Hidden Magnolias

 Joseph Johnson House, "The Castle" – 411 Craven Street, Beaufort SC Built 1859 Spring is in the air and I begin to think about places to visit. On my mind today is Beaufort, SC, so I thought I would just share some pretty pictures of things to see in Beaufort. The Beaufort Inn   Built as a summer retreat for his family by attorney and Congressman William Sidney Smith in 1897 John A. Cuthbert House  is a house built in 1811 The Rhett House Inn -  1009 Craven St, Beaufort Built 1820 George Parsons Elliott House, 1001 Bay Street Built 1844 Marina at Sunset - Pinterest Beautiful Beaufort. Can't wait to visit. Pat

Yesterday I received my copy of  Columns by the Sea: The Roper House   By Dick Jenrette . I couldn't put it down. He tells his story of how he found the house, fell in love, purchased and lovingly restored. It is not a very big book, but some of the pictures are just to die for. All the pictures below are taken from the Roper House Pinterest board sponsored by the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust and the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation. Heavenly, isn't it? I could so live here. I am not going to publish all pictures because I want you to buy a copy of the book yourself. All proceeds go to preserving some of America's finest classic homes. Pat

You are probably wondering, what is a Southern Belle doing posting about Queenslander Houses? http://www.traditionalqueenslanders.com.au/History-of-The-Queenslander.php Well, for one thing, they are the Queensland, Australia’s equivalent to a Victorian. Developed in the 1840’s the style is still popular today. They are usually set high off the ground. They typically have high ceilings to allow for ventilation. They have wonderful porches and outdoor spaces. With large open spaces, they are the original "open floor plan" house. The one below has been "updated." Just like Victorians, they have their own variation and character. I much prefer this one: Open, white, and breezy. Look at the faded beauty below......I just LOVE her. What Mr. Deneen could do with this!!! I would so live here.  ...

Craigie House, a historic Midtown Atlanta building, collapsed on Feb 12, 2014, because of ice. I felt very sad when I heard the news. nbcnews.com When I was younger, I would occasionally drive by Craigie House. It was one of the original meeting centers for the Atlanta Chapter of the Daughters of The American Revolution. The chapter was organized 15 April 1891, making it the oldest chapter in Georgia and the second oldest in the United States. Over the years, I watched her deteriorate. Here is picture taken in 1987. Rough, but preservable. John Spink - AJC Some of uses included a place where old, homeless Confederate veterans were once fed and bedded. During WWI, they made bandages here. Various efforts to restore and preserve and move the house have been unsuccessful. According to the AJC,  a tree fell on the home in the mid-1980s, damaging it and rendering it unusable. Repairs were made over the years, but the building was again damaged by Hurricane Opal in 1...

Have you seen Miss Fisher Murders Mysteries on PBS yet? It is a delightful series. She has great clothes, fantastic shoes, a clever wit, and a kind heart. (And a little golden gun that I have never seen her use.) But even better, she has the coolest house: The historic house “Wardlow” in Parkville, Victoria was used as the exterior of the Phryne’s house. I never thought about Melbourne, Australia having really neat houses, but they do -- plenty of them. The house above is "Labassa", owned by the National Trust. A 1890 French renaissance mansion significant for its richly decorated and finely executed interiors, including a grand staircase with a magnificent stained glass window and rare trompe l'oeil ceiling -- Ooh là là . Built in 1847, "Como House"  in South Yarra is an amalgamation of Australian Regency and Italianate architecture styles. The opulent property features sprawling lush gardens, a fountain, and even a croquet lawn....