My Dream Home

I have always been fascinated with historic homes. Old homes with a history, something about them invokes a level of nostalgia. Like I am guilty of some serious rubbernecking when I drive by them, the way some might stare at a train wreck or a celebrity.

My dream home would look a lot like the home that held some of my most cherished childhood memories, the home that my mother spent much of her youth and summers in, the home that my great-grandfather grew up in, the home that his father built more than 100 years ago. My great-great grandfather immigrated from Scotland to the states when he was just a teenager and later became a contractor, building many of the homes in Ogden, Utah. I love the home that I live in now, but my dream home would be reminiscent of the one pictured above.

It would be of timeless design and have loads of character, so a Craftsman would ultimately fit the bill. Outside, the front walk would lead up to the large wrap around covered porch, the stairs being flanked by two large planters spilling over with petunias. The veranda railing would have evenly spaced pillars of simple yet sturdy design, holding the upper level. Hanging planters would be filled with lush ferns, perfect accents for the shady porch. Wicker chairs with soft cushions would spot the rest of the terrace around the house accompanied by little side tables for a tall glass of lemonade or a pitcher of iced tea and a good game of Gin Rummy or watching lightning storms. The exterior would be a combination of brick, stone and wood siding, maybe some cedar shingles too. I just don't know how much upkeep is involved in natural wood materials on the outside of a home, so I may opt for synthetic in some places if it can be made to look classic and aesthetically pleasing. The garage would be detached and towards the back of the house down a tree lined, brick driveway that matches the brick used on the house.

The property would be large and grassy with well manicured lawns and beautiful flower gardens, mature trees with hammocks between a few of them. And because it was my very favorite, a very old, heavy producing Apricot tree in the backyard along with multiple grape vines bordering the property.

As you walk through the front door there is a landing with the formal front room to the left, a spacious mudroom with wood lockers, a coat tree and a bench for taking off shoes to the right. Perhaps a piano, my great-grandfather was a musician and would often play for us so it seems only fitting to slide a piano in there. A long sofa under the front windows, a large wood coffee table and two large upholstered chairs would be accompanied by a wood burning fireplace with a jade tile hearth to add warmth in the winter. Further through, centered in the house is a formal dining room, complete with the intricate hundred year old dining room table that doubled as a game table when I was little where we would play Dirty Marbles, Chinese Checkers and Rummy with my great-grandpa. The matching sideboard and china cabinet were also left to my mother by my great-grandparents when they passed and add to the character of the room. Two large windows to the left with sheer drapes and a Tiffany chandelier over the dining room table covered with a cream lace table cloth.

Enter a hall on the right that leads to the main floor master bedroom and bathroom complete with the claw foot tub that my great-great grandmother would make Moonshine in during prohibition. Also in this hall is a stairwell that winds upstairs to the top floor bedrooms, little storage cabinets spot the walls all the way up the stairs that possibly would not pass code these days but are magical to curious children. As you come up to the top of the landing you are met with a large open concept bedroom with two queen beds complete with nightstands, dressers and bookshelves. The bookshelves are filled with old books for children about pirates and horses and Mickey Mouse. A little further through the room there is a doorway entering a Jack and Jill bathroom and through there another door for the second large bedroom, this one has its own sleeping porch for those hot summer nights. A large built in bunk bed so that two children can share that room, two desks and a closet. On the top shelf of the closet would be my mothers old Woody Woodpecker mask, left from a Halloween in the 60s when she was just a little girl living with her beloved grandparents.

Hardwood floors throughout the house with large muted tone area rugs in the dining, front room and bedrooms. Continue through the dining room through a swinging butler door that leads into the spacious kitchen. Floor to ceiling cabinets holding all of the necessities and marble counter tops that wrap around the perimeter of the room. A retro 50s icebox, large chef's stove top and double ovens complete the room. At the back of the kitchen is another stairwell leading to the basement.

Downstairs you will find a pool table, old slot machines from the 1930s and a hundred years worth of 'stuff', much from the turn of the century that I am opting to bring into my new, old home. I just remember how fascinating it was to rummage through all of these treasures when I was five years old and I would wish that fascinating experience for my children too. Our home would be filled with happiness and memories, the dining room would smell like coffee, the bathroom like Oil of Olay and the kitchen like Dawn dish soap. My kids would have memories of picking apricots and making apricot-pineapple jam. Spending long winter nights playing games at the dining room table and letting their imaginations run wild when they find an antique pocket watch in the basement.