I’m fascinated by overlaps, like where indoors and outdoors coincide, or public and private, or two uses.  An overlap can capture the allure of different conditions simultaneously.  Most of us are intrigued by outdoor rooms or interior courtyards, because they are neither completely outside nor completely inside.  We enjoy porches along sidewalks which invite homeowners and passersby to share space while remaining distinct.  We appreciate three-season rooms, between our houses and outbuildings, which act as sunrooms and storage, blending the uses associated with the building types they connect.  The fall season takes place in an overlap too.  It’s where summer and winter mingle at the periphery.  It’s a time for morning glories and pumpkins.  Revel in the overlap.  Happy Halloween.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

Elevation by Katie Hutchison StudioDrawing Toward Home: Designs for Domestic Architecture from Historic New England is scheduled to be at the Boston University Art Gallery November 18, 2009 – January 17, 2010. This exhibit is on my must-see list.  It’s said to feature home design drawings from the late eighteenth through the twentieth centuries which depict a wide range of building types and styles.  Expect to peruse all manner of drawing types and styles too.  I imagine the bulk of the drawings are hand drawn. 

Purchase the exhibit catalog here.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

I’m partial to hipped gables.  My parents’ bungalow has them and so too does this c. 1890 work-building-turned-pottery-studio.  Hipped gables typically reduce the apparent height of end walls, keeping them from towering over passersby.  They lend an intimate scale, and the hip, which is almost forehead-like, helps suggest a familiar and friendly countenance.  Surely, whoever created the plaque to the left of the entrance was familiar with the truncated profile’s appeal.  Chamfered-edge shingles (which also recall the end-wall profile) above the door-head trim, and barn-style doors with integral windows, along with a complementary-color paint palette add to this building’s charm.  If a small child were to emerge from within and pause between the flag and hydrant, this slice of Americana might be worthy of Norman Rockwell.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of acting as Guest Butler over at Head Butler where Jesse Kornbluth champions delightful books, music, movies, and the occasional product.  You may have heard Jesse on NPR; he’s an author/editor/writer obsessed with “New Stuff that’s actually exciting and Great Stuff that’s been overlooked”.  I stepped briefly into his shoes to share my take on Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, a c. 1948 movie for today, starring Cary Grant and Myrna Loy. Grab some popcorn and dig in.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

The texture, color, and subtle reflectivity of old brick patios and paths can enthrall. Green grass, moss, and even weeds sprouting between red bricks often soften the look, while complementing it. Those who conspire to eliminate such interstitial growth speak of using vinegar, boiling water, or worse, something toxic to stem the opportunistic green. It helps to install pavers over weed cloths, but even those succumb to nature’s will over time. Go ahead, weed tall or ungainly interlopers, and occasionally trim, but otherwise enjoy a brick patio or path that interacts with the natural cycle. Over time, it will become all the more integral.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast