A Revolutionary Renovation
Fueled by creativity, a New York–state couple transform their diamond-in-the-rough 1861 farmhouse into a rustic retreat.
A New York–state blogger and her husband restore an 1800s farmhouse, putting an emphasis on honoring authentic antiques and Americana appeal.
Folk artist Karin Pender and her husband, Erron, fell in love with the old house, nestled on 4 bucolic acres in central New York state, the minute they walked in the door. “It’s a wonderful, wonderful home,” Karin enthuses. “As soon as we saw it, we knew it would be our home.” Karin, who harbors fond memories of her mother fearlessly tackling home improvement projects, could hardly wait to start renovating, but with a firm resolve to respect the farmhouse’s integrity. “I was taught by my mother at a young age,” she says. “If she wanted to swing a hammer and take down a wall at 2 o’clock in morning, she did it. And that’s what I tell everyone: Just go for it. Tackle any job! Paint color is the most inexpensive and quickest way to change any room.”
Karin and Erron certainly did “go for it” with their renovation. Aside from having new windows and wood-burning stoves installed to combat the drafty cold that often plagues older houses, the couple did all the work themselves. Together, they put in an economical faux tin ceiling to give the kitchen more period flair. “With this pressed plastic tile, you start in the center and work your way out,” she explains. “You literally glue it on. We didn’t know how to do it, but we just went for it. YouTube is definitely
helpful, giving you a feel for what you’ll be in for!” And, to update the kitchen’s tired laminate countertops, Karin applied a coating treatment widely available at home improvement stores. “It was labor intensive,” she says, “but I was happy with it.”
Beadboard is another important feature in the kitchen, where Karin installed it as a backsplash. She also later attached it to the sides of the peninsula to disguise a large American flag painting she had done; the painting didn’t go with the lighter farmhouse look to which she was transitioning. However, “I couldn’t bear to paint over it, and I had a lot of people say, ‘Don’t cover it,’ ” she recalls. “But, I can always pluck the beadboard off and I’ll have my flag back.” There is no doubt that fans of Karin’s website, www.countryfolkkeepsakes.com, shared their thoughts on that decision. The site provides inspiration to like-minded devotees of Americana and primitive style, offers Karin’s folk art for sale, and documents her home projects.
One of Karin’s most satisfying renovations happened in the living room and keeping room. “I tore up all the ‘groovy’ wall-to-wall shag carpet, tore up the subfloor and uncovered the original pine flooring,” she says. “I was doing a dance when I found that!” She refinished the floors herself, noting that any imperfections and dark spots just add character to the spaces.