Skinny, spiteful houses
image from: http://mentalfloss.com
They’re long, they’re lean and they are meant to be mean.
Mean to the neighbors who made someone mad enough to build a tiny house right beside them, cramping the views and ventilation and diminishing adjoining property values.
Yes, that is what all of the following houses have in common: they were built exclusively because someone got a bee in his bonnet.
The Hollensbury Spite House in Alexandria, Virginia
image from: http://www.nytimes.com
John Hollensbury built this narrow blue house wedged between two other homes in the year 1830. He owned one of the larger homes and the alley beside it, but did not like the fact that people parked their horses in the alley, or that vagrants hung out there. Known to be a cranky, antisocial kind of guy, John Hollensbury took it upon himself to build a house in that space, darn it.
Below is a 1924 photo of the ”Hollensbury spite house” in Alexandria Virginia
image from: http://tinyhouseblog.com/
Turning heads at 7 feet wide and 25 feet deep.
A Parisian apartment frozen in time for 70 years
image from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Above is a 2010 photo of a 19th century flat in Paris that had not been touched or seen by the outside world since the owner left it locked in the year 1940.
This story first broke in 2010, but it is absolutely captivating so I MUST put it out there on my blog in case anyone else has not yet heard of it.
image from: http://www.messynessychic.com/
The woman who lived in this apartment reportedly fled for the south of France as the Nazi’s invaded Paris during the Fall of France in the Second World War. She left all her possessions and those that were passed down to her when she acquired the flat from her grandmother. She continued to pay rental/maintenance fees but kept the apartment locked and shuttered. She never returned to Paris.
When the woman died at the age of 91 in 2010, her heirs had her estate inventoried for liquidation.
Rezoned and repurposed: Seattle church now a home & meeting place
image from: zillow.com
This 1907 church in Seattle is known as “The Big House in Ballard“. It has been creatively converted to a private residence, while also preserving large public spaces that serve as meeting places for local art and music events.
image from: zillow.com
Currently listed on the market for $789,000, this building features 6 bedrooms, 3.5 baths in 6,300 square feet.
While the old original classic church structure remains remarkably intact underneath, bathrooms have been added, access to the tower improved, the legal rental apartment completely renovated.
- from: zillow.com
image from: zillow.com
Artistic flourishes make this home/meeting place a dynamite space:
The Gothic Crow window recently installed– a 2000 pound sand-cast, gothic window that greets you at the street was created by owner/glass artist David Chatt documented by the Seattle Channel – Art Zone and presides over the street front and interior sanctuary.
- from: zillow.com
image from: zillow.com
image from: zillow.com
And feast your eyes on this… giant spice rack? Apothecary? I don’t even know what to call it…
image from: zillow.com
Beautiful!
There’s not a boring corner in this entire place:
image from: zillow.com
Even this quiet corner is a bit surreal if you look closely…
Rezoned and Repurposed: Early 20th Century carriage house now a home
image from: trulia.com
This historic carriage house has been converted into a cool, contemporary loft-like space while still preserving some amazing vintage details.
image from: trulia.com
This gorgeous conversion is located in the Spring Garden Historic District in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
image from: trulia.com
Currently on the market for $1,690,000, this home had 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, but no mention of square footage. I guessing at least 3,000, maybe 4,000 or 5,000 – this place is spacious!
image from: trulia.com
Look at the exposed trusses!
The Second Floor Features A Dramatic Great Room With 18 [foot] Ceilings With Beams & Original Carriage Hoist of Pulley & Gears Plus 2 Cupolas.
- from: trulia.com
Concrete home for sale in Vernon, British Columbia
image from: http://realestateok.ca
I feel weird saying “green home” and “concrete home” in the same sentence because it seems like such an oxymoron. But indeed, that is what this house is touted as being:
Exquisitely finished, award winning green home architecturally designed by Hugh Bitz. Enjoy this LEED Platinum certified concrete home free from utility costs! Geothermal & solar systems work together with clay painted walls to maintain the perfect environment.
image from: http://realestateok.ca
Currently for sale for $649,000, this Vernon, British Columbia home has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms in over 2500 square feet.
image from: http://realestateok.ca
Come on inside…
image from: http://realestateok.ca
