June 29, 2012

Homes I Love...

Brielle, NJ Circa 1820
 The real Jersey Shore
 Historic homes sprinkled amid the new...
 Guest Cottage or Artist Studio
 Inside Guest Cottage
 Another shot of Guest Cottage
 They don't make them like this anymore
 Standing the test of time
 Catch a seabreeze on this amazing porch
 Who knew...state of the art kitchen.  Chef's stove/oven and undercounter fridge and freezer.
 Keeping Room
 This home makes the most of its size.  Washer and dryer are under the copper bar in the living room.
 Rail barn door to the master bedroom
 Slate floors, built-in beds and loft.
 Jersey winder stairs
Master Bedroom

From the Realtor:

Longstreet Farm Cottage, authentically renovated & situated on a quiet tree lined street. The gourmet kitchen w/ beamed ceilings, fireplace, wide plank pine floors, built-ins, Stainless steel under counter refrigerator & freezer, soapstone counter tops, Farm sink, commercial Stove, Williamsburg Blacksmith's period hardware. Jersey winder staircase. Living room with fireplace/built-ins, French doors, patio, private yard & Artist's studio. new bath, 1st floor bedroom w/built-in, 2nd floor Master.

All of this charm could be yours for 450K.  Brielle is a beautiful little water town on the Jersey Shore filled with marinas, restaurants, bars and shoppes. 

The only problem...Snookie is moving in to town.  I don't think the locals will take to kindly to those types!


***LIVING ROOM RE-DO IS 90% Complete....post will be featured during the week of July 9th. Stay tuned!!

Have a fabulous weekend and a wonderful Independence Day!



June 21, 2012

Homes I Love...

Freehold Boro, NJ Circa 1920

 Brinckerhoff Avenue to be exact.  The loveliest, toniest of all of the streets in Freehold.  Freehold Boro is also the land of Springsteen and my fathers home town.  Neither of which lived lived on this street; they were, quite frankly, on the wrong side of it.  Not in a BAD way ~ Just working class!
 I loved this foyer from first glance.  I was actually inspired to check out my own Saturday Evening Post art at allposters.com.  I'm torn between 3 prints for my foyer...Stinky Putt, April Showers and Childhood.
 The zebra rug and warm walls are fun, as is the artwork.
 While I am not digging the window treatments, this rooms got great bones. Loving all of the windows...
 Seriously a spa/fine hotel worthy bedroom....Right???
 This bath is SUPERB.  The tiles are so fun and chunky (kinda like me!)
 There aren't words for how much I love this bathroom...
 Again with the perfectly molded and paint-colored bedroom.  I didn't bother posting a kitchen pic from this house because it was ugly.  I mean in the recently re-done, pedestrian, stock stuff kind of way.  With all of the bells & whistles in this house, they could've done much better. Offered at 525K.

{Photos courtesy of MOMLS}

From the Realtor:

Quite simply, this might be the most magnificent restored home in Freehold Boro to become available in years. Old world, early 20th century charm has been combined with a complete overhaul of the home down to its studs to include top of the line 2012 amenities. Just about everything is brand new and of the highest quality from the new poured concrete/ fully waterproofed basement, to the Magnificent Master Suite with new Marble Bath and W/I Closet, to the brand new roof made to look like slate roof.


June 14, 2012

BLT Pasta Salad



Box of Mezzi Rigatoni Pasta (or your favorite type)
6 Slices of Cooked Crispy Bacon
2 Large, Ripe Tomatoes, Diced Small
4 Tbsp. of Mayonnaise
Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper, to taste
2 Cups of Fresh Spinach, Stemmed and Roughly Torn

Combine chopped tomatoes, along with accumulated juices, and mix together with Mayonnaise in a large bowel. Add rinsed, cooled pasta and spinach.  Mix together and sprinkle with bacon.  Salt & Pepper to taste.

This is still good when it sits in the fridge overnite.  If it dries out a bit, add a smidge of skim milk to it...

This is my “man” version of this recipe.  You can make it so much lighter & healthier, using whole-wheat pasta, turkey bacon, lite mayo and/or greek yogurt.  It is a solid recipe for weeknite meals, bbq’s or a covered dish occasion. Enjoy!

Thank you for visiting!

June 12, 2012

Vintage Dresser Rehab

 And by vintage, I mean mine.  I had this til' I was about 10, 11? Complete with Shalimar perfume sticker melted to one of the bottom drawers and my initials etched in various spots.  
This has been stored for a ton of years now and my mom finally said come and get it if you want it (or else).
 I had recently stolen a family trunk out of the big boys room to put in the living room (more on that later), so I decided to rehab that lovely brown, brassy pulled, marginally-made dresser.
 For just under $20, I was able to transform the dresser into a more legitimate, useful piece of furniture.  Indigo spray paint in a satin finish and 8 cheap, brushed nickle-ish drawer pulls.  I think it looks darling in his room! (He just can't put anything substantial in there...socks, undies and bathing suits - that's it!  Anything more and it may collapse...)
So anyhoo...I hope to get back to blogging more often.  I really do have a FAB-U-LOUS Living Room Re-do to show off, but I am so scared to hang anything (i.e. put nails back in the wall, it's so pristine right now just painted) and haven't finalized my furniture placement,  BUT as soon as I get up the nerve, it will be here!

Hope all of my followers are well; if you are out there at all!  I just don't know where the time goes...

Thanks for visiting ~ Traci xoxo