Category Archives: Eastside Costa Mesa

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Champagne Problems

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I have a friend who calls them Champagne Problems.  You’ll get all huffy and puffy, complaining about something that is ruining your day, or worse, “your life”, and he’ll shake his head and say “champagne problems”… and put you in your place. You know, when your cordless vacuum won’t hold a charge for more than 5 minutes or when your Apple Watch makes a rash on your wrist.  Champagne Problems.  When 3 days of hot weather “ruins” pumpkin spice season, or when the laundry is in the garage.  Yes, Ophelia is guilty of complaining about Champagne Problems!

Really, aren’t we all lucky that we aren’t headed down to the river to wash our clothes on a rock?   (I’m not even sure how that works, but I’ve heard stories that people do that) And when the dining room is “too far” from the kitchen, aren’t we lucky that both of those rooms exist and that the house is big enough to allow them to be so far apart?  Real Estate is a rapidly appreciating asset, especially in our area!  Even if our houses aren’t our ideal dream, they are increasing in value every day and are a roof over our heads every night. How lucky we are!

I’ve written about the deal breakers, but here’s the flip side.  There are things that may seem like a negative feature but, really? If you take a step back, they’re really just Champagne Problems.

My first “Champagne Problems” house for the week is 2593 Willo Lane in Costa Mesa. Despite being located on a street with an odd spelling of a word we all thought we knew, this house has a lot going for it!  It is spacious, spacious, spacious, without feeling cavernous or pretentious. The city is Costa Mesa but the property is a few blocks from the Newport Beach border, Back Bay, and all that area has to offer. The 8,400 square foot lot has a beautiful majestic tree that is the centerpiece of the backyard and was one of my favorite features. It is described as “Cliff May inspired” and the house holds great architectural appeal. The vaulted ceiling in the living room has clerestory windows that give both the living room and the upstairs master an open, airy feeling.  So what exactly are the Champagne Problems? The biggest is that it is located under the take-off pattern from John Wayne airport. Was there noise? Yes, but the house was still oddly peaceful.  I couldn’t quite understand the contradiction of this house so close to the airport having such a private and serene “feel” to it.  It may have been that giant tree in the back yard that watches over the house with it’s long branches, stretching out for protection. The house has recently been updated and the cabinets and counter tops didn’t have the highest quality feel.  That said, they are brand-new cabinets and counter tops, as well as appliances. It’s hard to complain about that. The master suite has a bit of a quirky layout, with some bright yellow and blue tile in the giant tub and separate shower.  Champagne problems.  It’s a huge tub, separate shower, has a great big closet, some built-in drawers, and a balcony off the bathroom!  Yes, the laundry was in the garage. And there was no direct access from the garage to the house.  I started making mental plans to move the laundry inside, perhaps up to the big quirky master bath, but until that happened, I could walk myself out to my clean, carpeted garage and be grateful that I wasn’t hefting my laundry bag over my shoulder and getting on the city bus to the laundromat with a sock full of a quarters.

I give 2593 Willo Lane an easy 7 hearts out of 10. It is welcoming, interesting, full of details and interest, and lives much larger than it’s 2182 square feet. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

welcoming exterior

welcoming exterior

beautifully designed, drought tolerant front yard

beautifully designed, drought tolerant front yard

kitchen with loads of counter space and storage

kitchen with loads of counter space and storage

love this wet bar, close to the kitchen, dining, and living rooms

love this wet bar, close to the kitchen, dining, and living rooms

master bedroom is actually a loft, open to the living room below, with an ever-so-useful built in desk.

master bedroom is actually a loft, open to the living room below, with an ever-so-useful built in desk.

master shower and the edge of the coordinating tub

master shower and the edge of the coordinating tub

tub with a private balcony beyond

tub (yep, blue with a yellow racing stripe) with a private balcony beyond

view of the backyard, my favorite tree, and the little storage unit or cabana beyond

view from the master balcony of the backyard, my favorite tree, and the little storage unit or cabana beyond

The second house of the week that is experiencing a few Champagne Problems is 1535 Caribbean Way in Laguna Beach. This home is “contemporary ranch” style and holds great appeal for anyone who appreciates minimalism.  Gallery white walls, polished concrete floors, an unexpected surprise pool in the front courtyard and serene ocean views from the other side of the house. One of my favorite features was the transom window above the front door that can pivot open with the door or swing independently if desired. At “only” 1524 square feet, it’s not for everyone (although most of our parents grew up in far smaller with plenty of siblings!) There were plans laid out in the kitchen for an expansion plan that capitalized on the hillside part of the lot, allowing the house to have a “proper” master suite, in case you were insulted by the current one. The minimal aesthetic meant that storage felt a little tight, especially in the kitchen, where there were no upper cabinets.  An easy fix would be open shelving, but there was certainly room to install upper cabinets if you desired. Secondary bedrooms were on the “pool side” of the house, but only had windows in that direction. I’d love to have sliders out to the pool.  The house was fairly high in the hills, up some windy roads, but did I mention the fabulous ocean views and breezes?  And if I really wanted to nitpick the details, I would wish that the pool were on the side of the house that had the ocean views, but that is a definite Champagne Problem!

I give 1535 Caribbean Way 7 hearts. The house had a great feel, gorgeous views, a nice pool and jacuzzi, and some beautiful quality finishes and details.  The exterior was somewhat nondescript and the floor plan didn’t hold any real excitement but it didn’t have any glaring flaws either. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

surprise pool. something of a rarity in Laguna Beach and completely unexpected behind the front wall and gate.

surprise pool. something of a rarity in Laguna Beach and completely unexpected behind the front wall and gate.

beautiful white-on-white kitchen

beautiful white-on-white kitchen

I love the thick edge of the counter top and the way the fridge sits into the wall

I love the thick edge of the counter top and the way the fridge sits into the wall

living room and view of the hills beyond

living room and view of the hills beyond

cool fireplace detail

cool fireplace detail

oh, this front door!

oh, this front door!

lovely sunny patio right off the kitchen and living room. great place for dining al fresco

lovely sunny patio right off the kitchen and living room. great place for dining al fresco

Despite the recent hot spell, Fall is here. Thanksgiving is approaching, but do we need to wait for the end of November to be grateful for all of the luxuries in our lives? If you are purchasing a home, any home, aren’t you already living the American dream? If you are reading this blog, you must have some sort of electronic device that allows you to do so – how lucky you are! If you have the privilege to be surfing the web on a personal computer or laptop, you are, indeed, more privileged than 95 percent of the world’s population. If you still aren’t convinced that you are lucky, here is another statistic for you: More than 80% of the world’s population lives on $10 a day. The next time your problems get you down, ask yourself if perhaps they are just Champagne Problems. Enjoy our lovely weather, hug a loved one, and have a great week!

Ophelia

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Details, Details!

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When it comes to houses, there are the big things – like location, price, size, and floor plan – and then there are the details.  Ah, the details.  Small by definition, but they make such a big impact.  There is the general rule of thumb that as the price increases, so do the details, so the exceptions to the rule are always a refreshing find in an open house weekend.

Have you ever just raced through an open house because there is literally nothing to look at? Square or rectangular rooms, flat ceilings, ho-hum closets, boring bathrooms…  No chances taken anywhere, architecturally or design-wise. Maybe the materials are nice but the same in every room, and the same as the last house, and the one before.  You turn corner after corner hoping for a bit of life, but… *sigh*… flatline.

By contrast, there are houses where you hardly know where to rest your eye. This doesn’t mean they are busy or even cluttered, it just means that there are details.  Even in a sleek, modern design, there can be thousands of exciting details. When I fantasy shop (in the $38M range) (what, doesn’t everyone do this?) there are usually multitudes of heavenly details. Take a look at this listing for 1201 Laurel Way in Beverly Hills. Go ahead and try to pick a favorite feature. I dare you.

In a slightly more reasonable price range, I have two to share with you.  (And again, if $38M is reasonable to you, call me, we need to hang out.) One property I visited that boasted great attention to detail was 3240 Broad Street in Newport Beach; two newly constructed townhomes, identical but reversed, in the Newport Heights area. These contemporary dwellings, designed and built by architect Renato Trotta, are each 1900 square feet of quality details. The materials used have variety, but a thoughtful repetition. For instance, the exterior window ledges match the patio below to give a sense of continuity. The kitchen has a limestone floor while the living and dining are both wood. They come together on a graceful angle, giving a feeling of “custom” not “builder”. There is a brushed marble hearth, raised to an appropriate sitting height  (a must, in my opinion, so that you can sit right by the fire). This hearth shares that same angle, and actually “floats” a few inches away from the fireplace. The outlets in the kitchen are not in the backsplash wall, but are actually up in the bottom of the upper cabinets: convenient and accessible, but discreetly hidden from view. There are no baseboards in the house. The drywall hovers just above the floor.  You simply can’t pull off this look unless your drywall work is of the highest quality! One of my favorite features in the house are the openings in the walls. At the end of the galley kitchen there is an opening to the staircase leading upstairs and toward the garage. It removes the “trapped” feeling one might experience at the end of the kitchen, and creates a feeling of connection to the rest of the house. Upstairs in the loft, there is a pony wall around the staircase coming upstairs, capped in the same light wood as the rest of the cabinetry in the house. This wall stops and becomes a metal railing for about 30 glorious inches, consisting of only vertical supports, no horizontal top! It’s delightful and unexpected and pops up in a few places throughout the staircase area.  It’s difficult to do it justice in words. Be sure to check out the listing or this video. You will marvel at the detail in this home – variated ceiling heights, cut-outs in the drywall above each and every stair, showers with a gentle slope toward a stepped-down drain, the raised walkway in the garage toward the hidden laundry. You know how I feel about garage laundry, but they did the best they could in this situation. Because of the orientation of the laundry, and the smartly placed wall, you don’t feel that you are really in the garage doing laundry, and when you drop your clean socks on the way back in the house (arghhh!) , at least they aren’t on the garage floor.

I love the feeling of quality in this home. I love the surprises and the details. I wish it were just a tiny bit bigger, if for no other reason than to get the laundry inside (and possibly upstairs). There’s a little bit of up and down with the layout of the stairs between the garage and powder room and the rest of the house, and the neighborhood is a bit transitional (but still boasts a fabulous ocean view)  but those were really my only drawbacks. The two homes really are spectacular and special and unique. You don’t often find quality like this in new construction unless you’ve built it yourself. I give these Broad Street townhouses 9 hearts out of 10.  ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

living room fireplace and floating hearth

living room fireplace and floating hearth

you can see a speck of the wall-opening toward the entry area at the end of the kitchen

you can see a bit of the wall-opening toward the entry area at the end of the kitchen

master bath. there are these wood-capped ledges throughout the house. great details.

master bath. there are these wood-capped ledges throughout the house. great details.

loft area and stairs up to the roof deck

loft area and stairs up to the roof deck

skylight-lit stairwell down from the ocean-view roof terrace to the second floor loft and bedrooms.

skylight-lit stairwell down from the ocean-view roof terrace to the second floor loft and bedrooms.

The second house of the weekend whose details drew me in was 2633 Orange Ave. in Costa Mesa. Built in 1999 and impeccably maintained, this home is the epitome of move-in ready. There are designer touches throughout and the outdoor space is incredible. There are 16 feet of slate walls of water and greenery covering every other surface. The family room glass pocket doors vanish, causing indoor and outdoor to easily mingle. If you want a screen to keep bugs out or pets in, one appears from the ceiling like magic. The kitchen has a great layout, with room to work, lots of counter space, a walk-in pantry, and room for two people to cook. The surfaces chosen are surprising and interesting. There’s nearly a cacophony of patterns with the dotted backsplash, the unique circle-pattern granite, and the multi-color “mardi gras” floor, but somehow it all works. There are leather-wrapped cabinet pulls and a wavy glass door on the pantry.  Every bathroom except the master had the same layout, but each had it’s own unique materials. Downstairs the sink was very dramatically lit from inside, causing the stone to glow! This glowing stone was also featured in an eating bar between the kitchen and the dining room. There was a beautiful carved door into the garage as well.  It is evident from the neighborhood that the nine houses on this cul-de-sac were all built at the same time, falling into that “builder home” category.  Once inside this lovely home, it feels completely custom, adored and celebrated by it’s owner.

I loved the layout of the home and the well-chosen, high quality details.  If I were making wishes, I would wish it were a little farther from the airport, with a little more exterior space in both the community and the yard, and I wish the exteriors weren’t quite so… “faux mediterranean”. They aren’t un-attractive, but it’s not my favorite style.  I would also wish for a fireplace, although there is a gas fire pit outside. Even with my wishes un-granted, it earns an easy 8 hearts. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

leather-wrapped cabinet pulls!

leather-wrapped cabinet pulls!

appliance garage in the cabinetry. pantry with custom glass door

appliance garage in the cabinetry. pantry with custom glass door

viking stove, surrounded by exciting finishes

viking stove, surrounded by exciting finishes

lit-from-inside stone eating bar

lit-from-inside stone eating bar

custom carved garage door

custom carved garage door

upstairs bathroom. they chose a seafoam green for the shower wall that perfectly compliments the mosaic tile floor

upstairs bathroom. they chose a seafoam green for the shower wall that perfectly picks up the bits of green in the mosaic tile floor

the design of this backyard off of the family room effectively doubles the living space.

the design of this backyard off of the family room effectively doubles the living space.

downstairs bath has the most dramatic sink with an equally impressive faucet.

downstairs bath has the most dramatic sink with an equally impressive faucet.

the master bath had two separate opulent tile countertops with gold vessel sinks.

the master bath had two separate opulent tile countertops with gold vessel sinks.

What details have you seen that have caught your eye and stayed in your memory? Let me know in the comments below! And remember, as Charles Eames said: The details are not the details. They make the design.

Have a lovely week,

Ophelia

ooh on black

Wine Tasting

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ZD Winery

ZD Winery

In early July, for the first time in a LONG time, I had a weekend that did not involve any Open Houses. Of course, that didn’t stop me from looking at properties! I was in Napa for a lovely weekend of wine tasting, but as I drove through the scenic countryside, I couldn’t help but stopping and wandering around the sprawling grounds of a few different properties for sale. What I took away from that weekend (besides the goal that I WILL have a house in Napa one day) was how the concept of wine tasting applies to House Hunting.

When I looked at houses this weekend, I applied the 4 steps of wine tasting.

  1. appearance
  2. aroma or “bouquet”
  3. mouth feel
  4. finish

How do these apply to houses? The first one is a no-brainer… appearance.  Perhaps you’ve already seen pictures online or maybe you’re just driving by and see the sign, but either way, that house’s appearance from the street is going to leave an impression in your mind.  Does it change when you get inside? Are you impressed or disappointed? Perhaps some of each?  Aroma or “Bouquet” doesn’t necessarily just apply to the way the house smells (although that does matter!) but involving all of the senses. How do the floors feel under your feet, how does the light come through the living room windows? Would there be too much sun in the morning?  Is it too warm? Too cold? Is there a nice breeze or a chilly draft? That brings us to #3: Mouth Feel. I’m not recommending licking any houses (although there have been a few that I wanted to give a big hug), so what in the world would this mean?  For me, it’s the livability of the house. Just as you would let a wine roll around on your tongue, let the house roll around in your mind. How does it feel?  Different areas of the tongue are meant to taste differently, just like different areas of the house are meant to live differently.  I’m looking for privacy in a bathroom, but not in a kitchen! I don’t like to feel isolated from the rest of the house when I’m cooking, but I am looking for some alone-time in the bathroom! I don’t like the laundry in the garage (as I’ve mentioned numerous times) but in the kitchen isn’t much better. Say it with me: “the laundry should be where the clothes are kept!”  I like a kitchen sink with a view and a living room with a focal point. I like an office that hides clutter but isn’t too isolated.  In addition to the layout of the house, there is that certain intangible aspect: how does it feel? If you’ve been to as many Open Houses as I have, you’ve felt it all. The good, the bad, and everything in between. How awesome it is, when a house not only functions the way you want it to, but it just feels good?  And finally, the finish. After you’ve rolled it around on your tongue and consumed it, what are you left with?  What are your thoughts as you drive away? What’s the lingering taste in your mind?

One of my Open Houses this weekend that passed the Wine Taste Test with flying colors was 2588 Fairway Drive in Eastside Costa Mesa. The appearance grabbed me right away.  I’m a sucker for a craftsman, and one that appears new, fresh, and in pristine shape is a winner right off the bat. It was just as cute and personable in person as the online pictures. The house engaged all of my senses – it felt clean and well-built. Nothing was shoddy or of questionable quality. There was good light from all of the skylights without any glare or heat.  The layout was excellent, with a laundry room near the bedrooms and a master that opened right onto the backyard.  I especially loved the one upstairs bedroom – what a perfect guest suite to give your guests some privacy and a nice view of the lovely yard! The ceilings were high enough to give a feel of luxury, but not a cold intimidating volume of space. The finish was excellent on this home. I drove away saying “I love this house!” Among the features that stuck with me were the adorable inglenook in the entry, the ginormous kitchen island, the upstairs guest room, and the vast potential in the back yard.  While the neighborhood was nice, it is pretty close to the planes taking off out of John Wayne, so there was some definite noise. Fairway is an easy 8 hearts out of 10, and would be even higher if it weren’t for the location. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

charming exterior

charming exterior

welcoming front porch - i love square columns and quality stonework!

welcoming front porch – i love square columns and quality stonework!

high quality kitchen with a huge center island

high quality kitchen with a huge center island. love the black subway tile behind the stove! the train station clock is an added bonus.

the family room is open to the kitchen and has a cozy fireplace of it's own

the family room is open to the kitchen and has a cozy fireplace of it’s own

master bedroom with a nice vaulted ceiling, ceiling fan, and the inviting back yard beyond.

master bedroom with a nice vaulted ceiling, ceiling fan, and the inviting back yard beyond.

centrally located laundry room with storage! ahhhh!

centrally located laundry room with storage! ahhhh!

in the foreground, peaceful patio seating, right by the built-in barbecue. at the other side of the yard is a shady cabana and a valuable storage shed.

in the foreground, peaceful patio seating, right by the built-in barbecue. at the other side of the yard is a shady cabana and a valuable storage shed.

this is the spot! If this were my backyard, I would open that '06 pinot that I just bought and enjoy it with someone who has been promising me that such a day will come!

this is the spot! If this were my backyard, I would open that ’06 pinot that I just bought and enjoy it right here with someone who has been promising me that such a day will come!

My other favorite tasting of the weekend was a masterpiece in the Westcliff neighborhood of Newport Beach, 1201 Blue Gum Lane. Appearance: stellar.  Loved the varied roof lines, and the simple but interesting detail of the curved wall in the front yard. Once you open the leaded glass front doors, there is the instant “wow” of a vaulted ceiling, punctuated by glorious skylights, and a truly opulent great room. The high ceilings, natural light, and wide open spaces made the living space richly satisfying.  The master bath and closet were true highlights, as was the well-manicured back yard – complete with koi pond! The kitchen was a little closed-off from the rest of the house and the laundry, while inside, was still pretty far from where the clothes are kept!  Neither of these aspects were a deal breaker, in a space this wonderful. One of the features that left the best taste in my mind as I went on about my day, was the white carrera marble bar at the end of the spectacular entry hall. What a perfect spot for my wine collection!

Blue Gum receives 8-1/2 hearts out of 10. 

front yard with easy, yet elegant landscaping

front yard with easy, yet elegant landscaping

the view from the front door!

the view from the front door!

that bar!

there could be some wonderful wine tastings at that bar!

fireplace in the great room

fireplace in the great room, dining room in the foreground

if there's room for a huge ottoman in your bathroom, you're doing pretty well.

if there’s room for a huge ottoman in your bathroom, you’re doing pretty well.

master shower features

master shower features

lovely, low maintenance backyard.

lovely, low maintenance backyard.

What have you tasted recently? What resonates with you and makes you crave more? Please your palate at an Open House this weekend!

Cheers,

Ophelia

 

ooh on black

Heaven help a fool who falls in love…

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I’ve been in love 3 times now.  The kind of love that makes you want to change all your plans, move in, and live happily ever after.  You dream about sunny mornings and quiet evenings, you imagine perfect holidays, and all of your vacation plans turn into staycation plans.

It didn’t work out for me, any of the 3 times.  The timing was off, or someone else got in the way, or we just couldn’t quite come to an agreement on the purchase price. But those 3 houses captured my heart in a way that none have since, despite the constant search.

I love houses.  Real Estate sites are my Tinder, and I search endlessly for the right one to “swipe right” on.  1:00 to 4:00 on Saturdays and Sundays are the golden hours, the kid-in-a-candy-store times. Sometimes I go with a plan, sometimes I just drive and see where the signs take me. Open Houses are a chance to see if the pictures online were just a tease or couldn’t begin to do it justice.

I never know when I will fall in love again. It could be right around the next corner, or it could be hundreds of open houses away. There will be crushes in the meantime, and the looking is half the fun.  What kind of house turns your head? Which ones make you weak in the knees? Have you ever gone around the block just to take a second look?

Sunshine is a major contributor to my love for a house.  My current home is shady all day and I long to have sunlight streaming in the windows while I make coffee in the morning, or the beautiful glow of late afternoon sun on the patio. One of the houses I saw this weekend leapt past my expectations simply because it was sunnier than it’s online pictures. 2594 Willo Lane is in Costa Mesa, but very close to the Newport Beach border.  It’s location is super convenient to the Irvine Ranch Market, the 73 freeway, and trails around Back Bay. It does suffer from jet noise, as all the homes do in this area.  This newly completed home is built around a central courtyard that gets lovely morning sun.  There is a big grassy backyard in addition to the paved courtyard with plenty of room for a pool if you wanted one, which I definitely do.  Beyond your back fence is a Montessori School, which may be a source of noise during school days. The street itself is a quiet cul-de-sac and this house is one of the nicest on the block.  Inside it was impeccable, with all of the finishes I love: wide-plank white oak floors, crisp white walls with high ceilings, grey quartz counters in the huge white kitchen, and a giant glass-walled shower in the master bath.  The laundry was next to the master suite, which is a huge plus on my check list. The master suite opened onto the courtyard, as did the family room, dining room, and kitchen.  There was a ton of storage and a big pantry. I loved the floor plan and the finishes. Detractors for me were the school behind the house, the proximity to the airport, and the fact that the street is spelled Willo, not Willow! What’s up with that?

I give it 6 hearts ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️  out of 10.

Entry. Great stonework!

Entry. Great stonework!

formal living room

formal living room

view from the entry toward the huge kitchen

view from the entry toward the huge kitchen

Things I love in a master bath: big shower, sunlight, and a separate toilet compartment

Things I love in a master bath: big shower, sunlight, and a separate toilet compartment

 

 

My second pick of the weekend is more of a project, but not a difficult one. You know when someone has a few self-esteem issues but you are sure that love and a positive influence will turn it around and they’re just so darn nice that you want to take on the project? 1912 Highland is like that. Located in the Baycrest neighborhood of Newport Beach, with wide streets and beautiful homes, it is far enough from the airport to pretend to ignore the airplane noise, or at least get used to it. This one has clearly been well-loved. Carpets in the bedrooms could use replacing (or removing, although I am one of those people who doesn’t mind carpet in bedrooms.)  There is also carpet in the added-on-at-some-point family room, but again, I’m fine with that. Sometimes you want to sit on the floor or play with the cat, and an area rug just doesn’t offer much padding. There is a lovely small-ish pool in a slate-covered backyard with a nice jacuzzi. The bedrooms are a little small but workable. The kitchen layout was a little wonky, as they’d obviously done the best they could to expand the kitchen without completely taking over the living room and moving load-bearing walls, but it does have nice pantry cabinets and a sub-zero refrigerator. My favorite parts of this house were:

  1. the wood floors (well… “wood” floors) and the stone mosaic backsplash in the kitchen
  2. the backyard
  3. the curb appeal (shingles with white trim) and the craftsman dutch door where the top opening is only 1/3 of the door instead of 1/2. This feels more secure to me (no one can just reach over the top to open it from the outside, and it keeps the cat in) but can still be open for those ocean breezes. This door was red, but in my head I’ve already painted it turquoise.
  4. the price for a pool home in this neighborhood. I’m surprised no one has snapped this one up yet.

The house itself earns about 4-1/2 hearts, but it’s potential and price/neighborhood bring it up to 6 hearts. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

So picturesque! Wouldn't you love to call this home?

So picturesque! Wouldn’t you love to call this home?

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Kitchen backsplash (with a view into the living room)

 

Wood floors with character

Wood floors with character

Pool with raised jacuzzi. Nice slate patio with room for a table and chairs or (my personal favorite) a fire pit!

Pool with raised jacuzzi. Nice slate patio with room for a table and chairs or (my personal favorite) a fire pit!

 

If you aren’t yet an Open House aficionado, give it a try this weekend! Perhaps you are no longer head-over-heels for your current house, or maybe you never were. Take a look, there’s no commitment. and you might just fall in love!

Ophelia