LIFE AT THE COTTAGE

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Time Travel Thursday #12 - Historical New England Architecture


"We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories.
Some take us forward, they're called dreams."
~Jeremy Irons~


Welcome to the 12th Time Travel Thursday linky party at The Brambleberry Cottage!
Are you ready to share your fondest memories, grandest dreams,
and most creative projects? Great!

Well, this week, my post is going to take a slightly different twist
Normally, I would post about a recent project for this party.  But I have so many new
projects in the works that none have been completed!

Can you relate?

Instead, I decided to share some of the incredible 1700 and 1800s 
a number of weeks ago.


One of the observations I made about the older architecture of
New England was that everything seems to be on a much grander scale.

For instance, this wonderful old, sprawling Victorian
was graced with the most mangificent—and incredibly large—corbels.


And even its simple stoops were embellished with 
the most decorative porticos.

I could have taken, literally, dozens of photos of stoops on houses with very similar
porticos—each bearing its own unique design.  It must have
been a very common decorative element for certain house styles during the mid-1800s.


Everything about the older houses I saw was a tribute to
the artisans who designed and built them.

Just take a look at the window trim, the gable shingles, the porch columns,
and the railing on the grand dame above.


These beauties were built at a time during our nation's history when
attention to detail was the norm.


I really loved this sweet, old cottage—with its Gothic embellishments. 

Too bad I can't move it to my little farm in NC; I'm sure it would look fantastic here!


Of course, the traditional elements of design—ones typically associated
 with our country's forefathers—were also quite prevelant.


This door surround, with its impressive pediment, was so
massive that I felt dwarfed standing next to it!


Even the public buildings of antiquity—like this post office in Old Deerfield...


and this amazing old church...


and even this old town hall in Hatley—oozed with character and charm...
traits only age and time can adequately produce.

After weeks of touring New England, visiting dozens of these incredible
testaments to creative craftsmanship, the old adage "it's all
in the details" rings even more true to me!   ; )

10 comments:

  1. I LOVE these pictures...just love old architecture! Thank you for sharing! It is so cool to find architectural pieces in antique malls to use in a home...people really knew how to build back then! Love it! I am in SC! Just saw that you are in NC! We are just across the border from Charlotte! Christie at Three Pixie Lane

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  2. Hi, I have included my dahlia tiara box in your party this week, although it is not a vintage project, it does include some vintage trimmings, hope this is ok, Amanda x

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  3. Thanks for a lovely architectural tour! I miss New England now that I am so far away in Idaho.

    Love,
    Susan and Bentley
    xxoo

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  4. I just love those old houses! The white corbels in your first picture are exactly like the ones I scored on Craigslist for $30. I got three of them and painted them white. I love them!
    Pattie @ On Hollyhock Farm

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  5. Gorgeous!!! I love architecture and architectural details~

    have a good day

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  6. beautiful photos, I lake it!!!
    Kisses and nice weekend.

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  7. Thank you for this post, I loved seeing all the wonderful details on the posts, windows, railings, corbels, etc! We have these here but not in abundance like you do.
    I really appreicate your stop by my blog and thanks so much for the follow. I love watching and reading all about what you have been up to...and all your followers! Karen

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  8. I love each one. I adore looking at old architecture.

    I recently took some photos while driving around downtown Hillsborough. There are some beautiful buildings there.

    Thank you for sharing.

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  9. What beautiful pictures. Nothing compares to the grand old architecture of the past. I could spend an entire vacation just taking pictures of old buildings. Thanks for sharing them and thank you so much for hosting.

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  10. Such incredible pictures! Thanks so much for sharing.

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Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to comment.