Spring has sprung!

William Wordsworth said “If one daffodil is worth a thousand pleasures, then one is too few.” 

TRUTH: You don’t know fun until you purchase a home during Autumn and get to experience the daily unexpected surprises of Spring. It’s magical! ✨ 

Hello, lake life!

Most real estate purchases are based on practicality- utility and how it will effectively serve your current household needs. Others are of the heart, part of a vision and manifestation of what you want in your life.

It only took a global pandemic and an empty nest for us to finally pull the trigger on the little weekend escape that we have tossed around for 4 years...

We contended with 74 other showings in the 1st 24 hours and 13 other contracts, but I somehow knew this quirky little gem was ours from the second I laid eyes on the rickety pontoon that conveyed with the property- hysterically christened “The Looney Pontooney”.

The hope for this baby cottage, with a porch view of the lake and backed by hundreds of acres of wooded trails, is that it serves as a quiet respite, a place to eventually share and gather with friends/family, and radiates a strong gravitational pull to the boys (and those important in their lives) as they begin to establish themselves outside of Casa de Nenonen.

My job is to help people make big moves and this one closed escrow today. Here goes nothing... all aboard the Looney Pontooney, Nenonens!

Into the woods...

Nenonen "social distance heaven" came in the form of a rustic 125 old log cabin tucked away on 265 acres of private land this week.  We traded masks and bleach wipes for ATV rides in the walnut groves, fields of wildflowers, hikes beneath the mighty pines, dips in the spring-fed lake, bonfire fun, architectural goodies...

 

 ...and true solitude that only unplugged nature can provide from the challenges of 2020. 

Nature heals, at least for the Nenonens. A perfect life pause to enjoy one another and the tail end of Summer before it is back to school. ❤️

Snuck away to Innsbrook...

The final "back to school" countdown has started here in Casa de Nenonen, as our oldest prepares for his Junior year in college and our youngest ventures in to his Senior year in high school.  As a final "shebang", we slipped out in to the wilderness for a few days where the WiFi was spotty, but the memories were plentiful!   

A teeny-tiny peek at the fun...

Iowa College tours, historic estates!

College Tour Summer 2019 continues in Casa de Nenonen as our youngest nears closer to his Senior year.  Back to school in 2 weeks!

I have mentioned numerous times here on the blog over the years that I earned my real estate license while my youngest was in utero.  The older he gets?  There is no doubt that the love for historic architecture is in his blood! Hence, the perfect finale to his Iowa college tours? A tour of the lovely Salisbury Estate in Des Moines...

Built in 1923 by Carl Weeks, the inventor of foundation makeup, the estate was modeled after this beauty...

The handsome 14th century King's House in Salisbury, England. 

The original projected budget for the Week estate started at $150,000... but ended with the final cost of a whopping 3 million. It is a spectacular blend of architectural styles and interesting salvaged architectural goodies from all over the world.  I highly recommend a visit to the museum if ever in the Des Moines area.❤️

A teeny peek at our tour...

Learn more about the history of the estate here...

As far as my boy goes...

While it has been fun times exploring the country with him this summer in pursuit of his dream college, now the choice is up to him!  We shall see.

NITTY GRITTY:

Salisbury House and Gardens
4025 Tonawanda Drive
Des Moines, IA 50312
Phone:(515) 274-1777

Web: https://salisburyhouse.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salisburyhousedsm 

Historic Eye Candy in Potosi...

The only thing better than a playful 1880’s historic home? 

One with a coordinating playhouse! 😍 In our continued search for secluded Nenonen weekend cabin possibilities, I was pulled 60 miles SW of St. Louis this AM to tour a lakefront cutie. I couldn’t believe all of the architectural eye-candy in town though?! Potosi was founded in the 1760’s as a lead mining town and charming historic homes like this abound!

The Chicago Skyline by boat...

Excuse me while my Realtor heart pitter-patters❤️...

After a day of touring Loyola University and DePaul University with our youngest, we took a spectacular sunset architectural boat tour of Chicago. The only thing better than the cityscape by foot, is by water!

If in Chicago, I HIGHLY recommend an evening tour of the city with Seadog Cruises.  It was not only informative, but a lovely ride on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River!

On a personal note, I feel like we just finished this emotional process with my oldest.  I can't believe that my baby's turn is up...

Sigh. 

Here he is. 17, at the fabulous Chicago Shedd Aquarium, 6 weeks from his Senior year.

A Realtor's perspective on college tours...

Our baby will be a Senior this coming school year, so we are in the midst of crazy "College Tour Summer".  Today we toured the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS.  Gotta love the dichotomy of the professor curb appeal, versus the student...

Oh dear.  College.

😳🙄🤣

A long weekend in Innsbrook...

We grabbed an AirBnb and slipped outside of the city limits to a cozy little a-frame chalet in Innsbrook for a few days of summer “fun in the sun”, before the boys go back to school.  A quick peek at the fun...

If you have never been to Innsbrook and seek a little nature refuge, sites like AirBnb offer terrific weekend getaways without the commitment of buying in the gated community.  From  dozens of hiking trails, beaches, and lakes to plentiful community amenities like a pool, gym, golf course, and a restaurant... Innsbrook is the ultimate area HIDDEN GEM for nature lovers.

A weekend in Chicago: Art, Architecture, and Anniversary fun!

If you follow me on Instagram, you are aware that my husband recently surprised me with a long weekend trip to Chicago to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary...  

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NOTE: Despite numerous trips to Chicago over the years, we have never taken the Amtrak. What an incredible alternative to driving and flying?!  The ride was comfortable, scenic, and oh so EASY.  Once in the city, Uber was a dream.  Highly recommend.

Blessed with a gorgeous and unseasonably warm forecast...

...an Executive level room at the historic Palmer House, circa 1875...

... and sought-after tickets to Hamilton ...

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 ... it truly was a weekend to remember!  Yes, Hamilton lives up to the hype.  It was incredible.

We enjoyed the sights under blue sunny skies...

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Shared a number of memorable meals...

Soaked in the historic architecture...

 ... and shared many lazy hours at the museums...

 Steve certainly knows how to make a girl feel appreciated and loved, not just this weekend but every single day.  I am so fortunate. 🎔

While the entire weekend was perfection, one of the highlights for me was an afternoon in Oak Park...

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If you have read my blog for awhile, you know my love for historic homes and my affinity towards local real estate when I travel. That being said, however, I have a pronounced connection with Frank Lloyd Wright homes and always have.  The fact is, I am the daughter of two FLW aficionados. I grew up touring his properties and enjoying books of his work, which sat on the coffee table of my childhood home.

Frank Lloyd Wright, 1867-1959, was the ultimate trailblazer in American architecture.  I have toured HUNDREDS of late 19th century homes over 15+ years as a Realtor and none of them aesthetically compare to a FLW home. His design was way before its time-  clean, seamless, practical, thought out, and purposeful.  I highly recommend reading "Loving Frank" for a closer peek into the his life and work. Entertaining read about a very complicated yet brilliant man.

Personally, I have always been drawn to the symmetry, simplicity, utility (genius built-ins), and organic nature of his design. Wright strived to have the interior and exterior of a home interact with one another to create a harmony of space and nature, achieved by the use of angles and intricate stained glass.  The end result? Clean and bold geometric design drenched in painted natural light.  Truly glorious!

Per the video above, the property in Oak Park is significant as it is the VERY first home that he built and is essentially where his career began .  While the property is not as pristine and original as many of the other FLW homes I have toured, it is no less important.  In fact, Steve and I found it interesting that MANY of the features of this home are key elements in most of the FLW designs to follow, like the signature fireplace nook.

This property uniquely offers a $5 press pass, allowing me to share photos with my blog.   Um, yes please.  Without further ado, here is teeny peek inside the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio through my eyes, friends.

The residential home:

The attached work studio:

There are many spectacular Frank Lloyd Wright homes in the Chicago area.  I highly recommend touring one (or more) the next time that you are in the area!  Regardless, I had to share.

Thank you for a wonderful getaway, Chicago...

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Happy Anniversary and THANK you for the weekend of a lifetime, Steve!

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