Past Perfected
By repurposing antiques and recycling found objects, a downsizing Indiana couple prove that a house of any age can feel like a true country home.
After downsizing from a historic house into a modest ranch, an Indiana couple prove that a home of any age can channel classic country style.
Downsizing happened
unexpectedly for Leasa Kistler and her husband, Eric. Contentment had reigned supreme in their rambling historic Michigan home where they were raising their three children. Suddenly in 2002, however, Leasa faced health issues that forced the couple to reevaluate their living situation. The best remedy was to move to Osceola, Indiana, so they could minimize Eric’s commute to the school where he teaches social studies and coaches football, basketball and track.
Osceola boasts small-town appeal, and the inventory of available houses is notably low. When a 1980s ranchstyle home located in the Kistlers’ favorite neighborhood came on the market, they had to act quickly. The couple purchased the property—and then they worried about tackling the task of adapting the smaller home to accommodate their staggering antiques collection. From the onset, “We tried to make the home look older,” Leasa says, then adds with a laugh, “It was interesting moving antiques from one home to the other. We had to remove a window so we could bring an old cupboard into the house.”
The Kistlers’ passion for antiques is hereditary. Leasa’s grandfather was an avid collector, and learning about his furniture stands out among her fondest childhood memories. Old treasures also distinguished Eric’s boyhood: His parents bought and sold antiques from their barn in Michigan, and, from a young age, Eric learned how to recognize handcrafted pieces as well as how to repair an item or build a replica. When Eric married Leasa, she also lent a hand with her in-laws’ popular barn sales.
Throughout their 29 years of marriage, the Kistlers’ favorite pastime has been combing the Indiana and Michigan countryside for unique items that capture the historic essence of Early American hand-hewn designs. “I enjoy studying pictures in books and magazines and focusing on items that reflect my true style,” Leasa says. “Then, I set out to find a particular item. We love grubby, rusty objects in their original form, especially antiques that still have their original painted finish.” Eric adds, “It’s a great hobby. We enjoy the thrill of the hunt. We’ve met many nice people along the way and created a circle of friends. We like to make a day of it and go to antiques stores, garage sales, estate sales and sometimes auctions.”
Finds picked up on those memorable trips together serve as hallmarks of the couple’s style—starting outside the front door. Guests arriving at the Kistlers’ home receive a rustic greeting compliments of a farmer’s porch furnished with rocking chairs and an antique cupboard brimming with brown-and-white crockery. The appointments serve as a fitting invitation to the charm found inside the residence.
Those interior spaces resonate with a classic country palette of red, golden yellow and blue-gray. Contemporary lighting was replaced with wood-and-metal candle-style chandeliers that recall yesteryear. Outdated ceramic tile and carpeting were removed so that flooring fashioned from the siding of a 19thcentury barn could be installed. Another creative use of architectural salvage is a series of stained-glass windows displayed against the lower window sashes in the dining room and living room. And, the many cupboards found throughout the home boast timeworn finishes and serve as showcases for an array of pottery, pewter, bottles, metal tins and tool chests that demonstrate antiquing time well spent as a couple.
Considering the great care with which the Kistlers reworked and redecorated the home, it’s hard to believe they never intended to stay in the house permanently. “Fourteen years ago, we thought this would be a temporary home,” Leasa remembers. “But now, with all the improvements and touches we’ve added, we’ll be here for a long time.”