wishlist

With less than two months to go before our big move from Boston to Charleston, I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed. In an effort to survive the packing process, the goodbyes, and the move itself (of almost 1,000 miles!), I am trying to focus on the positive aspects of our move, like finally finding a house...and making it our home.

Although we won't really shift our focus to the house hunt for at least a few more months, I have more than completed the decorating in my mind! So: I am starting a new "Wednesday Wishlist" series here at shell & chinoiserie to share my decorating ideas! I anticipate it will be more fun (for all of us!) to watch the wishlist turn into the reality, but for now we will have to settle for some pretty pictures...

I thought it only appropriate to begin the wishlist series by profiling the type of home we are hoping to find:

Luckily we love the classic Lowcountry style home, also referred to as a Tidewater home, originally designed to keep dwellers cool before the days of central ac! Its characteristics have become beloved by the Lowcountry and typically include a bit of a boxy, beach bungalow shape surrounded by a wraparound porch to help shade the interior of the home. Big windows are intended to capture coastal breezes and are framed by bold shutters (sometimes even beautiful Bahama Shutters!) to provide protection from storms. Lowcountry homes often sit on stilts in order to prevent potential flooding from storm surges. Because the first floor of the home tends to be a good bit above the ground (sometimes by as much as 17 ft., such as my parents' home!), these homes often feature a grand staircase leading up to the inviting front porch.

My husband, Brian, and I on the staircase of my parents' Lowcountry home, where we will soon be setting-up shop until we find our own Lowcountry home (notice the shutters were closed for a storm)!:

photo by Marni Rothschild

Here is the style of home on my wishlist!:

Coastal Living Cottage of the Year 

via Coastal Living House Plans

I love the interesting layout of this home with the detached master suite and/or guest cottage. And that beautiful exposed chimney along the exterior of the home states that the home has a fireplace, which is number one on my must-have list (I am sorry, but even in that Southern heat, Santa still needs a chimney to come down!). 

Carolina Island House 

via Southern Living House Plans

Wow. You can't beat the porch and windows on this one! 

St. Phillips Place

via Southern Living House Plans

I LOVE the red tin roof on this one! And the black shutters really make the porch pop. I also love those Bahama Shutters off the screened-in side porch.

Another red roof 

found via Le Sueur Interiors

Lowcountry Cottage

via Southern Living House Plans

Look at those columns! I don't think I would ever leave either of those porches...unless, of course, I were sitting in front of the fireplace... ;)

The Ashley Cottage
via Amerisips Homes

More than just a pretty face: this one is energy efficient, too!

Dogtrot Home
via Southern Living

I love the rambling architecture and the colors of this "Dogtrot" style home...

Boom.

The Inn at Palmetto Bluff

photograph by Michael Moss

Just yes. Yes, yes, yes...

A Lowcountry home by

Historical Concepts

Classic elegance.

Port Royal Coastal Cottage

via Southern Living House Plans

Precious. I love everything about this little home...not to mention it is totally ready for Santa! 

A Lowcountry home by

Cobb Architecture

Charming and tropical!

Vanderbilt Lowcountry Home
by House Plans and More

Low Country Style Home

via eplans.com

This last two are very typical of the look of newer builds in the Lowcountry.

OK--I think you get the point ;) I wonder how close we will come to finding a home like the ones on my wishlist. I can't wait to find out, but in the meantime, I look forward to your company (and help!) along the way!

Enjoy!

Emilie