Before and After: Our 1827 Farmhouse Remodel
Living in a house built in 1827 has been quite the adventure. Being that I have chronic redecorate-itis it’s an ever evolving decorators challenge dream. I don’t post a lot about our before and after farmhouse remodel because I’m still trying to find my happy medium with what to share. All of my professional/business life is out there for all the world to see but I like to keep my private life, well private. Which includes our home. So for now I’m just going to show you some of the outside renovations.
Ok let’s start back to 2001. The photo above, well that is my DREAM HOUSE! What? You’re not feelin it? When I saw the auction for this house and personal property advertised in the paper I instantly fell in LURVE, made an appointment to view it before the sale and was convinced it was gonna be our home. Hubby?……well not so much.
I remember walking through with the auctioneer I may have literally had stars twinkling in my eyes and hubby saying repeatedly, “No! No! Babe, I’m not living here. Beth, we have two little kids! No! I’m not buying this!” Fast forward to the day of the auction. We’re volunteering at our church for a work day, it’s 10 minutes to 10 and the auction starts at 10. Hubby is working away and my father-in-love says y’all want to go over to that auction real quick?
Me-YES! (I’m already in the car, two kids in tow.)
Hubby, “Daddy we’ll ride along but I don’t really want anything.” He thinks we’re going to look at the antiques for sale. Bless him.
In the car and off we go.
The front yard is FULL of people numbers going up everywhere…..everyone is bidding like CRAZY on all the contents. My dreams of owning this house are steadily disappearing right before my eyes!!!!
It’s now 10:30 and the auctioneer stops the sale of the contents to sell the house and acreage. Fingers crossed. (In the midst of all this my father-in-love got a number and handed it to hubby. He looks at me like this ain’t happenin’.) Auctioneer starts the bidding, numbers flying up all over the place again and again and again. Hubby bids. 3 more people bid against us. I’m thinking what is wrong with you men? Don’t you guys know this is OUR HOUSE!?!?!?! We are being outbid and I am devastated. In my mind I’m thinking just one more bid hubby, just one more time….PLEASEEEEEEEE. Auctioneer looks at hubby one last time and says something like “do wan her” and hubby raises our number and the auctioneer SHOUTS….SOLD! to the couple with the two little kids, number 88.
I am in shock. Hubby is about to fall over dead thinking we’ve just taking on two mortgages, repeating to me again and again. “We’re going to fix it up and sell it.”
One of my favorite memories, there are so many great ones from that day, is this. It’s the skeleton key that the sweet little ole man in his late 80’s at the time handed me. He and his 11 siblings (I think it was 11) grew up in this house and he told me some wonderful stories.
Fast forward a year and a half of renovations and a change of heart by hubby later and we’re moving in. Oh happy day!
Here’s a picture the day we moved in. (Sorry for the grainy picture.)
Here’s an updated photo of how it looks now:
Here’s a photo with my two munchkins, hardhats on (circa 2001.)
Here’s the South side. We had to have lots of trees and underbrush removed. You could barely see the house from the road when we bought it.
Here’s the North side.
And this my friend is the before of the back yard. It took lots of excavating to get to the after! LOTS!!
But with lots of hard work it ended up beautiful!
Over where the french door is now we had to have a bee keeper come and relocate a hive of honey bees that had made their home in the wall!
And here’s what the back looks like all finished with our finished deck and pool.
So that’s it my friends. Just a little snippet of a two year renovation that still to this day blows my mind. Everyone around thought we were crazy and no one understood why we didn’t just take a bulldozer and demolish it all. Honestly that would’ve been cheaper.
What kind of home do you live in? Have you ever dreamed of remodeling a farmhouse. It was hard work that still continues now all these years later. But in the end it was worth every tear and drop of sweat. It certainly didn’t happen overnight and wouldn’t have been possible without The Lord making every little detail fall into place and the incredible man I get to call my husband. This journey has taught me that things just don’t happen overnight. And that hard work and determination pay off.
Until next time,
Beth
LOVE this story!! Men…that can never see our vision for things until it’s totally finished! It’s beautiful Beth!
Thanks Sonya. He’s actually gotten a lot better through the years. I think it was fear that was holding him back, which isn’t a problem for me. You know me I’ll try anything twice! 🙂
1827!?!?! Holy cow! That is awesome! I would LOVE to snatch up an old beauty and bring her back to glory, but my husband is very much like yours was. No. No old houses. No decades/centuries of problems and poor/no electric, plumbing, lead paint, etc, etc, etc. He sees problems. I see original woodwork, architectural details, plaster trim and hoops skirts! So, we compromised by building a new home, and now I’m making him add all kinds of woodwork and built-ins and architectural detail 😉 Maybe someday I’ll get my Victorian Queen Anne!
Hey Emily,
I think you and I were separated at birth! You’ve done a fabulous job making your house beautiful. I love looking at pictures of it on your site. 🙂
Blessings to you my friend,
Beth
Beth – I remember well what the house looked like when you bought it. I was only in the back kitchen area one time, all I can say is wow!! It is unbelievable what a great job you guys have done….when I drive by it is still hard to believe it is the same house.
I still see the sweet ole guy standing in the driveway waiting with a walking stick taller than him, with his enamel tray for me to put his food on…no fruit he would say, and he didn’t want those plastic bags. The house and barn were falling down but you could tell that he loved his home. He would be so proud of how beautiful it is now and that your children have grown up there like he did. It is such a wonderful story, especially the part where he gave you the skeleton key!
I am so glad you are sharing the story of your home and all the work you guys did to make it what it is today. You are both so talented, it’s beautiful!!
Thanks Joni! It means so much to me to hear your kind, thoughtful words. Blessings to you my sweet friend!
What an amazing transformation!!!
Thanks Serena!!!
I loved reading the story of your home. I’m lucky because I’ve seen the inside. Amazing 🙂
I love you friend!
The house looks so good!! Love the windows you put in front. And that deck!!!
Thanks Sue!
wow beth that is one beautiful redo…. and kathy from petticoat junktion was my first imaginary friend who blog i read…so any friend of hers is a friend of mine xx
Same here Chris. I’m so thrilled to have you here. 🙂
What a fabulous story Beth!!! I’m so happy you got your house! It’s great…and I’d love to do something similar someday!
Nancy
Thanks Nancy! You could do it and it would be BEAUTIFUL friend!!!!
Amazing story! I love when God reveals His character as we reveal ours! The before and afters are just unbelievable! Great job!
Thanks Marty!
Brand new to your blog. I love peeking around.
OMGosh………I loved the farmhouse, at the beginning, too. I would so do this. I have done this on a nappy old house in Florida. Granted, not an 1827 home…….but……….
This turned out so lovely.
Kudos to you!!!!!!
Awwww, thanks!!! So glad to have you here. 🙂
Blessings,
Beth
Love it,,,I totally get you and this home.
Thanks Linda! 🙂
The happiness and love shine through just looking at the pictures. What an amazing job y’all have done. So glad I found your page!
Thanks Minette!
Love that story so much! It was meant to be your home! A ton of hard work, had parents that did the same thing when we were kids.
I love that KaraLee!!!
Hugs,
Beth
Beth, I love the way you think. I am also a decorataholic! You are the best thing that’s happened to Fairview. Love your house, store, and how genuine you are. Keep up your great work.
Thank you Lee. You are so precious. I am so glad to have met you!
Hugs,
Beth
Beth- GREAT BLOG! I had NO Idea you renovated that gorgeous home that I drive by every day. I love your honest, organic writing form also. Great home, great post, great writer. Keep on inspiring us!
xo
Awww I love you Kathy!!!!