August 19, 2011

A charming 1930s house fit for a fairy tale


Day 231 of Vintage 365


 

There are many books from my childhood that I look back on with immense fondness. From Robert Munsch's entertainingly delightful Pigs to the endearingly sweet Bread and Jam for Frances, by the husband and wife writing and illustrating team of Russell and Lillian Hoban.

I was very fortunate that my parents filled my earliest days with great books and that they read to me often. One title that I simply could not get enough of was a whimsically charming book of stories about fairies and other similar fictional sprites called Come Follow Me by Gyo Fujikawa.

Though not a vintage book (it'd earn the title of retro at this point though), there was a timeless quality to the sweet, gorgeously illustrated stories that this hardcover book abounded with.

As I grew up I really did not retain a passion of fantasy stories (veering more towards non-fiction genres, especially history instead), however anytime I see something that reminds me of one of the stories in Come Follow Me, I'm transported back to being a five year old again, a mythical world of fairies dancing on the pages before my young eyes.

It was, of all things, the November 1938 cover of Better Homes and Garden magazine that swept me back through the years and brought memories of a childhood storybook to the forefront of my mind.



 

With its bay window, rusty brown hued tile roof, and pale brick walls teaming with verdant climbing vines, there's something so perfectly fairy tale-ish about this wonderfully pretty vintage home (the image of which comes by way of paul.malon on Flickr).

I could imagine a sweet old woman living there who put out saucers of milk for the neighbourhood cats each evening, unaware that it was the "little folk" who were coming to lap it up, living there.

Or perhaps a young woman with a wicked step-mother, waiting for her prince to come dashing into town on a white horse.

While I don't profess to be an expert of architecture, I can usually peg a house's style well. This darling home leaves me a tad baffled though. Is it English countryside (a style I adore), mid-century Connecticut? The longer I look at it, the more I feel it has vague Tudor elements. No matter what style you call it however, there's no denying that this beautiful 1930s house would make an amazing home.

I could so easily picture myself tending flowers in its garden, stringing laundry in backyard, setting a row of pumpkin against those lovely bricks come august, building a snowman on the lawn come winter.

It looks like a house with a sense of whimsy and elegance. And the longer I gaze at it, the more I adore it. Perhaps that's because, if I try really hard, I can just about see a fairy or two fluttering around those stately climbing vines, beckoning me to come follow them. Smile


6 comments:

  1. Beautiful home! Not for me, but beautiful anyway!

    ReplyDelete
  2. yes! I love this house. I have a degree related in historic architecture so I feel pretty confident saying this is called a tudor revival (you were right). revivals like this were very popular in the 1920s (as well as late victorian era) and it was not unusual to incorporate a few, well not exactly accurate but more eclectic elements to suit the owner's fancy. I wonder if the house was actually built in the 20s b/c there was little new construction in the 30s b/c of the depression. also the ivy would take a little time to grow that hight, right? ( however, it is possible this particular family could still afford this home.)

    ReplyDelete
  3. This pic reminds me of the house in the Cary Grant film Mr Blandings build his dreamhouse. Very up sate New York!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've just found your blog and just love it. I can't wait to check back every day. I'm certainly going to explore your archive. I hope you are feeling better soon.

    ReplyDelete
  5. so pretty... an absolute storybook house... i want to live there!

    ReplyDelete
  6. How lovely, definitely fairy tale material.
    There is a house not far from my daughter's place that is very similar and I love looking at it when I drive by. Thanks Jessica.

    ReplyDelete