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A Happy House
Haskell Harris | July 30, 2010 | Design
So I'm not the kind of girl who dreams about a massive house in a tony neighborhood. I'm just not. I want a house with soul, a house that's seen some things come to pass.
And last weekend, I visited a place that fits that description to a tee up in Eastern North Carolina. It sits on a flat stretch of land that reaches out into Bogue Inlet and it's seen hurricanes, children grow into adults, and made memories for generations.
The photo below is a little blurry, yes. But I like it that way.
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The house belongs to old friends from Virginia, the Lawhons. These days they come down when they can throughout the summer to fish off the long dock, and cook big messes of seafood for friends, and sleep with the windows open and unplug.
There is no air conditioning. No internet. No television. All the old beaded board on the inside is painted white and there are huge porches and simple white metal beds in just about every room to sleep as many guests as possible.
The night we visited a giant moon lit up the water and even though we were in the middle of a heat wave the onshore breezes blew through the house full tilt. The only word I really have for the experience is happy. Very happy.
On the car ride home, I asked my architect brother to draw working plans for a house just like it.
And when I hit the lottery, I'm going to build it.
Have ya'll ever visited a laid back house like this and felt the same way?
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I am fortunate to have married a Carolina Girl whose family has one of these jewels on the Pamlico in "Little Washington". No a/c, no heat, no insulation, no shirt, no shoes, no problem!
By Married Well | August 19, 2010 at 11:29 | report | Reply
I am so priviledged to live in one if these gifts. Our circa 1830 NC farm house has a soul of joy and a wisdom of the ages. Our 13 acres of bliss are laced with Magnolias, Sycamores and old grapevines. We are soothed in the evenings by the distant hush of Wrightsville Beach's surf. Truely Heaven. We are so blessed.
By Teresa Graham Stark | August 04, 2010 at 11:45 | report | Reply
My favorite place in the world is on a mountain top in NC. Our 100 year old cabin, with nothing special and everything special, both at once, is my place. My happy. My meditation. My soul. Tony addresses have nothing on this place!
By Liza | August 04, 2010 at 12:44 | report | Reply
Hey! I loved your sentiments about the house! I used to visit a family friend's home in Oriental, NC that was very similar. It was several houses away from the water, but usually caught a breeze. There was an enormous wrap-around porch, with a couple of swings and rockers, where everyone would congragate. All of the kids swarmed the town on bikes, heading to the store for penny candy and popsicles. In the evening, huge pots of blue crabs would turn red, just before we would sit down to pick them for a feast, on picnic tables, covered by last week's newpapers!Relaxing and divine! CCM
By c monaghan | July 31, 2010 at 02:28 | report | Reply
Wow! It's nice to know others are on the same wavelength. My wife and I have just finished restoring my grandparent's house in Beaufort, SC. The 2-story brick house was built by them in 1929, and sits under century-old oaks on a 30 foot bluff overlooking the Beaufort River. No central air (although we have installed a few "window shakers), no phone, no internet, no cable TV. My grandparents best friends lived on the bluff too, and they'd all get together in the late afternoon when the cocktail flag was literally raised on the flagpole. They are all now buried next to each other in the local Episcopal cemetary. We use every excuse we can to take a long weekend from our Miami home, and bring friends. They love it too. We just got back from the annual Water Festival last weekend. I would be incomplete without that place.
By VisitorGary | July 30, 2010 at 07:23 | report | Reply
Every vacation home I have ever loved was just like this. Absolutely no television, but lately we do have internet. I find I only use it when absolutely necessary for work. It's amazing how much thinking, reading, visiting and cooking you can get done in a simple house like this. You are making me miss my beloved Virginia!
By becky | July 30, 2010 at 06:19 | report | Reply
You have wisdom beyond your years, Haskell. The happiest homes require its occupants to unplug and interact (or not), and I spent many summers and weekends at one very similar, my Grandmother Wagoner's home in Gold Hill, NC. There were multiple ponds for fishing or splashing, a hayloft full of kittens to pet, floors and furniture that didn't mind spills, a pie safe full of goodies, and dozens of cousins to play with under huge oak canopies. What wonderful memories we have from that simple, loving home. I hope you hit the lottery soon!
By Jan | July 30, 2010 at 05:41 | report | Reply
Yes! My grandparent's old place in Dublin, VA. It once served as a hospital in WW1 and it is a big, beautiful window filled, cross breeze heaven! There was no AC, didn't need it, and it's surrounded by acres of beautiful green fields with magnificently old trees of every variety, from oak to magnolia. I spent most of my childhood there so it holds a ton of great memories for me. It had the kind of character that you don't find in newly built homes these days.
By Natalie Wampler Harris | July 30, 2010 at 03:36 | report | Reply
Yes. My husband's grandfather built a cabin on Lake Martin (Alabama) in 1947. It is rustic and simple with no internet or tv-we barely get phone service! There's a sleeping porch that is screened in where we wake up to the sound of geese and fish jumping. Life slows down while there; it's all about family, food and fun! We all love it!
By kim costner | July 30, 2010 at 01:54 | report | Reply
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All Natural Jewelry
Haskell Harris | July 20, 2010 | Design
As part of our countdown to the August 1st deadline for our Made in the South Awards (hurry to get your entries in!), I'll be posting cool Southern finds that embody the sort of thing we're after. Sure, we're looking for handmade sporting goods and the like, but we're also hoping to see a few items that might not immediately come to mind: such as jewelry.
Case in point: McGowan and McClain Jewelry in Chattanooga, Tennessee by artists Marian and Laura Jones. The duo sculpt each of their pieces in wax first, cast them in sterling silver, and finish the designs off with an oxidized silver or gold vermeil finish.
I loved the cuffs below (fashioned to resemble leaves) and the simple geode necklace.
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In late July, I ordered the large Banana Leaf Bracelet for my wife. I LOVE it, the detail is amazing. Our Anniversary is in late September and I'm not certain I can wait until then to give the bracelet to her. I'm anxious to see it on her wrist. Our wedding invites in 1992 were printed on paper, handmade from banana leaves so this is perfect.
By Rick Hidding | August 18, 2010 at 01:32 | report | Reply
OMG! I love McGowan and McClain jewelry! These two girls are so talented and their pieces are beautiful. The are having an online sale right now. www.mcgowanmcclain.etsy.com
By Visitor | August 03, 2010 at 01:31 | report | Reply
Jewellery has been made to adorn nearly body part sometimes seen as wealth storage. In some country it has alot of symbolism and functions specially in culture and tradition. Here are some jewellery catalog from www.wordse.com that I've seen from ancient to modern jewellery design.
By Diana Memes (jewelry collector) | July 23, 2010 at 05:54 | report | Reply
I love my geode earrings and have given rings, bracelets and earrings to all my granddaughters who seem to really love them. I plan to select many items from their new line for this years Christmas list.
By Visitor | July 22, 2010 at 08:09 | report | Reply
This jewelry is both stunning and unique. I have a geode necklace and a cuff and I swear people are attracted to me when I am wearing them. I always receive so many compliments.
By Visitor | July 22, 2010 at 02:23 | report | Reply
Love, love, love the jewelry from these two girls. I have one of their large cuff
bracelets and a geode necklace that I purchased in Nashville. I find
myself wearing them all the time to both casual and dressy events.
By Visitor | July 22, 2010 at 01:18 | report | Reply
I have a cuff like the one you show and I get a ton of compliments on it. They have a new line out now that is incredible. No doubt these girls will go far.
By Peg Lamb | July 21, 2010 at 06:47 | report | Reply
I get SO many compliments on my gold peanut necklace that I got from them. It is so funky and fun!
By Visitor | July 21, 2010 at 05:36 | report | Reply
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Design Sponge to help Judge the Made in the South Awards
Haskell Harris | July 9, 2010 | Design
I am thrilled to announce that Grace Bonney will be among the judges participating in our Made in the South Awards. We're three weeks away from the August 1st deadline (get those entries in right here!) and I can't wait to discover new Southern talent with her.
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Grace (who grew up in Virginia) founded her super successful style blog Design Sponge six years ago. 60,000 daily readers later, she's the country's leading voice for promoting young talent and small businesses online. And that makes her a perfect fit for our inaugural Made in the South Awards program.
Keep spreading the word about the contest and check out Grace's post about the Made in the South Awards here.
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To learn more about Grace, click here.
Images of Grace and Design Sponge logo courtesy of designspongeonline.com
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