Thursday 9 May 2013

Going Back To My Roots - A Tour Of My Childhood Home





Be warned- this post is on the photo-heavy side!
This is the house where I grew up. I took a surveyor to visit today and he was rendered speechless by how many of the original features have remained intact since it was built in 1910.


It's been in my life for so long that I've become oblivious to the intricacies of the Arts and Crafts design but, after seeing it though the eyes of a stranger today, the details I've overlooked for far too long have taken on renewed interest.



After a dash over the road (our house is opposite my parental home) to collect my camera I'm afraid I got a bit carried away. Feel free to comment "Nice shoes" if you can't be arsed to wade through the entire tour. 


The architect who designed the house was obsessed with then fashionable Arts and Crafts movement, as the details testify. 


The bell for summonsing the kitchen maid.


The fancy plaster frieze on the ceiling.


The original doors still with keys in each.


French windows with leaded lights.


The vestibule with oak timbered beams, stained glass and original wrought iron light fitting. The walls are still covered with the Anaglypta used in 1910.


There's wood parquet flooring under the carpet but Mum wasn't into housework and all the polishing it entailed, getting a carpet fitted in 1976 sorted that headache out.


 The Bakelite switches work just fine - but scared the surveyor to death.


Old school coat hooks in the box room under the stairs.


The fireplace in the front lounge.


Tudor-influenced plasterwork.


Medieval inspired shelves.


Built-in storage.


Oak beams and plate racks.


Most of the plates belonged to the original owner, a wealthy timber tradesman who died childless  in the 1950s, leaving the house empty for years.


The glazed cabinet and the contents were also already in the house.


As was the American clock, too.


The staircase window.


The original pedestal sink - the psychedelic wallpaper and pink lino were the few modern touches my parents added. Neither my Mum or Dad were in the least bit interested in DIY.


There's functioning fireplaces in each bedroom. I grew up without central heating so was a dab hand at lighting a fire from a very early age!


The porch lantern - another original feature.


Cast iron hopper and drainpipes. 


The tradesman's entrance.


The veranda is on it's last legs.


I used to hate using the outside loo as a kid but can appreciate the design now.


Not that I'd dare use it!


There's a freshwater stream in the cellar, this water pump brings it up to the kitchen. It's backbreaking work. 


The back of the house - the window on the top left was my childhood bedroom.


The garden extends for a third of an acre and is ridiculously overgrown. 


The wooden summer house is set on a revolving platform that could be turned to face the sun.


The cellar is enormous and truly terrifying, I haven't been in for years!



Phew, that was an epic post. 

1960s leather coat (the divine Lucy Nation), 1960s hot pants suit (£5, Vintage Village @ Clothes Show), 1960s leather boots (£4.95, BHF charity)
Now the courts have appointed me Guardian of Dad's affairs I'm allowed to start the long, hard slog in restoring it to its former glory. It might take some time.

Thanks for sticking with me if you read this far!

See you soon.

137 comments:

  1. Wow! What a WONDERFUL home - so many original features, truly amazing!

    best of luck restoring it to its former glory xxx

    www.mancunianvintage.com

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  2. Oh Vix, it's amazing! You know my love for historic houses. It doesn't matter if they're Tudor, Georgian or Arts and Crafts - the details are always fascinating!

    I feel as I've missed out on a big chunk of your life recently (totally blame my own stupid busy life that's meant no time to read blogs) so I must now go and catch up and find out what you've got planned for the house. Selling? Keeping? Moving?

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  3. Ohhh thank you Vix for the tour! That is such a beautifyl childhood home, I can only imagine how it looked like in its full glory! Beautiful indeed :)

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  4. Of course I had to read the whole thing! I'm super nosy and one of my most favourite things is a snoop round deserted houses. It's a truly gorgeous house, so many lovely features - I love the happy little face on the Medieval shelf post. The fireplaces are all fantastic. I love the picture/plate rail. The little collection of pretty ladies is something you have to keep! Intrigued by the cellar now - we had one in my first house. Servants' bells are something I've always loved too. A lot of it reminds me of relatives places, Nana had those Bakelite switches in black. It's really great to have a look round, I hope you restore it to it's former glory and show us when it's all done! XXXXXXXXXXX
    ps - love the jacket!!

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  5. What a gorgeous house! If I have a windfall and it comes on the market I would snap that up in an instant! I am mad about arts and crafts and it's great to see so many features intact! (And lovely shoes too!)

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  6. Vix, it's a dream home! I LOVE every detail. I was thinking you had the surveyor in to sell the place but I'm SO HAPPY you're going to restore it - yay!!! xx

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  7. That is a stunning property. I imagine that, fully restored, it would be truly awe inspiring. I love old houses. If you are going to restore it then I hope it's progress will be a regular on the blog, I love stuff like that. Vix's restoration challenge. Lol. X

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  8. I soooooooooooo enjoyed this post! frigg the nice shoes now move them out of the way so I can enjoy the pictures again! I have pored over each and every picture, what an absolute joy to see such gorgeous original feature, you were so lucky to live in such a beautiful house, I was born in the Liverpool slums - another kind of beauty sadly demolished rather than restored! Can't wait for progress reports!
    ps, nice coat, shoes, tights and lady! x

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  9. Que bonita casa!!
    Besos
    http://judithbysucre.blogspot.com.es

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  10. What a trip! For a lovely five minutes there, I was transferred into your childhood home, walking through the stairs, and browsing through the knickknacks on your mantelpiece!

    brilliant post.

    Love,
    www.shubhisrevels.com

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  11. Far from being bored, I was absolutely riveted by this post, I could have looked at a lot more photos! What a truly amazing house. I love all of its character and the history of which you have been a part. Fancy it having such a huge garden too. I can't wait to see how you bring it back to life. It's in the best possible hands. xxxxxx

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  12. Thank you I really enjoy to take a tour in your childhood house, stunning!!!
    I love that it keep (except for the wallpaper behind the sink) its historical allure and it seems to be a place from a film or a novel.The doors are beautiful, so the shelves the fireplaces and the armchair near the window!
    You look awesome in your leather jacket and hotpants suits: a perfect guide!
    LOVE xxxxxx

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  13. What än Amazing old house! I m convinced that you are going to make it even moore amazing! And the garden.... oh so lovely .
    Xxx

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  14. it's a wonderful house, love that tiles around the fireplace and so pretty decorative details, everything is full of character!, but it's going to be a hard work to restore it!!, it's a huge house with a huge garden!!!
    Anyway, you look fabulous wearing that pink tights and pretty catsuit, and love so much your coat!
    besos & luck

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  15. Wow! Thanks for sharing that! What a fabulous home! I love that pink wallpaper! What are your plans? Do you want to live in it? Let it out? Sell it?
    I say,''Painting Party!''
    Count me in! xx

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  16. The house is beautiful, I loved all of the pictures, and I look forward to each and every one of your restoration posts! So glad to read that you plan to restore it!

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  17. What an amazing and interesting house! I imagine there are many people who would pay handsomely for all those original features and the large garden. Soooo... Are you and Jon restoring the house yourselves, to live in? To rent? To sell? It will be lots of work but so rewarding to bring the house back to life. Keep us posted on your progress. Is it weird to thing of changing things in the house?
    So many fabulous details - the plasterwork, stained glass, doors and windows, amazing light fittings, built-in storage, the fireplaces... And that stream and water pump are fascinating. And the stuff that came with the house, all those plates and the things in the cupboard just left where they were from the previous owner...

    I'm a bit breathless!
    Shoes? What shoes? xxxxxxx

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  18. i LOVED the tour, its a beauty, so many lovely things which made me go ooooh - thank goodness its you who will restore it x

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  19. Please can I move in.... Its just a truly, wonderful and beautiful house I could spend hours just looking through the rooms. I am so glad you have been made gardian you will have such great pleasure in restoring it back I look forward to seeing its future journey with you. dee xxx

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  20. Oh my goodness what a beautiful home.
    I just know you will fix it up wonderfully! I can't believe some of the original owners belongings are still in the home.
    "Totally loving the maid buzzer" *hehehe*
    I love the spot with the french windows and the chair. Looks like a fabulous place to read a good book. The stained glass windows are so great. I bet you will have a lot of fun fixing up your childhood home.

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  21. Thanks for that tour, Vix. What a gorgeous house with so many fine architectural details. I can imagine you lighting the fire. Restoration will need lots of work, but what a true showplace this will be when you're done, considering how magnificent the place already is. Love the boots.

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  22. That place is stunning. what a wondeful home! My parents buy houses that are in a bad state of repair or needing tlc and restore them to their former glory. One day I will do this myself, it is so rewarding
    xxx Gabi xxx

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  23. Wow, there's a challenge for you but a very interesting and personal one as well. I shall look forward to seeing the 'after' pictures.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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  24. My kind of house! I love English Arts & Crafts; so different than the American version of the style. I'd move in there if given the opportunity. And if I lived near you, I'd give you a hand with it. I love fixing-up old houses. Best of luck with it. It deserves every effort.

    And you look smashing as always! :)
    xxx

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  25. What a wonderful place. I love the Arts and Crafts movement and what it stood for and how their habitable places always had a special coziness to them. I'd love to see how it looks like once it's been restored, it will be a magnificent house!
    Hugs xx

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  26. That is a fab house - lovely to see so many original features - I bet it will look amazing now you're allowed to do the restoration work :)

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  27. Bored? What have you been hitting the bottle? Of course loving vintage, seeing a historical home with original details is dreamy! Such lovely details, I love Arts & Crafts design! And the property is gorgeous too, even overgrown! I can't take my eyes off those pics, MORE please? The house we had inherited was built in 1903, typical NY style brownstone, but wood. Only a few original details remained, everything else had been redone by my FIL sometime in the 70s and it was horrid. Restoring is crazy work, we started then I got pregnant & we realised we didn't want to bring up a child there so sold it. Good thing too, Gwensday had high levels of lead in her blood, which thankfully being the brilliant kid she is (mum bragging, but hey I'm a Sag, I don't lie!) didn't hurt her, but we were living with that for some time too, so I'll blame my lack of intelligence on that, heehee! So please take proper precautions. We now live in a 1930s house, with some original details. Parquet flooring throughout, even in the kitchen and I LOVE it, especially if you have pets. Its easy to maintain, much easier than carpeting & so pretty. Okay I'll shut up now... I want to ask a zillion more questions, but I'm sure you'll clue us in! Looking forward to seeing the restorations! XXX PS nice jacket (;

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  28. This house is beautiful! I must have been amazing to grow up in such a place. It's actually how I always describe my dream house! I'm looking forward to seeing more of it in the future and hopefully own a similar place some day! xxx

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  29. A fascinating post, Vix. Wow, you're going to do it up? I cannot wait to see progress reports. Love the garden even in its jungle like state - the summer house is bonkers. The wallpaper in the bathroom reminds me of the wallpaper in Father Ted's bathroom (I've always lusted after it which is why I remember it so well!). xx

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  30. Glorious if overwheming and a touch bittersweet if your childhood is wrapped up in there too :) Love it to bits ... looking forward to seeing what you do next! xxx

    http://monkeypaints.typepad.com/utterly/

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  31. What an absolutely fascinating house, I would have loved to have grown up there. I love fireplaces but I can't imagine having to completely rely on them for heat and warm water especially in winter, unless of course I had a maid to get the fire going in the morning ;)
    Best of luck with the restoration, I'm sure you and Jon will do a grand old job with it. Give us a shout if you need help with painting any walls, I love painting walls :)
    You look smashing and that leather coat is sublime...xXx

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  32. What a gorgeous, gorgeous house, Vix.

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  33. What a gorgeous, gorgeous house, Vix.

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  34. Wow Vix seriously just Wow, what a glorious wonder.

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  35. Thank you for the tour of that lovely little house!! I loved seeing all the cool details like the leaded glass windows, bakelite light switches, and beautiful fireplaces. It will be a lot of work but it's going to look amazing when you're done. I can picture a young Vix peering out of her bedroom window.

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  36. The house is beautiful! I am glad you shared so many photos of all the details. So amazing---a rotating summer house? A stream in the cellar?
    That fireplace!
    I live in a 30s Craftsman cottage but its quite plain in comparison. You have a gem!

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  37. Oh Vix do you know how much I miss you right now. I felt as though I was right back there with you in that house. I can almost smell the old! It was wonderful seeing it again and taking note of things I'd missed. My favorite part of the house isn't the house at all but the wooden summer house in back. Ok maybe those medieval inspired shelves too, those are killer! I think about that often and wish I had one in my back yard. I'm so happy to hear things are finally sorted out and you can begin.....whatever it is you need to do. Remember how we all tripped out that your folks had the same American clock as Chris's Dad.

    I will give Cristi a big hug and good luck rub from you!
    ILOVEYOU and that bright happy outfit your wearing!
    XXXOOOO

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  38. I don't know where to start - the doors, the windows, the washbasin? The house is a beauty & well worth restoring to its former glory.
    Your pictures have certainly set my imagination going, thinking how it might look.
    I'm sure you will get lots of pleasure from the restoration.xx

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  39. WOW WOW WOW what an absolutely fantastic home;) it's a good job your mum & dad wasn't into DIY as all those great features may have gone to the tip like so many people do instead of restoring them back to their original loveliness xx

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  40. Wow that will be quite a task.
    Your house reminded me of the empty vicarage we used to explore when I was a child.

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  41. What a fabulous house. It must have been wonderful to grow up in such a glorious place.

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  42. Thanks for the tour, what an amazing old house, totally love it. Down here in NZ I can only watch programs on TV about gorgeous old houses. Thanks to some lovely british dudes like Kevin McLoud and George Clark. Have fun with you work a head on this beautiful house.

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  43. What an amazing post Vix, I love it all. Took me back to my grandmothers house, happy memories, I well remember those fireplaces.
    Incredible that you intend to restore it, please keep us posted. I know it will be a lot of work, but so worth it.
    Thank you for sharing, you quite made my day!
    Love from Pam in TX.

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  44. Hello there! I love this post- SO interesting! What an amazing house to grow up in! I am scared of outside loos too! The summer house sounds a truly brilliant concept- why are there not more revolving summer houses!!! I look forward to seeing the restoration!x

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  45. Wow that is one amazing house!!! Seriously - all the detailing. And with your magic hands... That house will be more of a wonderland than it already is, in no time!

    >'.'<

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  46. A peek at little Vix's bedroom window. No wonder you have such fabulous taste...growing up in such a wonderful house. I am totally obsessed with the Arts and Crafts Movement so of course I love this. BTW nice shoes.
    Connie*

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  47. What a fabulous post and an amazing house. Can't say I noticed any shoes tho' too busy gawping at all the lovely period features. What a fantastic place to grow up, so different to my childhood home. You've certainly got a lot of hard work ahead, I wish you all the very best with it and hope you'll give us regular updates.

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  48. I think everybody else has it covered! Stunning house that will come back to being a truly loved home again.
    Thank you for sharing.
    Z xx

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  49. What a beautiful house and post, I love to watch how people do homes up, I can't wait to see what you do and follow your progress :)

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  50. It's an amazing house, you've just got to do it up. Love the windows, love all of it.

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  51. What a superb tour Vix! I was so interested in all the details you pointed out and can't wait to see what you do to restore it and kit it out....

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  52. Wow, what a truly gorgeous house. I'd die of joy if I got to live somewhere like that! I'm glad you're going to be restoring it, at the risk of someone else coming in and taking away any of its lovely features.

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  53. What a stunning house, they don't make them like that any more! I LOVE this house, i would totally live there! The outdoor loo is a tad scary though! Good luck restoring it and I hope if you sell it, the new owners would keep the original features.

    P.S Nice shoes x

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  54. Fabulous post, love and what an amazing house full of treasures. You'll do a wonderful job restoring it. Oh yeah...yer boots are great too.
    Loves ya.
    xxxxxxxxxxx

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  56. Oh it's beautiful. I adore houses with character and original features and that really is something else. Good luck with the restoration project

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  57. What a stunning house and what a project!

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  58. Oh WOW! Such a beautiful home with character and charm! I absolutely love it! This is what I picture when reading books set in England. You lucky girl to have grown up in this historical beauty. So many possibilities. I really enjoyed the tour and thanks for sharing!!! XXX

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  59. Wow Wow Wow!!!! Oh my how I love that house!! If I were wealthy I would help restore it and come to spend time there!!! I love every little detail--they definitely don't build like they used to!!

    You look fabulous as our tour guide!!

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  60. Far from bored - your tour was fascinating. What amazing details - I just love the windows, stained glass, fireplaces, and the trademan's entrance - and also how there are still ghosts of the previous owners. There must np be a memory in every nook and cranny. I went back to my childhood home several times before it was torn down, and it was bittersweet as the place had deteriorated so much. Thanks for sharing, Vix! Xoxo

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  61. Enjoyed every moment spent looking at this post. What a wonderful place. It's so neat to see all those original features still there. I'm so excited to hear that you will be restoring it!

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  62. Absolutely loved this tour- what a fantastic, characterful house!! Although I think I'd feel equally unsure about the outside loo situation. xx

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  63. I love this tour. I wasn't on the third picture when my life goal became "Win the lottery and buy Vix's Dad's house and fix it up and live across the street from Vix (in a not-creepy way) and go to shops and buy beautiful clothings" and it degenerated from there.

    So, ...nice boots.

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  64. On the contrary, I love stuff like this. The leaf and berry design of the plasterwork on the ceiling is beautiful. It is so nice to see all the original details, from the stained glass in the windows to the bakelite switches--so many people just want to 'modernize' and rip this stuff out. You and Jon have your work cut out for you. Good luck.
    You're right -- it's harder to pack for the UK than for India!

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  65. beautiful pics!!

    It's been in my life for so long that I've become oblivious to the intricacies of the Arts and Crafts design but, after seeing it though the eyes of a stranger today, the details I've overlooked for far too long have taken on renewed interest.

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  66. beautiful pics!!

    It's been in my life for so long that I've become oblivious to the intricacies of the Arts and Crafts design but, after seeing it though the eyes of a stranger today, the details I've overlooked for far too long have taken on renewed interest.

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  67. vix that is a great post. i am a such a voyeur! i love looking around peoples homes especially when i can do it un noticed. what a house. it's like a set for a film. i loved every detail. don't do too much to it it
    a great as it is. thanks for sharing x lucy

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  68. What an awesome house. The detailing is gorgeous. You do have a lot on your plate, but if anyone can manage it, it's you!

    I hope you post lots of pictures of how it progresses.

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  69. Your childhood home has a very familiar feeling and looks in remarkably good shape. I grew up in very old houses (late 1800s). Unfortunately there were a number of renovations but one still had a couple of chamber pots kicking about. The plaster work is great! I like the leaded glass, the decorative plates and seeing the water pitcher on the medieval inspired shelves. Do you have the matching bowl? Does the house have knob and tube wiring and screw in fuses (just curious). I remember the dusty old cellars well. I wonder whether there is or was a claw-foot tub in addition to the pedestal sink? I love the colour and print of your 60s hot pants suit and the colour of the tights you styled it with.

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  70. i am utterly speechless. omg, what a house. i'm sending this post to my good friend that lives in hawaii. together we will go over every single detail. omg, just speechless.

    now will you restore it to live in or will you sell it?

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  71. WAY better than the three bedroom two bath suburban house I grew up in!!

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  72. Stunning! I love Arts & Crafts style anyway, and any old houses, period. It looks like a lot of work, but so worth it!

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  73. The fact that you plan to restore this house and undertake what promises to be backbreaking work fills me with awe and respect. That it's not just clothes that you work your magic on but everything old and priceless, is an inspiration to me.

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  74. That's such a beautiful house to have grown up in Vix, I loved seeing all these pictures. I'm very nosy so the more detail the better! It must be nice to live across the road from it and look out of the window and see it whenever you want. I imagine it would be very grounding and calming. I have a friend who still lives in the house she grew up in with her parents and brother, she's never lived anywhere else and now she lives there with her husband and kids. I can't imagine what that would feel like. xx

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  75. Looks like an amazing house! Can't wait to see what it is like when restored. Loving the hot pants suit!

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  76. Such a wonderful place, would look amazing with a little bit of TLC, and its over e road from you, how great that you get to seeit every day with all those memories....oh and great shoes!

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  77. I visited my childhood home about a year ago and it's a weird feeling. Some kind of combination of warmth, love and sorrow. Many fine details in the hous (the window-corner!) but your jumpsuit outshines everything. You should have dressed up in a bag.

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  78. Wow an amazing house thanks for sharing x

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  79. That is why I love your blog posts Vix. Fantastic outfits one day and amazing houses the next!

    I love the house and wow what a big garden loved the summer house how cool would that be to move it round to where the sun is!

    I can't believe how many features are still there amazing. Look forward to any future posts when you get stuck into to restoring it to its former glory. Truly an awesome post. With a rather gorgeous blue leather jacket thrown in!


    P x

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  80. Vix that was just amazing.....I have been up and down looking at all the details over and over. So many beautiful pieces and the echoes of a home that holds the journey of your early life.
    You and Jon are the prefect people to breath life back into this wonderful haven of memories and history.
    Have a wonderful weekend.
    love V
    PS The hotpants are simply sensational....

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  81. Oh wow Vix what a beautiful house, thanks so much for sharing it with us! Best of luck with the restoration, I know you'll more than do it justice :) xxx

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  82. I am truly GREEN (well, it is my favourite colour too) with envy! Such an enchanted place to grow up in, and how romantic to now be bale to live in it again. It's my favourite style of house, and marvelous to have retained so much detail too. I love much about it! That bathroom wallpaper is amazing too! I can't wait to see what you do with it all, hard work yes, but you have so much design flair it was be FABULOUS! Minerva x

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  83. Wow the house looks amazing, mystical but adorable, it is sooo beautiful! I really enjoyed this post. It's like a real tour through it & i love all those little old details!!! The bathroom is so lovely! Have a fab day dear Vix! xxxx Tani

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  84. What a beautiful house, I very much enjoyed having a nose around your childhood home. The wallpaper in the bathroom is to die for! Best of luck with the restoration x

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  85. WOW! I feel as though I was teleported over there momentarily!

    Revolving sunhouse= brilliant.
    x

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  86. Hi there Vix!

    I truly enjoyed that, i love old houses, i live in one, us is 1910, it took 10 years to renovate the first floor and garden
    It was a long loving process for Mr D
    I love all the details of your Dad's house, so amazing!
    Fireplaces, the windows , ect ..such treasures
    Yes it will take you a long time to restore and very expensive -

    Have a great weekend

    Ariane xxx

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  87. Loved looking at those pictures - but you can't leave it there, I want to see in the cellar. I dare you!

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  88. What an incredible home to have grown up in, so love that so many of the features are still there, and most importantly usable. I certainly love the idea of the sunroom which moves around, I need one of those!

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  89. Wow....I enjoyed seeing all of your photos. What a glorious home. I love the sense of history & all of the quirky details. Especially the fireplaces, wallpaper, & the lantern. And the french window bit. I can't wait to see your progress on it. Do you ever use the house for extra storage? LOVE your outfit too. Just gorgeous! Xx

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  90. Gosh what an incredible place to grow up in Vix, it's beautiful and I love all the original features. Good luck doing it up, I bet you'll make it look amazing.

    Similarly to you, I have moved back to my family home and done it up - we built a wheelchair access extension on the house which is where my parents now live (dad's severely disabled), and we live in the oldest part of the cottage. That's why we have such a big garden, it's shared between the 4 of us! I bet your folks would be proud that you are giving such time and attention to renovating the lovely place. p.s. you look fab as usual!

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  91. Love it all, amazing house. Beautiful :)

    Hello plz check out my fashion blog at www.fashion1psychology.com. Thx

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  92. Wonderful to go back in time with you, ahhhhh.
    I love the French window so much.
    Belin is like England but without rain and much colder in winter, although they have the hope of having a good summer.I still love English summers the best.
    XXXXXXXXXX

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  93. Thank you for sharing your childhood home with us. It is too cool! I hope you will continue to show us how you get along with fixing it up. Old houses are the best!

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  94. Hi there! Wow, I am so impressed with your childhood home, the detailing and work that originally went into it is truly awesome and the whole house looks like it was a well loved and treasured home-I'll look forward to seeing your progress on it, very best of luck!! xx

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  95. Thank you for sharing your childhood home with us. It is too cool! I hope you will continue to show us how you get along with fixing it up. Old houses are the best!

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  96. Why wouldn't one read till the end of the post! Its a great post and a lovely house and I am sure you'll do a great job restoring it xxx

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  97. the house is stunning! I see that a lot of work should be done to bring back the former look perfectly but the details and everything is so beautiful!
    thank for sharing and nice shoes by the way :)

    Lyosha
    Inside and Outside Blog

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  98. Gosh, your parental home is absolutely incredible, so wonderful to see so many original features still intact!!

    Lx

    www.whatlisawrote.blogspot.co.uk

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  99. Wow, Vix I'm absolutely speechless. Your parents home is such a beauty! I don't know where to start. Is it going to be put up for sale? You know, if I could, I'd buy it in a shot! All those original features, and that pink wallpaper... oh my! I would absolutely love to see the cellar next!! xxx

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  100. Nice shoes :) Nah, I've looked at every single photo and am loving all the features... a mammoth task for you and Jon though. xo

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  101. P.S. Berlin is not like England at all! Different climate, different architecture, different plants - and very different mentality. (Yes, I'm a comment reader.) X

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  102. WOW what an undertaking to restore the homestead! The details are amazing. The windows, breathtaking. Looking forward to updates on the updating.

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  103. What a do-er upper that would be! Reminds me of the last house we had in the UK, not as grand as that but shared some of the same features.Sadly though neglect and some abuse meant some of it was lost. A lot of the features we kept ie the stained glass windows, picture rails etc. Get Gorgeous George from Renovation Man around (not for tips) but so I can have a wee lust :D

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  104. Hi, Vix - that happened in my family in 1971; we moved house to Devon, and my Dad laboriously laid parquet flooring in the lounge-diner - then promptly covered it with fitted carpet! Durrh!.

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  105. This post left me speechless! The house is amazing. It's my ideal home. My house was built in the 1930's and it is soo boring looking lol. x

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  106. What a wonderful house. It will be a challenging project but I'm sure you'll do it justice. Look forward to following the it's journey ... M x

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  107. That house is effing amazing. I want to come live in it.
    Becky :)

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  108. nice shoes ;) ha! only joking. This is an amazing post! Seeing inside people's houses is everyones favourite nosy past time and this house is a stunner. So lovely you live across the road from where you grew up and would be so nice to see it restored. It's incredible how much it reminds me of our house. The bells by the fireplace, the tiling of the fireplace, the stained glass window and the cellar door under the house (I refuse to go into ours!). We lost so many of our features though, mainly windows bar one. I adore the pink bathroom wallpaper and the hot pink coral paint on the walls is so similar to my bedroom wall colours!
    thank you so much for sharing this. Good luck with this, it must hold such memory for you xox

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  109. Wow, what a beautiful house, so many features. Thank you so much for sharing. I was totally absorbed in this post.

    Have a great day : ) xx

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  110. That is a wonderful house, let us see your results when you start restoring it x

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  111. amazing......that's quite a project......and you live opposite now?? Can't wait to see it when you're done good luck!!x

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  112. An incredible home!! Everything about it is beautiful! Thank you very much for posting, it was lovely to see it all and in such wonderful detail. It will be even more fantastic when you complete the restoration work! xx

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  113. What an amazing house, you're so lucky to have grown up there. At the first photo I thought wow that's a big house, but when I saw the maid's bell I had to giggle - the original owner must've been rather post!
    It is fantastic that you're going to renovate it, please keep us posted with more photos - and I want to see the cellar!

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  114. really an amazing house, love all the original details, really incredible that hey haven't gone lost xx

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  115. What a privilege to get to see the incredible, untouched details of your family home. It makes me wonder what it would be like for me to enter my current family house - where I've lived all my life - when I'm the age my parents are now.
    The garden of your mum and dad's former home is like the Secret Garden. A revolving summer house...wow. And the gothic hints about the cellar... all so intriguing.

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  116. wow what a beautiful house you grow up. i had to show it to my mum and we both adore all that art details, like the fries on the ceiling or those shelves, absolutely beautiful and also that vestibule, i could imagine sitting there hours and hours and reading novels! this was really a fantastic tour darling!
    lwish you a great weekend!

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  117. Wonderful post ... epic indeed! The house has some great elements! Thanks for sharing such an intimate glimpse of your childhood. xx/Madison

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  118. Wow, what an amazing house! I love the fact that its pretty much original, things were built to last back then, and with so much more flair and attention to detail rather than today's MDF and plasterboard thrown up horrors. Give me an older house any day! My last house was 1910, and my current is 1960 :) x

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  119. First of all the booots are fab! What an amazing house, please keep us posted on your progress, it will truly be a label of love. xx

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  120. What a beautiful home, Vix! I adore the original features, I can't bare all these identikit homes. Having always grown up in "old houses" I can really appreciate your wonderful pics. My childhood home had a kiln oven which we only discovered during some renovations when my parents opened up the bricked-up fireplace. It also had an outside loo-exactly the same to look at as yours, I can still feel the chilly concrete floor under my feet now! Great memories-such a bugger to flush as well with the pull chain!
    The bakelite switches we also had until the electrics were updated and I absolutely love those leaded windows. I didn't pay much attention to these sort of features growing up but now I am older I always look for interesting and quirky examples of workmanship in homes. Can't wait to see how work progresses! xxxxxxxxx

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  121. What a truly fascinating childhood home, so many wonderful features and I can imagine fond memories for you.
    The psychedelic wallpaper is so groovy! The original doors with keys and those fireplaces are something I’ve always yearned for in a home. I can’t wait to hear how you restore such a beautiful and characteristic home. Thank you for sharing xxx

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  122. My heart goes pitter pat after viewing this amazing home. What a lucky lass to grow up in such a historical and lovely pearl of architecture.
    Beats growing up in a suburban home with the same floor plan as everyone else!!!
    ; )
    d

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  123. Wow Vix, what a wonderful house, and it's yours now to do what you will with it. Your a great tour guide, showing all the nooks and crannies, all the special details. Our house is also the same age, but not of the same style. One thing in common is the carved wood molding, the built in hutches with leaded glass, the paneled wood doors, and the hardwood floors. You have another adventure going!

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  124. Double beauty- and good to know a house that magnificent is going to be given love and be restored to former beauty, and to see where your love of vintage started. The details are pretty sweet, but the memories that fill the halls, I be are even sweeter. Hugs.

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  125. I think it is truly wonderful that you live across the road from the home you grew up in! The details of your home are quite beautiful & I so look forward to your renovation posts!
    Denise

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  126. My childhood home was an early 1960's track house that was the same as all the other houses on the block, only the color was different. No wonder I now live in a house that was built in the 1920's. Your childhood home is beautiful.

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  127. HELGA AND SARAH HERE!

    Wow - your family home is AMAZING! We love: the ceilings, the timber work, the WALLPAPER and the sink in the bathroom, the crazy outdoor loo and pump, the REVOLVING summer house, your LEGS in that playsuit and your fabularse coat. Thanks for the tour - SHOW US MORE!

    Love you more than arts and crafts!

    Sarah and Helga xxx

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  128. LOVE!!!!! You will do it proud, my Vix! I read through the whole thing AS i too am very nosey and love old homes. The all lead glass room was amazing!
    Hugs
    reva

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  129. What an amazing place..LOVED the tour and was disappointed when there were no more pictures!

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  130. Vix, I am speechless as well! I just LOVE this. I really do. I think I see how that house could have inspired you! I cannot wait to see what you do with it!!

    xoxo
    Lynn

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  131. How very, truly incredible! So fantastically different from anything we have in the States! Oh that garden! I'm sure there are some spectacular specimen plants hiding in there!

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  132. I loved every single photo and detail, Vix, ALL OF IT. It's beyond words and epic and WOW.

    Thank you, you are the best!

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  133. I've loved this post! How cool is that to be able to pump fresh water up from you own stream? And I love the revolving summer house.

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  134. like stepping back in time... amazing tour, and amazing house, truly...

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix