Friday, June 19, 2009

My New House


Isn't it simply perfect?

I plan on painting the shutters black and the front door a high-gloss kelly green, slapping on a gigantic brass doorknocker of some elegant sort and, of course, adding as many boxwood as humanly possible to the front yard. The pink rhodie will probably have to go, but the fact that it's pink may save it.

A few small details:

1. It's not for sale.
2. If it were, I'm quite sure I couldn't afford it.
3. I can't remember exactly where it is... only the fact that it's a few streets over from the Montlake Cut here in Seattle, close to the water, which brings me full circle to number 2 above.

I am seriously considering writing the owners a letter (once I work out exactly where to send the letter, of course) professing my love for their home, and asking them to let me know if they'd ever like to sell it. Is this likely to be perceived as charming or insance? Anyone ever done something like this before?

I've got it bad for this house!

17 comments:

Raye Ann said...

ummm.. yeah, that may work! we bought our house by driving a street that we liked and getting out to walk around. curious neighbors started emerging from thier homes to see who we were, and we literally found a house to buy. there are a few more details, but basically that is how it went down:)
find the owner(city records), write that letter, and see what happens!

MFAMB said...

it wouldn't be the first time something like that has happened. what's the worst that could happen? probably not much. but the best that could happen is you move in to your dream house.
and LOVE the kelly green door idea. but i think turquoise would work too.

Ellen Mirro said...

I think this house was designed by the architect Joseph Skoog, for himself, and his family in the early 1920s. You can read more about the architect in the landmark nomination report at the department of neighborhoods for the Sigma Kappa sorority house.

Alicia said...

Its wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would definitely write a lovely letter on lovely stationary. You have nothing to lose & everything to gain.

Alexandra Hedin said...

My husband grew up on this street. I have coveted this house for years. It was purchased by a young family about six years ago - so the odds of them moving could be slim. :) But it's FABULOUS inside too.

All Women Everywhere said...

I am loving the turquoise door idea!

Alexandra, it's such a small world, isn't it? Let's track these people down and convince them the house has toxic mold. Or, at the very least, convince them to give us a tour.

All Women Everywhere said...

Forgot to say thanks to you, Ellen, for the background on the possible architect....can't find much on him online, unfortunately; I'll have to dig up the address of the home and research the records. That may be crossing the line of creepiness, however....perhaps I'll stick with a nice handwritten note for now.

Thanks for sharing!

WandR HOME said...

I like the way you think! 100% intention. The house is soooo scrumptious. Simply adorable!
xo,
Jaime

shelleyandmike said...

I have indeed written a letter just like the one you're talking about. Three as a matter of fact. I grew up in a tree lined neighborhood with all the charm that I wanted for my family. I wrote my letters addressed to "I love your home" and went from there. Two years later one of the owners called and said she was ready to sell if we we're interested. DO IT! You never know what you might find out...

All Women Everywhere said...

You have all convinced me...letter to be written and mailed promptly after determining their actual address. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, perhaps we can start some sort of pool in the event that they want to sell; I have a sneaking feeling I'm going to need all the financial assistance I can muster!

jamieofalltrades said...

I have a few of these dream houses around the city!

Averill said...

Charming -- and you never know! My uncle received just such a letter only a year after moving into his last home. The writer then followed up with an offer my uncle couldn't refuse and he promptly sold it.

Renée Finberg said...

i love it too.
it is purrrr-fect.

Fifi Flowers said...

That house is GREAT... I would definitely KEEP the PINK flowers!!!
Good luck with your letter!
ENJOY!
Fifi

Anonymous said...

If the architect actually was Joseph Skoog, that's my great-grandfather! I'm trying to track down some more info on him, but agree there's little online. His son lives nearby, so I'm going to be asking him some info about his dad. I know that he was one of the architects for the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Avenue_Theater.

-Jennifer Boespflug
jennbo@microsoft.com

Anonymous said...

If the architect was Joseph Skoog, that's my great-grandfather! I agree there's little online about him other than the neighborhoods link about his designing Sigma Kappa (http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/historicalsite/QueryResult.aspx?ID=34). I do know he was one of the architects of the 5th Avenue Theater in downtown Seattle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Avenue_Theater.

-Jennifer Boespflug
jennbo@microsoft.com

All Women Everywhere said...

So interesting, Jennifer. Please let us know what you find out!

If it was, in fact, designed by your great-grandfather, think you could use that bit of information to get us the house?

We'll stop at nothing!

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