0 Neck of the Woods: Hillcrest

Since there are so many areas that make up this fine city of ours, each unique and special in its own way, we've decided to add a weekly Neck of the Woods feature to Living the Home Life. Since we focused on the Cooper-Young district of Memphis earlier this week, we opted to feature its Little Rock counterpart, Hillcrest, in the first Neck of the Woods.

Established in the late 19th century, most of Hillcrest as we know it was built in the early part of the 20th century. Little Rock's first streetcar system once extended into Hillcrest, with its entry into the neighborhood near the current intersection of Markham Street and Kavanaugh Boulevard in the Stifft's Station neighborhood. (Pretty nifty, huh?) The Hillcrest Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the country's official list of historically significant properties worthy of preservation, November 18, 1990.

Hillcrest is home to some of Little Rock's most popular local shopping and dining hot spots, including Box Turtle, Ciao Baci and Ferneau. Additionally, part of Hillcrest overlooks Allsopp Park, a major city park nestled between Hillcrest on the south side and the corporate/design-oriented Riverdale neighborhood to its north.

Much of what makes Hillcrest a historic district and popular neighborhood are the sought-after houses of diverse architectural styles. Below are a few examples of the variety of homes found in the area:

The oldest remaining colonial revival house in the Hillcrest District is the Leaming House on North Cedar, built in 1900.


This house on Fairfax Avenue provides an excellent example of a prairie style home with a low-pitched hipped roof and wide overhanging boxed eaves.


This Kavanaugh Boulevard home is an example of the American foursquare homes found in the Hillcrest Historic District.


By far the most prevalent style of house in Hillcrest is the craftsman bungalow. Maybe it is the welcoming front porch or the cozy feel, but nothing makes my little heart flutter quite like a craftsman bungalow.

Rustic qualities are often found in Hillcrest bungalows. These are, for the most part, painted a dark, natural color and feature strong rustic materials.


Another type of bungalow seen often in Hillcrest sports a cross-gabled roof most often associated with "California Bungalows."

This bungalow is currently on the market! Click here to find out more.

Along with single-family homes, there are many historic multi-family buildings located within Hillcrest, such as the Fairfax condos shown below...


What's that you say? You'd love to get a sneak peak of one of these units? Well, ask and you shall receive! My sister, Jessica, and her boyfriend live at Fairfax, and I'm sure they wouldn't mind us snooping around a bit. Clean up, Jess! We're coming over! (Keep an eye out for the Fairfax condo blog post next week.)

-Cara

Read more...

0 Sherwood Listing

This is a great home in Sherwood! With 1600 square feet, it includes 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 living areas, a formal dining room and a covered patio. The house was updated about a year ago with new paint, counter tops, backsplash, tile flooring and wood laminate. The home is fully fenced and sits on a large corner lot with several big trees. Don't miss this opportunity!

Price: $129,500

Let us know if you would like to check out this house or any other. You can also click here to search for more listings!

-Eric

Read more...

0 Let's Make a Deal: Area Rugs

A good deal is a good friend of mine--as is a spiffy area rug on beautiful hardwood floors. Rugs can get pretty pricey, but with a bit of research you can find contemporary styles without the heafty price tag.

This Pottery Barn 8'x10' sisal rug retails for $349...

...while Overstock.com offers a nearly identical rug of the same size for $199.


This Z Gallerie 8'x10' zebra rug will set you back $749...


...but with this zebra print rug from West Elm for $459, you can save a pretty penny.



Finally, I love the orange and white combo of this Williams Sonoma Home coral rug for $595...



...but this circular rug from Ikea for $299 offers a remarkably similar print for half the price!

With savings like this, you'll definitely come out a winner!

-Cara

Read more...

2 Porch Pizazz

A couple of extraordinary bloggers that I enjoy following, This Young House and Making It Lovely, were recently involved in the Better Homes & Gardens 48 Hour Challenge. The five participating bloggers were given $500 to spend at Home Depot to transform one area of their home. Both This Young House and Making It Lovely opted to spruce up their front porches. They did an amazing job and provided much inspiration to the budget conscious. Both front porch designs included one idea that I love: a painted porch.

Making It Lovely's faux area rug adds a splash of color to their Chicago bungalow...


...while This Young House added a clean finish to their Richmond, Virginia ranch with stripes in alternating neutrals.

Well done fellow porch appreciators. Well done!


A note from the Realtors:

While freshening up your porch with a new coat of paint is an inexpensive way to rejuvenate a tired space, it is a good idea to stick to neutral colors if you plan on selling your house in the near future. Neutral colors tend to appeal to a larger buyer pool while personalized colors may be off putting to some. However, if you plan on staying put for a while, grab a paint brush and get creative. This a great way to express your personal style.

-Cara

Read more...

0 Walking in Memphis

This weekend, Eric and I hopped on I-40 and cruised on over to his hometown of West Memphis for a wedding--congratulations Meagan and Jeremy! The weather was beautiful, so we decided to head across the mighty Mississippi to Memphis and check out a bit of out-of-state real estate. Eric and I both really like the Cooper-Young district, so we decided to check out the inventory in that part of town.

I would compare the Cooper-Young district of Memphis to Hillcrest in Little Rock. With so many local shops and restaurants found in the area, there is plenty to do. Seafood favorites, Blue Fish and Tsunami, rock our socks off and the dessert cafe, Sweet, serves up some tasty treats! There are also plenty of unique shops to be found, like Java Cabana, an eclectic coffee shop that also sells vintage clothing.

Fabulous restaurants? Check. Fantastic shopping? Check, check. Now on to the homes.

This 2 bedroom/2 bathroom charmer is currently listed for $183,000 and just a short stroll from great shops and restaurants...

...and this beauty almost made me want to pack up my bags and move to Memphis (only kidding, but it is pretty amazing!) For $229,900, this 4 bedroom/3.5 bath home boasts 4 fireplaces! The unique doorbell is such a great touch and gives visitors a taste of the charming details found inside.

Great weather. Great wedding. Great real estate! What more could we ask for out of a weekend?

-Cara

Read more...

0 Open House Sunday!

Sunday, April 26: 2-4 p.m.

Don't forget to stop by our open houses this weekend! Eric will be holding open 15324 Hartford in Capitol Lake Estates...

...and I'll be at 5821 Cantrell in the Heights.

If you can't make it, give us a shout and we'd be happy to show either home (or both!) to you at a more convenient time. See you there!

-Cara

Read more...

0 New Listing!

Fresh on the market! This is a great opportunity to live in a fantastic home in Capitol Lake Estates. With 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a formal dining room, an eat-in kitchen, a breakfast bar, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops in the kitchen, this home makes a great impression. The nice flow and large deck add to the already excellent entertaining space. The green space behind the property offers a secluded feel and ample storage makes this home one you need to see!

Give me a call to check it out this amazing west Little Rock home. You won't want to miss this one!

-Eric

Read more...

0 Eggplants...and I'm not talking veggies.

Spring has sprung: birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and gardeners all over our fine city are sprucing up their yards...especially wise homeowners looking to add a bit more curb appeal.

For those of us whose gardening thumbs are a bit more brown than green, spring usually brings along plenty of inspiration but maybe a bit less motivation. While I like a little green in my life, I'll be the first to admit I'm no P. Allen Smith.

While perusing through one of my favorite blogs, Hostess with the Mostess, I came across a fantastic online store, Branch. Branch's sustainable line of products are not only amazingly cute but offer an ecofriendly way of sprucing up your space for spring.

I love the egg herb planters. These little eggs arrive with soil and seeds already inside. You simply crack the shell, water, and watch 'em grow! They would be great for kids...and the horticulturally challenged in general. Their compact size makes them a perfect fit for any window sill.

I am also digging--gardening pun intended--these vases and hanging bird feeder.

Don't forget to check out the kids section. I tried to find a way to tie in the adorable sock puppets to real estate but decided that would be a stretch.

-Cara

Read more...

0 Happy Earth Day

In honor of our dear Mother Earth, LEED homes are taking the forefront in today's post. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and the market for high-performance homes is soaring nationwide. LEED homes are designed and built to be energy and resource efficient, durable, less costly to maintain, and healthy for their occupants. Not only are LEED homes healthy for you and the environment, but they help save you money at the same time!

This new construction stunner in the Heights was built to qualify for LEED certification...

Energy Star rated appliances help you save money on monthly utilities...


...and dual flush toilets save you money by conserving water.


To find out more about LEED homes, click here to visit the U.S. Green Building Council's website.

-Cara

Read more...