When the Thomas family bought the old Laurietta plantation in Fayette, Mississippi, the house that came with it wasn’t exactly a selling point.
It had been built in the 1820s and was on the National Register of Historic Places, but after years of neglect, it was a shell of its former self.
After an intense, three-year renovation project, here’s how it looks now…
They were determined to do it right, and that meant hiring a crane to lift the 2,770-square-foot house onto supports, “where it sat for more than a year during repairs to its foundation and the installation of new insulation, plumbing, and electricity.”
Country Living reports: “Each wallboard was removed and numbered, then put back in place after the electrical updates. Scraping away decades of paint revealed original artistic details, including marbleized baseboards and faux bird’s-eye maple panels, which a restoration painter was able to revive.”
An old journal from the 1800s described what the interiors had looked like at the time, and they recreated as much of the white and wood palette as possible. The heart pine floors were lightly sanded so you can still see scars and burn marks in places. “Those imperfections are part of the story,” Tere Thomas says. “Besides, Laurietta’s not a grand house.”
The couple transformed Laurietta “from a dilapidated buzzard’s nest into a roost where their extended family could come together for weekends and holidays.”
Visit Country Living to read the story by Beth Ann Fennelly and
see interior photos by Bjorn Wallander.
Wonderful restoration! So charming, homey and welcoming. I believe there is a special place in heaven for people who bring derelict houses back from the dead, and do it in such a respectful manner. Great story and a beautiful family photo! 🙂
That is one very adorable family photo!
Meanwhile, I am mad for the kitchen cabinet hardware they chose!
And I definitely have a ‘thing’ for hanging ironstone plates; I love the way they incorporated framed artwork with their plates. Genius!
I’m swooning over that kitchen island!
I’m in love. Perfect. Beautiful. Inspires me!
With some before and afters, you can barely see anything of the original home in the finished product. But this transformation is so special because you can still see the lovely details that were always there…those amazing doors on the facade, the full front porch, the twin chimneys. It’s stunning! Some of my favorite details…the metal roof (love it), the classic white with brick and green shutters, and the amazing decor that perfectly suits the house. What a beauty!
Wow. They did an amazing job. You can tell there was a lot of love and care in that restoration.
Like others have said, this is a fantastic renovation, staying true to the style of the original house. It looks amazing and they look like a very happy family standing and sitting on the porch. My grandparents had red brick steps just like the ones here on their farm house.
Ps love those chair slipcovers!! I’ve been looking for a vintage matelasse bedspread to make something similar for a chair I have
That is amazing!
Oh my, it’s gorgeous! And to think, planking on the walls and ceilings is one of the newish “it” decorating ideas–but this old house? It makes the newish stuff look like child’s play, in a good way.
Loved every single thing about the restoration of this home…perfection!
Wow! They did an amazing job restoring this house. It looks great and I love everything about it.
The house (pre-restoration) reminds me of one in the movie “Big Fish.” It was the rundown house that Helen Bonham Carter’s character lived in.
I see what you mean, Kathleen! Here’s a photo of the one I think you’re talking about if anyone wants to see it:
https://www.movie-locations.com/movies/b/BigFish_witchhouse.jpg
I love it, would not change a thing! Keys please.
Terrific job!
I’ve seen pictures of lots of homes that were brought back to life but this one has to be my all time favorite! It’s just beautiful!
Wow. That looks fantastic.
Awesome! Now one can see how a plantation house would’ve looked in 1820. I sure admire homebuyers who restore as much as possible..they have to have a live of history and the strong will to see it through.
Great job! But Buck steals my heart!
Mine too! 🙂
Good grief, what a transformation! They did an excellent job. Did they say how much it cost to do?
They didn’t give numbers, but they had to be significant!
Great reinstallation! New living room is amazing. I love the technique they incorporated framed artwork with their plates. Smarts! Good job.
The metal roof with all the seams just ruins it. That’s all you see. Shake (or shake-like) would have been much more in character and better preserved the look of the original house.