today, one particular home still haunts me from the trip, Historic Arlington. Arlington is a Federal style home located in Natchez, Mississippi. It was built in 1816 by John Hampton White and his wife, Jane … [Read more...]

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Restoration Of Historic Ski Cabin In Switzerland

March 31, 2014 by 30 Comments

Welcome to the 270th Metamorphosis Monday! Do you have your passport handy? We're heading off to Switzerland this morning to visit our friend, Cornelia! Cornelia has invited us on a tour of her historic 1853 ski cabin located in the Swiss mountains. It's was being restored all last summer and was done in time for this past winter's ski season. You've heard of ski-in and ski-out? This cabin is the … [Read more...]

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