wishlist

6.26.2013

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!:







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!). 





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





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






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.

photograph by Michael Moss


Just yes. Yes, yes, yes...

A Lowcountry home by


Classic elegance.



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

A Lowcountry home by


Charming and tropical!

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

7 comments:

Andrea said...

Look how cute y'all are!! These homes are all so beautiful and will look fantastic with your décor! So jealous you are moving to Charleston... how exciting!

XOXO,
The Glam Pad

emilie at shell & chinoiserie said...

Thanks, Andrea! I have big plans for our little Lowcountry house--I can't wait to find it! :)

Sofia Martha said...

Oh Emilie, I love that picture of you and your husband,you both look happy together!I'm with my husband for almost twenty-six years and we are as happy as we were in the first day. I believe you will continue to have a happy marriage as well. I love your parents house!
I am absolutely sure that you will find a beautiful house. I strongly believe that, when we dream, our dreams come true and we can tell that you dreamed a lot about your new home!I wish I live closer to help you. If there's anything I can do, don't hesitate to ask.
I wish you all the luck in the world

xoxo

Sofia
http://artsanddecorbysofiamartha.blogspot.pt/

emilie at shell & chinoiserie said...

Thank you, Sofia! I am a very lucky lady to be able to spend the rest of my life with him! And congratulations to you and your husband on 26 happy years--that is so wonderful to hear!

Thank you so much for your kind words--the house hunt can feel a bit daunting at times, but it will certainly be easier with support from wonderful people such as yourself!

Have a wonderful weekend! :)

Wendy C said...

hI Emilie,
I first heard of the Low Country (ies??) reading Anne Rivers Siddons books.
I would love to include Charleston on a trip to the States!
I live in a queensland colonial that was built in 1912.It has a central hallway & verandahs on 3 sides.
Are you on instagram?

emilie at shell & chinoiserie said...

Hi Wendy! Thank you for stopping by! I believe Anne Rivers Siddons has a home in the Charleston area, so I am sure she paints an accurate picture of Lowcountry life! Absolutely visit if you get the chance--it is an enchanting city and area of the country. I assume you are in Australia? Maybe we can do a home swap one day, ha, ha! Your queensland colonial sounds beautiful--and as far as I am concerned, you can never have too many verandahs! ;) Hope to see you back soon!

Megan said...

hello, HOUSE porn! ha! I LOVE LOVE the red tin roof look, as well. Sullivan's island has quite a few drool worthy abodes that exude that charm! I'm clearly getting a chance to take a gander on your blog!! So happy to have found it! :) I'm sure by now you've found a house! I love Charleston (and Boston!), so I hope you two are adjusting well and loving every minute!! It's my favorite place on earth. We were just there two weeks ago. The homes are amazing!!

 
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