Connecticut farmhouse

Meet 121 Walnut Tree Hill Road, located in Newtown, Conn.

The farmhouse was built in 1873 and sits on a grassy meadow

with a spacious backyard (vegetable garden included):

There's even a pond that you access with this bridge:

The windows at the front of the house make my heart flutter. Here's what is currently in the room:

But with windows like that, I'd want to be in the front room all the time. Some upholstered or slipcovered chairs would make the room feel cozier.

(From the Wheat's house, as blogged on Cote de Texas)

Here's the kitchen in the main house. Some see a set-up that looks more like camping conditions, but all I see is possibility. What color would you paint the door?

Did you notice the window on the left side? Maybe you didn't, because the cabinets are blocking them. I'd tear cupboards out and substitute them with shelves to display pretty white dishes.

On the right side of the galley, how about floor to ceiling built-ins to maximize storage space? Kind of like this:

(From the Dec./Jan. issue of House Beautiful)

Here's the living room:

I wonder how much light comes through those windows? Do you think it could look something like this with some new paint and different furniture?

The bedrooms upstairs are small but have lots of character.

Ahhh, I love wallpaper in rooms with slanted ceilings, especially when paired with painted floors:

Did I mention the guest cottage that sits across the meadow?

While we're tearing down cupboards and hanging wallpaper in the main house, we could stay here. Look, the kitchen is ready! I don't really like the green that much, but I'll let it stay for a while because clearly there are other priorities on this property.

The main house is 1,542 square feet and is listed for $425,000. Here is the description from Keller-Williams:

Peace, tranquility and the charm yesteryear best describe this 1873 Antique Farmhouse with 2-Bedroom Guest Cottage overlooking meadows and a secluded pond. The main house was built in 1873 and boasts chestnut 12” hardwood planking and a central fireplace. The guest cottage was built in 1900 and sits on nearly 5+/- acres of unspoiled prime New England Land in historic Newtown, CT. Antique lovers and those who wish to have their horses close by should see this property before it is too late.

Horses! I'm in heaven.

Dream kitchen in reality

About a year ago, I came across this picture:

In my mind, that single snapshot was representative of the whole kitchen, and it was white and soft and cloud-like. I couldn't remember where I got the photo, though, so one picture was all I had.

And then, I found it! It's "A San Francisco Turn-of-the-Century Kitchen" from House Beautiful, and there are 7 whole new pictures to look at.

Oh, kitchen ... Madonna said it first: "Just like a dream, you are not what you seem."

What? Really? This is not a white kitchen at all. And the shelves are kind of cluttered on the wall behind the table. Not so sure about that view.

Here's another:

Well, the range and hood are nice. I like the white under the oven. But it looks like a restaurant ... granted, a good one that would probably serve a great brunch, but it's just not what I was expecting.

I do like the vintage dishtowels hanging on the island:

The ceiling is really cool, but I am not a fan of the hanging pots and pans. Come to think of it, maybe they're the main reason I'm not crazy about this room. How can a room look light and airy if there are large metal and copper pieces suspended in mid air? But look at the quilted pattern on the refrigerator!

Here's a close up of the spice rack that is just to the left of the stove. Umm, it's a nice spice rack? There's nothing really to say about this one. Well done.

The pictures were eye-opening, that's for sure, but what really crushed my dream was something in the accompanying article ... something that relates to the first photo (the one I love).

Here's the excerpt I kind of wish I never found:

The old-fashioned faucets add to the old-world effect, but what really makes the sink special is that extra layer of marble in back.

That wasn't part of the plan, but somehow the slab we bought cracked in transport. When something goes wrong, you have to get creative, so I had them get another segment that matched and we put it on top to cover the crack. People think it's Carrara marble, but it's actually Calacatta Oro, which is softer and creamier and much less gray. It's a very impractical surface. Even a glass of water will leave a ring, but having said that, I would do it again. Nothing else has that old English country house look. It's honed, and you can have it rehoned if necessary.

Wait, what? You can't even put a glass of water on the counter? Having said that, maybe I don't love this kitchen all that much, after all.

Let's close with this: