Friday, October 29, 2010

My favorite historic home

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I am waiting for permission from a blogger to feature their blog on my site. In the mean time, I would love to share some pictures of my favorite historic home, Old Westbury Gardens. Old Westbury Gardens is the former estate of John Shaffer Phipps (1874-1958), heir to a U.S. steel fortune. It has been open to the public for tours since 1959.

The home is located at 71 Old Westbury Road, in Old Westbury, New York.
According to Wikipedia the home is in the Charles II style, and has twenty-three rooms. The homes gardens, which it is most famous for, span 160 acres.
the stately front facade, courtesy of Historic Houses.

The beautiful garden facade, courtesy of Best of Long Island.


More on this home later, but I wanted to post something to hold you over until I get permission from a blogger to do my next post.
-David-

Friday, October 8, 2010

A Buckhead renovation... for the worst

Recently, while scouring the Atlanta real estate listings, I came across a home that I instantly recognized. An old favorite of mine, that I had seen years ago.



The beautiful 1920's Spanish home as I remembered it. I loved how dignified it looked with the towering trees. Photo courtesy of http://www.buckhead.net/tuxedopark/

And now the home in the real estate listing:
The home is definitely different. I'm not a fan of what they did to the stucco, but it only gets worse from here.


These next pictures are beyond words, in a bad way.





This almost makes me sad, to think that every room of this home was stripped of its history and replaced by gaudy, over the top details that, to be honest, make me want to throw up.

This is something I need the Atlanta residents' opinions on: Did you notice this home being renovated? How does the house look in person? Personally, I think the owners absolutely ruined a beautiful home.

The owner happens to be notorious real estate developer Lee Najjar. I do not like to gossip, and this is a home design blog, not the tabloids, so instead of gossiping, I suggest a quick google of his name. You will most likely find out more then you would want to know about this man.
To each his own I guess.


Photos courtesy of Homes of the Rich

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

The Famous A. Hays Town House, and its location!





This home has been floating around the internet for the past few years, bouncing around from blog to blog. When I fist saw it on Things That Inspire, I was instantly captivated by its beauty, and excited that A. Hays Town had finally got recognition in the blog world. Being originally from Baton Rouge, he was the first architect I had ever heard of, and definitely who inspired my love for architecture. He was such a big influence on my family, in fact, that the last three houses I have lived in have been designed in his infamous style. Many bloggers have asked the question "Where is this house?" In their posts, and, after a little digging, I have found out!


I am almost embarrassed that I was not aware of the location earlier. I am a diehard LSU fan, and since I have a sister and five cousins currently enrolled there, and the fact that we have season tickets to the football games, I find myself in Baton Rouge at least once every two weeks. Near campus there is a beautiful street named Highland Road. Many Antebellum mansions, charming french country cottages, and a few exclusive country clubs can be found along the street. Many of A. Hays Town's work can be found on Highland Road, such as this beautiful house:Okay, now to the location of the home! The back of the home faces Highland Road, though it is invisible from the street. By using Bing Maps, however, you can clearly see the home. In the search bar, type in 6294 Highland Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Going to bird's eye view will give you a clear view of the home, which is at the corner of Highland and Nelson Drive. By using Google Maps, you can go to street view (the yellow person on top of the zoom bar) and see that the driveway is to the side of the house, on Nelson Drive, and that the home either forms an "L" or "T" shape with a three car carport. (hard to tell with all of the trees blocking the view.) I can't find the front door, but the front does not feel as formal as the back does.

On the other side of the home from the driveway, there is a charming walled pool with a good sized cabana, and beyond that , a vegetable garden. I can imagine with all the privacy of the lot, that one could truly feel as if they were in France here.

Well thats all I have so far! When I head back to BR I will drive by the home to see if I can get any good pictures.

P.S. for all you football fans, the home Nick Saban lived in while he coached at LSU is across the street, one house to the left with the very green grass and circular drive, but more on his house later!