Old-Fashioned Victorian Home

This past Tuesday morning I set out on a day trip down the coast with my friend Karis and her mom. The weather was bright and warm and they let me get some driving practice in. We went to several fabric shops and enjoyed the beautiful colors and patterns!
Just about lunch time we stopped at an old Victorian house that Karis and her mom had seen on a previous trip. When I drove into the driveway I just stopped and stared. It's such a great big rambling place! Thankfully I brought my camera with me, but the battery was low so I only got pics of the inside.



The Captain Nickel House was built in 1874 by former sea Captain Albert Vinal Nickels for his wife Elizabeth and their 5 children (and they had 2 more children while living there). It was turned into an Inn in the 1980's and was very successfully used not only for tourist's Summer holidays but also for weddings and special events.

Besides being quite grand there are so many features about this house that makes it special. There are so many windows and a few are well preserved stained glass! A few large bay windows add charm to the two down stairs parlors, and the parlors also have marble fireplaces! Brick walk, huge front porch, horse figurine lamp posts, a bench, arbor and fountain featuring a statue of Triton. The gingerbread trim on the front porch and on the eves of the house have a flower and star design which is very unique.

In the backyard there is a rather large fountain and a path down to a small beach area. The view is lovely, a perfect setting for relaxation! The house has been for sale for about a year now, and before that it was rented out as apartments so the landscaping and some of the paint needs a bit of work. But the view of the harbor stretching out to the sea is spectacular!

Above is a view of the back of the house from the path that goes down to the beach. From this angle it looks a bit like a sea captains ship with the rounded three story veranda and widow's walk and cupola on top. Behind that great veranda is a spacious ballroom adorned with chandeliers beautiful wall sconces and polished wood floors.

I did get a chance to go inside this empty house and found that the previous renters left it in a bit of disarray. It does need some TLC! Even though we could never afford such a large place, my friend and I enjoyed entertaining the idea of fixing it up as a Bed & Breakfast and Conference Center. It would be so much fun to decorate the rooms and rent them out, and also open the Inn up for pastor's and missionary's families. The ballroom is the perfect size for Bible conferences, home church meetings, concerts, plays, contra dance balls, small weddings or birthday and anniversary parties! There are two parlors, two libraries, countless bedrooms and bathrooms, a huge kitchen and a great mahogany staircase.

We three ladies had such a special day and visiting the Captain Nickel House was the highlight of the day for me. It's so much fun to scheme and dream!

I love the above photo because I can just imagine a group or ladies in Victorian bonnets and bustles or a neatly groomed beau standing on that front porch waiting to call on the ladies of the house. I love old-fashioned things and Victorian homes just fuel my imagination! I even have a story idea brewing.

I pray you are having a blessed Lord's day!

Love,

Miss Laurie :)