Still deciding

Before we decide to knock down the current home, we thought we'd noodle over what we can do to renovate. We love living among the trees with a view to a creek (that often becomes a river) and the fawn and flora that goes along with it. I hadn't expected to see coyotes, owls, hawks, ducks and a plethora of birds (well, yes, birds I expected).
So with renovations in mind, we're drawing floor plans. If the interior doesn't work then renovating the exterior is pointless. With that said, I found a lovely inspiring photo to transform the front of the house on Houzz.

Contemporary Entry by Birmingham Architects & Building Designers VanBrouck & Associates, Inc.

Here are the as-is shots:

 

 

My kind of town....Chicago is!

Now and then, you have to look at exteriors and then again, you have to look at buildings, because, they too can be beautiful. On a recent trip to Chicago (for the first time), I was WOWIED! by such architecture. My photos aren't that great, but you'll get the gist. Super cool city - can't wait to go back!

(all copyright of Rooms Bloom)

Entering the city, as the L-Train goes by. There's a river here somewhere!

Cars parked under the condo!!!! Cool!

Boat garage beneath!

Trump Tower

Not that he needs promoting, but the guy builds some beauties!

The Trib

Chicago Tribune

I think this is Michigan Ave, but I forget. I was dog-tired walking around in the rain all day and probably overwhelmed with the Magnificent Mile (I can't believe I didn't take a photo in Room & Board!).

Not sure, but kinda neat!

Millenium Park

Millenium Park

Art in Millenium Park - The Bean

Art in Millenium Park

Art in Millenium Park

Cool art that changes expressions - I won't bore you with the rest of my silly moment.

View from Sheraton Hotel

Navy Pier

Magnificent Mile=SHOPS!

Mmmm...lost again!

Water Tower Place

Old Water building

A walk along Chicago River

View from The Sheraton

And of course, we had to hit Oak Park and see FLW's house!

Onto next project and home...

 Still unpacking boxes and getting a feel for the house, and so far, it's a good feeling.

What looks a bit dated and small on the front...

opens to a pool in the backyard. What we fell in love with, is the lot, inspiring in us, a future, modern treehouse rebuild.

We'll spend the winter deciding whether a major reno is needed with an addition to the back.

 Or do we live as-is and knock it down in a few years. I can't bear to move again.

Designed, Built, Sold!

Before

You may remember this post of our before shot. Nice little bungalow we could have been quite happy in, except the wonky kitchen layout. What started as a kitchen reno, turned into an added bungaloft (bedroom above the garage), which turned into a second story and then a tear-down and rebuild for the purpose of selling.

So here we are, 2 years living in our dream home, just for kicks, we have sold it and are onto the next project - modern treehouse? But first, pics from the mls tour (forgive my old furnishings - we did not stage, but easy to see what's going up on Kijiji soon).

Tour Here

After