my parents and their many renovations

This is a tribute to my parents:

[disclaimer - we (sister & I) are AUBURN GRADUATES... ignore their shirts]

So, this "design blood" that pumps thru my body comes from those 2... they are a design obsessed duo.  They have (in addition to their "real jobs" (designer & marketing executive)... have renovated and restored more houses than I can count.  Before we were born (in Norfolk, VA) they had an antique booth and spent weekends scouring for deals. This post in particular is about their renovation efforts at the farm... in a teeny tiny town in Southern Illinois.  Dad saw the dilapidated early 1800s farm house and knew it was perfect (mom wasn't convinced, you see he tends to buy it - dream big, then have mom manage the project).  He also had his eye on the town's One-Room School house that was about to be torn down...

Kathryn (aka Snippet & Ink) & Martha B (aka NIBS) and I have had some recent discussion about 1 room school houses.  Kathryn's post about "school" inspired weddings, prompted me to fire off an email with photos of the one-room school house my father saved and had it moved 4 blocks to their farm property.

[Mt.Carmel Daily Republican Register, article on dad (in photo in front of school house)]

[yes, (a) that's a happy-crying face and (b) we got married in the dark- see light not turned on... it was an oversight - kinda funny]

When the boyfriend and I became engaged, I knew all along I wanted to be wed on the family farm. Here we are - in front of the Lancaster Zion United Methodist Church... which is next door to my parents farm property.  It was built in 1840 (thus a door for women to enter, and a door for men to enter).

[photo credit Jason Reese - www.photorexit.com - those are white cowboy boots I'm wearing]

Alright, back to the school house.  Here she sits in her new home behind my parents farm house and barn.  New replacement windows, coat of paint inside and out... and there she is in all her beauty.

The school house pendants came from Visual Comfort. Fans are similar to Hunter Original. Chalkboards are original, as are the floors.  Here she is set up for our Rehearsal Dinner.

Here is the "farm house"... circa 1800 - this is where we spend a lot of time since parents sold their home in Louisville, KY.  In fact mom lives here - since dad took job in Chicago. They are back and forth frequently.

Here is a view of the barn and blueberry patch.  I think dad searched for a windmill for over 5 years, until he found one that was in good working order.

You also may (or may not) recall this school house from my Christmas recap post. We do spend most family holidays down at the school house.

[daddy-o enjoying the fruits of his labor Christmas day @ School House- pecans on table from husband's parents farm in Alabama - the best in the world]

Sorry this post is all over the place... there is so much good design and architecture to share - I don't know how to stop. Here are a few other houses my parents have or are in the process of rehabbing:

[this house (above) has about a million books inside... anyone in the antique book business - leave comment, seriously... a gold mine if someone has the time to sort thru them]

[oh, and the school house has an Illinois map... here are the Illinois friends I have pointing to where they come from]

[this one was a major overhaul... a downtown c.1903 stone front bank building - mom + my husband]

[dad kissing mom because she has probably just said to him "you are crazy for renovating this building"]

[me (3rd from left) + girlfriends on wedding morning. this is my grandmother's house (background) not a good picture- it's like the 2nd oldest house in town - her cellar was a part of the Underground Railroad - mom and dad renovated it about 15 years ago]

[there's the mother duck and one of her little specialties]

 

[and because I thought this was funny - me and dad being stupid- after savoring some serious architecture at the Bernheim Forest in Kentucky - a whole other post entirely]

That's all (as if that was brief) I can find for  now... HAPPY MONDAY!

Will post some pictures from Martha B (NIBS) of one room school houses in upstate NY tomorrow!

   

 

Comments

[Carolina Eclectic]

What great parents!! What a great way to grow up. My parents used to renovate houses to rent, so my childhood memories center around construction and the smell of fresh paint and new carpet.
You look beautiful in your wedding dress, love the boots.

[Martha B.]

This is so interesting! Tell your parents- great job! My husband and I have always loved restoring old homes...I wish we could save them all! :) (We've done two homes...1927 and 1904)

[Courtney]

You and your family are so incredible. What a fantastic post! And what fantastic role models you have.

[darby]

I'm so glad you did this! I totally wanted to do the same on my blog but I'll just link to yours!! Great post, great pictures... love it all, especially Mom & Dad!!

[Jenn]

your parents have my dream life!

[Annmarie]

Now, I really want to be sisters!! What a good-looking, cool family! I see now where you get your work ethic and great taste. That barn? SCHOOLHOUSE!!? Farmhouse? Wedding?? Storybook indeed!

[erika]

Thanks for the kind feedback- I appreciate these comments... I just wanted to let you know we (Darby & I) get it honest... we are blessed to have parents that instilled in us at a very young age - to appreciate design. EVEN WHEN... we would hide in the floor board of the car when they were picking up 'someone elses trash - their new treasure' on the side of the road. And would gripe endlessly about 'another antique stop'.

[Paloma Contreras]

You guys are seriously the cutest family. What amazing buildings! I am so fascinated by old houses, barns, school houses. Their history intrigues me to no end! I'll have to show my husband your VC pendants.

[Ashley]

i think all this is definitely a part of what makes you so cool! design, humor, thoughtfullness, style....all good mcfurson traits!
ps-i looked really pregnant in the wedding morning picture! i didn't realize how big i was in october!

[Jessica]

i love a house with character...the school house looks amazing! the perfect place for a wedding... i'm going to destin march 9th for a couple days and was wondering if you could point me in the direction of some good antique stores (preferably ones that have good bargains!)... looking forward to more pictures of one room school houses!

[Seleta]

Love, love, love these shots. I mean, could you even BE a more beautiful bride?! And such strong design genes run in your family! It's wonderful you all are so close and talented in so many areas. You can share so much with eachother. Such blessings!

[Alya]

LOVE LOVE this post!! for all the reasons!

[pve design]

Wow. The Apple certainly did not fall far from the tree!
I thought you were just a born natural wonder! (oh, still do!)
Love the Bernheim Forest and look forward to getting lost in your post!
Lovely folks!

[Pink Wallpaper]

how amazing! i grew up in the mists of renovations with my parents doing all of the work themselves to an 1890's historic home....i guess that's where i got the bug too. i adore the school house... what an wonderful thing for your parents to do!

[corine]

This is such a great story of all around love and passion. And you are lovely in that dress.

[Jason]

I am not sure how I happened upon your blog, but I lived in Mount Carmel, IL for a few years, after I graduated from college, and taught at the community college there. I drove through Lancaster every weekend to visit my girlfriend who lived north of the area. It's great to hear about preserving some of the history of those sleepy Illinois towns.
Small world.

[Jason]

I am not sure how I happened upon your blog, but I lived in Mount Carmel, IL for a few years, after I graduated from college, and taught at the community college there. I drove through Lancaster every weekend to visit my girlfriend who lived north of the area. It's great to hear about preserving some of the history of those sleepy Illinois towns.
Small world.

[Elements of Style]

What an wonderful post- I love the barn, farmhouse and schoolhouse so much! Amazing job!
My dad renovates homes (as well as designs new ones) and I can SO appreciate your hiding on the floor of the car! My dad would stop the car randomly and walk all over people's property to take inspirational photos. I would DIE, telling him it was trespassing and highly embarrassing! But it lead me to my career!

[Design for Mankind]

wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

[Tiffany]

Okay, so I'm commenting a year too late. However, I am dying to know what you all did with the old books, since I am an antique bibliophile. I really hope they were able to bring in someone to take a look and sort through the old tomes. What a fun find!