Imperfection

Posted on Mon, 9 Aug 2010 by midcenturyjo

Hi everyone and welcome to a new week on Desire to Inspire. I’ve been thinking of imperfection over the weekend. I went to see a house and I’m trying my hardest now to buy it. We should know in a few of days after the banks and building inspectors and valuers and agents have prodded and poked, massaged figures and stared down sellers. The house was built in 1860 and got me wondering about imperfection and the beauty of gently aged things. If we are successful I don’t want to gut renovate but to slowly add my own layers to the old house. To leave a crack or an unevenly plastered walls. To cherish the footsteps worn in the cedar stairs. To gently clean the wood burning stove and live with the warped floorboards. I don’t have photos yet to show you but instead I wanted to share the tattered beauty of another home, this one English, one of the locations from Oak Management. Why do we so often race in and rip out ?

  

  

  

  

  

  

RLG says:

How wonderful! Can’t wait to hear. I agree that we are all in a huge hurry to rip and replace. Perhaps it was the housing boom. Or maybe we feel pressure with all of the beautiful pictures we’re bombarded with every day. xoxo

Jessie says:

It is very lovely! You could never build a new home with so much beauty.

Sparky says:

I love your aesthic considerations about the house you are considering. See what I have done for one little age spot of my beloved grand old 100 year-old home… http://sparky-youngbloodstudios.blogspot.com/2010/07/celebrating-imperfection.html

CassiMO says:

Reading this post, I am reminded of the movie Under The Tuscan Sun, wherein the main character Francis buys a 300-yr old home and while renovating it says, "Pick one room and make it yours. Go slowly through the house. Be polite, introduce yourself, so it can introduce itself to you." Good luck in getting the home and keep us posted! 🙂

Lin says:

Lovely as it is, I’m not sure I would want to actually live in this hose in its current state but it doesn’t matter because I’d be happy to spend the rest of my days in the overgrown garden!

Lin says:

Sorry, that should be "house" not "hose." (Most embarrassing—I’m an editor!)

lea says:

Yes the garden is dreamy.

Ruth says:

Ooooh!! The bricks, the plank flooring, the slightly-off windows, the natural light, the grassy paths… so much character!!!! A chance to touch the walls and wonder if the ghosts of previous owners will touch back! Good luck!

The house is absolutely beautiful!!! I love how rustic it is. I hope you get it and that you document the changes you’ll make.

attorney says:

This house is so awesome! If I ever had a dream home, it would be like this…to a T. The cobblestone flooring and the exposed wood beams and the garden areas are amazing. I know this post is old…so, I hope you bought it. It would have been worth EVERY PENNY! Great post, thanks for sharing with such great pictures too 😀

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