Before And After Of The Laurietta House Built In 1825 In Mississippi

What would you do if this house came with acres of land perfect for hunting, fishing, and generally relaxing with loved ones?

Once they view the inside and learn that the foundation is in terrible shape, they usually decide to demolish the building.

In spite of Mac Thomas’s joke that “it was nothing that a match couldn’t cure,” he and his wife Terre undertook the massive effort of repairing the 1820 farmhouse they bought in Fayette, Mississippi, and named Laurietta.

The house had to be craned totally off its foundation in order to do the required foundation repairs.

Over the course of a year, workers fixed the foundation, put in new insulation, and updated the plumbing and electricity in this 2,770 square foot home, all while it sat on temporary supports.

This must have taken so much time and effort, but look at the outcome! The roof was replaced with a new, hand-crimped aluminum one, and the chimneys were reconstructed.

The style of the two entrance doors reminded me of a duplex at first glance.

Then I recalled reading that some historic houses were designed with two entrances.

Googleing the topic to jog my recollection only left me more perplexed than before.

Theorists are arguing over whether asymmetry in a rented room is a good or bad thing.

In one of the stories I discovered online, the author asked a neighbor who had lived in a home with two front doors his whole life (90 years), and he indicated that one was a formal entry that his parents only used on Sunday when visitors stopped by.

This space reminds me of the “formal” living room my family had locked up when I was a youngster because adults only used it for entertaining.

I’m pleased we have generally moved away from it, although there is something extremely nostalgic about the thought of company popping over for tea, ala Downton Abbey.

Rather of sipping hot tea from a silver tea tray in my formal living room, I’d much rather enjoy a glass of iced tea with a friend while swinging on my screened porch this summer.

The reasons why some houses have two front doors are discussed at greater length on Old House Web and The Craftsman Blog.

The inside renovation is even more impressive than the outside.

When the Thomases first moved in, the foyer looked like this: The fact that it had a door halfway up the steps was also interesting.

I was wondering if that was for practical reasons, like keeping the basement cool.

Take a look at this stunning submission. What a revelation!

The woven market basket under the table is a wonderful decorative accessory for the foyer.

All the wallboard (is it the same as shiplap?) had to be numbered and removed so that the wiring and insulation could be brought up to date.

As layers of paint were stripped away, the structure’s original features became visible.

The Thomases found fake bird’s-eye maple panels and marbleized baseboards beneath the chair rail.

Thankfully, these could be fixed. It’s funny how things are changed or updated in the name of advancement or for the love of the latest trend (like installing wall-to-wall carpeting), and then years later we’re taking out the carpets and trying to get things back to the way they were.

It’s intriguing to think that in a century from now, someone may be working to restore something we covered up or painted over because they believe it to be priceless.

The new cooking space is stunning. If only there were more of it! The cabinetry was given a coat of Benjamin Moore’s “Gentle Cream.” I’m going to have to remember that hue, because it looks fantastic in this setting.

The island’s Cypress wood came from a different part of the home that was being renovated at the same time.

From my travels in Louisiana and Mississippi last year, I know that cypress wood was widely available early in the 1800s but is now somewhat scarce. It’s great that it may serve as the room’s centerpiece.

What an adorable puppy!

The laundry room was formerly a modest bedroom.

These modern conveniences are wonderful. Scrubbing clothes on those would be a nightmare.

I can’t imagine how rough it was on the laundry and the hands. We shopped at Kmart and World Market for the adorable baskets.

The bedrooms are really unique, with their slanted ceilings and board walls. You can just imagine how cute this space will be once it’s been renovated and equipped.

This is a true story! It’s unfortunate that the beds are directly opposite the windows, but I suppose it wasn’t an option.

Even though I adore wooden beds, I might have opted for brass or iron beds so that some daylight could filter in. Picking the beds would have been a difficult choice. The bedroom here is quite girly.

whereas the other bedroom with the same layout was given a more macho makeover.

Those black bed frames look fantastic with the red and white quilts. They can be found in Dillard’s Americana Collection.

Since the Thomases frequently host their sizable extended family at their home, they built two separate cottages for their guests to use.

The Pottery Barn toile headboard is gorgeous. Amazingly lovely!

My heart leaps for joy whenever a historic structure is saved from the wrecking ball.

It’s a good thing there are people in the world with enormous hearts and the willpower to preserve Laurietta, a beautiful ancient house.

I’m sure she’s incredibly relieved to have her former splendor back on display.

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You can read more about the restoration of Laurietta and find additional information about the furnishings here: Renovating a Historic Home in Mississippi

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