Are you ready? Got your comfy walking shoes on? Because it’s time for another Fantasy Open House! As promised, this week we’ll be touring homes for sale in Birmingham, Alabama.
Today we’re visiting an elegant home built in 1991 to look like a French Chateau. You already saw its ornate powder room yesterday. According to the MLS listing, this 4 BR, 4.5 BA home is on the market for $2.85 million.
It may look French, but it was built with an interesting mix of materials culled from all over, including a slate roof from an old courthouse in Mississippi, beams from New Orleans, limestone blocks salvaged from an opera house, and a fireplace brought back to the U.S. from Portugal.
Take a look and then decide if it’ll go on your short list of favorites. At the end of the week you’ll choose which of the homes that we toured that you’d want to live in. If you could only buy one, which one would it be?
Did you like it? Is it somewhere you can imagine living?
The great thing about Fantasy Open House is that money is no object, so pay no attention to the price tag. We’re pretending it’s in your price range this week. Just imagine you won the lottery or something if you have to.
Share your opinions about this house in the comments to tell us if you like it or not. At the end of the week you can vote for your favorite of all the Birmingham homes we toured.
To see even more photos and get more information about this home, see the agent’s listing. I have to thank Katedecorate from the Great Impressions message boards who generously provided me with links to several real estate sites I had never seen before, including the Birmingham real estate site that led me to the houses I’m featuring this week. (Welcome to all the folks at G.I. who have been visiting recently!)
Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for our next Open House!
If You’re Hooked on House Tours:
- Fantasy Open House Series in Hyde Park, Ohio: Paxton Avenue
- Fantasy Open House in Hyde Park: Rookwood Drive
- Fantasy Open House in Hyde Park: Edwards Road
- Fantasy Open House in Hyde Park: Observatory Drive
- HGTV Green Home ‘08
- The Purple Angel House
- The Spite House in Virginia (only 7 feet wide!)
- Cobble Court, a French-Norman Estate in Ohio
- Stokesay Court, the manor used in the Keira Knightley film “Atonement”
- Coco Chanel’s elegant Parisian apartment at 31 Rue Cambon
- 1908 Gaslight Mansion in St. Louis
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
A note to Judy of Gracious Southern Living. I’m hoping you read this. I tried to send you an e-mail but it keeps bouncing back. Then I tried to leave a comment on your lovely blog, but it was set so that only those with Blogger accounts could post one. I don’t want you to think I’m ignoring you, but I can’t figure out how to contact you.
A note to all of you who blog with Blogger, while I’m at it: you might want to check the settings for your comments. I can’t tell you how many times I want to leave a comment on one of your blogs, only to discover I can’t because it’s still on the default setting and won’t let us Wordpress bloggers on. Thanks! -Julia
Thats really a pretty house. I am not so sure I would want it, but
it is fun to look at
It’s hard to see the house through the assorted decorating styles (none of which appeal to me). Not impressed, but will wait and see what our other choices are
Janet
There are some things that I love in this house, but it is way too big for my tastes. Although if I could afford this house, I should be able to afford a maid or 3. Then maybe I could love it!
The dark bathrooms and kitchen aside, I really like this house. The attention to detail is amazing. I’m not sure if I could see myself living there but it is beautiful.
I hate all the bathrooms, but love the arches and the brightness of many of the rooms. Lots of windows and all that southern sunshine is hard to beat.
I love this house. However I think the owner had a few “seizures” while decorating it. The furnishings are not consistent and that monogram …..ugh! Lots of lovely bits though. Especially the covered porch and the tiered lawn/garden. I would buy it for those alone.
Is that why no one leaves comments ????
Liked the stove set up.
Loved the dressing area.
Blonde AND dark wigs ???
There are some things I like, some I don’t. Foyer is beautiful and inviting.Love the kitchen, Hate the grays in the bathrooms. I LOVE the makeup area. What girl wouldn’t want that. Not crazy about all the dressing room. The one thing I totally hate is…… the Master Bedroom. Yuk! What were they thinking with silver nightstands and a big P over the bed. I like the first bed that was shown. That looks like a master bed.
Would I want it? Not sure. Too big. This is an example of wasting money just because you can. And what’s up with all the wig’s?
Lynn
I love the look of the outside with all of the gardens and the covered porch. The house has good bones though the decorating style is not my thing.
The yard is nice. The arched doorways inside are nice. There a few things I like, but most of it I don’t. Like the kitchen. The exposed beams look bad. I don’t like the pitch of the roof.
As long as I’m spending this much money, I get to be nit picky
I LOVE looking inside people’s homes no matter what the style…which this one is not my personal style. I like the beams. Shouldn’t the “candle’ light fixture be over a table and not floating up high near the ceiling?
I would take that closet…but no scary wigs, please!
I guess that giant P is to confirm that you are getting in bed with the right man and not Mr. H down the street.
Not to be so critical but that crackle finish is ghastly.
Love the grounds!
Oh fun! You’re in B’ham where I live! We have some beautiful homes here, so I’m not surprised you found several to feature. Love this house, way too big for me too, but fun to look at. I can’t imagine living in a house this swank though. Lots of attention to detail, for sure. Enjoyed the browse!
Rhoda
I LOVE the bones of this house, but some of the decor is shudder-inducing. Particularly those dark bathrooms. I also really can’t stand the contrasting kitchen cabinets under that one stretch of counter.
But I do love how they’ve re-used materials from other places, and the grounds, porch, and patio are fantastic.
I thought I was the only one who said “no” to the kitchen because of the counters. What were they thinking? I agree with the comment the owners had seizures, the styles where very spuradic (spl?). (Ya get my drift?) Anyway, I guess I would live there if I had too, but I would like something a little smaller:)
I love the space…I would totally pass on the decor though. The house is an amazing structure and you can tell so much detail was paid to getting that right. Then it looks like Trading Spaces suddenly got a huge budget and decided to crackle the bathroom vanity and “make your room personal” with the monogramming. But decor can be changed, modern houses this grand don’t come along very often, they usually cut corners somewhere along the line in building, but it doesn’t show here.
Oh and I covet the beams in the kitchen ceiling.
It is a place I’d like to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there. I did like all the arch doorways and windows, and I love the porch…but other than that, a little too “showy” for my tastes.
I just clicked over from Great Impressions! Small world. Had no idea.
I’ll take a closer look at this. I love the homes of B’ham!
Can’t wait to see others you’ve chosen to showcase.
I’ll check my blog settings. You’ve left a comment at the Back Porch, so I think I’m set right.
Thanks for this great post.
Pat
Hmmm…so pretty to look at but it is just not me. Good thing I guess as I could never afford such a place. I think my whole house would fit in that wig closet…that is just sad isn’t it? *laugh*
I do love the grounds though…: )
Hugs,
Sue
I don’t love all the decor, but overall – um, yeah – I could live in this house. Wow. However, I think my wigs would feel a little slighted – they have a lot more room in my current house.
Wow! The backyard (or should I say grounds?) is pretty impressive, as is the rest of the house. Love that closet!
Wow – so many rooms! I adore the little office nook as well! As for the rest of the rooms, some are way too formal for my taste. And the hallways remind me of an old cathedral or something. But those closets are just to die for, I tell you.
Though I can’t say I would keep the interior furnishings and decoration, I love the windows and light in this home. And the big closet and backyard, wow! I come down on the “hate” side for that bathroom you showcased though. Too dark and creepy for me. Second favorite open house so far is the Greek one–big windows trump everything, once again!
Gauche.
Hi! I just came across your blog recently and love it! I did a mention of your blog for my CoCo Chanel apartment post.
This house is gorgeous- I love looking at homes- I just wish I could see the inside of each and every one.
LOVE that light fixture with the “candles” on it.
Great inspiration!
Wow that’s a lot of wigs! Love the big closet.
I thought I’d take the last tour of homes too
This is so not me at all. I loved the closet, but that vanity is way over the top like the rest of the house… yikes!
rue
I think it is perfect. I love these kinds of websites! TIPS TO THE NIT PICKY … Houses look different in person than in pictures on the web. Exposed beams and textured paints always look like crap on the web for some reason!? I would take this one over the Shook Hill house anyday!
That’s a stunning place. Thanks for the information, but especially all of the photos. I’ll definitely have to look into it.
i personally think that anyone who doesnt like this house is bezerk!!!!!
I live in Birmingham and I can tell you that Mtn. Brook is filled with beautiful, expensive homes like this one! Although I love the French exterior of this one, I don’t care for the interior decor…it always amazes me when that happens…just because something (or someone) looks great on the outside doesn’t mean the inside is as appealing!
Robin’s last blog post..Always Room for Home Improvement