Of Rain Chains

and such...

 Last week I finally got around to 

hanging my rain chain I bought months ago.

I decided I must have one after viewing them

hung from the gutters of a bungalow not far from me.

I'll show that bungalow below.

I got this rain chain at ROSS for $9.99!

I was thrilled at the price till I went to hang it and realized it

was about half the length it needed to be.

I didn't have a spot for it from my gutters anyway.

Now it hangs from a tree in my front yard. 

I think it makes a nice feature.

I've struggled with bare spots under my yaupon holly 

tree in the front flower bed for years.

The roots are so thick...I can't plant anything there.

I finally got smart and realized I could put containers

on top of the root filled soil.

It's a shady spot so hostas and ferns are happy 

in their pots under the tree.

 This little dragonfly I bought at a local art festival.

He's made of vintage silverware.

 Ok, so here is why I needed a rain chain. 

I happened upon this bungalow one day last spring.

It was just before Easter. These photos show large Easter Eggs

here and there. The trees were just starting to bud out in these

photos.

A few weeks later I was driving buy and 

saw the owners out working in the yard.

I pulled over so fast - they thought I was a crazy person.

I just had to tell them how beautiful their yard is 

and how lovely their bungalow is painted.

 They hadn't taken the covers off their patio furniture yet.

Isn't that the cutest rain chain?

I told them how much I admire their bungalow and 

they said they tried to make it look like a bungalow that you 

would find in Oregon or northern California.

They added the stacked stone.

All the bungalows here have brick rather than stone.

I told them I loved the color combination they'd done for 

the exterior paint.

They said several of the neighbors complained about 

their paint choice when they first did it.

They thought too wild. 

I think it's just right.

The day I stopped the owner had just planted her container

a top the pedestal.
 

A sweet path.

I could have spent all afternoon on this porch.

 The owner planted purple irises in honor of the

previous owner who'd lived there many years.

Her name was Iris.

This house and yard is such an inspiration for me.

The owners have done all of this themselves.

And were full of gardening knowledge.

I was so glad I stopped on the spur of the moment to chat 

and take photos.

 

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New Bungalows

 Last week, Mom and I went to see a few houses on the Parade of Homes tour.
It included a few bungalow styled homes by

http://mccalebhomes.com/index.php

For this house you came in the front door to a center hall.

Nothing like how actual bungalow floor plans are.

In 1920's bungalows you enter into a large living room space with dining room and kitchen beyond.

Personally, I hate walking into a small hall. Really hate it.

I want to walk into a big room.

To the left was a front bedroom or office.

I'm kind of crazy for that daybed thing. I'd love to build one of those in my den/office.

 Down the hall past the kitchen to the living room.
I do love the style of windows they chose for this house. Just right for bungalow style.

 Living room is open to the kitchen through a bar.

 I like this kitchen but I'd like it a lot more if it were white

 The bathrooms were kind of boring.

They are nice but boring to me.

The walls in this house were painted Sherwin Williams Sea Salt.

I must say in person...it was the perfect shade of pale ocean blue.

A little mudroom included.

Here's another McCaleb home we toured.

 These are called bungalows and they have some bungalow influences but they are not
what I'd call true bungalows. They have modern floor plans inside.
I still prefer a true 1920's style bungalow way over these.
I prefer the actual bungalow floor plans from the past.
But these homes are much better than many being built around here today.

This kitchen was white with a black built in.
Still inside this home...nothing about it says bungalow.

 I liked the fireplaces in these homes. Many new homes have really ugly fireplaces and these are nice.
Although a true bungalow would have a fireplace with built in shelves on either side.

 and another home....

 
Love the turquoise trim used on the windows and the orange swing.

 This is a lot of fireplace..which can be used from either side.

 I wish I had a photo of this kitchen.

 office space - I really like the shape of that desk.

 I found this kitchen on their website. It's a very fun one, isn't it?
Love that blue subway tile. I'd never do it...I love all white too much but this is really bright and fun.

Last Day of my Pillow Giveaway....

click below to enter

http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com/2014/09/elliott-heath-designs.html

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