About

Welcome to Hooked on Houses! I’m Julia and I’m a real-estate junkie. If you share my addiction to houses–you love looking at them, decorating them, renovating them, and talking about them–then you’ve come to the right place.

I’m a writer who has been obsessed with houses for as long as I can remember. I even spent part of the ’90s working as a designer’s assistant in Indianapolis, but I soon realized that I had more interest in the houses themselves than in the window treatments.

Today I live in Cincinnati with my handy husband Dave and our children Jake (13) and Lily (6), where I spend too much time searching the real estate listings, reading shelter mags, watching HGTV, and obsessing over how to decorate my own place. I decided to put my part-time obsession and full-time profession to good use with this blog in hopes of finding others who are as hooked on houses as I am.

Thanks for stopping by. If you love houses, too, I hope you’ll become a regular. I love hearing from my visitors, so please take a moment to leave comments when you have a thought or opinion to add to our discussions.

Here’s my childhood home in Clifton, Ohio, near the University of Cincinnati where my dad worked at the time (circa 1973). It was the first house I was hooked on (I cried my little heart out when we moved!). You can see me coming out of the front door, and my little brother is wandering off to the right:

morrisonave.jpg

Contact Me: jknispel @ cinci.rr.com

Please note: I always strive to give credit for photo images that I use and try to link to the original source if I can locate it. If you find that one is in error or if I have used one of yours and you want it removed for any reason, let me know, and it will be taken down immediately.

I have no ads on this site and am profiting in no way from it (although I have been told that WordPress will occasionally put Adsense ads on posts–in which case they would be getting paid for them, not me!). This is a personal blog and I am simply trying to share my enthusiasm for beautiful and interesting houses with like-minded readers. You are free to use my images in turn as long as you link back and give credit to Hooked on Houses. Thank you!

26 Comments Add your own

  • 1. Kristine  |  February 1, 2008 at 3:38 pm

    Thanks for visiting my blog!

  • 2. The Nester  |  February 4, 2008 at 5:03 pm

    Hello dear friend. Yes, I am obsessed with houses. I love them all. They speak to me. Well, I talk for them. I name them, I love them, they all have their own personality. I espcially like the ones that are begging for a little love!

  • 3. The Nester  |  February 4, 2008 at 5:07 pm

    I’m a lunatic and cannot figure out how to email you! Please go to my profile page and email me. You will wish that you never left a comment on my blog. I will now haunt you. But, I want to send you my before and after of our old nest. The post about it is filed under decorating dork and budget living it’s called “I can always find something to complain about”. Hate me.

  • 4. castlebuilders  |  February 15, 2008 at 12:43 pm

    I’m hooked on your blog! I visited through tag surfer, and this is so informative, interesting - and addictive.

    Congratulations on a site very well done.

  • 5. hookedonhouses  |  February 15, 2008 at 12:46 pm

    Welcome, Castlebuilders! (Love your name.) If you’re hooked, then I’m doing my job. Hope to see you here again soon! -Julia :-)

  • 6. castlebuilders  |  February 16, 2008 at 10:47 am

    lol, it’s actually our company name: Castle Builders. We build custom homes, the owner’s name is Castleberry, and we believe every home should be a castle.

  • 7. asylum1  |  March 3, 2008 at 2:40 pm

    thanks for the comment! i thought my parents were the only people in the world looking at our little blog. :-)

    -a fellow HGTV addict

  • 8. Tracey  |  March 9, 2008 at 1:48 pm

    Hi Julia,

    I don’t know how I missed this on your profile when I first started visiting you…but Indianapolis is my hometown! I now live in Northern Virginia, but the Midwest will always be home. I know you are in Cincinnati now…but no wonder I love you girl!

    Tracey

  • 9. hookedonhouses  |  March 9, 2008 at 2:06 pm

    Tracey–
    I LOVE Indy. I was sad to leave it. What part did you live in? We spent some time in Carmel and then bought a house out in the country on the East side (New Palestine). It’s a small world! -Julia :-)

  • 10. Deborah Harris  |  March 10, 2008 at 10:03 pm

    Hi there, I just happened upon your website during a night of insomnia when I was thinking back, as I often do, on the interiors of the Stokesay house featured in the movie “Atonement”…….. I can’t get those beautiful rooms out of my mind - the ‘white’ ones, with all the chinze and painted woodwork. I’m wondering if you know, or know how I might find out, if the owners of the house retained the decor created for these rooms after the film crew left? We are visiting England this summer and I would definitely go way out of my way to tour this place if that were the case. What do you think? Thanks, Deborah Harris

  • 11. hookedonhouses  |  March 11, 2008 at 6:35 am

    Deborah:
    They do give tours. Check out the official Stokesay website for more information:

    http://www.stokesaycourt.com

    I just added more photos to the post about Stokesay Court, so be sure to check those out!
    -Julia :-)

  • 12. Melissa Lewis - Off The Wall  |  March 18, 2008 at 11:03 pm

    I’m so excited to have found your blog. Great style and very informative. As a professional faux finisher, I love anything having to do with homes, decor and paint (imagine that). I will definitely be frequenting your blog :)

  • 13. koops@thecincyblog.com  |  March 30, 2008 at 8:18 am

    Julia.
    I could get lost looking the pictures…but then reality sets in when I walk through “normal” homes.

    Great site.

  • 14. hookedonhouses  |  March 30, 2008 at 9:15 am

    koops@thecincyblog–
    Since you’re a Realtor, I’m sure you see a lot of reality! Thanks for stopping by. I enjoy your site, too. -Julia

  • 15. Monica Massie  |  April 12, 2008 at 2:47 am

    Great site!

    Sorry if you’ve already addressed this, but do you know of photos of the “California Mansion” where “The Holiday” movie was filmed?

    Thanks so much!!

  • 16. hookedonhouses  |  April 12, 2008 at 9:37 am

    Monica–
    Here’s what I found out about the house in “The Holiday.” It was a set they built for the movie. According to Wikipedia:

    “Exterior scenes of the house of Cameron Diaz’s character in the film were shot in San Marino, Los Angeles, California. The interior sets for Amanda’s house were built on a sound stage and cost approximately $1 million, without exterior walls, a roof, plumbing, heating and electricity.”

  • 17. mamacita  |  April 24, 2008 at 7:48 am

    I just linked to you from my blog. I have a new place to come, sip coffee, and relax! I love your site! :)

  • 18. daisy  |  April 27, 2008 at 3:08 pm

    Julia,

    I’m delighted to tell you that you won my giveaway! The turquoise watch will be on its way to you as soon as you send me your address at daisyaday [at] gmail [dot] com. Congratulations. And thanks for entering! I’ve got you on my bloglines, now, and I’ll be stalking frequenting your blog.

  • 19. reagan  |  April 29, 2008 at 8:12 am

    I love houses too! A friend sent me the link when you featured the smallest house that was about 300 sq ft. I have a degree in interior design but I’m way more interested in the architecture of a building than the finishes! I love just staring and driving around to look at all the different kinds of houses. I put your blog in my google reader :)

  • 20. kim  |  May 5, 2008 at 2:07 pm

    julia-
    thanks for stopping by my site….i came over to see where you came from and am in love! seeing how others live and getting to peek in the windows is so fun! i’m bookmarking your site. :)

  • 21. Amber  |  May 5, 2008 at 9:58 pm

    Hi Julia!
    I got your message and sent you an e-mail, but I had problems with your e-mail address. Please let me know if you didn’t receive it! You can e-mail me or leave me a comment. :)
    Amber

  • 22. Amy  |  May 12, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    Just discovered your blog and I love it! You have already solved my living room decorating crisis , so I am excitedly checking out the rest of your site in hopes of more helpful gems.

    : )

  • 23. Cindy  |  June 4, 2008 at 11:58 pm

    You had me hooked on your blog with the first paragraph, and I do all those other obsessive things you do too. When I was little and played with my Barbie I would spend the first hour or two making her a house and decorating it, and I dont’ think I ever changed her clothes. I love this blog cause now I know I have fellow house junkies. Thank you!

  • 24. Natalie Beach  |  June 30, 2008 at 2:11 pm

    Curious on the dog bath, that is how I found my way to your website. I have to create two doggie grooming stations for two clients and I was looking for some inspiration. I didn’t see any pictures-but a blogger talks about it. Could you share with me any pictures or info. you might have on the doggie bath.

    Thanks!

    Natalie

  • 25. Cynthia  |  July 15, 2008 at 12:42 pm

    I absolutely love your blog! I’ve wasted an entire afternoon (at work no less ;-) reading through all the entries; I’m addicted! Keep up the good work!!

  • 26. Darrene  |  July 15, 2008 at 6:50 pm

    I am going to be a regular too. I feel like I have just found some new friends.by the way, My House talks to me too…

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