My Street of Dreams

This morning I didn't have time for my usual run since Nate had to get to work....so I ditched my Ipod and decided to check out some of the gorgeous neighborhoods I had noticed on our walks to the library on Foothill...called the Harvard/Yale Area.  I ran super slow and just took in the quiet, shady, tree-lined streets and amazing, architecturally-detailed homes.  I fell in love.  It was my own Street of Dreams.  Every house was well-taken care of, with beautiful landscaping (DeAnn, I can see why you love Impatiens so much!!).  Each porch had a table and chairs, and I pictured neighbors sitting out in the evenings sipping Lemonade and reading novels, waving to each other and the children riding bikes in the empty streets.  (I'm such a hopeless romantic dreamer, I know!)  I think I've found a new Saturday-morning tradition.

When I was in Oregon, my cousin Lindsay and I took a long, slow drive through McMinnville doing nothing but looking at houses.  It was SO fun!  We spent a few hours talking about our dream houses....styles, decor, colors, landscape.  I like different things about every style of home...but I think I've narrowed down what characteristics I would love in my own dream house.

~Craftsman or Bungalow Style...lots of curb appeal  (Nate likes new construction homes, so we'll see what we end up with!)  It doesn't have to be big...in fact, I don't want a big home because I don't love to clean! 
~Porches...front and back....probably screened in the back if we live in TN.
~A colored front door.  I don't have specific color preferences yet, but I think either a bright red, dusty blue or buttery yellow front door would be great.
~My dream house will have a nice laundry room....and a mudroom from the backyard.
~As previously mentioned a zillion times, I want the kitchen to overlook the fenced backyard.
~A master bathroom...something we've never had yet...no offense to my son, but I'm sick of peeing on the same toilet as him!!  I also want a tile shower, double sinks, a HUGE whirlpool tub, and walk in closets.  Haha, a girl can dream, right??
~I like the idea of a Jack n Jill bathroom between the kids' rooms too.
~Two-car garage...for our two cars.  And our bikes.  And our BBQ (which has been collecting dust for the past 2 years in Nate's parent's garage, sad).  And lawn mower (similar story as our BBQ...just in my parents garage, or is it in Glenwood?  I don't know!)
~A garden plot in the backyard....then I can finally use our food scraps for composte.
~An island in the kitchen.  Nate wants stainless steel appliances, but I'm not set on it.
~Hardwood floors
~Lots of windows for natural light...especially in the kitchen & living space.
~Three bedrooms + a bonus room = master, the boys in one room, the girls in the other, and the bonus room for Nate's office slash guest room for when our parents and family and friends come visit.  (We'll take you to Nashville and go hike the Appalachians, come visit us!)
~I'd really love a library/reading nook...but that might have to be a corner of our bedroom.
~Lots of green lawn and flower beds.
~Like I said, I haven't decided on specific colors, but I wants lots of color in my home.  Yellows, greens, blues on the walls.

This is exactly the style I LOVE.  And what I ran by this morning.  Someday....
Sadly, most bungalows I've looked at are VERY out of our price range...we'll get there eventually though!!

What is your dream home like?

Have a good weekend.
We're trying out Bella Citta Gelato for dessert tonight, courtesy of Nate's Father's Day gift.