The Barn

Once upon a time there was a young couple who loved to sail along the New England coast. On one of their sailing trips they discovered the picturesque village of Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard. They spotted a piece of property for sale: a heavily wooded plot, threaded with stone walls, with a view of the sea. The young couple looked at one another, and they had one thought: Buy it. So they did.

Of course, there was no house on this lovely piece of land. But the couple had heard about an architect in New Hampshire named David Howard, who specialized in finding, salvaging and moving historic barns—and once again they looked at each other and said, “Why not?” Two years and a fistful of permits later, they owned a 19th-century barn, which Howard disassembled and shipped—literally, since it had to travel by boat—to Martha’s Vineyard, where he and a crew of island craftsmen converted it into a summer house.

Read the rest of the story in Architectural Digest.

Master Bath Miracle

Transformations don’t get much better than this. Witness a master bath’s radical change from a blue and pink disaster, to an elegant and sophisticated luxury bath.

The photos are from Southern Living Magazine.

Vanity before:

Vanity after:

Tub before:

Tub after:

Shower before:

Shower after:

A Room With A View

My first award! From One Sassy Girl over at Hot Piece of Sass. She's a cool chick, so go check out her blog! THANK YOU SASSY GIRL!

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We all want a room with a view. Which view is your favorite?

The green wooded hills of a mountain retreat?

The clear blue sky over a Hawaiian beach?

A charming French Country Garden?

A breathtaking breakfast overlooking the Amalfi Coast?

An early morning at the House in the Woods on the Island of Capri?

The majestic view of a Norwegian fjord?

The rugged cliffs of the Seattle coastline?

The vibrant color of a Caribbean hideaway?

A view of the sailboats from this Main rental beach house?

The sublime panorama of San Diego Bay?

The vast view from a Manhattan Penthouse Apartment?

For me there is NO PLACE LIKE HOME!

View of the Mediterranean sea overlooking the town of Fuengirola (Spain).

Picture taken from our terrace.

View from our garden at Hvitsten (Norway)

The kitchen designer's kitchen

Kitchen designer Cyndy Cantley of Birmingham showed Southern Living Magazine a makeover project that’s near and dear to her heart―her very own kitchen. Here is a look into her dream kitchen.

Before:

After:

What a neat idea... Love the picture on the window!

Five Star Deck Dining Makeover

Just a few pictures to inspire you to transform your deck! The photos are from Southern Living Magazine.

A worn deck next to a carport. A charmless outside space with no ambiance was turned into this:

Wow! Fresh paint, new furniture and some plants. The blinds between the carport and the deck creates more privacy. The curtains and awning made out of weather resistant fabric softens up the place. A nylon rug adds warmth (and can be left outside, rain or shine).

A candle lantern casts a soft glow.

Greens and yellows add a splash of color to this outside haven.

Oh, and I just love this weather-resistant copper-topped buffet!

Dream Bath Transformation

See how this seldom-used guest bedroom was turned into a relaxing bathroom retreat. The renovation was easy because no walls had to be removed and only one door was closed off. After that, the space was quickly turned into a relaxing retreat.

Before:

After:

A black pedestal tub was placed next to the window, creating an ideal spot for soaking in the sunlight. The breezy white shower curtain hanging from a rod above the tub blends in nicely with the sheer curtains on the window.

The owner wanted the bath to mesh with the existing style of the cottage, so she filled it with a mix of traditional and modern touches. A glass-front cabinet, which was painted yellow on the inside, is a distinctive way to display towels and linens. Instead of a standard light fixture, a chandelier was hung, producing a romantic glow.

The color palette creates a fresh vibe within the bath. The walls are painted pale turquoise, while the beaded board is bright white.

FABULOUS GIVEAWAY: MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION

It's time for another GIVEAWAY here on Sweeter Homes. So I'm giving away a subscription to a magazine. You can choose between the magazines above.

1 ticket: leave a comment letting me know which magazine you would like

2 tickets: become a follower (or if you already are a follower)

3 tickets: link my blog to your bloglist

4 tickets: grab the picture above and place on your blog with a link to this post

Make sure you tell me what you have chosen to do in your comment.

Good luck!