Garden Time

It is garden time again at 1403 Bonita Avenue! That means it is time to cool off in the shady, walled garden that runs beside the house. Time to plan the 4th of July cookout, plant pots of flowers for the courtyard garden and sit for hours among the blue and white hydrangea blossoms. A sanctuary in the heat, the Bonita garden is a lovely outdoor living space as the temps climb and summer needs to be celebrated. This small but outstanding garden is entered through an iron gate underneath an arched trellis covered with a thornless yellow-blooming Lady Banks Rose. The Mexican tile opens to a space beneath shady old trees where the temperatures are significantly cooler than the surrounding yard. The garden below the sunroom is a constant favorite of those who have lived in this home, and it has been a delightful place to hang colored lanterns, cook out and entertain family and friends.

More garden photos will be shared shortly, so stay tuned.

An Unusual Master Bedroom

When this home is described as a two bedroom house, that is somewhat misleading. There is a study/child's room upstairs, a bedroom at the front of the house and the master bedroom at the rear of the house that is very large and has a walk in closet. The original master bedroom (now referred to as the sitting room) leads into the master bedroom that was built on to the house in later years. French doors separate the built on bedroom from the original bedroom/now a sitting room. The space is wonderful, and the half bath is located off the sitting room, so the master bedroom is a conveniently contained private space. Previous owners used the original bedroom as a sitting room, but it would be ideal space for an office as well. As you can see, it is hard to define the house as a two bedroom house without some explanation. The photos above show the view from the central hall looking through the sitting room into the master bedroom.

Light Fixture

There is a light fixture in the dining room that is very pretty and casts lovely light. Like the sunroom, the diningroom windows look out over the side garden.

Basics

	Nearby School: Opelika Middle S… Nearby school
Year built:	1930
Added on Trulia:	115 days ago
Total views:	66 (as of 2/1/11)
MLS/ID:	96961
Nearby School:	Opelika Middle S… Nearby school

Entrance

The front entrance to the house is particularly appealing with pots of flowers and/or plants at the front door. A wall flower holder made of Mexican tile currently houses a family of birds that are not being disturbed until the kids take flight and leave home. I hope to get a photo of the nest today to post here. These little birds know what a peaceful and safe place 1403 Bonita Avenue is. It makes a great place for human families, too.

Another view of the Sunroom

Another view of the sunroom from the living room shows how lovely the room is on a sunny afternoon.

Sunroom Over The Garden

The sunroom off of the living room looks out over the garden. You cannot see it in this photo, but the oakleaf hydrangeas that come up to the sunroom windows are putting on blooms. Soon I will be able to show you a photo of what it looks like to sit in the sunroom during May looking at the big white blooms of the oakleaf hydrangeas. This room has always seemed to be everyone's favorite room defining the relaxing qualities of this lovely older home.

Always Something in Bloom

There always seems to be something blooming at 1403 Bonita Avenue. The Confederate Jasmine on the mailbox came into bloom during the last few weeks. Words cannot describe how good it smells, but hopefully a photo will show how pretty it is.

St. Francis

The statue of St. Francis overlooks the front flower bed which is full of hydrangeas, daffodils, azaleas and dogwoods.

Front Porch

All you need to add is ice tea and some good conversation

Basic Features

Anabelle Hydrangea, Hosta and Begonia

Fascade:   Brick

Bedrooms:   This house has 2 bedrooms.  One is very large and has another small room with a half bath connecting the large bedroom to the hall.  Previous owners used this room as a sitting room/office.  The large bedroom has a huge walk in closet.

Baths:   There are one and a half baths.

Size:  There are 1653 square feet, but it feels much larger for several reasons. There is a large work shed in the back yard and a deck circling the back and side of the house.  The dining room and sunroom overlook an enclosed garden area, and there is a basement and a partially completed attic room.

Yard:   One of the most appealing features of this house is the yard and opportunities for outdoor living.  There are azaleas covering a large portion of the front yard which are just gorgeous in the spring.  The driveway is surrounded by crepe myrtle, and the garden on the side of the house is full of hydrangeas, hostas,  camellias, confederate jasmine and other Southern perennials.  The lot has large oak trees, so it is shady and tucked away.  A large yoshino cherry tree in the front yard is a show-stopper in the spring.  A small front porch is a another pleasant place to linger besides the enclosed garden and sunroom.  This house is a dream come true for a gardener.

Flooring:  Hardwood floors are in the living room/dining room, small bedroom and sitting room off of the master bedroom.  Mexican tile is in the sunroom, hall, kitchen, laundry room and master bedroom.  The enclosed garden on the side of the house is paved with Mexican tile.  The baths are tiled with the classic black and white hexagon pattern.

Roof:  A dark green standing seam roof was installed in the last several years, replacing the original cobble roof.  This roof is classic, elegant and looks like it could have been the original roof.  This type of roof was installed for its unsurpassed life expectancy.

Heat:   Gas central heat and gas log fireplace in the living room.

Cooling:   Electric central air.

Stove:   Gas.

In the coming days photographs will be posted to show the features mentioned here because, afterall, a picture is worth a thousand words, right?

  

Location

Come see the property

For Sale

Welcome to 1403 Bonita Street in Opelika, Alabama.  Come in and find out more about this charming 1924 cottage nestled in azaleas, hydrangea and crepe myrtle in the Alta Vista subdivision of Opelika.   The location is ideal in a peaceful older neighborhood where small town charm still exists. More photos and information about the property will be provided here, and we believe that when you see more you will fall in love with this house like its current owner did 20 years ago.

This house is for sale and is listed with First Realty (MLS ID 96961).  For information contact Mara Hawks  at 334.524.2220 3 or e-mail mhawks7@aol.com.