We often find that the best homes out there are Architect-designed, regardless of the size and budget. This new traditional cottage home by Moser Architects of Arlington, Virginia is one of … Read More >>
A Restored 19th Century House on a Tiny Lot in Charleston, SC
Our recent trip to Charleston has got us a little fixated on the city and the wonderful historic homes in it. This restored 19th century house isn't in the historic district, but it's super cute … [Read More...]
Restored Victorian-era Home In Galveston, Texas
Older homes in hot climates depend on plenty of porches to make the summer months bearable. This restored Victorian-era home in Galveston, Texas has charming porches on the front and the back, and a … [Read More...]
Recently Sold! A Little Painted Brick Cottage
I get a lot of questions about painting brick - should you or shouldn't you? As long as you prep the surface correctly, and use the right kind of paint, it can look great - like this little painted … [Read More...]
Pretty Yellow Craftsman Cottage (with Shiplap Everywhere!)
Long before Chip and Joanna made it is the latest cool thing, "shiplap" siding was the way cottages and farmhouses were finished on the inside. This yellow Craftsman Cottage is a great example of … [Read More...]
Mimimalist Mid-Century Modern in Colorado
Krisana Park is a neighborhood of 175 50's-era ranch-style Modern homes in southeast central Denver, Colorado. It's home to this super clean minimalist mid-century Modern house, updated by Cadence … [Read More...]
Classic Dark Green Lake House in Vermont
Smith and Vansant Architects have designed another gem in their home state of Vermont - this one's a classic dark green lake house with big porches and very nicely done interiors. Maybe … [Read More...]
Stylish 1950’s Tiny Remodeled Cottage Home In Virginia
We expect to find smaller homes in the Washington DC suburbs, where houses are - shall we say - a tad pricey. This tiny remodeled cottage home has only 1,699 square feet of space including the … [Read More...]
Deer Island Contemporary Octagonal Home on Hilton Head Island
Karen and I have a favorite place in the world - Sea Pines Plantation on the tip of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. There's so much to love about that place, from the weather, to the Spanish Moss, … [Read More...]
This Sunny Yellow California Bungalow has been Updated – Just Enough
East-coasters used to seeing Bungalows in the inner-ring suburbs might think this kind of house is a cold-climate exclusive. But no, the Bungalow movement began out west, where thousands of homes like … [Read More...]
Remodeled American Foursquare Home in North Carolina
This remodeled American foursquare home came up for sale in Greensboro, NC last year and we think it's awfully cute! It's cozy, even though it checks in at a pretty sizable 2,387 square … [Read More...]
A Nicely Done Mid Century Modern Home Remodel in Portland Oregon
My family lived in Portland, Oregon for a few years when I was very young, but I remember enough of it to know what a great place it is for outdoor activities. Portland also has great housing stock, … [Read More...]
Simple Clean Details in a Contemporary Lake Cottage Home
Architects in the Great Lake states have thousands of miles of clear-water shorelines to inspire their designs for weekend getaway homes, and they often come up with inspiring interpretations of the … [Read More...]
A Little Carmel California Beach Cottage with an All-White Interior
Some Architects dream about working in a place like Carmel, California - Eric Miller Architects of Monterey is doing it. They're the Architects behind this first-class California Beach Cottage. Ok, … [Read More...]
Wonderful Marsh and Water Views from the Wrap Around Porch On This Low Country Custom Home
With summer not too far away, we're looking forward to cool drinks on a shady porch - and if we could do that here, we would! This custom home is on James Island, just outside of Charleston, SC, and … [Read More...]
Rocky River Updated Dutch Center Hall Colonial Full of Original Charm
Rocky River is a beautiful old suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, right up against Lake Erie. It's a very familiar place to us - close to where Karen grew up, and where a few of the custom homes I've designed … [Read More...]
Low Country White Siding Cottage – We Could Live on the Screened Porch!
This is the low country white siding cottage we've always dreamed of - nice and compact, just 2,200 square feet, with a metal roof and a live-in screened porch. It's in Bluffton, South Carolina, just … [Read More...]
A Pretty Yellow New England Farmhouse
This isn't the first time we've featured Whitten Architects of Portland, Maine on The Modest Mansion. They're masters of Traditional residential architecture, and this pretty yellow New England … [Read More...]
An Updated Colonial Revival Home (no, it’s not a Victorian) in Minneapolis
This handsome home in Minneapolis is the kind of house that a lot of people might call "Victorian" because of the multi-color paint scheme and steep center gable. But it's not - it's another example … [Read More...]
Southern Charm and Modern Amenities Mix Perfectly in this Historic Charleston Home
It's impossible to avoid falling in love with the homes in Charleston, South Carolina's historic district. Many of them stand almost as they were two and three centuries ago, when Charleston was the … [Read More...]
Completely Remodeled White Farmhouse in Virginia – With an Awesome Timberframe Barn
There's so much talk about "modern" farmhouses these days, sometimes we forget that "white farmhouse" didn't start out as a home style. All over the country, most "real" farmhouses quietly go about … [Read More...]