Have you missed me?
I've been BUSY
This past weekend I was in Texas for a wedding reception.
Our friends built this home last year.
Talk about "off the chains"
This home fits that term perfectly.
Our friends invited us to stay here with them for the wedding event.
Apparently everything really is bigger in Texas.
We were definitely not in Iowa anymore.
As soon as we entered through the massive gates
and traversed that ribbon of a highway driveway
to finally arrive at the imposing gothic front doors,
I knew in true blogger mindset what my next post would be about.
We had been here last year when this home was still in the framing stages.
During that visit we drove around the city with our friends looking at brick and stone samples and made several stops out here at the job site to see how things were progressing.
Like a good book or television show, it was gratifying to be able to see how it looks today. You know what I mean, you see or read the beginning of something and you want to know how it turns out.
Well this story is awe inspiring and turned out fabulously.
I don't like to show the front of a house on the internet for privacy reasons but here are some exterior views taken from the back.
Definitely impressive and that's the BACK.
Wish my backside looked that good... or even the back of my house. :)
As for me, I am always interested in the different decorating styles and building techniques that are maybe more unique to certain parts of the country than others.
This house was full of things that aren't as common in the midwest.
Even though American Gothic originated in Iowa,
gothic architecture isn't that prevalent here.
It starts at the front door of this house and is repeated in the windows and throughout the interior.
It was evident in the ceilings
and the outstanding woodwork.
* I'm still learning how to take an interior shot shooting towards a bright window. Do love the new camera though.
It has a kind of monastery feel don't you think?
I can't believe I forgot to take pictures of my friend's closet. Ms. Glynda if you are reading this, could you send me some? I covet and think I might hate you just the littlest bit for that center island full of jewelry drawers and that necklace storage idea. I know the women out here in blogland would love to show the men in their life what they are lacking be inspired too. :)
Other than the closet photo fail, one of my favorite spaces was the library.
Even if I didn't have time to read I would walk through this space just because it made me so flipping happy.
I Know I use the word inspiring so often that it lessens its meaning, but for me this space is the quintessential definition of the word. This room appeals to my sense of beauty, design, and it hits that emotional cord that motivates me to really want to stay, curl up here with a new book and READ for hours.
I'm not sure that this homeowner is the bibliophile that I am but what they lack in quantity they make up for in style.
I love how you can see through the center to the home office down below.
Looking up you see the wonderfully embellished ceiling of the turret.
The design of the great room was also fascinating.
It is in the core of the house
and the arch theme repeats here also as you look towards the kitchen, foyer and the back forty.
Looking up - another layer of arches.
The twenty four foot ceilings give a lofty look towards the second floor and soaring fireplace.
Upstairs there is a craft room that appealed to the color evangelist and organization side of me.
How fun is that back splash? Love that.
Then, I guess if you are hitting a creative wall and need a little fresh air you just step out on the balcony and contemplate a swim or take in the pastoral views of Texas.
I could also wile away the hours in this glamorous media room.
The woodwork here is also unbelievable.
I'm a lay down for great woodwork.
How fun is this space?
Purple walls, black trim and leopard print carpet.
Now that takes a bit of chutzpa for a Baptist in Texas,
but this midwestern Lutheran loves it too.
Serious swoon here. This is what I have been looking for either for a runner in our foyer or for under the dining room table. This is a custom piece so I'm still not any closer to finding my leopard. What I like about this is the amount of pattern here and the color... hard to find. So much of what I've seen is harsh or rather cheap looking. This is so pretty in real life.
Yes, this is a big old Texas size house and so as not to overwhelm you with too many pictures in one sitting - plus, honestly, I have got to move on to other things today, I will take a break here.
Stop by tomorrow though to see some stunning wall treatments, wonderfully unique sinks and faucets, a Texas style laundry room, an even bigger kitchen and a stairway to Heaven. You know it's a humongous house when it takes two posts. :) Stay tuned for Inspired TEXAS Style Part II tomorrow at Be Colorful.
Until then,
X0X0,
Linking up today with Met Monday at Between Naps on the Front Porch
