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50 Valentines to Home
Houzz users reveal how they knew their home was "the one"
Whether you're an owner or a renter, odds are that you have a complicated relationship with your home. As with any relationship, there are ups and downs, good times and bad, things you love and things you hate. But despite it all, you stick with it — hopefully because you love it.
And also as with any relationship, love for a home progresses as time goes on. But there's always that honeymoon stage, the time when you're totally infatuated. We asked what one thing made you fall in love with your home — the thing that tipped you over the edge and made you decide it was the place for you.
Here are 50 Houzzers' home love stories, just in time for Valentine's Day.
And also as with any relationship, love for a home progresses as time goes on. But there's always that honeymoon stage, the time when you're totally infatuated. We asked what one thing made you fall in love with your home — the thing that tipped you over the edge and made you decide it was the place for you.
Here are 50 Houzzers' home love stories, just in time for Valentine's Day.
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A warm and cozy fireplace drew many Houzzers in.
1. Although Jodi and Jay Hulbert quickly fell in love with the riverfront setting of their 1925 home in Alder Creek, Oregon, the original 22-foot-tall fireplace set their hearts ablaze.
1. Although Jodi and Jay Hulbert quickly fell in love with the riverfront setting of their 1925 home in Alder Creek, Oregon, the original 22-foot-tall fireplace set their hearts ablaze.
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2. Allison Maroules of Richardson, Texas, loves all of her house's quirky details, but the fireplace is her favorite. "In how many homes do you see a curved fireplace?" she asks.
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| This Houzzer's outdoor fireplace is what makes it feel like home. "I love how soothing my home is," she says. "Sitting in my backyard is better than being on vacation!" |
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| For other Houzz users, a grand staircase took their breath away. 4. Carl Mattison of Atlanta lived in this early-20th-century home for six years. "We fell in love with this home because of the staircase," he says. "It was originally built in 1905, and we love it every day." |
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5. Houzz user Meghan's home has a modern sensibility, and this steel-lined staircase won her over. "The first time I saw these stairs, I was sold," she says.
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| A single crushworthy characteristic made some Houzz users swoon as soon as they stepped inside. 6. The indoor-outdoor relationship of Paul and Melinda Zanecki's home in Stevensville, Maryland, tugged at this couple's heartstrings: Transom windows showcase the view of the Chesapeake Bay on the first and second floors. "No matter what the weather or time of day, these windows bring the outdoors in, protect us from the elements and always remind us how lucky we are to be living there," the couple says. |
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| 7. Space and high ceilings made all the difference for Ally. "We fell in love with the open — but not too open — space and our 10-foot-high ceilings," she says. |
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8. This big, modern kitchen island set the tone for Houzz homeowner Paul Fleming. "It's where I serve my boys breakfast across the counter and chat about the upcoming day," he says.
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9. "For me, it was the Art Deco tile in the bathroom, all of the original 1938 charm — like the arches repeated in every room — and the enormous blank-slate backyard," says Houzz user Heather about her pre-war ranch in Portland, Oregon.
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| 10. These exposed sloping rafters charmed Houzz staffer Ofir Zwebner of Mountain View, California. They create an overall mood of casual elegance. |
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Overall ambience instead of a single characteristic created sparks for these Houzz homeowners.
11. Casey Martinez of Queens, New York, found her heart fluttering over her house's individuality. "I knew this was the one because I drew the floor plan so I could remember it," she says. "Some of my favorite things are the views of other houses, old details and the staircase that connects it all. My house reminds me of the house in The Royal Tenenbaums, one of my favorite movies."
11. Casey Martinez of Queens, New York, found her heart fluttering over her house's individuality. "I knew this was the one because I drew the floor plan so I could remember it," she says. "Some of my favorite things are the views of other houses, old details and the staircase that connects it all. My house reminds me of the house in The Royal Tenenbaums, one of my favorite movies."
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12. Houzz staffer Annie Thornton was smitten with her San Francisco home's quirky character and architectural charm. "While living in an old place does have its issues, I love the architectural details of a Victorian house — and the high ceilings too," she says.
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Adoration wasn't immediate for some Houzz users, but their affection deepened over time.
13. "We didn't fall in love at first site, but over the past year we have grown in love," says Ange Hemmer of Troy, Missouri. "The house is like our family: crunchy on the outside and eclectic and bursting with color on the inside."
13. "We didn't fall in love at first site, but over the past year we have grown in love," says Ange Hemmer of Troy, Missouri. "The house is like our family: crunchy on the outside and eclectic and bursting with color on the inside."
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| 14. Brandy Alvaraz was almost overwhelmed by the amazing combination of materials in her home in Plano, Texas, a convergence of wood, ceramic, brick and glass. But she made it work. "The high ceilings didn't hurt," she says. But that "first impact of myriad materials and possibilities never entirely left us," she adds. |
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| 15. Emily Jacob of Morton, Illinois, was intimidated by buying an older house at first, but she managed to transform it into a cozy haven. "I was able to look past the old, outdated rooms and imagine what I could do," she says. |
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For many Houzz users, falling in love was all about the light.
16. Becca Bertotti of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, noticed her home's brilliant light right away. "The minute I walked into our home," she recalls, "I fell in love with the tall ceilings and the light that pours in during the afternoon — especially into our dining room."
16. Becca Bertotti of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, noticed her home's brilliant light right away. "The minute I walked into our home," she recalls, "I fell in love with the tall ceilings and the light that pours in during the afternoon — especially into our dining room."
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17. The size of this great room in her Pittsburgh home and its natural light won Sara Miller over. "When we saw this place with the large living room, we were sold," she says. "Not to mention all of those windows and the built-in bookshelves."
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18. The flowing light of this Pasadena, California, home and its backyard view set Courtney Norris's and Anthony Chiodo's hearts aglow. "I will never forget the day I walked into this home," Norris says. "This is the first house I saw, and I was mesmerized by the windows and view of the backyard."
The previous owner's daughter shared the wonderful history of the home with the couple, including all of the special touches her parents had given it. "We just knew that there was a lot of love and pride for the home, and that we wanted to live there," Norris says.
The previous owner's daughter shared the wonderful history of the home with the couple, including all of the special touches her parents had given it. "We just knew that there was a lot of love and pride for the home, and that we wanted to live there," Norris says.
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| 19. When Marie-France Cyr and her husband, Sandy Greene, first saw their Philadelphia home, it wasn't the sleek and stylish place it is today. But the light and the open design helped them see its potential. "It was worth living in for four months of renovation," Cyr says. |
| 20. Soft light filtered through tree branches creates a relaxing atmosphere in Lenora Brandoli's Wilbraham, Massachusetts, home. "The light gives you such a sense of tranquility," Brandoli says. "Everything about this house makes me feel good." |
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| 21. It's easy to get the wintertime blues, but the big window in Steve and Gail Castle's living room makes all the difference during dark and dreary Illinois winter days. "For us, it was the window and the abundant light it brings to us during the darkest time of the year," Steve says. |
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| 22. The light in Lori Facey's Newport Beach, California, home helped her envision her dream kitchen. Bright sunshine pours through the windows year-round, creating a radiant gathering place for her entire family. |
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| Still other Houzz users found themselves falling for their homes' beautiful surroundings and views before they fell in love with their actual houses. 23. "For us, it was the setting," says CJ Sebert of Rochester Hills, Michigan. "The woods have a natural spring, and spring water goes through the backyard in a little brook." |
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| 24. "We fell in love with our house because of this view," says Linda Rosario of Memphis, Tennessee. "The house might be falling apart around us, but the view makes us forget!" |
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| 25. Christal Calderon of Oakland, California, loves her little downtown loft's stunning view of downtown Oakland. The high ceilings and windows focus the entire apartment toward the vista. |
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| Calderon's city view shines just as brightly at night. |
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26. Indra Fortney has a beautiful home in Napa, California, but it didn't start out that way. "The house was old, and the floor plan was horrendous," she says. "But we could see the Napa mountains, and that's all that mattered."
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A peek out the window shows Fortney's stunning view, all the way to the mountains lining California's wine country.
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| 27. Gina Kaylor of Beaverton, Oregon, was won over by the stunning view of lush Douglas fir trees from her back porch. |
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| 28. Carol Campbell's back-porch vista in Townsend, Tennessee, takes in the Smoky Mountain National Park and "says it all," she says. "We just added a new deck and screened porch so we can enjoy the wonderful fresh air." |
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| Some Houzzers were swept off their feet before they even set foot inside. 29. "I love the nature that surrounds us," says Kristina Jones of Ohio. "Even though we live in a city, we have a wooded property with a country view." |
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| 30. "The old log siding and rock exterior were what I first fell in love with," says Becky Pickrel of her Moorcroft, Wyoming, ranch house. "The house was built in the '30s, and the logs were cut from the property and the base of the mountains. The property is very rocky, and all of the rock was culled up from the ranch." |
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31. Irene Henry discovered this house online and knew she had to see it in person. Built in 1969, the Eagle, Michigan, home sits along a ridge and a riverbank that can't be seen from the road. "The architect nestled the house so thoroughly into the landscape, it's a lot like living outdoors," Henry says.
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32. Michael Green and his sister Karen Raczka fell for the charming exterior of this Cincinatti home and its fairy-tale setting in the Ohio snow.
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| 33. "I've always been drawn to tiny little houses," says Kathleen Murray of Ocean Gate, New Jersey. "Maybe because they remind me of cottages in storybooks or dollhouses. When I saw this cute little beach house, I knew my search was over. It's a work in progress and nothing that grand, but it's mine and I love it." |
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| 34. "I had looked for over a year, and the minute I saw this house I was in love," says Betty Millard Stout of Bremerton, Washington. "It spoke to me and somehow fit my sense of what a home should be. It reminded me of storybook cottages from my childhood and had a certain mythology about it. How could I not fall in love?" |
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| 35. The two-story porches did the trick for Camilla Shimonek of New Brighton, Minnesota. "Sitting on the top porch, protected from the elements, enjoying my morning coffee or watching the snow fall softly in the winter — I love it," she says. |
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| Although interior and exterior appeal is essential, history is what earned some homes a spot in Houzzers' hearts. 36. Ann Castro of San Mateo, California, instantly appreciated her home's history. The previous owner of her 1922 bungalow lived there for 67 years, was an avid gardener and had kept almost all of the original details. "I've changed the gardens quite a bit, but the interior remains the same, in all its quirky charms," says Castro. "I love all things original, and I'd never dream of replacing the windows in the house." |
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| Previous owner Amy Halfpenny poses in front of the bungalow with an armful from the garden in 1926. "It's a simple, cozy home for me and my son," says Castro. |
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| 37. Marilyn Shannon's Forth Worth, Texas, home has all the quirks and imperfections you'd expect in a 1927 abode, but that's why she loves it. The beautiful live oaks that shade the house caught her eye, but the architectural details — barrel ceiling, original glass, and worn hardwood floors — sealed the deal. |
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38. The historical charm of Suzane Beaubrun's Oakland, California, house made her go weak in the knees. "I was at first intrigued by the brick exterior, which is pretty unusual in this area," says Beaubrun. "Then, whoa, tilepalooza! We had our first viewing by flashlight, and I felt like I was on a treasure hunt."
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39. "We loved the age and traditional look of the house," says Rhonda Day of Suffolk, Virginia. "We just purchased it last summer, and the funny thing is that for years my husband had saved a floor plan of his dream house on his computer — it looks just like this one!"
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40. Patricia Lotuff's house was built in 1818 as a summer home in Princeton, Massachusetts. The builder was a cousin of John Quincy Adams, who spent many nights here, and each piece of the house is full of history. "We're the fifth family here," Lotuff says. "When we moved in, we had to do some major renovations. But none of it has changed the look of the house, just preserved it."
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| Some Houzz users are all about the outdoors, so having a beautiful spot to enjoy it was a must. 41. Karen Heffernan could immediately envision the perfect outdoor living room in her California home. By refacing, adding new tile and installing an outdoor kitchen, she created a wonderful place for her family to enjoy the sun. "I'm still in mourning over moving away from that house," says Heffernan. "That outdoor living room was my happy place." |
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| 42. Betsy Hall's porch has become her family's favorite place to relax all year long. "I love our home because it's where we make our memories," she says. "From our outdoor living space to our busy family room, it's never been just a house." |
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| 43. "We love the view — it's a dream to live here on the water," says a Houzz user in the Florida Keys. "We bought this house when we were living overseas. My husband only saw it through pictures and a video before we bought it, but my voice expressed my love for this house — a love he shared after he saw it for the first time too." |
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| 44. The view attracted Cindy and David Strobel to this location on Cedar Lake in Texas, and they decided to build a home on the water so they could enjoy it year-round. "The views from our many decks are an envy to our guests and friends," says Cindy. "We don't really have a favorite spot — I enjoy it all!" |
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| 45. Houzz's editor, Sheila Schmitz, couldn't help but fall in love with her lush backyard in San Jose, California — the perfect spot to create a garden. "My house was nothing special, but I was sold when I saw the backyard. My cat was too," she says. |
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| 46. Karen Devlin's Bend, Oregon, home is set smack dab in the middle of Central Oregon's high desert. Its 102 acres give her two dogs plenty of room to run. "The peace and quiet and endless beauty of our surroundings make this our dream house," Devlin says. "We feel like we've found paradise!" |
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47. "What we love about the house is the backyard. It's huge, and the kids get so much joy out of it," says Candy Sethi of British Columbia. "There's nothing more heartwarming than seeing your children playing and enjoying the outdoor space after a family dinner on the deck."
Ideabook updated on Feb. 14, 2012.
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