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August 4, 2009

A Lovely Day = an Incentive to Walk AND a Special Vancouver Neighbourhood

Hello DesignTies readers… it’s Rewind Wednesday!!

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Victoria here. This Wednesday – today - it’s my turn to re-wind and re-publish one of our favourite DesignTies posts. Because I’m crazy about houses I thought I’d re-share a post originally published on March 14th.

I hope you love my walk to the skytrain as much as I do… well, WHEN I make that walk!! Usually, after a long day at work, I’m anxious to get home so I take the bus instead. But as you’ll see & read in the article below, when I DO make the walk, I enjoy myself very, very much!!

I hope you’ll join us as we Rewind this Wednesday… read how, and find Mr. Linky, at the bottom of this re-post.

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Vancouver There’s nothing like a sunny day in the beautiful city of Vancouver!

Believe it or not, this is the view from my office – and rain, fog, snow or sunshine it’s always special! True to form, Thursday (the day I took the photos above) was no exception to the rule. I knew it was cold outside, but I also knew that this was a perfect afternoon for an end-of-my-workday walk to the Skytrain. Fresh air, sunshine and and an hour-long walk through some great Vancouver neighbourhoods… sounds like a great way to unwind, hey?!DSC01337

Vancouver has some fantastic neighbourhoods and one of my favourites is Mount Pleasant; the neighbourhood of my childhood. And my walking-route to the Skytrain takes me straight through Mount Pleasant’s Most Beautiful Block. Such an appropriate name for this lovely tree-lined, heritage home filled street!

If you’ve been a reader of our blog from the publication of our first post – well ;-) from our second post – you’ll know that I LOVE houses! The houses along 100 block West 10th Avenue have always filled me with happiness!!  Picture1

There are two different architectural styles that dominate the street – Queen Anne Style cottages and large Edwardian style houses. The Queen Anne cottages came first to the neighbourhood and are dated to the early 1890s. These houses have elaborate wooden decorations including delicate brackets, shingles and turned porch columns. Beautiful!

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And my favourite of the Queen Anne cottages…

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While I’m crazy about the colourful and romantic Queen Annes, I’m TOTALLY NUTS over the Edwardians! These lovely houses – built in the early 1900s – are simple wood frame buildings with full front porches and heavy porch columns, horizontal wood cladding, dentil mouldings, brackets under the gables… just lots of beautiful but more simplified details (when compared with the Queen Anne style cottages). I’m particularly taken with the houses that have an upper storey balcony with an arched opening and balustrade. So attractive! I can totally imagine the room behind that window as my room!

And on the Most Beautiful Block, all the houses – Queen Annes and Edwardians alike – are very colourful!

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Take a look at this special house – the garages in the back have been decorated with fun neon signs. I believe that most of the large Edwardians on this block are multi-residential condos.

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The house below is my absolute favourite on the block! Such a perfect example of Edwardian style!!

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Thanks for touring 100 block West 10th Avenue, the Most Beautiful Block in Vancouver. But you know what? Vancouver – and it’s surrounding cities – have so many beautiful neighbourhoods! Don’t for a moment think that this is all that we have to offer! :-)

So… over this spring and summer I’ll be taking you on house and neighbourhood tours that will leave you wishing you lived here in Beautiful British Columbia (yep – that’s what we call ourselves – Google it!). Of course if you already live here in the Lower Mainland, your love of the city will be reaffirmed ;-)

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Because the above photos were taken in the late winter/early spring and the trees were bare, I had hoped to get over to 10th Avenue this last weekend so that I could snap some photos. You would have loved seeing the streetscape: large, mature, moss-covered Ash trees lining the street, bridging over top to make a canopy of leaves and branches that filter the sunlight, and postage-stamp sized lawns that are sumptuously green with colourful and decadent gardens!

Unfortunately I never made it into the city! Darn!!

If I promise to walk over there during my lunch hour tomorrow to take a few photos, will you promise to come back and see what I post? I hope so!! :-)  Watch for pics just below THIS paragraph!

sigv In the mean time…

Rewind Wednesday!

Be summer-time lazy like us!! HaHaHa!! ;-)

Instead of writing a blog-post today, pull forward and re-publish (to the top of your blog) something from your archives!! Then…

Copy and paste the Rewind Wednesday button to your post. That way your visitors will know that you’re participating in DesignTies’ Rewind Wednesday blog party!

Please link back to the host blog, DesignTies, and encourage your readers to come visit us for a list of other Rewind Wednesday blog party participants.

If you’re participating in Rewind Wednesday please be sure to add your permalink (NOT your general blog address) in Mister Linky below. The permalink is the URL of your post. Simply copy and paste.

Go visit the other bloggers participating in Rewind Wednesday!!

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The following blogs are participating in our Rewind Wednesday blog party…

27 comments:

Pam Kersting said...

What a beautiful stroll through that lovely neighborhood! It looks like a FUN place to live too. I agree with you 100% on your choice as favourite! It was mine too. I look forward to seeing more of your city in your upcoming tours!

Admin said...

Wow! gorgegous, loved the little blue one.

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh all the houses are just so gorgeous, and I love all the wonderful colors. I have been to Vancouver and it is indeed a beautiful city and the gardens are just gorgeous. I can't wait to see some of it again. Hugs, Marty

Velvet and Linen said...

What an incredibly charming neighborhood. Such fun colors.
Don't they just make you smile?
The view from your office is incredible.
Vancouver is such a beautiful city.

xo
Brooke

Anonymous said...

Vancouver is my favorite NA city. I absolutely love it. Grandville Island is also a fave.

That neighborhood seems familiar. I'm not sure, but I think I stayed in a Bead & Breakfast there in '94 or '95.

Maria Killam said...

Wow, how did you connect those photos together? Very impressive. That pink and purple house is something else.

Mrs B said...

Wonderful post Victoria...I am seeing different styles of architecture that I probably would never see. Some of your houses are similar to the Edwardian style of housing in Melbourne but your colours are certainly unique. Are these houses protected by planning laws? I hope so, there is nothing worst than when developers rip down beautiful old homes to make way for ugly apartment blocks (they do this where I live)
Another question...are the choice of colours a recent addition or has Vancouver always been this colourful?
Mrs B

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

I love all the colorful homes you shared with us today. I tried to find your hall photos, but I am afraid I lack computer skills and did not success. :( Anyway, don't be a stranger, I loved your comment.

Fifi Flowers said...

LOVE this collection of houses! ENJOY your weekend! Fifi

Sharon said...

This is a really charming neighbourhood, got to love that hot pink edwardian one!such a bold color choice.
thx for visiting and your sweet comment:)

Pam Kersting said...

Victoria-- I just had to respond to your comment over on my blog. You have everything you need to design your own yard! Start with a plan (just as if you were designing your own home). Identify existing plants/trees to stay, public areas/ private areas, etc. Then put in your hardscape elements followed by your plants. Get a plantsman to help you with that. Someone local might be better as they will know what is hardy in your area and what won't do. Remember, form, line, color, texture are what ties it all together! Good luck and we'll all want to see the finished product!

Michelle said...

Such a pretty city...and such potential to get outside as the days warm up. They were talking snow again on the news...man, will it ever be over this year?

Great photos! People are really fixing those homes up well...you can feel the pride in the neighbourhood.

DesignTies said...

I bet you can guess which of these houses I like best.... the purple and pink ones, of course!! :-)

You have to take me on a tour of your great Vancouver neighbourhoods one of these days :-)

Kelly

modernemama said...

I loved Vancouver but I never toured this pretty neighbourhood. It reminds me of the gingerbread houses on Martha's Vineyard

Christy said...

Oh my gosh - I've never seen a photo of Vancouver from that type of perspective before and now I totally want to visit. A beautiful city with snow capped mountains in the background? You are so lucky to live in such a gorgeous area, and what a view from your window at work! Stunning. I would definitely want to stroll through Mt. Pleasant too - what a charming neighborhood!

Meg said...

What a gorgeous neighborhood. They just don't make them like that anymore. I love to stroll through the streets of small towns and larger cities to see if I can find streets like this. Unfortunately, around me... many have gotten very run down. I would love to find one that needs renovating, but I can't say that my hubs is up for that ;)

Kat said...

How did I miss this the first time out? I love these houses! What a fantastic neighborhood. I am totally in love with the purple Edwardian. Don't know how long I could live with it, but it would sure be fun to find out! I've been wanting to do a walking tour of our historical homes, but it's just too HOT. I'm afraid I'd pass out about 1/2 way down the first block. And the lawns and gardens just aren't up to their usual grandeur due to the blankety blank drought. Maybe this fall, if we HAVE a fall. Thanks for the tour of this beautiful area. Kathy

Michelle said...

I love that area of Vancouver...Fraser and King Edward area?

It's a great city isn't it? I could be partial!

Best,
Michelle

DesignTies said...

Actually closer to City Hall, Michelle - 100 block West 10th Avenue. :-)

Hey... I'm definitely partial!! I LOVE this city!!

Victoria

Christy said...

Argh - the computer ate my comment!

I said, I loved this post the first time around too. And I hope to visit your lovely city sometime - and I'll be sure to look you up so we can grab a drink and talk blog shop!!

Maya@Completely Coastal said...

These houses are gorgeous! And your view priceless! Thanks for this great tour.

Maya said...

And thanks so much for adding A Beach Lovers Place to your blogroll..., you're on there now too.

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

What gorgeous houses! I really enjoyed this stroll through the neighborhood.

Rewind Wednesday is a great idea. I have a lot of posts I was proud of that didn't get read by many people when I was starting out as a blogger. I'll have to keep this in mind!

janet said...

Beautiful Vicky! We had company this summer from Vancouver, she can't say enough good about the city. Its been crazy around our home this summer, not much time for fun stuff. I hope you and kelly are having a great summer. With September fast approaching, im hoping to find more time to visit my favorite blogs. Enjoy the rest of our very short summer.
hugs
janet

Pauline Wiles said...

Looks like a wonderful city! I've heard very good things but have never been... yet :)

Tamara Jansen said...

You are so right about how FAB Vancouver is! We just spent the morning at the Pan Pacific hotel for a VIP luncheon on the Zuiderdam. What a beautiful view fromt the deck of a cruise ship looking out over the Vancouver skyline. Aren't I lucky that I've got a sister who is a travel agent and can get me into a VIP luncheon?! :)

prashant said...

What an incredibly charming neighborhood. Such fun colors.
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