When you're growing up, you tend to have a vivid idea in your mind of exactly what your future looks like. If you're a little bit obsessive like me, you might have it right down to the details of your favorite china pattern.
But as you grow older, you make compromises and realize that not everything has to go according to plan, which is just fine.
But it doesn't matter how mature and grown-up you get; each and every one of us are still in touch with our inner child on some level.
Maybe that's why we never lose our delight for beautiful homes that look like they were whisked straight out of some fairytale, like this perfect little thatched cottage in Cornwall, U.K.
Now, with autumn officially here, we have our hearts set on a different fairytale ending — one straight out of Hansel and Gretel!
This perfect little 'gingerbread house' just sends our hearts fluttering! Frankly, if we don't get to have a cup of mulled cider in front of a roaring fire here, we don't know what we'll do.
Scroll through the gallery below to get a closer look at this stunning fixer-upper.
This beautiful house may look like it was pulled off a postcard for Santa's village, but it can actually be found in Tiskilwa, Illinois.
Located three hours outside of Chicago, this tiny community is home to fewer than one thousand people, and dates back to the Westward Expansion as pioneers settled America's heartland.
Built in 1967, the house itself is nearly as old as the village, and is a gorgeous example of Victorian neo-Gothic architecture.
Painted a vibrant red with crisp white accents, the home's most distinctive feature is its lacy, gingerbread trim.
While a lot of ornate Victorian styles are celebrated today for their drama and glamor, this sweet detail is probably one of the quaintest hallmarks of the era's architecture.
In addition to the lavish decoration, the outside of the home is defined by sharp, peaked roofs, and a homey porch that wraps all the way around the perimeter.
Inside, the home is still packed with details from an older time period, which are in need of a little bit of TLC.
There are four, count 'em four, stunning marble fireplaces throughout the home, but they all could use a bit of restoration.
The house is totally livable, but the dated interior doesn't match the stunning heritage of the home.
The home boast a formal dining room, complete with another fireplace, and is also equipped with four bedrooms, one of which used to be part of the servant's quarters.
With floor-to-ceiling windows in many sections, the house is packed with tiny architectural details that speak to its past.
We'd love to see all these beautiful details shined and refreshed!
The kitchen and laundry areas are in good working shape, but both could definitely use upgrades and new appliances.
Taking a look at the kitchen, we see lots of room for expansion and more light.
We're also fantasizing about replacing those cabinets with hardwood, and stripping down that fussy old wallpaper in exchange for a clean color to suit this jewel-box of a home.
The finished basement is a similar combination of antique details in need of a bit more scope.
These beautiful panels of Art Deco stained glass, for example, aren't set off to full advantage in the basement, and would look truly spectacular on display. Maybe they can be installed in windows to lend privacy in a bathroom or bedroom.
Meanwhile, the basement also includes a very '70s combination of wet bar and shag carpeting, which we can imagine updating for a vintage, speak-easy styled atmosphere.
Still, what's undeniable about this home is that it has great bones, as you can clearly see from these dramatic gothic windows and what looks like original wainscoting.
Best of all, it's on the market for just $85,000 — a true bargain for a buyer with an eye for detail and room in their budget for revamping.
We are holding our breath hoping that the right buyer comes along to restore the house to its full glory!
Is that buyer you? Check out more details on Zillow, and don't forget to SHARE this masterpiece of a home with friends and family on Facebook!
