Fall on the Farm | 2015

Fall is in full swing and we're enjoying our second autumn in the farmhouse this year! I absolutely love Christmas time but I'll be so sad to pack up the fall decor after Thanksgiving. It's such a beautiful season. It's been a busy few months for us. We celebrated Baker's 2nd birthday in September and he saw the beach for the very first time in October. There is nothing better than seeing your children experience things for the first time. Everything is magical through their eyes! 

Brett has been super busy with work and he's been out of town quite a bit. Our kitchen is still torn apart, but we're slowly (very slowly) piecing it back together. The truth is I know exactly what I want to do. Knock down a major wall and rearrange the entire kitchen layout. But, that would mean having to install new flooring throughout the entire space. Unfortunately, that's just not an option right now. Lack of time and money are the two biggest contributing factors to the progress. But, if I'm being honest, the idea of not being able to implement my vision is the biggest mental hurdle. We have a plan to do a "band-aide" makeover of sorts. It will be a huge improvement in-and-of itself. But, it's still going to cost money. And there is something that just feels so wrong about spending money on renovations that we know we're going to change all over again. Especially when the budget is already tight! Does that make sense? That's the truth. I'm holding myself back. Which is totally non-instictual for me. Or for us, as a team.

For those who have asked.. Yes, the kitchen is functional! All of our appliances are still intact. We just removed all the large cabinetry and finishes that we knew were going to be pulled out anyways. We raised the ceiling and completed the electrical. We also reframed a new walk-in pantry. Those are all huge components! And as awful as it looks, I actually don't hate it. It's so open now that we've removed the upper cabinets. And it's been a good thing to have all this time in the space to really think about the design, layout and finish materials we want to use. I've already changed my mind about 10 times. A lesson in patience indeed! 

Property maintenance takes up about 90% of our time outside of our jobs! No surprise there. Anytime anyone asks us about our experience with acreage or owning a "fixer upper" or what they need to know to do it themselves - our answer is always the same: Work. You have to be willing to work. Skill set and knowledge are important, but I thoroughly believe if someone wants to learn something they will put forth the effort to do so. If you have the work ethic and you're willing to do the physical labor that comes along with caring for land then you can do it. No matter how many projects we have going on at once - the grass still needs to be mowed. This lifestyle and the responsibility of owning a home like this is certainly not for everyone! Free time seems extra hard to come by. However, it's something that we truly love so we make it a priority to make it work. It comes with many sacrifices but for us the rewards outweigh the cons. Slow project progress and long days but so much pride in ownership! 

Among other things, Brett recently finished a little cedar plant stand for me for the front yard. He always makes time to help me out with my projects and I'm so thankful for that. Every time I see something in our home that I know his hands have touched it makes my heart so happy. I know he works so hard and puts so much love into his work. It means the world to me to he gives so much of himself to our family. 

I wanted to share some fall photos with you to commemorate this season in our home! I love looking back each year to see what's changed from season to season. We can't wait for more fall fun.. trick-or-treating with Baker, Thanksgiving with our families and more evenings around the fire pit. I'm trying not to take this time for granted. Soaking up every little experience with Baker in this season of life! I sincerely hope you're all doing the same with your families, as well! 

(Edited to add.. Shutterfly featured our fall porch in this fun roundup! See it Here!)

Enjoy and Happy Fall from Stillwater Farm!

Spare Bedroom Makeover

Remember this room? This is bedroom number two. It could be another master suite with its large closet and en suite bath. It sits at the very front of the house and gets the most beautiful natural light through its four windows! There's also an additional fireplace that's been covered. We've chosen not to start any major demo on the walls or bathroom yet, so it remains behind the sheet rock for now. 

Spare Bedroom Before 

A few weeks ago I decided to go antiquing on a whim. A favorite past time of mine. :) I came across the most beautiful vintage iron bed for only fifty bucks! Score! It was exactly what I had in mind for this room, but I'd never been able to find one at the right price. I guess it was my lucky day!

When we first moved into the farmhouse we had Baker's nursery temporarily set up in this room. And by "temporarily set up" I mean he had a crib and changing table surrounded by piles of boxes and other random things. And we nailed up some cheap black-out curtains from Walmart over the windows. Yes - nailed. It wasn't pretty. But, we transformed one of the upstairs bedrooms into a really cool nursery and once we moved Baker in I was able to slowly clear out the room and get a clean-slate vision for the space. 

We wanted to make the room feel both comfortable and inviting for our guests by incorporating soft, casual textures and authentic farmhouse style. We were able to complete the room on a tight budget, as well, by recycling pieces we already owned and scouting out the local trade pages. I found a beautiful antique armoire for only $85 and the bed linens were purchased from Ikea and Target. We also made our own curtain rods and hardware and used drop cloths as curtains. All very accessible and affordable if you're feeling inspired! 

Want to come visit? Come check in at The Inn at Stillwater Farm :)

The iron bed was missing a pole right in the middle of the headboard. I used a garland from Hobby Lobby ($7) and a wreath from the Dollar Spot at Target ($3) to make this little guy to take up the space.

The bench against the wall was actually from the old barn on the back of the property! No idea how old it is, but it's definitely "vintage" :) We made the curtain rods by using 10 ft. poplar closet poles ($16) and wooden finials ($2) from Lowes. The curtains are made from 4 ft X 12 ft drop clothes from a local hardware store. They were only $7.99! I just cut them to length and folded the top over to create the ruffle. No sew!

A beautiful aerial photograph of the farm and a very special sketch of the farmhouse. 

Our friends might recognize this old door. We used it as a headboard in our last home. It looks completely different styled in this room!

A closer shot of the drop cloth curtains and some vintage goodies..

Antique paddle boards from the fire station Brett works at! They sort of move around the house, but they've settled in this new room for now.

Of course Daddy's little shadow wanted to help!

Hope you enjoyed the tour. We're really looking forward to Spring weather and friendly visits!

-Lauren

It's Been Awhile

Hello, friends! It's been awhile! 

This picture just about sums up our feelings on winter. We're pretty tired of it. We've been fairly busy here at the farm.. winterizing the farmhouse, trimming lots of trees and plants and spending as much time outside as possible. Although it's been tough considering how cold it's been and how unpredictable Alabama weather can be. We decided to haul in a load of gravel for the path that leads out to the barn and the back of the property. After a few days of heavy rain we were left with a mud-pit-of-a-yard and Brett's truck nearly slid down an embankment and into a fence. We actually need a little bit more, but what we were able to put down has helped tremendously!

Nap time for this farmhand. (Baker 18 mo.)

Gravel to the rescue!

Before the weather turned too frigid, we did get in several beautiful days to explore in the woods and fish to our hearts content! As I've mentioned before, our property is home to the oldest man made lake in Shelby County, Alabama. It has a drainage system and the spillway empties on the backside of the lake's dam. The cascade of the overflow is beautiful to watch after a long rain. So peaceful.. This is definitely our happy place!

It's seems like we're always chopping/cutting/sawing/picking/building with wood in some way around here. We found this old nail right in the middle of a huge log while chopping wood for the fire pit and stove. The tree was from our property. It must have been nailed to the tree when it was young and then the tree grew around it. We're nerds, but we think it's cool!

The barrel stove has been rocking' and rollin' with all this cold weather. Brett built it to keep the barn toasty and warm while we work in the shop this winter!

Shop projects.. Antique bread boards weren't in the budget, so Brett made me some!

Brett spent two weeks in Colorado for work, but before he left our best buddies came to spend some time at the farm with us! Braxton, Cole and Caleb are the sweet boys I nanny for and Baker LOVES having playmates to get in trouble hang out with around here. :) We went fishing, rode Mr. Brett's tractor, went on a nature walk, drove the ATV, and Braxton even got to build a birdhouse in Mr. Brett's workshop. My sweet nanny family just welcomed baby number four - another precious boy! We absolutely cannot wait to watch Baby Banks as he grows and I'm sure these guys will show him the ropes in no time!

Four little monkeys playing on the farm!

To say we were glad Brett was home after his time away traveling would be a HUGE understatement. Between things around the house breaking, stomach bugs, bad weather and a surprise birth, we COULD NOT WAIT to see his face and hug his neck! They say absence makes the heart grow fonder and that rang true for us this month. Not only is he our handy man and provider, but he is the heart of our home and we missed him more than words can say.

Thank you so much for stopping by to catch up. We just finished up a pretty big overhaul on one of our spare bedrooms and we're almost done with Baker's room. I know I keep saying that, but really. It's almost ready for reveal! :)

God Bless and come visit! 

 -Lauren

If These Walls Could Talk

I've always had a curiosity and appreciation for things of the past. Antiques, homes, stories. As soon as we found this property we wanted to know everything. Who lived here? What was the property used for? Over 100 years in age. You know it has a few stories to tell.

We quickly fell in love with the aesthetic of the city, as well. The first time we decided to take a drive down Main Street we were in a nostalgic paradise. Antique trolley rides and a BBQ cook off were well under way as families bustled through local shops with handmade milkshakes in tow. "Come for the history, stay for the shopping" boasts the city's website. Were we in Pleasantville? It honestly reminded me so much of my hometown and we loved every bit of it. It was that small town feeling that we'd been looking for.

Main Street, Columbiana AL

When we went to closing, we tried to gather as much information as we could from the previous owner. Her parent's had owned the home for quite some time and were well known and respected members of the community. It's such a close knit town that even the closing attorney had stories to tell about the home! We've been able to trace back about four generations of owners, including a local doctor and a few local families, but it looks like we'll have to do some research into the deed records to find the rest.

The seller gifted us an incredible house warming gift. The first known photograph of the home and the family who lived here. I'd love to find out their surname and uncover their story. We know that the corn crib was relocated from directly behind the house to further back on on the property where it sits now. Also, you can see that the porch was later extended around the side of the home. The foundation supports were enclosed, windows were added to the entryway and the attic space was finished out. Almost everything else is the same. It's surreal to think that I can stand in the front yard and take a photo of the home as it sits now knowing that this family once stood in the same spot taking a photo of their own.

1905

2014

The Shelby County Historical Society Museum & Archives is located in the center of town in what used to be the Old Shelby County Courthouse building, built in 1854. It has quite a history of it's own as it's been utilized in many ways ranging from a boarding school to a funeral home. "A Genealogist and Historian Paradise" according to their pamphlet. We recently visited and had the best time looking at all the neat artifacts and photos. We're hoping to stop by again soon and spend some more time looking into the property. The building itself is beautiful and it's an incredible resource to have! The curators and historic society members truly have a passion for preservation and the museum certainly showcases that.

- Exploring the City -

Bernie's on Main. Super yummy eatery with the charming facade we love!

City of Columbiana Courthouse 

 We have several projects we're working on right now. We're trying to empty out the storage container, repair the corn crib so that it's functional, transition Baker to a "bigger" boy room upstairs, build a fire pit/pergola/outdoor retreat, and the list goes on. But most importantly we're focusing on enjoying the beautiful fall weather and making this House our Home. Slowly, but surely! Family and friends, visit soon! We'd love to show you around!

With Love  -L

Let's Get Acclimated..

There's nothing I love more than a good Before & After reveal. As in, I'm typically so impatient that I will fast forward entire shows just to see the end result. Just ask my husband. He loves that about me. (HONEY! I SAW THIS THING ON PINTEREST/TV/BLOGWORLD AND I NEED IT RIGHT.THIS.SECOND!) Ha! Unfortunately, unless you have an endless amount of free time, a massive budget and/or the resources of a hollywood production crew, the term "quick renovation" is an oxymoron. It's a good thing my better half is pretty amazing at this whole construction thing. With his building expertise and my design eye, I think we'll make a pretty good team.

We're going to be taking this renovation slow. We want to do it right and we'll be doing 90% of the labor ourselves, meaning we'll be working in our spare time. "Transformation Tuesday" will be taking on a whole new meaning for us now, but be patient as we slowly restore this incredible home. It's lasted 109 years thus far. We want to ensure that it lasts 109 more!

I thought this would be a good time to introduce you to the home as it sits now. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. As you can imagine, there are some super cool features like a total of SIX fireplaces (two were covered at some point) and an abundance of original hardware and fixtures. But, we're also dealing with 100+ years of piecemeal electrical and not-so-fabulous "updates" like 4685368 brass fixtures, wallpaper galore and emerald green carpeting. 

So, without further introduction.. Let me show you what I'm workin' with..

(Warning! Photo Heavy!)

INTERIOR:

Foyer/Staircase. Stairs need some TLC. We'd like to open up the wall on the left. There's potential here!

First bedroom to the right of the foyer. 14 ft. ceilings, hardwoods & original fixture! One of the covered fireplaces is in this room.

 

Bath off BR #1. Gorgeous. (Sarcasm) Hello, Wallpaper!

Formal living room to the left of the Foyer. Original door leads into formal dining room.

Bay Window in the formal living room.

Formal dining. Opens up to formal living room and kitchen.

Original double doors leading to kitchen from dining room.

Kitchen. Yikes. It's going to need an overhaul..

Informal Dining/Eat-In area. That wall has to go. We'd love to open it up to enjoy a big open kitchen/LR space!

Informal living room. This area was an addition at some point as is not original to the home. It does offer quite a bit of square footage, but it's certainly outdated. We think we'll be able to raise the ceiling height here which will really open up the space, as well!

Informal view from master bedroom. We Love those corner windows! They offer a stunning view of the lake and is something we take advantage of daily. 

Laundry & Bathroom #2

Master Bedroom 

Master Bedroom

Upstairs Bedroom #3 

Upstairs Bedroom #3 

Upstairs Bedroom #4

After carpet removal! Goodbye, Green shag! 

 Upstairs Bath #3. Yikes. But, at least there is a third bath!

EXTERIOR:

Front Door. We've already removed a large metal storm door,  removed all the window screens and pressure washed, so this area has already gotten a minor makeover.

Front porch 

Corn Crib. Needs some TLC and rehab, but it's such a cool space to work with! It's also full of some awesome weathered scrap materials that I CANNOT wait to get my hands on! 

Pole Barn. It's Huge. Did I mention? HUGE. Also needs a little TLC. But *wow* at the potential!

So, here she is in all her glory. We love her. All her her curves and all her edges. All her perfect imperfections. Ha! But, sincerely. The imperfections are what make this home authentic and unique and comfortable. I'll be back soon with more updates!