design SNOOPS

Here are the homes our weekly neighborhood galavanting has uncovered. Check back again next week to see some more of the great home and garden designs sprinkled throughout our local streets. And don't forget, if you think there is something snoop-worthy about your house, email us a pic with a one-liner about why you love it!

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We've uncovered some more great Cape Cod/Beach homes!

All of these homes feature beautiful weathered-looking wood shakes and white trim - they look so fresh and beachy. Also keeping with their architectural style, each showcases classical touches with pilasters and columns, they have lovely detailed mouldings, and windows which have Georgian-style mullions and transoms at the top. Seeing as Cape Cod architecture was originally designed by English colonists who came to America in the 17th century, it is not surprising that these homes hold similarities to the English cottage - I love the arbors!

In addition, this house has a particularly amazing walkway. I want to take a walk up to this front door...

The stacked stone on this house helps to break up large areas of wood shake, and adds contrasting texture and interest...

design SNOOPS

Here are the homes our weekly neighborhood galavanting has uncovered. Check back again next week to see some more of the great home and garden designs sprinkled throughout our local streets. And don't forget, if you think there is something snoop-worthy about your house, email us a pic with a one-liner about why you love it!

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This week we're going clean, sleek & mod!

These houses are amazing! We really love all of the clean, straight lines, common to both residences. The concrete plaster and grey panels look great adjacent to the wood (on the first house it may even be recycled plastic that looks like wood) siding. This provides a nice mix of both texture, and a warm and cool color-palette. Both houses have also designed their facades with prominent horizontal lines. On the first house, the concrete balcony creates a large horizontal band, and the siding is laid horizontally as well. The large panels and wooden siding are also placed in a horizontal grid pattern on the second example.

The metal roof and stainless steel chimney stacks are also appropriate choices for the first contemporary house, and lend a slightly industrial feel. All of these architectural products look great together and should be fairly maintenance-free, which is also a plus! Personally, my favorite part of this home is how the clean, no fuss lines are mixed so perfectly with the soft, beach grasses and greenery. I feel like there couldn't be a better garden for this house. Just look at how those grasses compliment this home - perfection!

Common in modern architecture,the second house has a flat roof which I also really like. You can see some holes in the piece of roof that bridges the left and right side of the home - this is a nice detail that could be fitted with accent lighting and/or cast interesting shadows during daytime. The landscaping around this home also has a soft, natural feel which nicely flatters the architecture's rigid lines and grid pattern.

design SNOOPS

While out snooping this week, we've dug up some beautiful Spanish-style architecture. Originally from the East coast, I wasn't immersed in Spanish architecture until moving to California. Over the years, I have really grown to LOVE Spanish houses, they are so perfectly "California" to me now!

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Both of these houses are great, contemporary examples of Spanish revival architecture. They have low-pitched, clay tiles roofs (love the traditional dark terra-cotta color), stuccoed exteriors, fine iron work, a variety of arched windows, and a classic balcony.

My favorite detail of the first house is the dark turquoise blue color used on the window trims and framing. Turquoise accented windows is the traditional choice for Spanish architecture, but I particularly like that this house has used a muted variation of the color. It refers to the classic choice, but in a subtle way. Also, notice the continuation of semi-circular forms on the balcony.

The second house takes the traditional arch one step further and includes a semi-circular arcade. What a gorgeous porch, or more correctly portico, to sit under with a sangria in hand. I also love the trailing flowers hanging from the balcony. Houses like this make me feel like I am on vacation somewhere - what a great way to feel!

design SNOOPS

Today, we are starting a new weekly blog feature and calling it Design SNOOPS! We will be snooping around a neighborhood near you to dig-up great home and garden designs and will be featuring a couple great design finds each week. This week we've captured a few goodies from Manhattan Beach, CA for you to enjoy!

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This house is lovely example of Cape Cod/Beach architecture with a twist of classical elements. We love the wood shakes and stacked stone, (great color choices!) and the classical pediment, columns and pilasters over the balcony. The house is soft and bold at the same time!

Another cute Cape Cod, this version features painted wood siding instead of the ceder shake, and leans towards a more traditional English cottage facade with its white picket fence, vine-dangling arbors, and of course, whimsical garden roses. Note the use of stacked stone on the entry walkway as well which is very in keeping with the style.

If you think there is something snoop-worthy about your house, email us a pic with a one-liner about why you love it!