On the Street Where I {Want to} Live

I love this time of year, because just after dusk, lights are on and curtains are still open, and you can have a peek into some incredible places.

I had a board meeting earlier this evening, and as I was walking from the car to the residence where the meeting was, I literally stopped in my tracks looking at an amazing house. I had remembered seeing it earlier in the year when I was at a party across the street. The owners used to keep the shutters closed so people {like me} couldn’t peek in, but apparently, now they’re leaving them open. Because the architecture in this house is not to be missed. There is a massive glass vase in front and center of each of the huge windows, somewhat obscuring the view, but you can still get a glimpse of the ornate ceiling. There’s really only so much snooping you can do without crossing that fine line into trespassing, so I could only snap a few pictures. Believe me, I am going back to check out that house again to see if I can get some information about it, and take more pictures.

It didn’t really matter too much that I couldn’t get in this house, because I was headed to another one on the same block which was incredible in its own way. How about this room with two amazing fireplaces?

And when you’ve finished gazing at those lovelies, check out this one. Beautiful dining room with a flannel grey paint on the walls. The ceiling is about six feet lower in this room, so it gives a feeling of intimacy. But check out these fabulous leaded glass windows, which make a little conservatory in the room. It’s a little bay with the clear leaded glass on the windows on the walls and then ones on the ceiling. The patterns in the glass diffuse the light.

The owner is an architect, so there are wonderful details all around, like this pantry, where I covet the cabinets. Of course, each room has the perfect lighting. Period pieces abound, including this stunner from Paris, by way of South America. In the center of this light, there’s a bowl with crystals in it, with a light inside, which shines out. It’s really such a unique piece… and I mean that in a good way.

While the front hall is quite simple, it’s not without its own charms. I felt very lucky to be able to see inside this wonderful home, which the owners have pulled back from the brink of severe tackiness and trashy apartmentness.