The first three weeks of January we took a trip through the deep, deep south, including the north Gulf Coast of Florida. If you ever yearn for a simpler, quieter way of life...one without stoplights, sirens, buses, or even regular sidewalks, this forgotten coast is a treasure. Since I grew up here, it is in my DNA to love old southern homes with deep porches and darkened interiors. The crunch of walking on oyster shell pathways and the sound of the waves lapping the shore is with me always. Come with me and take a peek at these coastal lovelies.
 |
Miss Margaret's house is a stunning Queen Anne style dating from
1890 and sits high on a bluff above the Gulf...I used to visit this
house when I was a little girl |
 |
Chris is checking out the spectacular wraparound porch.. note how foggy the
day was... the roofline is in the fog line! |
 |
| the radiused painted porch with Victorian trim |
 |
| looking the other way on the porch |
 |
| the blue tiled fireplace and black cypress paneling of the living room |
 |
| the gorgeous black cypress and heart pine staircase to the second floor |
 |
| the pretty fireplace in the dining room |
 |
| the outdoor shower... on the back porch... is provided with privacy by the trellising |
 |
one of the wonderful upstairs bedrooms with fireplace.. here the paneling
has been painted a cheery yellow |
 |
| the upstairs hallway with arched doorway and mint green painted walls |
 |
| another view from the porch... I couldn't get enough of the porch! |
 |
| and that is the screened porch to the rear, outside the kitchen... lovely! |
 |
| the nearest neighbor's house is rather lovely as well... |
 |
| and the smaller Craftsman cottages are adorable... |
 |
| the palm trees in the front of another Craftsman cottage |
 |
the 300 yard pier next to Miss Margaret's house over the marshland... the pavilion is
in the water... |
 |
| a little further inland the pathway leads through incredible southern gardens |
 |
| this amazing southern Oak tree draped with moss is a stunning work of nature |
 |
this 1870's home is now a small museum showing winter retreats favored by the Yankees who came down
to Florida to escape the snow and ice... |
 |
Chinoiserie decor was popular with the wintering over owners of
this lovely home... and the color was the homeowners custom blend of
turquoise... gorgeous even after all these years! |
 |
| wintering over means lots of leisure time for reading.... |
 |
| Chinese imports adorn the bookshelves in the library |
 |
| striking color combination in the great room |
 |
| another view of the great room with the beautiful carpet and turquoise and black |
 |
this coral is also a custom blend and covers the
outside of the home... |
 |
this is one of the vistas created in the immense gardens... my younger brother
got married here many years ago... |
 |
| a striking combination of mondo grass border and a succulent in the middle of the fountain... I love this look |
 |
| the front of another winter home near the Gulf Coast |
 |
| a view of the trellised swimming pool built many years ago... |
 |
| wrought iron, shutters, lace curtains and the fiddle leaf fig tree on the front porch |
 |
| the small service cottages for the winter home with the majestic moss covered oaks |
***
see details and what happy guests have to say:
call or text me: 650-302-6883
Hi Kit, I hope that the new year is off to a great start for you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lush and idyllic setting, beautiful!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Hi dear Karena! thanks all is well here, and I wish all the best for you in 2014! Looking forward to your wonderful blog this year.
ReplyDeletexoxo Kit
Kit: Is this, by any chance, near Apalachicola? We've been there, stayed there, and love the area and it looks a little like this?? Oh I love those houses with the wide verandas; and also love the small Craftsmen bungalows. We have lots of this here in in Chapel Hill as well. Love the images of the interiors!
ReplyDeletelibby it is indeed Apalachicola. shhh! Keep it a secret :)
DeleteThanks for visiting!
Bisous. Kit