Advanced Residential Project Inspiration: My Abandoned Dream House

This term our big studio project is advanced residential, a 4000 square foot house that we must design from scratch, including the exterior. It also must be barrier free as one occupant is in a wheelchair. Oh, and the plot of land we are designing on is a hill.
It's an intimidating challenge to say the least, but I'm ready and excited to face it head on.

As I started thinking about ideas, I knew I had to go visit my dream house for inspiration.
This house hasn't been lived in for years and is now owned by a large company whose warehouse is adjacent to the property in St. Jacob's, Ontario. It sits mostly abandoned. There is a haunting, historical, charming presence to the house that has always drawn me to it.  With halloween right around the corner, it was the perfect time to go snoop around this abandoned beauty.

I've always said if I ever have enough money to build my own house it will look exactly like this. The red brick, large porch and balcony, regal columns, ivy covered walls and tall windows are all speaking to me. I also love the formal courtyard that is enclosed by a low brick wall and shrubbery, although it's in a state of disrepair at the moment:

 If the house wasn't right next to a giant parking lot now (such a shame), well I think I'd move right in - ghosts and all! I swear I heard a door shut while I was peering into the windows at the empty rooms!

Hope you are all having a lovely week!