I have been more than a little surprised at how welcoming and warm people who visit my site seem to be.  In more than a few instances, I feel as if these people are people that, if they lived near me, would be close friends.  We’d antique and share ideas over coffee, tea or wine.  I consider many of them friends even though we’ve never met.  If you are a blogger, I know from reading your posts that I’m not alone in this.

I continue to find new places to visit in blog land.  Sometimes it comes as a reference to a photograph with the source linked, other times, when its one of those aforementioned “friends” that I feel a kindred spirit with, I’ll click on their blog roll.  I want to meet their friends and see what other wonderful talented people I can learn from.

With that, I would like to introduce you to If It Were Mine blog site.  The title alone is clever but what Vicki does with If It Were Mine  is to my mind, pretty amazing.  In her own words,

I like to browse real estate sites and imagine how I would decorate the rooms. Even though this is imaginary decorating, I still am budget-minded, so I focus on furniture placement, scale, and carrying a similar aesthetic throughout a house.

Besides the fabulous rooms she finds to share with her readers, she actually finds examples of rooms that are similar in architectural specifics.  As a blogger who has spent seemingly endless hours searching for an image that reflects an idea, I’m always surprised and pleased with how Vicki shows us remarkable ideas for the rooms of each  home.

If I were a Realtor I’d want to hire Vicki to give buyers ideas for the homes listed.  One of the features that I always enjoy is that initial picture that Vicki shares from the listing of the exterior of the home, done like a water color.  I don’t know if she uses Waterlogue, but it makes almost any home look appealing and charming.

Montclair

A fairly recent post featured a home near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  Vicki, like so many of us, had read Miss Mustard Seed’s blog post about looking for a new home that would accommodate her growing business.  If It Were Mine presented what Vicki does best, a home for sale in Marion’s area and furnished it in her style.  As I was touring the home via Vicki’s post, I felt it was certainly reflecting Miss Mustard Seed’s style.  If you haven’t ever visited Marian at Miss Mustard Seed you’re in for a treat.

If you like before and after examples, and who doesn’t, this site shares the best of this daily.  Here is the ‘before’ living room of the Montclair house.

before ~ Montclair listing

after ~ Nancy Fishelson design

Vicki even did her Photoshop magic for the kitchen that “would be” Miss Mustard Seed’s kitchen and hung a favorite painting of Marian’s over the range.

Vicki does a great job of linking her finds to the source.  I had forgotten how much I enjoyed seeing Nancy Fishelson’s design work and was happy to spend some time perusing her rooms from the link provided.

Briar Hill ~ Syracuse, NY

Earlier this year If It Were Mine introduced us to a home in Syracuse, NY.  Briar Hill captured my interest by name alone.  Wouldn’t you love a name like that for your home?  The foyer Vicki selected to “design the space is that of Hal Williamson and Dale LeBlanc’s home {below}.  It epitomizes Southern beauty with its soft lighting and elegant chest, flanked by a pair of velvet upholstered Bergere chairs.

Attention to architectural design of the home is noted and the selections for the home are fitting, like the dining space at Briar Hill.  As Vicki explains describing the Wendy Meredith designed room, “It’s respectful to the era, but not stuffy”.

{Wendy Meredith}

The final example of the great work Vicki does with her blog is a home in California called Sunset.  {I forgot to mention, Vicki lists the designers and the states she’s used for her posts on the sidebar of her site}.

Sunset, California

This little bungalow has a foyer that could use some help…

and with If It Were Mine to the rescue…

{Photo by Sandbox Studio} 

The living room captures the relaxed feel of California living.

{Muskoka Living Interiors}

I love the bedroom, I know, I know, not everyone likes antlers, but I do and think it looks great on the wall above the bed.

{House Beautiful}

I hope you’ll stop by If It Were Mine and say hi to Vicki.  I know I have enjoyed recently discovering her site and I think you will to.  Thanks, my “friends” for stopping by.