Life At Our Farmhouse (November 2018)- Cleverly Simple

Being that it’s November I know this is a month to be thankful. And thankful we are. I was reminded by someone that it’s been a long time since I’ve shared any before pictures. And so I went digging into our files of snapshots and was amazed at how far we’ve come.

Sure, I lived through it. You may have lived through it with me. I remember every detail we’ve done. But there’s something about being removed years later to really be in awe of how different our home looks. When we purchased the house it had huge sentimental value. All I could think about was how grateful I was that we had the opportunity to purchase the home. All I could see was its potential and what it could be.

Now looking back I realize how crazy we were. I look at the house and I think, wow! It was a mess. I understand now when the contractors came into our home and told us it would be cheaper to completely bulldoze the house and build new.

I’m so glad we didn’t listen to them.

I knew in my heart what an old home can be with a little love. And I have my parents to thank for that, having grown up in a 1910 home that they lovingly restored.

I see now in front of me everything that I saw in my mind those years ago. So if you’re new around here, or you’ve been following along, I thought it would be fun this month to not only show some of the things that we did but also show the way the house looked two years ago.

Because it’s been two years since we moved into our home. I want this to be an encouragement to you and an inspiration for those who have old farm houses.

Do not give up on them.

Do not listen to the contractors who can’t see beyond its weaknesses. There is such potential in these old houses. The exterior may need a refresh. The floors may need refinished. There may be a literal ton of stuff to remove from the home.

But as much work as you put into them, you get so much more back. You get inch thick wood floors and solid oak doors and trim around your windows. You get framework from old growth trees that has stood the test of time. You get foundations that are thicker than they needed to be made with really large stones.

The phrase ” they don’t build them like they used to” takes on a whole new meaning when you’ve renovated a home. You know that you literally can’t. There’s no way you could afford the beautiful woodwork, and solid everything that the home has.

You wonder how they built your home all those years ago but you’re so grateful for the pride that they put into it. And you’re sorry if somewhere along the lines things got overgrown and hid the gem it is.

I know an old house is not for everyone. I get that. They come with their own quirks and they come with their own style. But for those who do love old houses, don’t give up on them. And for those who want new, buy new. If you do choose to buy an old house instead of changing it, consider letting that old house be who it was meant to be.

I know that my home is not trendy. It’s not a modern farmhouse. It still looks like an old farmhouse when you walk through the door. I know that Joanna Gaines would have probably decorated it much differently. And while I like her style, her style is not my home. My home’s style was decided generations ago. It’s my privilege today to show off what those so many years ago built. The floors, the walls (minus 8 layers of wallpaper), the windows, the doors – they all reflect the way they were intended to be.

Old houses are perfect the way they are. They just need a little extra love to bring them back to how they were meant to be. Sure they might be like ours and were built without a bathroom. Put in a new bathroom, update the kitchen and laundry room – but beyond that?

So much of what they have to offer, is often pure perfection. And when you grasp and see the potential instead of pinterest’s idea of perfect, you will sit here like me a few years later, and stand in awe of how much of a home an old farmhouse can provide through the generations.

What started as an update quickly turned into my heart to share what I’ve felt so many times as I’ve walked through the doors of my home. So many shows I watch on TV take out the very details that make an old house unique and worth saving. I mourn each detail they take out in the name of following the latest trend. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring at least one home into the next generation and preserve what makes it special. And so on this two year anniversary of moving into our old farmhouse and the month that reminds me to be grateful, I wanted to share my heart.

Thank you for following along and for being a part of this journey with me. I am so privileged to share this home and I hope it serves as an inspiration to others to follow their dreams and seek the potential in these beautiful old homes.

If you want to see more details of our farmhouse renovation, go here and scroll to the bottom where you can see where it all started on week 1.