Reclaimed & Renewed
After years of neglect as a rental property, a historic Cape Cod in Pennsylvania undergoes a complete transformation thanks to the homeowners’ DIY savvy and knack for upcycling.
Once a neglected rental property, a quaint Cape Cod finds new life in the hands of a capable and creative DIY and upcycling enthusiast with a knack for incorporating everyday objects in novel ways.
When Joe and Erin Boles first laid eyes on their Doylestown, Pennsylvania, home a little more than a decade ago, it was clear the 1921 Cape Cod–style dwelling had seen better days. Originally built to house workers employed at the nearby Moravian Pottery & Tile Works—today, a designated National Historic Landmark— the three-bedroom house had fallen into a sad state of disrepair over its 15-plus years as a rental property. In addition to major problems, including a leaky roof and water in the basement, other issues made the home seem unappealing. “There wasn’t a door that closed or a cabinet that was level,” Erin recalls. “Even the neighbors told us how much of a dump it was.”
Yet, from the moment she passed over the threshold, Erin could see the space had loads of potential. “It was a solid little house with good bones, charm and character,” she says. “It just needed a lot of TLC.”
In the years after purchasing the house, the couple stripped, gutted, primed and painted one room after another. They also added a family room to the back of the house. “We did a lot of the work ourselves,” Erin says, noting that gift exchanges between the couple at Christmas often included heavy-duty tools.
In time, the once-decrepit abode began to look lively once more. Best of all, with the completion of each project, Erin was able to indulge her passion for decorating. “As a child, I would rearrange my bedroom a million times,” Erin remembers. “But my true obsession with interior design and decorating started when we bought our home. I hit the flea market weekly. I attended antiques shows and stalked Craigslist and online yard-sale sites.”
Erin is especially gifted at seeing something new and beautiful in discarded objects, and she was soon transforming vintage boxes into hanging shelves and crafting side tables from stacked soda crates. Painted yardsticks found new purpose as imaginative homespun wainscoting, while salvaged molding emerged as a textured kitchen backsplash. Erin even found a use for discarded mop handles and broomsticks, which she converted into colorful staircase spindles. “I turn things around, pick them up, and
look at them from every angle,” Erin explains of her process. “I love looking at a found object out in a dusty field and giving it new life.” This also explains how a hodgepodge of shutters, wood bits and hardware came together as a magnificent mantelpiece in the living room.
When it comes to choosing furnishings, one-of-a-kind pieces are absolutely essential in Erin’s domain. “I never ever match furniture—I don’t buy sets of anything,” she notes. Still, she says she can appreciate continuity in design. “I like each room to have a common vein,” she continues. “An invisible thread that somehow connects the objects together.” Erin is also persistent in her pursuit of finding exactly what she wants. “I’m not afraid to post ‘in search of ’ listings when I’m on the hunt. I talk to everyone everywhere I go. I listen and learn all I can,” she says. “I love, love, love decorating!”
Erin’s dedication and inventiveness are evident in every room of her home, which has gone from a diamond in the rough to a treasured gem with many unique facets.