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| my little cottage |
Yesterday I went with a realtor to look at four houses in Ojai. I found them on Zillow, and asked her if I could see them. Boy, was it a shock. Things have really changed. I am so thankful that I bought my house when I did, in a down market. It sure was eye opening to see what people are paying to live up in that area now. The prices are astronomical.
One thing that I didn't expect was for some of the homes to have such dark interiors. I had this vision of how they were going to be inside, and it was completely wrong. I expected jewels, but they were decorated with a lot of black. Mine has windows everywhere, and the sunlight streams in all day. This used to be a beach house. In the homes that I toured some of the bedrooms felt like it was the middle of the night at 1:00 in the afternoon. It was an odd sensation. I didn't like it, and wanted to leave.
There was one blue cottage that I really loved. It had a colorful garden, a modest vintage pool, and lovely fruit trees and berry bushes. It was a very well cared for, but much too big for me. It had four bedrooms upstairs, and a pool house. I loved the fragrant pink jasmine and the ranunculus in bloom in the front flower bed.
There was also a tiny home built in the 1920's on half of an acre. The location was amazing. It had an odd layout, though, and felt very cramped. The floor seemed uneven, and the ceilings were extremely low. There was an odd sleeping porch adjacent to the kitchen. The bathroom was tiny, and it didn't have a tub. I have to have a bathtub! Dancers love to soak.
I was also shocked at how some of the yards looked. I couldn't imagine spending several hundred thousand dollars on a home when there were yards next door with junk piled high in the front yards. Some of the places looked like the owners didn't water their yards. There were dead branches, weeds, and leaves everywhere. It really makes a place feel depressing when there is a lot of debris and dead matter on the ground.
When I got home, I felt so grateful and appreciative of my house and yard. For some reason, it feels so much bigger than the homes that I saw. I think it might be because I live alone, and it has less clutter. I also have had the trees trimmed, and have been busy feeding the plants and pulling the weeds.
Every time I go to look at houses, I realize that I love what I have far more than anything. It makes me aware that the small details and love that we give to our homes make all of the difference. There is nothing like "a woman's touch." Doing all of the daily housework gives our home an energy of being cared for, and cherished. The fresh air and sunshine brighten it up, too. Do you love your home?
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Love, love, love my home! A tiny Art Deco apartment with no balcony or views but moments from the harbour and parks and our building has large grounds with a herb garden and outdoor clotheslines and whatnot. When we bought it 20 years ago (so cheaply when you look at prices today!) we thought it would see us into our dotage as it was walking distance to a proper village of shops and services, with doctors and hospitals etc on our doorstep. Our friends laughed at our planning for the future in such an extreme way but we saw it and immediately loved it and the hope is we never have to move! Lots of oldies in our block was proof that it's a good and manageable life to be had here.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think you'd be looking to move from your lovely place. Do you like to look at places out of curiosity? We do that sometimes when we're on holidays! Years ago we passed through Ojai and thought it was very pretty (and expensive for an artistic community!) so I'm surprised that when you had a closer look there was an air of scruffiness about some places.
Yes, I love to look at houses, Pipistrello. The shops are really high end, and I love the nature there. A lot of homes in America are not kept the way they were in my parents' day. I am guilty of it, too, but I'm getting better.
DeleteThe dark dark colors and the latest trend. I don't follow trends in general, but find the dark just atrocious. Often no consideration is given to the style of home. I think it's rather sad and like you said, it's the personal characters and special touches that give places their charm. Your cottage looks so welcoming.
ReplyDeleteOh, is that what it is, Lady Locust? Yes, I love when the interior matches the period and style of the house. Thank you. Mine feels like home.
DeleteSadly, for various reasons, I don't love my home, although if I ever want to like it very much, I only need to look at what else is available out there. I'm staying put for now.
ReplyDeleteYour cottage looks lovely. X
Hi Jules, I know what you mean. There is nothing like looking at the cost of homes on the market to make you appreciate what you have. I think staying put is wise.
DeleteYes, the prices of houses are really high, aren't they? Were you thinking of moving to Ojai? I know you said it was a lovely community - the houses you photographed on earlier visits looked well cared for - I was surprised to read that there were neglected yards, etc. We have several houses with rather neglected looking yards in my block, too, and that includes my front yard, where the grass was allowed to die (we were on water restrictions during the drought), but I didn't replace the former lawn with drought resistant landscaping, either. The front yard is something I need to work on, this year.
ReplyDeleteYour current home looks lovely and well cared for. I love how sunny your kitchen is! My kitchen had a window until I added the family room - now, the kitchen in an interior room and tends to be dark.
Hi Bless, Yes, that's what I noticed about the homes that I toured. They had more rooms than mine does, and a long rectangular shape. The light was blocked. I really enjoy having the sunlight and landscape in view from my windows. The greenery makes me feel happy. I find the heavy mulching really helps. You're right, the houses I photographed and showed her look lovely. I think those are more expensive. Some of the neighborhoods are gorgeous.
DeleteI don't like dark rooms, give me soft light and plenty of greenery.... are you thinking of moving?
ReplyDeleteHi Cherie, I enjoy visiting Ojai, and was thinking of possibly moving there. I really love my cottage and garden here, though. Maybe I will just vacation there.
DeleteThere is a really nice book called 'love the home you have' I was sent a copy and used to follow the forum to see what people have done with their homes. I will go and have a look to see if people are still commenting on it.
DeleteVery high home prices! Good thing you bought early...and it is a good investment now! I agree, I like well-lit homes. I also appreciate a pretty yard. You are fortunate you can grow such nice gardens. Home prices here are low. Higher in Delaware than here (PA) which enabled us to get a nicer home for less, for retirement. Andrea
ReplyDeleteThat's so true, Andrea. My friend bought a home in PA, too. It looks really nice, and she said that the cost of living there is low. It's so green!
DeleteI love my home. Not that there are not a few things I would change if I could, but overall it was and still is my dream house. I used to visit model homes and open houses, but haven't done so in quite a while. It is always fun to see other people's style and taste (or lack thereof). It makes me sad when people let their yards go to seed and do not keep up on basic maintenance. Your home always looks so inviting.
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful, Anita. My mom and aunt used to attend open houses on the weekends, as a hobby. They loved it! They would come home and excitedly discuss their favorite houses. They went in the top neighborhoods of San Mateo. Some of those places were like castles. Seeing those homes on Wednesday really inspired me to clean up my messes.
DeleteHi Rue!
ReplyDeleteHouse prices here (in the UK) have risen a lot too. It's depressing that youngsters are really struggling to get a deposit together and are paying a small fortune in private rentals because the councils are not building anywhere near enough homes for low rent. A report on TV the other evening said that for people on an average salary buying an average priced house it used to to take 4 years of saving for a deposit. Using the same parameters now, it takes 19 years. Nineteen!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's sad, Eloise. I think that's why the tiny house movement has taken off here. My friend just bought one. It's really cute, and affordable. The older I get, the less I realize that I need. More space means more cleaning and maintenance.
DeleteWe could do with a Tiny house.. movement here. Everything that is benig built at at he moment is huge.. with huge price tags too.
DeleteYes, they are wonderful. I love the small, older cottages, too. (like mine.)
DeleteHouse prices here, in our big cities, are very expensive too Stephenie. For many now, the dream of owning their own home is out of reach. We are very lucky to live where we do, I love our home and all the beautiful trees of our leafy little pocket of suburbia. We have a big verandah that wraps around almost 3 sides of our place and this is such a lovely place to be. It's home! Meg:)
ReplyDeleteYour verandah sounds fabulous, Meg! I love my porch, too. It makes such a difference to have mature trees and a garden.
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