at home renovation 2015

athomeJANUARY 2015

RenovationSPECIAL

ISSUE

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Pa l m e t t o B l u f f B e v e r ly H i l l s D e e r va l l e y K a Pa l u a B ay l ag u n a B e ac H

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Greenville Carpet One226 Pelham Davis Circle, Greenville | 864.281.0006 | www.CarpetOneGreenville.com

Showroom Hours: Monday–Friday 8am–6pm, Saturday 10am–2pm

Carpet One has quality products aswell as professional certified installers to

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820 South Main Street, Unit101, Greenville • 864-558-0300 • www.HennesseeHaven.com

Tuesday - Friday 11-5 • Saturday 10-3 •

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TOM MARCHANT 864.449.1658 | TomMarchant.com

TOM MARCHANT 864.449.1658 | TomMarchant.com

“Tom provided sound advice regarding pricing and staging. He has a creative eye, is affable, practical, and always professional. It was a great experience. He really made it easy for us. We recommend him and will call him again in the future.”

– Melissa and Phil LaTourette - Augusta Road Area

Renovations can be daunting to take on – trust me, I just finished renovating my own

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in working through that question with you. I know and understand the Downtown

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17 Roper Mountain RoadGreenville, SC 29607864.268.3101 • www.jefflynch.com

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athome JANUARY 2015

COVER AND CONTENTS PAGE PHOTOS from For The Record. Photography by TJ Getz.

Contents

Feature Homes

Departments 8 Notes From Home 15 Arts & Antiques New Threads for Old Seating

93 Home Schooling Lessons learned from my house

22 Reclaimed Homestead

40 Modern Family

62 History Renewed 82 For the Record

AtHome_Jan2015_RenoGuide.indd 6 12/8/14 8:55 AM

864.346.2087 | JMSATELIER.COM | [email protected]

J Marc Schreckengost, Owner & Principal Designer

DESIGN

THAT

LISTENS...

FAMILYAll drawings and designs by JMS Atelier.

Check website for photos of this project and others.

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8 | athome

NotesFromHome

Well … not quite, Ann.

Welcome to a very special January issue of At Home. We felt compelled to present you with a chance to stay inside on a cold winter’s day and see what other folks have done to

improve the flow and functionality of their homes.

Renovate. Remodel. These are words that can bring up many different emotions. To some they conjure nightmares. To others they speak to necessity. And to many they are words filled with visions of possibilities to be discovered and fulfilled.

I feel confident in saying that the homeowners featured in this special issue are all totally at ease with the process their homes went through. And they are now enjoying these “new” homes to the fullest. We offer thanks to them for sharing their journeys with you.

There are four homes featured that contain lots of great ideas for expanding, changing the floor plan, painting to brighten the interior, re-purposing usable materials and reviving a tired exterior. Settings range from the forested northern end of Greenville County to the Cleveland Park area to the downtown historic neighborhoods of Greenville and downtown Anderson.

You’ll see examples of what came “before” and “after” that will provide inspiration for your own imagined project.

Because oftentimes our furniture also needs a bit of renovation and remodeling, we’ve included an article of tips for what to expect and be aware of when reupholstering, where to go for fabric and folks who can expertly assist with the task.

There’s also a heartfelt memoir involving the patient restoration of a 91-year-old home. Reading through it should help ease any fears you might have of tackling any projects in your home.

Enjoy!

“ Home is an invention on which no one has yet improved.” ~ Ann Douglas

I always welcome and enjoy your comments or suggestions. Please contact me at [email protected] or 864.679.1200.

Lynn Greenlaw, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF


Historic West End, Greenville, SC 864.233.3730Biltmore Park Town Square, Asheville, NC 828.251.4535

www.AtwoodCabinetry.comKITCHENS • BATHS • LIBRARIES • WARDROBES • WINE CELLARS • HOME THEATERS

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10 | athome

Mark B. Johnston PUBLISHER

Lynn Greenlaw EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kristy M. Adair Paul Mehaffey Angie Paden

ART DIRECTORS

Holly Hardin OPERATIONS MANAGER

ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Michael Allen

Whitney Fincannon

MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Sarah Anders

Kristi Jennings Donna Johnston Annie Langston

Lindsay Oehmen Pam Putman Maddy Varin Emily Yepes

CLIENT SERVICES Anita Harley Jane Rogers

Kate Madden CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR

Kim Mason CONTROLLER

Shannon Rochester BILLING INQUIRIES

Marla Lockaby CIRCULATION COORDINATOR

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ruta Fox | S. Kim Henson

Mary Lawson | Leigh Savage Sarah Stephenson

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Patrick Cox | Kris DeckerTJ Getz | Stephen Vitosky

Katherine Waldrep

ADVERTISING (864) 679-1200

DISTRIBUTION (864) 679-1240

PUBLISHED BY COMMUNITY JOURNALS LLCLOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1999581 PERRY AVENUE, GREENVILLE, SC 29611

COMMUNITYJOURNALS.COM

athome

AT HOME Magazine (Vol. 13, No. 1) is published three times per year (with occasional special editions). Information in this publication is carefully compiled to insure accuracy. No recommendation regarding the quality of goods or services is expressed or implied. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written consent of the Publisher. Copyright 2015 by Community Journals, LLC. all rights reserved. Designed and printed in the USA.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: AT HOME Magazine is published Spring, Summer, and Fall/Winter. The cost of a subscription is $20 annually. For subscription information, please contact us at 864-679-1200.

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WHAT: You’ll find a large selection of centuries-old Asian furniture and accessories beautifully mixed with one of a kind contemporary Asian home furnishings, all expertly hand crafted, painted and selected from China, Thailand, Mongolia and Tibet.

WHO: Living and traveling in Asia for more than 15 years has instilled in owners Sherry and Fred Smid a true passion for all things Asian. Their greatest enjoyment is being able to share the beauty of Asian style and culture with their customers.

LATEST NEWS: We have new arrivals from both Thailand and Beijing in the store now! So many awesome pieces to use in your home decor and renovations! And our NEW website has launched: www.TradeRouteImport.com

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Arts&Antiques

New Threads for Old SeatingBy Mary Lawson and Sarah Stephenson

ou have just learned that your grandmother put

your name on the Italian (or French, or Chippendale,

or Sheraton) sofa and chairs – the ones she never

let you sit on when you visited as a child.

In spite of her care, the fabric is worn and will not work

with what you have. But you want to use these heirlooms.

What to do?

This scenario is played out endlessly with upholstered

pieces. But you are in luck because you live in Greenville, the

former textile capital of the world. Although most mills have

closed, and you may even be living in one of the beautifully

refurbished mill buildings that dot the area, the infrastructure

that grew out of the textile tradition is still alive and well. The

old mill outlets have morphed into numerous shops featuring

upholstery fabrics of all types. Upholstering skills have been

kept to a very high standard by those who learned the trade

from family members or from others

whose proficiency was honed by experience.

Many of us take advantage of these Greenville resources

as we re-cover comfortable but worn sofas and chairs, or

simply decide that some of our furnishings need new life

with different fabrics. There are also those of us who take

pride in finding comfortable, sometimes eccentric, pieces

at tag sales, auctions, re-sale and antique shops that can

then be recovered to make a personal style statement.

Y

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16 | athome

If you have not yet developed your personal style, do

some research to see what furniture designs, colors and

fabrics you find most appealing. Go to furniture stores

and antique shops; check home magazines. You will

soon determine what you like and what fits your lifestyle.

Remember that the most expensive is not always the

best. Learn to discern good quality. Look for the “tried

and true” traditional styles that will outlast the trends.

A Lawson sofa is a good example that has proven over

the years to mix well with many styles. As you choose

furniture and fabric, remember that contrast adds interest.

Mix the old and the new.

Once you are ready to reupholster an item and have an

idea of the fabric you want, it is time to head for the fabric

shops. Fabric shops have lists and cards of upholsters who

do quality work, and many have in-house upholsterers.

The sales staff also can also tell you how much fabric you

need for a project. Take with you color swatches, rugs,

fabric samples and pillows that will be near your newly

recovered piece. Most of us have uneven color memories.

Take samples home with you, and place them in the

environment to see how they work.

If you don’t have time for the search, consider working

with a professional decorator who, unlike the rest of us, does

have a great color memory and who also knows how to make

sure the newly covered items fit and add flair to the existing

setting. Hiring a decorator can minimize and avoid mistakes

the novice may make. Their experience, knowledge and

guidance can enhance the quality of the décor; they have the

ability to envision the finished product and know the steps

needed to reach the desired effect. They also have access to

fabrics that may not be available in stores.

As antiques dealers we have found that pieces of

upholstered furniture soften the rectilinear lines of the

furniture that we love, and conversely fine antique chests

or secretaries elevate every other object in a room. We are

sticklers for the antiquity of our case goods, but we mix

modern and traditional reproduction upholstered pieces

with these antiques. At times, we re-cover upholstered

pieces, but often we leave the upholstery

“as found” with a low price so the purchaser can make

the decision about how to re-cover. Frequently, we simply

like the look of the vintage upholstery and leave it.

We asked our friend, Bill Bates of Bates/McElrath Antiques

and Design, for his thoughts on recovering vintage chairs and

sofas. He suggests looking for name brands with a history

of good quality, such as Hickory Chair, Baker, Kittinger

and Southwood. He advises looking under the piece to

determine if it has hand-tied springs and is made of hard

wood. Always test the piece for stability; if wooden joints

are loose, the price to stabilize the piece may not be cost

effective. Loose or sagging springs also add to the repair cost

but may be worth the investment. Look for down cushions

that can be recovered and do not need to be replaced.

Arts&Antiques


JANUARY 2015 | 17

Imagine the piece recovered with a fabric that will fit your décor.

If you should be so lucky as to come across a piece with original

fabric that is in good condition, such as a silk damask with little

or no fading, tears or worn areas, you may want to keep the fabric

and work other pieces around it. Remember that many solid colors

function as a neutral.

If you decide to take an item to an upholsterer yourself rather than

go through a designer, we have advice from the school of hard knocks.

Be sure the upholsterer knows which side you consider

the “right side” or the one you want to see. Usually

this is obvious, but with some fabrics, both sides will

look good. It is not pleasant to be surprised by the

side you never dreamed would appear. Also, be sure

to point out how you want cording, fringe or brass nails

used; consider drawing a sketch of these details. Should

you be recovering a piece that is a true antique, ask

the upholsterer to leave the horsehair and original

upholstery material intact if possible. This can be

a tricky judgment call, but helps hold the value

of the piece.

It is satisfying to see new life come from the

past. The heirloom from your grandmother, the

comfortable sofa you have lived with for years or

the forlorn but funky chair you found at auction,

all receive new life with new threads. In turn,

your home is enhanced, and you are helping to

save the environment, one seat at a time. ah

FABRIC SHOPSCarolina Fabrics & Interiors 1190 N Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville 864-244-8837

Larry and Sons Fabrics 1017 Powdersville Road, Easley 864-859-7661

Mansure & Co 26 Aberdeen Drive, Greenville 864-282-1900

Tony’s Fabrics 410 South Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville 864-232-7343

West End Fabric 801 Augusta Street, Greenville 864-271-1985

UPHOLSTERSAlana’s Custom Upholstery 7 Kerns Avenue, Greenville 864-233-7710

Allen’s Custom Upholstery 900 Easley Bridge Road, Greenville 864-605-0405

Best Upholstering 29 Liberty Lane, Greenville 864-271-1533

By Design Upholstery 3398 Anderson Road, Suite F, Greenville 864-295-1200

Phil Byrd Upholstery 1352 North Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville 864-292-7020

J. I. Fields Quality Upholstering 505 West Belvue Road, Greenville 864-906-0062

Don Green Upholstery 1401 Piedmont Highway, Greenville 864-277-3795

John Scott Upholstery 300 Hammett Street, Suite 117, Greenville 864-905-8357

RESOURCES FOR RE-UPHOLSTERY


“We were more than pleased with Evergreen Construction and the renovation of our home. Doug and his group went above and beyond to make sure we were informed and comfortable with every decision made. The attention to detail was impressive and the continued follow up after the project was completed has stood out the most. I would highly recommend Evergreen Construction for the renovation of your home.” – Thanks, The Mattice Family

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JANUARY 2015 | 21

AJH Renovations, LLC | | a jhrenovations.com | | 864.901.3021

SOMETHING UNCOMMON

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22 | athome

The main entrance was originally on the side of the home facing the road. Chuck Hartman of AJH Renovations suggested realigning the entrance to the view of Table Rock and adding a welcoming front porch. The extended roof peak and stone based columns add dimension and architectural detail.


JANUARY 2015 | 23

Written by Lynn GreenlawPhotography by Patrick Cox/Cox Photography

indsey Jones and her brother grew up looking at Table

Rock (after her parents took down a few trees that

were obscuring the view) and as an adult she missed

the scenic, peaceful nature of her childhood setting.

Lindsey, a Clemson University graduate, began her professional

career as a Health and Wellness Coordinator with the Verizon

regional headquarters in Greenville. She purchased her first home

in Greenville, but soon heard the call of the 18 acres where she

had spent her early years watching deer, coyotes, wild turkeys and

the occasional red fox.

The remedy for Lindsey was to purchase from her parents the

home where she spent her formative years and then reconfigure

it to meet her needs.

She turned to Chuck Hartman, Design and Project Manager

at AJH Renovations Inc., to help her with the project.

Although Lindsey’s original intent was to expand the kitchen,

update the home’s single bathroom and add a master bedroom

suite, she said, “Chuck had some other tempting ideas that

would eventually provide the home a much better flow and

an improved appearance.”

Follow Lindsey’s journey through what was an eight-month

renovation/remodeling project of the house that Lindsey now

proudly calls “home.”

Reclaimed homesteadA daughter remodels family home and makes it her own

L


24 | athome

ORIGINAL FLOORPLAN NEW FLOORPLAN


JANUARY 2015 | 25

Through the front door and looking left is the living room. During Lindsey’s formative years in the house, this space was her parents’ bedroom.

The wood paneling was removed and reused in other rooms and the ceiling was vaulted to create a more spacious feel.

The carport remains in its original location but louvered wooden panels and decorative iron detailing give it an updated look that also provides more privacy.


26 | athome

The kitchen – Lindsey’s “favorite room because I love to cook” – is a combination of what was formerly her brother’s bedroom and the home’s original kitchen, which was more galley-style than the deluxe spaciousness that now exists. Some of the recycled wood from the walls was incorporated as panels in the cabinetry and center island.


JANUARY 2015 | 27


28 | athome


JANUARY 2015 | 29

An enclosed porch was converted to a conveniently located dining room. Wood from an old barn on the property now lines one wall, the entrance to the dining room and the sitting room beyond, and was also used for ceiling beams. Reclaimed wood was likewise used for the top of the dining table. Diamond-grid windows from the porch were re-purposed in the dining room, kitchen and bathroom.


30 | athome

The expanded bathroom, devoid of wood on the walls, now utilizes an antique piece from Lindsey’s grandparents’ furniture store as the sink cabinetry. One of the diamond-grid windows was re-purposed for the front of a tall storage cabinet.


JANUARY 2015 | 31

The master bedroom, once the living room, now occupies the space on the opposite side of the fireplace. Adding walls allowed for the addition of double closets. The room was expanded by utilizing a portion of the screened porch on the back of the house.


32 | athome

In the den, reclaimed wood fills in each side of what had been a freestanding two-sided fireplace. The popcorn-textured ceiling was scraped to reveal the original wood. The room is now a cozy and welcoming spot year round.


JANUARY 2015 | 33

Originally the main entrance to the home, the carport entrance was maintained in the new plan. The hallway leading from it is now lined with Lindsey’s treasured photos of family, friends and beloved pets.

Project design and General Contractor AJH Renovations, LLC

Chuck Fearn Cabinetry: custom cabinets utilizing repurposed wood and windows from the old house; also the dining room table using beams from the old house.

Green Heating & Cooling: HVAC

APS Plumbing


34 | athome

A stackable washer and dryer are housed behind doors beside the wet bar. ah


C93R

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36 | athome

The Honeywell TrueSTEAM™ humidifier integrates with your HVAC system to raise your homes humidity during the dry winter months. Your family will have fewer sinus infections and will experience less static electricity, all while protecting hardwood floors, antiques, art & musical instruments. Call Waldrop today!

(864) 252-3511www.waldropinc.com

The Honeywell TrueSTEAM™ humidifier integrates with your HVAC system to raise your home’s humidity during the dry winter months. Your family will have fewer sinus infections and will experience less static electricity, all while protecting hardwood floors, antiques, art and musical instruments. Call Waldrop today!


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JANUARY 2015 | 39

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illiam Riddle “Willie” Ward

Jr. would most likely be

turning in his grave. The

distinguished Greenville architect, who

practiced in the early to mid-twentieth

century, specialized in Colonial Revival

and Georgian residential designs, and

has several homes listed on the National

Register of Historic Places. The house he

designed on Boxwood Lane in the 1950s

was a typical Ranch-style construction,

owned and lived in for 50 years by the same

couple, until Shannon and Jeff Johnson

moved in – and turned it delightfully upside

down to suit the needs of their modern

family and their out-of-the-box aesthetic.

To quote noted interior designer

Alexa Hampton: “Renovations are truly a

psychological perfect storm: stress about

time and money, a sentimental reluctance

to change, and impatience for gratification.

But in the end having your home ‘just so’

is the ultimate reward.”

modern

A historic traditional is reinvented as a cheerful home where fun rules

Written by Ruta Fox

Photography by Kris Decker Firewater Photography

W


42 | athome

traditional


JANUARY 2015 | 43

The gut renovation that took place over five

months began with a lemon yellow coat of paint

to the formerly traditional and very humdrum

red brick exterior. Ironically, although the house

is located on a street called Boxwood Lane, a

round of landscaping removed all the boxwood

bushes along with many overgrown azaleas to

impart a fresher, cleaner look to the outside of

the house. Also eliminated, the dated shutters

and the old-fashioned wrought iron.

Shannon, a doctor, and Jeff, a dentist, are busy

professionals. The 13-member household (two

dogs, two guinea pigs, two tortoises, two adults,

four children and one reptile – Lincoln, the

bearded dragon) needed a way to maximize the

interior space and to “provide a way to control

the chaos,” according to Shannon. “Additionally,

our four kids all go to different schools … need

I say more?”

Bam! All the original plaster walls, torn down.

Bam! All the interior dark wood paneling, ripped

out. Bam! All the radiators, thrown away. Then,

brand-new plumbing, electrical and HVAC was

installed throughout the home. Of course, there

were surprises – no renovation is without a few,

and in this case it was stumbling upon asbestos

and removing it.

Along the way, Shannon used Pinterest to

communicate many of her ideas with her

contractors and builder, as well as to source

products and find inspiration. She also is a big

Etsy fan, finding craft concepts at the online

site, which she then used to personalize

the space in every room of the house.

Art projects, such as the big flag on the

dining room wall, were something the

whole family worked on together. “To us

renovation was not only about losing the

old, but about making it newly our own,”

she says. “We took an ordinary traditional

home and transformed it into a highly

individualized environment that really

works for us.”


44 | athome

The cheery entryway

alerts guests they

are in for something

unique. A long,

dark hallway was

demolished and the

Johnsons installed

the homemade

“handprint wall”

taken directly from

their former residence. On the opposite wall,

a huge rust-colored “barn star” hangs, an icon

which was often considered to be just as lucky as

a horseshoe – popular during the 18th century,

but here adds a modern graphic touch.

handmade


The big, spacious floor plan was designed to

combine the kitchen, dining room and living

room in one loft-like open space, which flows out

to the back deck. The kitchen is streamlined for

efficiency: stainless steel appliances, a professional

eight-burner stove and granite countertops to

provide plenty of workspace.

“We put in open shelving, jettisoning the old

white cabinets because no one shut the cabinet

color


doors in our old house,” Shannon explains. Each family

member is assigned a color for their plates: blue, green,

yellow, turquoise, orange or red, “that way we know

who’s not cleaning up after themselves.”

Five walls came down and they had to install a 30-foot

steel beam to support the attic space; they removed the

soffit, ripped up the linoleum floors and built in a window

seat, which currently has been re-purposed as home for

their two guinea pigs. The circular window decals are a

clever way to ensure some privacy from the street.


48 | athome

party


JANUARY 2015 | 49

The deck was added out back and features

an open-air dining and seating area and a

fireplace hung with a painting that hides a

television. On the hearth, colorful kitchen

tiles – re-purposed from their old home –

were cemented in. Cable railing adds to the

industrial motif and the ceiling is festooned

with twinkling lights to make it feel like a

party every night.

Corrugated aluminum panels are used

often and replace the old wood paneling in

the dining room. The previous guest room

and living room morphed into the new

dining room.

An old bathroom became a pub, complete

with its own neon sign, the Hole In The Wall

Bar. Jeff, a beer lover, has been collecting

beer labels since he was 21, and almost all

of them are here, an amazing pastiche lining

the top of the bar and the walls. The bar even

has a built-in tap and a vintage National cash

register that still works. Witty overhead lamps

are inverted frosted beer mugs.


50 | athome

Downstairs, the master bedroom and

bathroom area was originally a screened-in

porch, then became a library/study with the

past occupants, so doors were added that

open to the deck outside. Also added was a

huge walk-in closet and large frameless glass

shower. Next to the bedroom, a former small

bathroom was converted to a laundry room

complete with a bright red washer and dryer

and separate bins for each family member to

make laundry day a breeze.

cool


JANUARY 2015 | 51


52 | athome

Up the staircase, painted a rich cinnabar red, the

fabric-covered stairs amuse in riotous colors and

patterns. The boys share a room; 19-year-old Jake

camps out in the cool loft bed when he’s home from

Emory University and 9-year-old Sam has the triple

bunk beds to himself. As one can see, it’s definitely

a Clemson household. Twin 14-year-old daughters

Isabelle and Grace share their Tiffany-box turquoise

attic bedroom that was added during the renovation.

Built-in beds/bookcases make it easy to keep the

room tidy, and their “sister wall” is their imaginative

take on a photo book.

individual


JANUARY 2015 | 53

SECOND FLOOR BEFORE SECOND FLOOR AFTER

FIRST FLOOR BEFORE FIRST FLOOR AFTER


54 | athome

Catherine Smith Architect, LLC

Addison Homes/Todd Usher

Project manager, Andru Blonquist

Moss Heating and Air, Inc.

Bagwell Custom Floors, LLC

GR inc: drywall, interior trim and paint

Of course things went slightly over budget. “I’m so into lighting

fixtures,” Shannon admits. “Although I’m a discount, close-out shopper,

the fixtures were the items that I really wanted to be distinctive.”

Sam, Isabelle and Grace chime in to say, “All our friends really like

our house!”

Shannon relays the rationale for creating a lively, creative and unusual

place to call home. “We live in our home, and have fun here. Everything

from mattress slides to roller-skating is okay in this house. I want you

to feel happy when you walk in,” she adds joyfully. And all who enter,

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56 | athome

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60 | athome

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Green Valley Country Club has a renovated clubhouse and pool complex with a new outdoor resort-style bar, patio with stone fire pit, and new fitness center. The renovated dining rooms include the Mixed Grille, Club ’58, the ballroom and Green Valley Room. Members can enjoy a relaxed family atmosphere and the many club socials and outings.

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62 | athome

History Renewed


JANUARY 2015 | 63

huffakers’ downtown bungalow gets a respectful makeover


64 | athome

before

before

before


JANUARY 2015 | 65

That was the advice Trey Cole of Cole Properties

had for Steve and Ann Huffaker before he gutted

and rebuilt their 1920s bungalow in the Historic

Heritage District of downtown Greenville.

“I told them there was no point, because it

was in horrible shape and you felt like it wasn’t

habitable for people,” said Cole of the building

that was previously divided into four apartments.

“It was in horrible shape, with no central heating,

leaking plumbing. It was pretty disgusting.”

The Huffakers couldn’t resist and walked

through, but understood that the home would

be completely transformed in about seven

months – and it was.

In the refurbished structure, Cole managed

to keep the home’s historic Arts and Crafts

charm and many of its original features while

incorporating modern priorities like energy

efficiency, natural light, storage and a design

that will allow the Huffakers to live comfortably

as they age.

Written by Leigh Savage. Before photography by Katherine Waldrep. After photography by Stephen Vitosky

Don’t come see it.


66 | athome

The Huffakers loved the home’s location – just a short

stroll from Main Street – and had appreciated Cole’s

work on nearby Craftsman Court. “We loved the quality

and what was put into the house,” Ann Huffaker said.

“And it’s an EarthCraft home, so it’s energy efficient.”

The front facade maintains its original design, with a

long, low-pitched roof, a cedar-shake exterior and the

original front porch – with a few upgrades. The base of

the porch showcases bricks with remnants of the home’s

previous blue paint – a happy accident, according to

Cole. “We tried to strip the brick, but about 20 percent

of the original paint was left. Stripping brick clean is

impossible, but we all liked this look. It shows that the

house has history.”

FIRST FLOOR BEFORE

SECOND FLOOR BEFORE

FIRST FLOOR AFTER SECOND FLOOR AFTER


JANUARY 2015 | 67


68 | athome

before


JANUARY 2015 | 69


70 | athome

before


JANUARY 2015 | 71

Inside the transom-topped door is the living

room and dining area, where a wall was removed

to improve light and flow. The living room features

wainscoting “because that’s a classic Arts and Crafts

bungalow look, with lots of detail,” Cole said. “That

and the batten ceiling give a little more detail and

break up the mass of sheetrock.”

He also suggested reusing – and moving – an

entire brick wall that once served as a double fireplace

in the corner. The wall now accents the kitchen and

stairs. While the wall was removed between the living

and dining areas, Cole advocated keeping the wall

separating the dining area and kitchen. “We didn’t

want the house to be so modernized that it had no

connection to the past,” he said.

“We tried to reuse as much of the house as possible.

The brick wall maintains the history of the home and

gives it a unique look,” Cole said.

Ann Huffaker said the brick wall and the refurbished

heart-pine floors are her favorite features in her new

home. Cole had to remove the floor, refinish it and

reinstall it, mixing in some old heart-pine from other jobs

to ensure a consistent look throughout the lower level.

He worked similarly with the cedar shakes outside,

which had been covered with asbestos. After removing

that, about half of the cedar shakes were restored and

repaired, with some new cedar shake sprinkled in

as needed.


72 | athome

Cole said most of the homes he builds are EarthCraft

certified, which means the home is highly rated for energy

efficiency. From the thermal pane windows to the HVAC system

to the spray foam insulation, EarthCraft homes are designed

to be cleaner and air-tight. “My clients always brag to me about

how inexpensive it is to heat and cool their house,” Cole said.

The Huffakers enjoy the lower bills and also appreciated

Cole’s willingness to incorporate their needs, including a large

laundry room with tons of storage and a bumped out master

suite on the lower level that allowed a roomier master bath.

before


JANUARY 2015 | 73


74 | athome

Though not a downsize – the Huffaker’s previous home

in Greenwood was smaller than their new home’s 2,600

square feet – the couple did trade a four-acre lot for a small,

manageable yard with just enough space for Ann to enjoy

her gardening hobby.

And though the couple is still fit, healthy and working

(she as a physical therapist, he as a physician’s assistant),

they intend this to be their last move.

“We have moved Steve’s mom and aunt into an assisted

living facility, so we knew what we were getting into,” Ann

said. Their home has an entry with no steps, the master

suite on the main floor, three-foot doors and a large walk-in

shower with no door. If mobility becomes a problem, the

couple can comfortably live downstairs.

But for now, they enjoy the upper level, which is home

to a spacious loft, a guest bedroom, a roomy closet and

a bedroom turned into an exercise room, complete with

treadmill, elliptical machine, weights and even a sauna.

The Huffakers also wanted a garage, something the home

did not have and Cole does not typically build. “I don’t

like how they look out of place, and they just dominate the

yard,” he said. “But we started calling this one a car cottage,

so it’s an asset instead of an afterthought.”

It adds up to the perfect home for the Huffakers, who

had been considering a move to downtown Greenville for

years. Despite the home’s disconcerting beginnings, they got

everything they wanted, right where they wanted to be. ah


JANUARY 2015 | 75


76 | athome

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78 | athome

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80 | athome

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82 | athome

FORTHERecord


JANUARY 2015 | 83

Written by Leigh Savage

Photography by TJ Getz/Getz Creative

Lifelong collection takes center stage in historic Anderson home

im and Donnis Cox didn’t want to downsize,

but they did want a home that was one level and

reflected both of their tastes and interests. They

found everything they wanted in this 4,000-square-

foot beauty in downtown Anderson – especially that classic

real estate priority: location.

Donnis had always admired the house across the street from

church, and thought it was charming but in need of “love and

repair.” It had a For Sale sign for months, but one day, the sign

said, “Reduced,” and Donnis couldn’t resist taking a look.

Though Jim was reluctant at first and friends wondered why

Donnis wanted to take on such a project, she was excited about

the possibilities. “I’m a visual person, and I fell in love with

the house,” she said. “And I knew this was a huge project I was

going to get to work on.”

“We were close to downtown before, but we are in town

now,” Jim said. “We are right across from our church, Central

Presbyterian,” Donnis added, ”and we have a fabulous view at

night of the lights on the steeple. We can walk to church, to

the dentist, to the bagel shop. And we do!”

Jim and Donnis are both 75, and were both widowed before

marrying 10 years ago. Donnis had lived in her former home

for 40 years, and she was excited to start over.

J


84 | athome


JANUARY 2015 | 85

“Now every room has furniture and accessories from

both of our past lives,” she said. “We have really made

it our house.” A big part of that was creating a room

dedicated to Jim’s extensive record collection.

The couple kept much of the original design of the

home, known locally as the Drew House because of the

previous owner, who lived there for 70 years. “It had

good bones,” Donnis said. “But we had nowhere for

his record library, so that was the biggest renovation.

We turned the garage into a record library and then

added a garage.”

Jim has been collecting vinyl since he was 6 years old,

and has a massive collection of rhythm and blues, blues,

and swing music from the 1930s and 40s. The former

garage is now equipped with wall-to-wall shelves of

records and equipment, plus an art studio for Donnis

with plenty of natural light.


86 | athome


JANUARY 2015 | 87

In updating their home, they knew the perfect partner would

be Bill Ducworth of Ducworth and Co., who is an interior and

architectural designer and is also on the City of Anderson’s

architectural review board for the Boulevard Historic District,

where the home is located.

Ducworth was excited to lend his expertise to the project. “It

was a pristine 1949 home, with the best construction and the

best architecture available in 1949,” he said. “But it had never

been redecorated, so it was like stepping into a time capsule.”

He wanted to pay homage to the home’s style and quality

construction while updating it for modern use.

The kitchen was gutted and got a complete makeover,

though Ducworth duplicated the style of the original cabinets,

painting them white and adding black countertops and a

white cast-iron sink.

One of his favorite projects was adding a garden window

in the kitchen. Because he couldn’t find one they all liked, he

designed it himself, and saved the former casement window

to use in the addition.


88 | athome

“We saved all of the fabulous casement windows,

including those we removed when we added French

doors,” Ducworth said. “We saved a boatload by reusing

those and we opened some people’s eyes to the fact

that you can take these old windows and make them

look modern.”

The windows were painted Charleston green, which is

so dark it almost looks black, and curtains were avoided

in most rooms. “We like to look outside,” Donnis said.

“It’s a very open and light house. In the living room,

you can look out and see the church and the trees.”

The Coxes switched the former living and dining rooms

to add space when their blended brood, which includes

four grown children and ten grandchildren, comes to

visit. “Now the dining room can seat 21,” she said.

The oak floors needed refinishing, but were still in

good condition, while the den once had the “orangy pine

paneling that was so popular in the 50s,” according to

Donnis, but is now painted a soft white.

Ducworth marveled at the smart design of the original

one-level home, including a full basement and attic for

storage as well as plentiful closets. He said the main

aspects of the refurbishment were transforming the

garage, adding a new garage, adding French doors to

the terrace and enclosing a breezeway in glass to create

a sunroom. Outdoors, a tool shed was added as well as

a low sitting wall and a new driveway.

“We were able to do an authentic historic renovation of

that house because we were fortunate enough to have a

house we could recycle,” Ducworth said. “It’s a study in

recycling, paying attention to what was there and celebrating

it. We wanted to maintain that history and make it better.”

ah


JANUARY 2015 | 89


90 | athome

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JANUARY 2015 | 93

HomeSchooling

asked our teary-eyed 16-year-old daughter. Her older brother assured her there was no way.

Before the real estate agent backed out of the driveway, she said, “If you’re interested, you may want to make an offer soon. We have a prospective buyer.”

My husband waited until she was out of sight, then said, “Yeah, right. Are you really looking at this place? There’s no buyer.”

“I know. But I love it,” I said.

“ You’re not going to make us live here, are you?”

Lessons Learned from My House

Written by and photos provided by S. Kim Henson

Lessons Learned from My House

The white two-story house, built 91 years ago, sat in a state

of disrepair, but held its value because of location. Inside the

historic district, the house’s corner lot was within walking

distance of downtown. Two moss-draped live oaks grew on

the property. The home intermingled in the neighborhood

with stately brick houses alongside wood-sided ones, most

of which were well maintained or renovated.

I scarcely noticed the dilapidated pink shack in the

backyard, the rotting deck, or the tires and oil cans

scattered around bushes. I overlooked warped siding,

peeling paint and BB gun holes shot through windows.

I’d walked for five years by the house and imagined all

its possibilities. I hoped the interior of the home would

convince my husband of its worth.

The inside was convincing, all right. The living room

smelled old and musty. A rusted claw-foot tub was propped


94 | athome

against the downstairs bathroom wall because it only had

three feet. The floor squished under our feet, which made

the toilet wobble. Upstairs, the bathroom was redone with

pasteboard walls and secondhand linoleum curled away

from where baseboard should have been. “Did you notice

holes in the walls and in the floors in nearly every room?”

my husband asked.

He and I didn’t know to appreciate the condition of the

bathrooms until we walked into the grungy kitchen. Torn

black and white checkered linoleum lay on the floor. Shelves

inside the mismatched cabinets were lined with paper towels

to cover dirt and dead bugs. Unfortunately, there was no

masking the stench of garlic that saturated the particleboard.

Faded, grease-stained burgundy wallpaper fell from the walls.

“I think we were meant for each other,” I told my

husband. “This fixer-upper looks like my insides feel.”

We began renovations in the summer of 2000. The

plumber helped drag the three-legged tub to the backyard

and we filled it with strawberry plants. “Can I have the

spray-painted shower from the rotten bathroom?” he asked

before strapping it to the top of his truck to haul off.

We replaced seven layers of bathroom flooring, including

cardboard and roofing shingles, with planks of hardwood.

We ripped up carpet from stairs, tore out rotten wood from

every room, and primed and sanded walls to prepare them

for paint.

Like my house, my life got messier in the middle. Between

undertaking a major remodel and raising two teenagers, the

likelihood lessened of having a white-picket-fence life. My

house helped me accept messy in-betweens.

In the spring of 2001, my husband and a friend tore off

the deck from the back of the house. In its place, they built

a sunroom. Alongside it, we added a screened porch that

housed our first major purchase, a Jacuzzi spa. I added

flowerboxes around the window ledges and planted pink

impatiens, yellow butterfly plants and red geraniums. Clear

roofing panels let in sunlight.

Like my house, my life benefited from a restorative space.

My home let me in on the secret to finding gratitude and

beauty amidst unfinished tasks and construction glitches.

When our kids moved out, we drew up plans for a garage

with a studio apartment for their visits. We moved tools,

rakes, the mower, old doors and windows, and several boxes

of unpacked items from the pink shack to the garage. We tore

down the building and lugged 11 tons of debris through the

garage to a dumpster in the driveway. “While we have a place

to toss it, now’s a good time to get rid of all our junk,” I said.

Like my house, my life required effort and some letting go.

HomeSchooling


JANUARY 2015 | 95

Since our grown children moved out within two weeks of

each other, the hard work of maintaining a full nest turned

into the hard work of getting my own life. It took more than

a year to settle down with my life’s calling, which included

learning the craft of writing and sitting still to do it. Getting

on with my life also meant getting out of my children’s lives.

My home taught me labors of love are worth the work, and

letting go is part of the task.

The time came for our home’s final projects. The more

we learned about home improvement, the clearer our

vision became. We gutted the kitchen and swapped the

wallpaper for bead board. Custom cabinets with chopping

block countertops took the place of mismatched cupboards

and chipped laminate. After searching online and finding a

fourth leg, we had the claw-foot tub reglazed and relocated

it to the upstairs bathroom where we had already installed

hand-milled pine floors.

Like my house, my life improved when I got clear about

my direction. I made a bucket list, wrote a life plan, and

revised lists of what I needed to do to accomplish my goals.

My home taught me to make a plan and follow it through.

After years of renovating each other, my home and I share

a sense of renewal. There will always be upkeep but, from

where we started, our outcomes are far beyond anything

I imagined. ah


96 | athome

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