How does one define one's style? What makes us like one thing over another? We chalk it up to personal taste but it can be hard to break down into pieces. For every home we love, there are many things we may like about it and numerous things we may dislike. Is there such a thing as a perfect house?
Take for example this house from Peter Marino
I look at this house and know that I love it. I love the symmetry, I love the materials ( stone, slate), I love the simplicity of the massing and the simple garden. I love the stateliness of it. I love the big windows! I do not like the sheer size of it, this is a house for a robber baron with a large family and numerous servants, not for me! I don't like those little shutters on the second floor windows on the wings. I don't like that it seems rather institutional and plain.
Look at Garrison Keillor's house. Charming, right? 
This house isn't boring -it's rather charming isn't it? I like the covered loggia at the entryway, I like the interesting dormer on the front and the steep rough lines. I like the red brick with limestone details. I'm not a fan of the way the roof just sort of ends undramatically. I don't like the mish-mash of styles. I don't like that the front entryway isn't very pronounced. I don't like that this house seems to FILL the lot and feels claustrophobic.
Check out the palatial Sap Mansion
Beautiful, right? It looks like one of the French King's built this back in the 18th century. We all know why I love this - it's that french historical style I love, except it looks BRAND NEW -that bothers me. It's too crisp and perfect. Those large entry courts might have been common in the 18th century -but now they LOOM in front of the house and are so unfriendly ( not to mention NOT green!, in more ways than 1 ). Also -unless for state functions -why is the house so big? And whats behind that plain boring wall on the one side of the court? In 100 years if this house is still standing ( it's so big, was the quality of construction meant to last?) I'm sure it will be more appropriate looking.
I mean, who doesn't LOVE this house? It's not too big, not too small, it's open to the BEAUTIFUL gardens. But for me personally, I'm scared of all those plantings right on the house -will that bring bugs inside? And I don't know that I want a clock tower right on my house. The garden is a little formal looking for me too.
I love the front porch, but maybe it's a little small? And do I want to climb up all those steps everyday, especially with groceries?
So is there such a thing as a perfect house? It's such an individual choice. I suppose every house has it's good points but maybe also little things that you concede on. On what qualities do you chose a house? Location vs. price, style vs. comfort, size vs. quality. Maybe after years of living in a home and constant tweaking you get it to a point where it is 'perfect' but what for? Once perfection is acheived, is it satisfying? Just some musings going on in my head and an excuse to post some pretty pictures :-)
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