It’s been a fact that living in the country means you make do with what you have, and make the most of it. Annie and Darryl live in this cabin in Leiper’s Fork. They have their three children. Annie makes custom slipcovers through her My Swallow’s Nest business, while Darryl is a trim-carpenter. The couple wanted a home with charm and character, but with all the modern conveniences of today’s homes. They combined rustic building materials with modern Insulated Concrete Forms construction. These are blocks of expanded polystyrene foam that can be stacked, supported with rebar, and filled with concrete. They wanted the home to be durable for their three children so they added concrete floors and slipcovers to the drop cloth fabric furniture. The exterior of the home is a mixture between rustic and modern. There is a wraparound porch that’s great for family gatherings, especially during the hotter months. There are many chairs and furniture on the deck, including a hanging bed with linens and pillows that can be used for a comfortable sleep on the porch. The porch is also covered so that it can be used in the rain. The wide, open living space is visible through the double doors at the front. The back wall has a deep grey in matte and a gallery wall displaying various pieces of art that tie into the design.
The fireplace hearth, which is made of galvanized steel, is another highlight of the living area. It has a rustic industrial look. To celebrate Darryl’s Irish heritage, Darryl has placed a red cross of St. Patrick above the fireplace. They’ve also added plaid and red accents throughout the home. Annie’s dad was a picker. Annie, her husband and their children love to hunt for vintage items from different periods and bring them together. Darryl also found a 20-foot-long solid white oak piece to create the seamless countertop in her kitchen. It was stained with weathered oak and classic gray to age it well, and then sealed it using clear water-based polyurethane. Darryl also found sconces in a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and Annie made stool covers from old Goodwill shirts. Darryl constructed the dining table from reclaimed wood and used bedposts for the legs. He also designed and constructed the bed in the master bedroom. Annie then made other items throughout the house from canvas drop cloths and grain sacks.
The rooms of their sons are very simple. They painted the top half of the room white, while painting the bottom part a darker colour. She also used a sealant as protection for the paint. Nearly all of the items in the kids’ rooms belonged once or twice to a family member. It’s wonderful to show children these items from the past to give them a sense of connection to the history of the world as well as their own lineage. The family loves their home and plans on staying there for many years, while raising their children in a peaceful and down-to-earth environment. It is so amazing to see so many items of the past integrated into a newer home. It’s a great feeling to build a newer home and to include items from the past to connect the future and past.
Resource: Hyggehous
