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February 14, 2006
Come On In
Spring must be around the corner because I've caught the gardening bug.
I was driving around our neighborhood admiring some of the landscaping people have done. I started taking pictures, but when I got home I noticed that it isn't really the right time of year to do justice to their yards.
What I ended up with were some pictures of some really cool front entrances. David has always talked about entrances, how they should be a warm transition between the inside and outside worlds, not just "a door." We talk a lot about what the space should look and feel like just inside the front door, but we haven't talked much about the outside.
Today, I saw some doors that just said, "Come on in..." or don't! The porches, patios, or stoops were just as inviting. I only drove up and down three or four streets, so this cross-section certainly doesn't represent all of the really cool doors in the neighborhood, but it gives one a feel for the diversity of styles and messages.
Some things I noticed:
- There are a lot of red doors in our area.
- There is a lot of super-cool and funky ironwork at many of the entrances.
- I think it is really impressive when people have glass front doors. To me, it says a lot about feeling like you live in a safe place.
- The numbers and mailboxes are often as unique as the houses.
Our neighborhood was built using a lot of very generic floorplans and facades. Over the years, people have made amazing modifications. What shocks me is when two houses that started out looking pretty much the same evolve into two totally unique homes, one Spanish courtyard and the next French cottage. Some have had the siding redone in cob or adobe, others in metal siding. Reminds me of the Brentwood/Crestview bumper stickers that say "Close In But Far Out." Where can I get one of those?!
Posted by Christiane at February 14, 2006 03:41 PM