I’ve returned from my visit to Hudson and have pictures to prove it. J and I had a wonderful time visiting my family. Saturday, we took my half brothers to the Fall Festival in downtown Hudson. It was so fun. I’m obsessed (and always have been) with this little New England style town.
One of Hudson’s first churches
The Clock Tower on the Green built in 1912 by James W. Ellsworth, a native Hudson who revitalized the town by paving the streets, adding electrical, water and sewer services, telephone line, a reorganization of the school system, tree planting and revitalized banking. (Transforming cities isn’t too much different in 2009!)
J and my brother, Mike, who turned 21 last week. This is his first beer!
Love the vibrant fall colors!
More color!
More color!
Mike, J and my other brother, Joey.
One of the newly developed streets of First and Main, a downtown rejuvenation project that began in 1995 to expand Hudson’s commerce, city center and continue it’s excellence as a thriving town center.
And then there are the Historic Homes…..
You may be wondering why this home and the rest of the Historic Hudson Homes are of Western Reserve/New England style architecture since they’re not in New England???.
Long before Ohio became a state in 1803, it was part of Connecticut…hence the New England influence. They called this area the Western Reserve. (Not bad for snapping the picture in a moving car with my brothers chuckling behind my seat).
Another pretty cottage.
The contrast of color of the aqua blue exterior of the house against the orangey-yellow of the fall leaves really makes this house pop.
This says fall to me!
One for sale…hmmm…
I’d love to design a house like this!
I’d love to design a house like this!
So quaint and charming!
Wouldn’t you love a tree like this in your front yard?
So simple yet so uniquely perfect!
This says Cottage to me!
This is my FAVORITE house in Historic Hudson!!
If I could buy any house, this would be the one. I would design my interior similar to a house that Kay Douglass, interior designer and owner of South of Market in Atlanta, did that appeared in House Beautiful a couple years ago.
This is how it would look:
House Beautiful, October 2007
Simple charm with a twist of character through worn woods, pops of color but a mostly neutral palette. It would be a welcoming place where you feel comfortable taking your shoes off and putting your feet up on the couch.
House Beautiful, October 2007
The kitchen always ends up being where everyone ends up…so it has to be a place that can entertain yet still be functional. I’d design my kitchen with a center island, like the one above, so that my family and guests can take a seat while I cook and entertain.
The dark hardwoods are great for hiding dirt and stand the test of durability. I would suggest 100% hardwood floors–they last forever!
Light marble countertops with gray veining are a must! They are more difficult to maintain (marble isn’t as tough and hard as granite or quartz), but it’s beautiful. I’d make sure to seal it and maintain it every few years.
The stainless steel tile back splash, light fixtures, appliances and hardware really pop against the soft grayish blue/green painted cabinets. I’m in love with this color/materials palette.
AND the WOOD CEILINGS…brilliant! They add dimension, warmth (both literally and figuratively by helping to seal in warm/cool air as well as through the softness of texture and color).
Love this kitchen table. It’s definitely a place where kids can spill their drink on the table and you wouldn’t be worried about glass rings.
The soft upholstered side chairs mixed with the rustic wood table say elegant, sophisticated but not overdone.
Aahhh…what a haven for sleep and relaxation. I’m in love with the character of this bedroom. I love the upholstered set of chairs in front of the bed and the intricacy of the headboard. The mingling of orange with the neutrals makes this room come together without overdoing the color. Love it all!
With that being said, I’m feeling so refreshed after my trip to Hudson! I can’t wait to design my own (or your!) cottage!