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June 8, 2013

The Story of our House (Part 1)

It is raining here today, so I will not be working in my garden...the corn, potatoes, squash and brussel sprouts still need to be planted, but they will have to wait another couple of days.  I decided to take some time and share with you the story of our home.  It's not just a house; it's a project that Hubby and I have been lovingly working on for the past fourteen years. When we first drew up the plans for our home, we never imagined that we would fill it with ten children.  At the time, we only had one toddler with a baby on the way.  We are now bursting at the seams and are in the process of building on an addition.  We are getting very close to having the new addition complete and I can't wait to share it with you, but first I wanted to tell you how Front Forty Farm came to be.

I have always loved old houses. Growing up I lived across from my grandparents, whose home was over 150 years old and had been built and past  down by our ancestors.  Grandpa farmed on the family homestead that his relatives had built, and he always took care to preserve the past and its history.  I loved my grandparents and cherished the time I spent in their wonderful home.  An appreciation for old houses was cultivated in me at a young age.

I grew to love the creaky floors; the musty root cellar; the tiny, wall-papered bedrooms tucked under the eaves; the nooks and crannies; the windows that were never clear because of the wavy glass; the narrow staircase winding down to the family sitting room; the pantry lined neatly with mason jars full of canned produce; the horse-hair plastered walls, held together by layers of wallpaper, each layer telling a story of those that came before us. 

I knew from a very young age that I wanted to live in a house like my grandparents...I wanted to be surrounded by nostalgia.  I was hoping to someday acquire an old home and restore it to its original glory.
When Hubby and I were first married, my parents deeded a piece of property to us.  We were very excited to have been given this wonderful piece of property, but the land did not include my dream farmhouse.  We would have to build our own. We had a piece of land, no house, and barely two pennies to rub together.  Hubby and I spent hours discussing what type of home would fit our needs and our budget, keeping in mind my wish for an old farmhouse.

Our piece of land, once called the Front Forty, used to be farmland, but over time the pastures became woodland again.  Hubby cleared the trees off the spot where the new house would go, and, in an attempt to save money, we milled the trees into boards that would be used in the building of our new home.
Hubby, with only the help of his father, built the house and barn.  He sheathed the walls with rough boards like my great-grandfather would have done, rather than paying the high price for modern day ply-wood.  Our floors were constructed from wide-pine boards milled from old-growth trees that were cut from my father's land.
We purchased interior doors, for $10 apiece, that had been removed from a house used for Union Officers' quarters during the civil war. We bought French doors, complete with antique glass knobs, from an old sea-captains home.  They were $100 for the pair. Our exterior doors once graced the entrances of other old homes...we paid $25 for one, and the other broke the bank costing us a whopping $75.  Most of our windows are used, purchased very inexpensively from a homeowner who was replacing his windows with a newer style. 
We installed claw foot tubs and pedestal sinks that we purchased for pennies.  My kitchen has an enameled cast iron, double basin, farmhouse sink. I had been in desperate search of a sink of that description, but we couldn't find any that were within our budget, until one day I was driving through town and spotted a yard sale.  I slowed down and noticed two men carrying a sink down the front steps.  As they set it down on the lawn, I realized it was the EXACT sink I had been looking for.  I was so excited that I was shaking.  I literally ran to them...not wanting anyone else to get to the sink before I did.  When I asked how much they wanted for it, I almost passed out.
Ten dollars!!!!!  Ten dollars is all they wanted for this beautiful, antique sink!  I couldn't believe what I had heard. I quickly rummaged through my purse, gave them a ten dollar bill, and drove home.  I begged Hubby to go pick it up with his truck immediately...I didn't want any changed minds.  I finally had found my farmhouse sink and for a mere ten dollars!
With our attempts to save money and my love for the old, our house began taking on the look of a century old colonial.  In fact, one day an appliance repair man came to fix our dishwasher, and he had to go to the basement.  As I lead him down the stairs, he said, "Wait, I thought this was an old house...but you have a modern basement.  I was expecting an old dirt, root cellar.  How old is this house?"  I giggled to myself...we had tricked him.  We actually succeeded in making our modern house look like it was built a hundred years ago. 
Although we are the first family to live in our house, I'm hoping our home is around for centuries to come, lovingly revealing the stories of the families that once called it home.

Thank you for coming to visit my corner of New England.  It's not grand or lavish, but it's home, my home...my "old" New England farmhouse. I look forward to sharing with you more of The Story of Our House.

(In the mean time, you can check out t, he progress on the addition through my Instagram link on my side bar.)

Linked with Cheerios and LattesNatasha in OzNifty Thrifty ThingsThat DIY PartySew-liciousLil LunaClean and Scentsible The 36th AvenueCreations by KaraAdorned From AboveLady Behind the CurtainSugar and DotsI Love My Disorganized LifeRae Gun RamblingsDaisy Cottage DesignsThe DIY DreamerThe Real Housewives of RivertonPieced Pastimes4 You With LoveKitchen Fun with My Three SonsBecoming MarthaShaken TogetherDesign, Dining and DiapersChic on a ShoestringAlderberry HillThe Dedicated HouseCoastal CharmOur Home Away from HomeNew NostalgiaHouse on the WayThe Blackberry VineFrench Country CottageThe Farmhouse Porck

31 comments:

  1. Hi Emily,
    I just discovered your blog and I find it adorable !!!!!!!
    I love your decorating style and prove that you don't need to buy designer stuff to make a house a home. Plus you do it on a budget with 10 "Littles" and a hubby. AMAZING !
    Please post on your blog, pictures of your addition and how it came to be.
    I am in awe of you and your hubby's talents.
    I have Bookmarked you and you are now on my daily blog reading list.
    Take care,
    Vanessa

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    1. Thanks, Vanessa, for your sweet comment...ones like yours makes taking the time to write a blog worth it. I'm flattered that I am on your bookmarks list. I definitely have plans to post about the addition; I'm actually really looking forward to sharing it with you. Take care!

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  2. Beautiful! The look of a true Colonial house has no equal. You and your husband have built the exact style of house that I dream of owning some day.

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    1. Thanks, Mel! Your comment means a lot to me. I hope you are able to live in your dream Colonial someday soon!

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  3. Always nice to meet a fellow New Englander! Your home is just wonderful. I love a home with character and a story to tell and you have managed to do both! I have added you to my favorite blogs list and look forward to reading your future posts.
    Have a Lovely Day,
    Suzanne
    Pieced Pastimes

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    1. Thanks so much for your encouraging comment, Suzanne. I'm flattered that I am on one of your favorite blogs list. And, yes, always nice to meet other New Englanders. Thanks for stopping by.

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  4. Emily, I love the story of you house. I love all things nostalgia too. Thank you for sharing your story. I look forward to reading more! Blessings!
    Kim

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  5. Your house is truly amazing. I love a old farmhouses and I love good yard-sales. I hope to build something that looks old or find a old home someday that fits my style. I'm in New England as well.

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  6. You have an amazing home! When I first saw the photo at the top I assumed it was over 100 years old. Looks can be deceiving. :)

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  7. Emily: I just found your blog and am a fan; Wow! I am bookmarking this! I, too, live in NE and when we were first married I told my husband that my dream was to own an old home because of great childhood memories. His comment was that he would like a new home that looked old....I have to show him yours!

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  8. Oh My goodness!! what a gem you have created! I love it!! I love old houses and you have done an amazing job! WOW! admiring from Alberta Canada.....and a new follower!

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  9. Beautiful! I love old farm houses as well! You did an incredible job! It looks very inviting!:)

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  10. I too just came across your blog from Seattle :-). Love your home!! Also love your family story, definitely a fan now, thank you for sharing!!

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  11. What a gorgeous house. I love your story about the special home you have created.

    Thank you for linking up to Say G’Day Saturday. This weekend’s party has just started so I hope you can join in again!

    Best wishes for a great weekend,
    Natasha in Oz

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  12. I just wanted to thank you all for the sweet comments...they are such an encouragement to me since I am very new at this bloggy stuff. ;) I get so excited every time I see a new comment! Please, do keep them coming. I have tried to reply to each of you in one way or another...I hope I haven't left anyone out.
    Have a great weekend, everyone!
    Emily

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  13. Love it! I certainly was fooled by the pictures, too. So wonderful that you built it the way it would have been done a few centuries ago - from the land, salvaging materials where possible, doing it by yourselves with the help of a father. It's beautiful - what a legacy for your kids.

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  14. What a gorgeous, gorgeous home! Just beautiful! I have a new weekly link party which is live now and I would love if you stop by and link up this wonderful post! Hope to see you there! http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com/ Hugs, Maria

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  15. What a wonderful story... and buying that sink for ten dollars!

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  16. I love the story of your house and how everything in it has it's own story. Great job. 10 children! You are so blessed!

    Peace,
    Linda at The French Hens Nest

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  17. Your design fooled me too:) My hubby and I love New England and visit York, Maine and Portsmouth, NH almost every summer. My family is originally from that area. Thanks for a super home tour. Your husband is quite a builder!!! Is that his trade? Found your post at the OUR HOME party. Stop by my blog at http://www.sewsweetvintage.com/2013/06/handkerchief-party-bunting.html

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    1. Thanks for your sweet comment.
      Yes, my husband is a builder by trade, and I think he does an amazing job too. I'm probably one of his pickiest clients. ;)
      Will you be coming to New England this summer? If so, I hope you have a wonderful time.

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  18. Well, I can't believe you have ten children, you look like a teenager....lol! I just loved hearing your story about your home. It is absolutely beautiful, and I can hardly wait to see the addition. I'm your newest Blog Lovin' follower and also following via Pinterest! Thanks for sharing your story!

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  19. What a great story and what a great house. It is fabulous! I can't wait to see more!

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  20. What a wonderful way to build - and generous too to those who see it now and those who will appreciate it in future. I love your sink too. :)

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  21. Great story.

    It does look like an old house in New England, specifically Portsmouth, at least to me.

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  22. so envied on your kitchen!!!!

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  23. Just found your blog and what a story this is ...I am coming back to read more a bit later! :)

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  24. Allow me to say that your house looks great inside and outside! Even with renovations, you managed to maintain its very appealing vintage feel. By the way, I can't help but notice your french door. It perfectly fits its spot! I hope that houses like this remain for future generations!

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  25. I love your house! The french door is indeed fantastic! It's kinda hard to deal with creaky floors and narrow staircases, but it's all worth it in your house. You've done a great job in maintaining the vintage look of your house, and I hope you continue to treasure this through the years. :)

    Rolf Matchen @ NVRoofs.com

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  26. Wow, Emily! You really did it! Your house is so charming and beautiful, and yes, it looks amazingly nostalgic and vintage. Really enjoying your blog. :)

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  27. Just found your Instagram account through "soulemama" and now your Blog, love this story of your house. I'm now taking the time to read through your past. Lovely photos and thank you for sharing.

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