We have a family tradition where Rainman takes each child on a cool trip after high school graduation. I have very fond memories of my graduation trip with my dad, so I feel like it’s important and something special they’ll always remember. So, last summer, he took a trip with our most recent graduate to Ireland. I sent them with strict instructions on taking lots of pictures of them, and of course, stone walls, stone houses, pubs, landscapes, castles, etc. I may have planned this trip so I could live vicariously, but that’s a story for another time.
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I want to share with you the amazing collection of stone walls they brought back. I was really impressed and feel like I need to step up my garden wall game!
I hate to think of the germs here, but still kind of a must to kiss the Blarney Stone.
There’s a story behind this one: They had an afternoon free on the trip and my son said there was another stone formation he’d like to go see. Now, it’s already fairly squirrely on the narrow, winding roads in the country, but apparently, getting to this location was particularly sporty. Upon arrival and after they had parked (and deposited their fees at the booth on the honor system) they walked up the trail to find they were interrupting some kind of ceremony. Not wanting to be rude, they snapped a quick photo and left. As they were mapping out the next destination in the car, my son said, “there they are.”
Then, a minute later, my husband asked, “where’d they go?”
To which my son responded, “they just disappeared.” He didn’t mean they ACTUALLY disappeared (like something out of Outlander), he just meant they had walked behind the building and he couldn’t see them anymore. Nonetheless, Rainman lit out of there on two wheels.
And, by the way, I don’t think I realized how big Irish Wolfhounds are. And yes, they’re called Irish Wolfhounds even in Ireland.
This one I had flashbacks to The Princess Bride:
Can you think of a place in your garden you could incorporate a stone wall?
I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.
Slavetodiy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases via our Amazon affiliation links supports our cause at no additional cost to you.
If a blogger links to an Amazon product (with a special code for affiliates embedded in the link), and a reader places an item in their “shopping cart” through that link within 24 hours of clicking the link, the blogger gets a small percentage of the sale. Amazon links are not “pay per click.” If you click on the product link and stay around Amazon and purchase something else, however, I will get a commission on that sale.
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I’ve been sneaking Christmas decor out of the closet, but I guess I’m not super stealthy. The thing is, I don’t have a lot a lot of energy, and I really have to pace myself. So, if everything but the tree is up before Thanksgiving, so be it. This is my favorite time of the year, and the little white twinkling lights just give me the Christmas feels! So, here is what I have done so far:
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The exterior: If it was up to me, we’d be done. I have wreaths with red ribbons and window candles with automatic light sensors and flickering flames (for about $5 each, I thought these were a steal). Okay, maybe some lighted garland around the porch would be cool, but, we’ll see. Clark Griswold is already harassing me about adding more lights, but I’m standing my ground.
This is a great example of the unpredictable weather in Coastal NC: My roses are still blooming, my hydrangea leaves haven’t wilted yet, my Christmas stuff is out, and there are still tons of leaves falling.
This is a close up of the basic wreaths: Very basic but should hold up well outdoors, and they were cheap enough that it won’t break my heart if they’re ruined. They’re perfectly matched with the window candles!
This is a great example of “be where you are.” I am not in love with my fireplace set up currently, but it’s where we are, so I just decorated the crap out of it. I am REALLY proud of my garland I put together, with a willow/eucalyptus garland combined with a basic fir garland (if you don’t have any of these, go to Michael’s after Christmas when they’re pretty much giving them away. They’re on racks on the wall and I got the basic lighted garlands for about $5 each. The faux silver dollar eucalyptus and preserved roses arrangement I added as an afterthought and I love the combo. (Check out our great post on how to preserve roses!)
This awesome Ethan Allen Vase I use for every season with different stems because I ADORE it! The faux cranberries make a gorgeous, simple seasonal arrangement (tip: open them outside and let them air out a little… they have a heavy chemical scent but are beautiful once they’ve breathed a little they’re great!).
For the story of why our turtle inspires us, check out the story on Our Instagram!
And finally, I’m still in work on these faux eucalyptus mixed garlands, and there is a great garland tutorial on our blog so you can make your own much more cheaply than buying them! And I’m just loving the cool led cork-bottle fairy lights, if you’re looking for what to do with all those bottles you saved.
I would love to hear what you think about our Christmas style in the comments below! Do you have any Christmas decor traditions at your house?
Check out more of our decor and project inspiration over on our blog. Cheers!
*Legal stuff:
I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.
Slavetodiy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases via our Amazon affiliation links supports our cause at no additional cost to you.
If a blogger links to an Amazon product (with a special code for affiliates embedded in the link), and a reader places an item in their “shopping cart” through that link within 24 hours of clicking the link, the blogger gets a small percentage of the sale. Amazon links are not “pay per click.” If you click on the product link and stay around Amazon and purchase something else, however, I will get a commission on that sale.
Slavetodiy.com is also a VigLink affiliate advertiser which works similarly.
Even though we are currently living in balmy, soup-pot-climate North Carolina, my extended family hails from Southern Vermont. Sometimes, missing home, I get on Zillow and start searching properties up North. Although I’m quickly dissuaded when I visit during sub-zero winters, there’s no denying the charm of New England, and specifically, Vermont homes. One of the features I noticed during a late night search a few weeks ago was the varsity level pool game going on in Southern Vermont.
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I don’t know whether it’s the design that incorporates the natural landscape, the extensive stonework (stone diving boards???), or the breathtaking views, but the poolscapes I saw were amazing.What do you think?
*All photos are listing photos from Zillow and belong to the respective listing agents.
And although it would be a chilly dip, I think we can include a natural swimming hole in this mashup!
Thanks for stopping by and check out more of our design mashups, cool projects, and DIY transformations on our blog!
Cheers!
*Legal stuff:
I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.
Slavetodiy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases via our Amazon affiliation links supports our cause at no additional cost to you.
If a blogger links to an Amazon product (with a special code for affiliates embedded in the link), and a reader places an item in their “shopping cart” through that link within 24 hours of clicking the link, the blogger gets a small percentage of the sale. Amazon links are not “pay per click.” If you click on the product link and stay around Amazon and purchase something else, however, I will get a commission on that sale.
Slavetodiy.com is also a VigLink affiliate advertiser which works similarly.
A few years ago we had a pool installed and had NO idea what we were doing. You don’t know what you don’t know, right? Never having had a pool before (other than the above ground one the previous owners put up and we were tearing down), I really had no idea. We did an okay job, but if I had it to over again there are a few adjustments I would make. As for the finished product, I was ultimately happy and here’s what we ended up with:
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We loved the pool, so here are the basics of what we learned and some tips along the way of what to do, and of course, what NOT to do.
Hardscaping: Hardscaping around the pool is your friend. The more, the better. You need more than a three foot apron. Insist.
You know what happens when you trim your grass? It all goes in the pool. I know you keep seeing all those super cool paver designs with the grass in between on Pinterest. Or the pool coping that runs right up to the edge of the grass. If you don’t have a landscaper and a pool guy, HARD PASS.
No matter what kind of hardscaping around the pool you do, do MORE. I know some people love the jungle, tropical look around the pool, but I don’t like it. Think: snakes and leaves in the pool. When we moved into our new place the pool was surrounded by gardens and bushes. I came face to face with a giant snake sunning itself on a branch by the pool without even realizing it. Then I asked Rainman, very nicely (and I’m sure very calmly), to get out the napalm and make the greenery go away.
Can you believe how overgrown this was??? NOT relaxing.
Also, think about where you live and how hot the surface will get. Concrete is okay where we are, even though it still gets VERY hot. If it’s in the budget: the best pool surface for hot climates is light travertine. It’s beautiful and stays cooler.
When we installed our pool one side had tiered decks and a slate patio, all connecting to the pool coping. With the exception of the grass running up to the pool on the outside, it was awesome!
I’ve had so many questions about our awesome (and durable) deck chairs, shown above. You can buy them from Amazon with matching blue cushions.
2. Lighting: You need at least two in the pool. Period. Pathways around the pool should also be lit in the evening for safety.
Think about night swimming (with teenagers this definitely happens). You want well lit spaces where no one can get lost in the shadows.
If you can, get more than two. Think about the shadows that each light will cast. Shelves or tanning ledges create shadows, as do depth changes. If you plan on using your pool in the evening, get more lights.
We discovered after our pool was installed that there was an additional light we could’ve installed that came with the kit. If we’d have known that, we would’ve paid extra to have it put in. We only had one light and it was in the shallow end, so there was a shadow in the deep end, and I was a nervous wreck watching for drowning kids.
3. Depth: That depends.
What are you planning to do in it? If you’re planning on diving you need an eight foot deep end. Some areas (like our current home) won’t accommodate deep pools because of the water table. If you only wade, you really only need a 4-6 foot pool.
I’ll admit I miss our eight foot deep end (the new pool is only six feet deep). We used to watch the kids and their friends have diving and trick competitions off of the big diving board and it really was a fun time.
The pool we installed had a graduated deep end with the ability to rope off the shallow end (which was still sizable) for younger kids. It was a handy set up for kids of different ages.
4. Do I need a dedicated vacuum port?
YES. So, if you’re unfamiliar, hoses for vacuums either run off of their own port, or theres a port inside the clean outs (the flapper windows on the side of the pool). It’s more work for the pool contractor, so if you don’t ask, they’re not going to offer the dedicated port.
Why the dedicated port? If you don’t have a separate port for the pool you can’t vacuum the bottom of the pool and run the skimmer at the same time. That means that you either have bugs on top of the pool, or debris on the bottom. We have gotten around this by unhooking the vacuum about 45 minutes before we want to swim. It sure would be handy to be able to use both though.
What kind of vacuum? Look, you need a vacuum unless you’d like to spend HOURS a day vacuuming your pool. I’m not exaggerating. We have tried several different kinds of vacuums, but my favorite by far are the suction vacuums. Generic types are available (comparable to the Kreepy Krauly), complete with hoses, for less than a hundred bucks and I bought a Complete New Generic Suction Vacuum Set annually to replace dry rotted hoses, etc. If the vacuum is still going strong, but your hoses are cracking, you can buy replacement hoses instead of a whole new set for less.
I know there are some slick and EXPENSIVE motorized vacuums out there, but I just can’t convince myself to trust the electrical cord sitting in the water. No thanks.
5. Yes, you want the salt pool.
If you’re having a new pool installed, it’s probably about the same cost as the regular chlorine pool, anyway. Did you know that the salt pools are not actually salty (like the ocean)? The salt runs a chlorinator. The water is silky smooth and doesn’t bleach out swimsuits or turn hair green.
I don’t know if it’s true of every salt pool in every climate, but we added salt A LOT. However, the chemicals seemed easier to balance in the pool, and I had teenagers to haul salt from Lowe’s about every two weeks.
Our current pool is chlorine and I hate it. We will probably convert it before next season to salt as I’ve spent a small fortune this year trying to get the green out of my daughter’s hair, and it would probably be cheaper (not to mention more enjoyable) to have the salt pool. I’ve also found the chemical balance in the chlorine pool to be much more finicky and I spend quite a bit more on pool maintenance (with a pool half the size!).
6. How big does your pool need to be?
Everyone’s needs are different, but we went with the biggest size the installer had available. With four growing kids (at the time) and half the neighborhood swimming in the summer, I was psyched we got a pool that big. At 20X40 feet, with a 10X10 side bump-out, and 36,000 gallons it was a whopper and I loved it.
Your contractor can offer guidance on the size and shape of the pool that’s right for your family. Consider lots of options: depth changes, deep ends for diving or slides, tanning ledges, extra long thin pools for lap swimming, etc.
7. What kind of inground pool should you install?
Well, this is sort of the million dollar question! There are three basic options for in ground pools: vinyl, fiberglass, and gunite. You should research this before you contact pool companies because if you don’t know what you want, many pool contractors “specialize” in one type (read: they have experience or make more profit off of certain types) and they will talk you into that even if it’s NOT the best kind for you.
Considerations: Size matters with respect to cost.
Gunite is the Daddy Warbucks pool. If money is not a concern, this is usually the choice because it is generally quite a bit pricier than the other options. They are awesome because they are hand poured in special concrete you can literally configure them ANY way you want to. These are more expensive than either of the other options regardless of size.
For a very small pool, it may be slightly cheaper (and MUCH faster) to install a pre-molded fiberglass pool. These are handy, stay clean, are quite durable, and are easy to repair if something happens to the finish. If your dogs go into your pool, these are a better choice as they are less likely to tear than vinyl pools.
Once you start looking at very large pools (like the one we installed) fiberglass pools get way too expensive. We went with vinyl and we loved it. Remember, you do have to budget every decade or so for a new vinyl liner as they warp, tear, fade, or just wear out over time. At about 5K a pop in our area, it’s no small thing.
Tip: If you choose a vinyl liner, SKIP THE EDGE DESIGN. They’ll ask you what design you want around the edge and what color the rest of the pool should be. Make it all the blue you choose with NO EDGE DESIGN. Trust me. It was the first time our contractor had the request, but if your liner lasts a long time, the thing that dates it and makes it look old is the stupid design around the edge. I went with a deep blue and it looked awesome. No outdated edge design, just beautiful blue all the way. For a gunite pool and a fiberglass I’d do the same thing. Any kind of decorative trim at the top ends up looking dated.
8. How do you find a contractor?
You can look on the internet, but I recommend asking a friend. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone with lukewarm feelings about their pool contractor. They either loved them, or hated them. So, if you ask, you’ll find out.
Beware of companies with prices that seem to good to be true. In the town where we had our pool installed, there was a contractor who quoted us 10K less than the contractor we ultimately chose. After doing more research we saw that there were no positive reviews because they never actually finished pools. They would be in and out of a property for months and sometimes YEARS (then when they were sued for not finishing the job they would open up under a different name and go straight back to work ripping people off).
The company we chose did ONE POOL AT A TIME. We gave them a small deposit to secure our place in line and, once they started, they were at our property every day from start to finish of the project.
They’ve continued to be available for questions and troubleshooting every time I’ve contacted them since then for the last eight years (even at our new house with a pool they didn’t install!).
For those of you in Eastern NC I highly recommend Crystal Coast Pools at (910) 330-0969. I’m not a paid affiliate, but we think they’re great!
9. How much does it cost a month to run a pool?
Running a pool pump seems to cost about $200 a month in Eastern North Carolina. That doesn’t include the cost of chemicals, shock, chlorine tabs, or salt. In our salt pool (36,000 gallons) we usually spent about $150 a month on chemicals during the summer and about $200 to open it, balance chemicals, and buy shock for the summer.
Buying shock and chlorine: We kept having problems with the stuff from the big box stores and the nice lady at the pool store recommended Zappit Pool Shock. It works much better and is cheaper. I buy my own shock and chlorine tabs (I purchase big buckets once a season online) but also found a local pool store that does free water samples. Then I don’t have to mess with trying to guess what I need to add and how much (they sell me the chemicals). It’s way easier.
10. Is caring for a pool a lot of work?
Yes. But, if you actually use it, it’s well worth it. If you’re not up to it, consider that even in NC where costs are relatively cheap, pool maintenance contractors charge about $75 an hour to care for your pool for you, plus the cost of chemicals, etc. If you don’t take care of it, then you have an expensive frog pond to deal with in the back yard.
11. What kind of fence do you need and pool safety equipment?
When you are interviewing pool contractors, find one that knows the local codes and will include those items as part of the installation. Many municipalities have rules on pool fences, self closing gates around the pool, door chimes leading to the pool, etc. The pool contracter should be knowledgeable and willing to complete the process for you.
In addition to the required items we like to have a pool safety ring on hand and when smaller kids are swimming we use the float ropes that mark where the shallow end transitions to the deep end. If we are having any kind of an event where we have lots of kids swimming I post responsible teenagers at two corners to act as lifeguards. It’s important to have a healthy fear of swimming pools and to create a safe environment for your family and friends.
12. Do you need a pool cover?
We never invested in a pool cover at our old house because we didn’t have big trees and there wasn’t much debris blowing into the pool. I just assumed that the grueling process of turning green swamp water into clear blue water was a necessary part of the Spring-pool opening process (which took no less than a month, several hours a day, sweeping algae and messing with chemicals). What a pain.
Then when we got to our new house, there was a cover for the pool in the shed. With lots of big trees we thought it would be a good idea to cover it. So, we covered it the first winter, winterized the pool with chemicals, and crossed our fingers (this isn’t a fancy cover, it’s basically just a gigantic tarp held in place by water bags and a layer of water on top of the tarp). When we uncovered the pool in the spring, after siphoning off the water on top of the tarp, we peeled it back to find: crystal clear water. Now, our current cover is the ugliest pool cover I’ve ever seen (it looks a lot like a giant, black trash bag), but until we budget in a new safety cover, it’s working fine and I’d never go back to spending a month opening the pool.
Ugh, it’s so ugly. I have my eye on a safety cover because I have nightmares about someone falling onto the pool cover and getting trapped. Hopefully we’ll get that into the budget soon.
13. Do you need to bury your wastewater/backwash line?
For those of you who already have pools, you’re like, duh of course it needs to be buried. Well, no one offered to conveniently run a waste line out to the ditch behind our house, and every time we backwashed the pool we pissed the neighbors off. Yup. We’d turn it on and it would shoot out at the fence and eventually settle into a mud pit right by their gate. We tried using temporary attached hoses but they usually worked themselves loose and then created a bigger mess than before (while also soaking us in the process). I had to time backwashing the pool around their mowing schedule to keep the peace in the neighborhood.
So, bury your backwash line.
14. Should you add extra features like cooling systems (for very hot climates), heaters (to extend pool season), or integrated hot tubs?
Look, I know they cost more money, but if you’re already laying out the money to install a pool, you should get what you want. If you’re a lap swimmer and can extend your swimming season a few months a year, then get an insulating cover and a heater. If you live in the deep south, get a cooling system or you won’t want to be in your hot tub of a pool in August. The biggest thing to remember with all of this is that it’s WAY, WAY cheaper to do during the initial installation than to add it after the fact!
POOL TIME!!!
So, here’s the fun part! This is our pool installation process in pictures (and I’m stressed just looking at it).
Most pool contractors will require a current survey. We blew up the survey and made copies so we could draw the shape and size of the pool on the survey. Then we measured the size we wanted and spray painted the lines on the grass to see what it really looked like in the yard. The kids fake-swam across the pool and decided it was big enough.
You’ll need to call the dig people and make sure you aren’t running into any problems where you want to install it (those of you that have septic systems- do you know where your tank and drainage field are?- plan accordingly!).
After the pool contractor dug out all that dirt, me and Rainman built a retaining wall at the back of the property so we could use some of the dirt to level the yard (that previously had a steep angle of bank). Of course, we did this to save money, and it was some of the most back-breaking work we’ve ever undertaken.
The retaining wall and dirt leveling took a while, and the contractor didn’t need to remove too much as we offered the excess dirt for fill to neighbors. Soon, the walls were framed with the metal band, plumbing and electricity installed, the floors smoothed with the concrete mix, the vinyl liner installed, and WATER!!!
Tip: If you call the local fire department, they will sometimes fill the pool cheaper than off of garden hoses (OOPS, our bill was $500 that month).
Once the dirt was all leveled out, and the pool filled, the concrete coping was poured around the pool.
After the pool was finished, we added an eight foot privacy fence on top of the retaining wall for a secluded paradise in the back yard.
And finally, a finished pool the whole family can enjoy (complete with extended decks and hardscaping)!
Thanks for coming along and sharing our DIY journey!
Do you have things you wished you’d known before you installed a pool? Please share in the comments below!
Check out more of our great DIY, decor, and inspiration posts on our Blog. Cheers!
*Legal stuff:
I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.
Slavetodiy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases via our Amazon affiliation links supports our cause at no additional cost to you.
If a blogger links to an Amazon product (with a special code for affiliates embedded in the link), and a reader places an item in their “shopping cart” through that link within 24 hours of clicking the link, the blogger gets a small percentage of the sale. Amazon links are not “pay per click.” If you click on the product link and stay around Amazon and purchase something else, however, I will get a commission on that sale.
Slavetodiy.com is also a VigLink affiliate advertiser which works similarly.
I fell into a deep state of depression when I saw that this place sold in December of 2018. My dream of winning the lottery and buying my dream home were put off for the foreseeable future. I still want to share it with you, because it is truly unbelievable. I mean, it’s on it’s own island, as in only accessible by boat, and it’s about as remote as it gets. Yes, I’m in love.
*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see full disclosure at the end of the post.
First the stats: built by commercial real estate mogul Donald Abbey, this monster is 32000 sq ft and sits on 24 private acres. It neighbors Glacier National Park, so the privacy and solitude is unprecedented. The lake is one of the three cleanest lakes in the world. The main house has 5 bedrooms and 8 baths is 24000 sq ft and 10000 square feet of outdoor entertaining spaces, some heated. The entire structure sits on a granite foundation.
He originally listed it for $78 million but it was reduced over the years to just under $14 million.
The main house has a home gym overlooking the lake, an unbelievable wine room, is bathed in hand carved mahogany, natural stone, and, Dude, it has an indoor gun range. A big one.
There is a utility building and an 1,800 square foot workshop on the property that is styled the same as the main home and guest house. The total building space on the estate is more than 44000 square feet, with space remaining on the island for three more compounds.
Photos are from privateislandsonline.com. Check it out!
Views of the house and island:
The guest house/boat house has two additional bedrooms and four bathrooms and houses another double boat garage. Before I skim over that little fact, let me tell you… There is a rail system that takes the boat from the lake directly into the boat house with a garage door that drops guests INSIDE the house. Seriously? Coolest thing ever. The guest house is 5289 sq ft with nice amenities like two granite fireplaces and a steam room.
Main House Exterior Spaces:
The copper conservatory:
Living Spaces:
The Kitchen:
Office (Part of Master Suite):
Formal Dining Room:
The Wine Room:
Cool Features:
Main House Boat Garage:
The Master Suite:
Additional Guest Spaces:
The Devil is in the details, and they’re AMAZING:
Maybe one day it will be back on the market again someday… I could definitely see myself living here. Could you? Tell me your favorite part of the house in the comments below!
Check out more of our great content on our blog! Cheers!
*Legal stuff:
I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.
Slavetodiy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases via our Amazon affiliation links supports our cause at no additional cost to you.
If a blogger links to an Amazon product (with a special code for affiliates embedded in the link), and a reader places an item in their “shopping cart” through that link within 24 hours of clicking the link, the blogger gets a small percentage of the sale. Amazon links are not “pay per click.” If you click on the product link and stay around Amazon and purchase something else, however, I will get a commission on that sale.
Slavetodiy.com is also a VigLink affiliate advertiser which works similarly.
It’s not everyday that you find a home that appeals to your zombie-apocalypse-prepper side and your interior designer side. If you’re fortunate enough to live in the UK you can see this place, the Martello Tower Y, in Bawdsey, Suffolk.
For 1,250,000 Euros, or about 1.4m dollars, you can own this award winning “Martello Tower,” originally styled after similar structures built to protect against a hypothetical Napoleonic invasion in the 16th century. Built in the early 19th century, and redesigned in 2010 by architect Stuart Piercy and designer Duncan Jackson, it is a masterpiece and is a designated future historical site. With a breathtaking ocean and marsh view, it doesn’t get much better than this.
*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see full disclosure at the end of the post.
This place is currently a holiday rental, so even if you can’t afford the whopping price tag, it’s a two hour ride by train from London, and I’m betting, a wonderful get away.
It is listed by The Modern House, London: 020-3795-5920, and all photo credits go to the listing agency.
The exterior is intriguing in an unbelievable ocean setting:
If you didn’t know what you were approaching, the first clue that something magical is on its way is the entrance stairway to the incredible, weathered door.
The exterior patios offer ocean views and fresh, sea air.
The rustic brick entrance with smooth finish wood and glass doors is your first clue inside that the home will offer an array of architecturally stunning staircases, passageways, and rooms, cleverly tucked away.
Multi-level living spaces offer the opportunity for both warm, family spaces and bright, open living spaces with a tremendous view.
The tricky part in this type of home would be making cozy bedrooms that still get good natural light. The architect and designer decided on light portals in all of the downstairs spaces that prevent them from feeling like caves. The bedrooms and baths are unique, comfortable, and modern.
There is something very attractive about the safety of living in a bunker, and of course, the cozy feel of the home juxtaposed with the modern coolness of the architecture. I could definitely see myself living here. Could you? Tell me your favorite part of the house in the comments below!
Check out more of our great content on our blog! Cheers!
*Legal stuff:
I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.
Slavetodiy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases via our Amazon affiliation links supports our cause at no additional cost to you.
If a blogger links to an Amazon product (with a special code for affiliates embedded in the link), and a reader places an item in their “shopping cart” through that link within 24 hours of clicking the link, the blogger gets a small percentage of the sale. Amazon links are not “pay per click.” If you click on the product link and stay around Amazon and purchase something else, however, I will get a commission on that sale.
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I have a confession to make: I’m bored to tears with white. There was a time when texture and color were okay, and i desperately miss those days. I recently found a place where every surface: every wall, floor, fixture, and cabinet door has interest. Like a breath of fresh air: hand carved details, custom wall finishes, hand hewn floors… I love it all. Check out the home tour in photos below.
The listing, at 2740 Abingdon Rd, Mountain Brook, AL is 4 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, and a sprawling 4337 sq. ft. The listing photos are the property of the Realtor, Brooke Wahl, at ARC realty and can be reached at 855-822-3469 for anyone interested in purchasing.
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The exterior:
A two acre lot feels big and is beautifully manicured, perfect for outdoor entertaining and family time. Sculptures are placed throughout the landscape, rolling hills, and stone gardens and patios. The pool is a tasteful addition and blends with the rest of the exterior seamlessly.
Special spaces:
I felt like Alice in Wonderland exploring this place, and the details are incredible. One of my favorite places? The art studio.
The interior:
Deep autumn hues wrap the entire interior in a warm, homey hug, yet it’s sophisticated and creative. Extensive recessed lighting, and warm wrought iron fixtures and chandeliers, ensure that it’s still bright even with the maximalist style and textured walls, ceilings, and floors.
What do you think? Are you ready to ditch those boring white walls for texture and layers of color?
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I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.
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If a blogger links to an Amazon product (with a special code for affiliates embedded in the link), and a reader places an item in their “shopping cart” through that link within 24 hours of clicking the link, the blogger gets a small percentage of the sale. Amazon links are not “pay per click.” If you click on the product link and stay around Amazon and purchase something else, however, I will get a commission on that sale.
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Every once in a while you stumble across a home that absolutely takes your breath away. I had no idea, until we attended an event there last year, that Birmingham, Alabama has some unbelievable real estate. This particular place is downright sexy. It has everything: adult entertaining spaces, a gorgeous stone exterior, and stunning panoramic views. For a cool $2.4m you can own this little slice of heaven, perched on the side of a mountain, overlooking the city.
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All photos are the property of the listing agent Stephanie Robinson, with Realtysouth at 866-243-8436.
This home tour begins with a stunning stone exterior, custom windows, amazing curved rooflines, and incredible views.
Inside, the common spaces are elegant and thoughtfully designed. Exposed beams, soaring ceilings, exquisite light fixtures, rich hardwood floors, and crisp clean lines define the home.
The master suite is generously sized and features a flowing and open floor plan. It’s absolutely stunning.
The home office is absolutely dreamy and filled with light.
Guest spaces are welcoming and luxurious.
The downstairs entertaining areas are my favorite part of the house and are just as beautiful as the upstairs.
More stunning spaces:
And what entertaining mecca is complete without a fantastic wine cellar?
How much would you pay for a place this awesome? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Thanks for hanging out and check out more of our projects and DIY on our blog. Cheers!
*Legal stuff:
I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.
Slavetodiy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases via our Amazon affiliation links supports our cause at no additional cost to you.
If a blogger links to an Amazon product (with a special code for affiliates embedded in the link), and a reader places an item in their “shopping cart” through that link within 24 hours of clicking the link, the blogger gets a small percentage of the sale. Amazon links are not “pay per click.” If you click on the product link and stay around Amazon and purchase something else, however, I will get a commission on that sale.
Slavetodiy.com is also a VigLink affiliate advertiser which works similarly.
For a cool $2,350,000 you can own this 15,370 foot castle-ish home in Lancaster PA. I love looking at homes in this area primarily because of the awesome stonework, handcrafted woodwork, and copious numbers of amazing antique fireplaces. If it is that big and made of stone, I think I get to call it a castle. HA. Did I mention stone walls? I have a stone wall fetish, and it just so happens that Pennsylvania was where I built my first stacked stone garden wall with rocks that I dug out of my yard and the surrounding woods.
In Lancaster, usually known for Amish influence, stonework, and mission style furniture, this place sits like a magical, hidden oasis in the center of town. With 8 bedrooms and 9 baths, and sitting on 3.5 secluded acres in the center of town, it was originally built in 1920 and appears to have gone through a variety of renovation cycles. I went through a range of emotions looking at the pictures, but some of the parts of this delightful place are definitely worth sharing.
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To be certain this place is one of the most confused mix of styles I’ve seen to date. I think pieces of this home were renovated in every decade last century and left as is. I’m going to start with the exterior because I find it absolutely breathtaking. It feels like something a Lord would be living in somewhere in the mountains in central Europe.
All photo credits go to the listing agent Anne Lusk with Lusk & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty, and if you’re interested in purchasing she can be reached at 717-271-9339.
I’m going to call this next part:
The part of this house that takes my breath away: the entire outside of the house. Curb appeal, outdoor living, everything (the only thing that’s missing is a pool and an outdoor kitchen).
This is real, actual stone: not stone veneer. Check out the awesome exterior:
Sigh. The drone view is amazing. The levels, the roofline, the stone. All breathtaking.
The approach to the house is incredible. Driving up, you must know something magical is about to happen.
The house is completely surrounded by stone paths and manicured gardens. Afternoon stroll, anyone?
No castle is perfect without a great lawn. Perfect for big families.
And if you like your paths shady and wooded, there’s some of that, too.
I’m betting the terracotta tiles were added late in the game (but, they’re lucky, they’re back in). Just ignore the outdoor furniture that may have been procured circa 1985.
A great patio space with a nice cross breeze for the menopausal women in your life…
And MORE exterior patio space. This place is just WRAPPED in a stone patio. It’s really nicely done.
More filtered light walking paths. Seriously? Their garden designer gets an A+. It would be hard to stay inside (except in the winter, when it’s ridiculously cold in PA).
Beautiful fountain in a bed of hostas with stone statues: check.
I like to call this picture: when their three story garage is bigger than my house. LOVE.
And, finally, no castle is complete without a magnificent, solid, carved front door with cast-iron hardware.
The next section is:
2) Awesome amenities.
Okay, they’re not PERFECT, but they’re there. And kind of awesome.
Having a pool table is SO awesome. I don’t think I’d like the rec room open to the rest of the house, but it’s great that it’s there. (This is your first hint of the traditional brown that they bathed most of the living area in… which sort of makes sense with the whole castle thing).
Another shot of the pool table room. (Check out that great bench!)
This is SO cool. (Please ignore the drop ceiling- there will be more on that later)
I generally love ANY wine cellar, and this is no exception. Unfortunately, I hate that red color on the walls (even if it kind of fits the whole castle theme) and how would one actually go about PAINTING BEHIND the wine racks??? It’s bad enough that you have to take down pictures and remove light switch covers to paint, but disassembling an entire wine room would be a bummer.
I love the wooden back staircase. Classic and nicely done. The floors are magnificent.
This next section, though not perfect, falls into the category of:
3) Things that make me feel tingly all over, and I maybe never thought of before.
Dude, this is the two level master suite. Yes, I said TWO LEVEL master suite. Now, I’m trying to figure out how to make this happen at my house.
Okay, so bear with me here. Ignore the furniture and drapes, but check out the PLATFORM, and for some reason I really like the carpet??? Also, the cherry stained coffered ceiling is absolutely stunning. I adore it. I feel like films have been made in this room.
Prepare for the tingling! The cherry paneling continues down the FIREPLACE alcove (swoon) and down the railings and paneling that leads downstairs to the lower half of the master suite. Oh yeah, you heard me right.
So, downstairs from the bedroom is your own personal “sitting room,” which is more like a whole living room, wrapped in that same beautiful cherry paneling with yet another wood burning fireplace and bookshelves.
Yes, I get that the fireplace and the gigantic, hot tub sized bath are in that awful green marble, but I could get over that. The beginnings of the matching cherry wardrobes can be seen from the sitting room. I just can’t imagine a more awesome set up for the master bedroom.
The green marble and gold fixtures are quite ridiculous (is that late 80s glam?) but, once again, I could get over it. This floor plan is to die for.
And now we’ve come to the rest of the house and what I’d like to call a very confusing mashup of styles.
4) What in the world is going on here?
If everything before this was “the good”, then what follows now is the bad, ugly, and perhaps downright bizarre. Allow me to explain.
Previously we saw beautiful exterior stonework reminiscent of early primitive Americana or even an old English manor or castle. So, the heavy traditional cherry molding and even the green marble and shiny gold fixtures were excusable. That is where any cohesiveness in this space ends.
The kitchen is very traditional and sort of fits with the castle-ish feel and the browns throughout. The elevated fireplace IS awesome and I love the placement. That’s about where my love affair ends. Enter the mission style furniture in the kitchen (remember the fantastic chesterfield sofa in the master suite?).
Mission style stools at the island.
The mission style benches, chairs, and dining hutch are starting to clash with the traditional kitchen here (I SO love the floors, they’re gorgeous).
From this view, everything SORT OF matches, the traditional cabinetry mixed with the heavy mission style dining room set (although I do love the scale of the table).
I’m wagging my finger at the realtor here. The countertops should’ve been cleared and every fireplace should have a fire going.
Now here’s where it gets weird. We’ve gone from a decent traditionalish space with mission style furniture, which leads us to the formal spaces which are….
Oriental style. I actually started laughing looking at this listing the further I got into it. Because it’s downright confusing.
This chandelier is breathtaking, in the Oriental styled dining room, with traditional gilded mirror.
Which brings us to the basement. With 80s modern natural cabinets, mirrored pillars, traditional stone fireplace, green carpeting, track lighting and a drop ceiling,… The only thing salvageable here is the stone fireplace.
Yet another stunning chandelier, iron railings, and terracotta tiles that match NOT at all the continuation of the oriental styling in the elevated living room.
The orangy-reddish theme continues in more spaces (though you know I love builtins).
And for the media room, we’ve gone back to deep red and mission style furniture.
I actually sort of dig this workspace. It looks very functional.
Which brings us to our next section: Themed bedrooms. Normally people who put their houses on the market will paint the bedrooms if they’ve indulged their kids in personal styling. My guess is this room hasn’t been painted since the early nineties when this “child” graduated from high school (tip off: the Garfield collection which I also had).
The blue room.
The space room.
The cloudy garden room (complete with light green carpet).
The giant pink guest bedroom.
The eighties modern bedroom in black and pink with matching pink carpet.
The kids antechamber, complete with 80s couches- sort of feels like a TV studio green room, right?
If that whole thing didn’t give you whiplash, that was my best game.
All kidding aside, this place grabbed me because of the stunning exterior beauty. I would gladly spend a lifetime updating it room by room, restoring it to a serene and cohesive space. It appears to have solid bones and the cosmetic updates shouldn’t be terribly difficult. In fact, I’m fairly certain that most of the updates would involve paint, flooring, and furniture removal.
If you’re looking for a place in the middle of town, in the middle of Amish country, this could be your own personal paradise.
Thanks for stopping by and check out more on our blog. Cheers!
*Legal stuff:
I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.
Slavetodiy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases via our Amazon affiliation links supports our cause at no additional cost to you.
If a blogger links to an Amazon product (with a special code for affiliates embedded in the link), and a reader places an item in their “shopping cart” through that link within 24 hours of clicking the link, the blogger gets a small percentage of the sale. Amazon links are not “pay per click.” If you click on the product link and stay around Amazon and purchase something else, however, I will get a commission on that sale.
Slavetodiy.com is also a VigLink affiliate advertiser which works similarly.
I have a confession to make: I’m addicted to beautiful homes. I especially love old homes, updated with modern conveniences, but disguised with original charm. What we’re missing in the United States is the REALLY old world charm you can find in Europe and beyond, but we do have our own type of royalty. We have areas with wonderful historic districts, and when people list their homes, we get a glimpse of the type of artisanship possible even here, and distinctive in it’s Americana.
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One of my favorite places to stalk Real Estate is in Charleston, SC. If we ever had royalty, it would’ve been here. Enter this stunning estate on Legare Street, which, for a cool $15 million dollars (ish), you can live like a baron. Check out the following photos (photo credits to the listing agent).
Start with the ornate, iron gates, massive gas lantern, and amazing brick privacy walls.
Courtyards are an integral part of any palace, and this gorgeous estate is no different.
Pathway that leads to the exquisitely redone carriage house.
Traditional moldings, columns, and a wedding-portrait ready staircase.
Southern front porch style: ready for afternoons with a cold sweet-tea.
Elegant, nautical-inspired formal spaces.
Another great view of the entrance. I wonder if you get to keep their collection of ship paintings?
I have no idea if the mural is original, but it is amazing and blends seamlessly with the rest of this beautiful home.
A properly scaled, magnificent chandelier in the main living space.
I’m sure it has been nothing less than an art keeping the moldings repaired and authentic. I love the floors, kept in original condition.
I would LOVE to see a repro on this as a cast stone replica. Really nice work and styled professionally.
The kitchen is usually where these places lose me… but I sort of adore this one. It has all the makings of a place where you can prepare incredible meals, professional grade appliances, and a homey feel with plenty of prep space.
I love that the stove and hood experience wasn’t overlooked… Nothing chaps me more than seeing multi-million dollar properties with chincy kitchen appliances.
This is SOOO cool. Rainman would kill me if I requested curved cabinets.
It’s so weird that I love this, because I generally despise any kind of wallpaper. But, this is just beautiful.
The ultimate man den with wood panelling. I can almost smell the cigars.
That bed is SO awesome and the wood burning fireplace seals the deal.
Off the bathroom, the dressing room is absolutely spectacular.
And this bathroom is perfect. I keep arguing with Rainman that we need seating in the bathtub so I don’t have to sit on the sink while we chat.
This was common to do color themed rooms. “You’ll be staying in the Green Room while you visit.” Although I don’t do it now (I find abrupt color changes distracting and uncomfortable, and ultimately lacking in cohesion), I love it in this space.
With it’s matching green bathroom.
And the pink toile room. LOVE the toile.
With it’s FANTASTIC matching bathroom. Looks like a Williams Sonoma style vanity with traditional carrera marble.
With pictures of ancestors going down the back staircase.
I love that the attic was formalized and finished, as I’m sure it was NOT in its hayday.
The tub tile is great here and I do adore some Victorian Cameos.
This is a great mini apartment in the attic. I love the angled walls.
Of course, I adore the Chesterfield sofa in linen and the trunk. What a great, cozy space.
Overlooking the Charleston rooftops.
The value of outdoor space always baffles me. The incredible, manicured gardens and stone and brick walkways are impossible to put a price tag on.
This is another fantastic outdoor space. What a great garden wall.
This is an incredibly disguised hottub. It fits in seamlessly with the rest of the exterior spaces.
What an exquisite greenhouse with amazing brickwork and sculptural boxwood hedges.
The design of this reflecting pool and the architectural interest is really second to none.
Of note here is the copper lean to roof that creates a little bit of protected space close to the wall of the house.
I love that they kept the brick wall in the cariage house.
And the repro antique stove in the carriage house kitchen is a super nice touch.
Once again, maintaining the rustic brick really adds a nice touch.
I adore the carriage house bathroom with the gilded mirrors, wallpaper, and especially the travertine tile.
The exterior lighting updates were well done and really make the exterior spaces welcoming in the evening.
If you’re ready to drop some serious cha-ching for a historic favorite in Charleston, this estate is listed by Debbie Fisher at Handsome Properties, Inc in Charleston, SC. They’ve dropped the price from an initial listing in 2016 at $19,500,000 so I’d guess this is probably bargain pricing for this type of place.
Grab a glass of wine and join us for more house porn and DIY projects on our blog! Cheers!
*Legal stuff:
I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.
Slavetodiy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases via our Amazon affiliation links supports our cause at no additional cost to you.
If a blogger links to an Amazon product (with a special code for affiliates embedded in the link), and a reader places an item in their “shopping cart” through that link within 24 hours of clicking the link, the blogger gets a small percentage of the sale. Amazon links are not “pay per click.” If you click on the product link and stay around Amazon and purchase something else, however, I will get a commission on that sale.
Slavetodiy.com is also a VigLink affiliate advertiser which works similarly.