My Houzz: Eclectic Vintage Charm in a Family’s Texas Farmhouse
See how this family of 3 created a Wi-Fi- and TV-free weekend home that has a country music theme
Vacation House at a Glance
Who lives here: Sarah Thompson and Todd Sanders; their 7-year-old son, Jack; and their dog, Hank Jr. Jr. Jr.
Location: Burton, Texas
Size: 1,000 square feet (93 square meters); two bedrooms, 1½ bathrooms
Year built: 1896
Artists Todd Sanders and Sarah Thompson spend weekdays at their 1930s home in Austin, Texas, but on most weekends, they are at their farmhouse in Burton, about 80 miles east. The family of three calls their weekend home the Off the Rails Ranch.
“The property is long and skinny because it was originally the Houston-Texan rail line. The tracks were taken out in the 1970s, but we are still finding railway plates and other hardware on the property,” Thompson says. “The other reason for the name is most people would call us crazy for taking on the project if they had seen the ‘before’ photos.” The couple bought the house in January 2016.
The property originally had two old farmhouses on it. The couple’s initial plan was to fix up the second farmhouse as a guesthouse. However, they quickly realized that the foundation was too far gone. They were, however, able to use quite a bit of wood from the teardown to fix up the main 1,000-square-foot farmhouse.
Who lives here: Sarah Thompson and Todd Sanders; their 7-year-old son, Jack; and their dog, Hank Jr. Jr. Jr.
Location: Burton, Texas
Size: 1,000 square feet (93 square meters); two bedrooms, 1½ bathrooms
Year built: 1896
Artists Todd Sanders and Sarah Thompson spend weekdays at their 1930s home in Austin, Texas, but on most weekends, they are at their farmhouse in Burton, about 80 miles east. The family of three calls their weekend home the Off the Rails Ranch.
“The property is long and skinny because it was originally the Houston-Texan rail line. The tracks were taken out in the 1970s, but we are still finding railway plates and other hardware on the property,” Thompson says. “The other reason for the name is most people would call us crazy for taking on the project if they had seen the ‘before’ photos.” The couple bought the house in January 2016.
The property originally had two old farmhouses on it. The couple’s initial plan was to fix up the second farmhouse as a guesthouse. However, they quickly realized that the foundation was too far gone. They were, however, able to use quite a bit of wood from the teardown to fix up the main 1,000-square-foot farmhouse.
The renovated farmhouse is designed to be a true reprieve from city life. There is intentionally no television and no internet, so it can serve as a place for the family to get away from electronic devices.
“Only nature and books and games around the table. True family time and a place where our son can just be a little boy,” says Thompson, pictured with Sanders, left, and their son, Jack, holding their dog, Hank Jr. Jr. Jr. “We spend so much of our time during the week in a digital world, the farmhouse is a place we can literally unplug,” she adds.
“We had been looking for a while for a weekend getaway, and since we spent so much time in Round Top antiquing and visiting friends there, it was a natural fit,” Thompson says. Their farmhouse is just a few miles away from the Round Top Antiques Show.
“Only nature and books and games around the table. True family time and a place where our son can just be a little boy,” says Thompson, pictured with Sanders, left, and their son, Jack, holding their dog, Hank Jr. Jr. Jr. “We spend so much of our time during the week in a digital world, the farmhouse is a place we can literally unplug,” she adds.
“We had been looking for a while for a weekend getaway, and since we spent so much time in Round Top antiquing and visiting friends there, it was a natural fit,” Thompson says. Their farmhouse is just a few miles away from the Round Top Antiques Show.
When the couple bought the home, they worked closely with general contractor Rayman Blanchard to update the interior and exterior. They started with stripping the interior walls and adding insulation. “Much of the original beadboard and shiplap from the house was treated and put back up. The plumbing and electrical was updated and an AC was installed,” Thompson says.
In the kitchen, the couple worked hard to duplicate what they believed the layout must have been like. The new modern appliances and fixtures, such as the refrigerator and dishwasher, have a vintage vibe.
Find a kitchen remodeling pro on Houzz
In the kitchen, the couple worked hard to duplicate what they believed the layout must have been like. The new modern appliances and fixtures, such as the refrigerator and dishwasher, have a vintage vibe.
Find a kitchen remodeling pro on Houzz
Sanders is a neon artist whose work has a distinct vintage-inspired look. He made many of the decorative signs around the home, including this one in the kitchen.
The sink and wall cabinets are original. The cabinets are painted a light blue — Waterscape by Sherwin-Williams. The countertops are butcher block.
How to Clean and Care for Your Butcher Block | Shop for wood countertops on Houzz
How to Clean and Care for Your Butcher Block | Shop for wood countertops on Houzz
The homeowners kept the original flooring. “Todd and Rayman spent days sanding the thick oil-based paint it had on it when we bought the house,” Thompson says.
The 1940s ironing board is wood with a feed sack cover. “Todd thinks it looks like folk art, but it actually works,” she adds.
The 1940s ironing board is wood with a feed sack cover. “Todd thinks it looks like folk art, but it actually works,” she adds.
Separating the kitchen and the sitting room is a dining area with vintage white benches re-covered in black-and-white fabric. “Todd restored the benches, but we actually found it in the same antiques shop where we got the 7Up sign that hangs above it,” Thompson says. “I re-covered the seat cushions with British subway station material. The stops are in London, but it reminded me of train depot stations to coincide with the house name.”
The interior is furnished with a curated collection of vintage finds with an Americana vibe. “For the Mission-style chair, I took pieces of embroidery and sewed them together to make a patchwork covering,” Thompson says.
The medical chest belonged to her grandfather. “He was an oral surgeon and a general in the Canadian military. The inside of the chest is filled with tiny drawers for medical supplies, and the top folds down as the instrument and surgery table. He used it in Korea.”
The medical chest belonged to her grandfather. “He was an oral surgeon and a general in the Canadian military. The inside of the chest is filled with tiny drawers for medical supplies, and the top folds down as the instrument and surgery table. He used it in Korea.”
Many of the decor pieces are handmade, refurbished or embellished by the homeowners.
The upholstery design on this corner chair was a DIY project. “I projected a paint-by-numbers design on it and stenciled it in,” Thompson says. “I had contemplated painting the sections but loved the outline design so much, I left it with just the numbers.”
The upholstery design on this corner chair was a DIY project. “I projected a paint-by-numbers design on it and stenciled it in,” Thompson says. “I had contemplated painting the sections but loved the outline design so much, I left it with just the numbers.”
In the master bedroom, a dress form in the corner sports a headdress, Western shirt and sash.
“I am a huge fan of Merle Haggard, Miranda Lambert, the Junk Gypsies and Kacey Musgraves,” Thompson says. “Merle wrote the song, Miranda wore the Junk Gypsy T-shirt with the title on her debut hit, and Kacey had just released Pageant Material when I got the inspiration to make the sash. I plan to wear it to a future Junk Gypsy prom during Antiques Week in Round Top.”
“I am a huge fan of Merle Haggard, Miranda Lambert, the Junk Gypsies and Kacey Musgraves,” Thompson says. “Merle wrote the song, Miranda wore the Junk Gypsy T-shirt with the title on her debut hit, and Kacey had just released Pageant Material when I got the inspiration to make the sash. I plan to wear it to a future Junk Gypsy prom during Antiques Week in Round Top.”
A portrait of Thompson’s great-grandmother Sarah Lavalley hangs in one corner of the bedroom. “She was a nurse, craftswoman and community leader from Golden Lake Reserve in Ontario, Canada,” Thompson says. “Sarah became a member of the Order of Canada in 1981 and was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal by Pope John Paul II. The painting was a gift from Todd and was done by our good friend Guy Juke.”
The couple commissioned Jon Langford to do this painting of Roger Miller that hangs in their dining room. “I talked to him about doing something around the King of the Road theme — another train reference. He added lyrics around the image and included the ‘off the rails’ words especially for the property.”
The couple’s love of country music is reflected everywhere.
“We bought the shrine at an estate sale. It’s made out a wooden fruit crate, and while we’re unsure of the origin, it was made by hand,” Thompson says. “We’re both huge fans of both Johnny [Cash] and June [Carter Cash], so I filled the shrine as a tribute to them.”
“We bought the shrine at an estate sale. It’s made out a wooden fruit crate, and while we’re unsure of the origin, it was made by hand,” Thompson says. “We’re both huge fans of both Johnny [Cash] and June [Carter Cash], so I filled the shrine as a tribute to them.”
The downstairs bathroom in the home features walls and a ceiling painted white and a white tiled floor.
Thompson painted the storage vanity and medicine cabinet in a soft pastel pink — Pretty in Peach by Valspar.
Thompson painted the storage vanity and medicine cabinet in a soft pastel pink — Pretty in Peach by Valspar.
Thompson made the wall-spanning shower curtains by dipping into her collection of vintage tablecloths. There is a glass door on the shower, so the curtains function mostly as decoration. They also the washer and dryer.
Up the stairs to Jack’s bedroom is a hand-painted tour of the stops made by the train that originally ran through this property.
Sanders painted the steps to keep everything in the “off the rails” theme.
The stairs lead to a large, narrow room with two twin-size beds and a pitched ceiling. The couple also use this space when they host guests. There’s plenty of room on the floor for an air mattress.
On the opposite end of the room is a play area for Jack.
“I’ve tried to follow a mantra my mother introduced me to of ‘fewer, better things,’ but we still have our fair share of antique knickknacks we’ve acquired,” says Thompson, especially since they live so close to the Round Top flea market. “We also have a rule now: If we find something we want, we have to donate or give something else away.”
The upstairs space also includes a toilet area off the bedroom.
Outside, a small shed features a neon art piece by Sanders that nods to the folk song The Yellow Rose of Texas. It hangs above one of Thompson’s favorite refurbished vintage finds — a railroad crossing sign from Round Top.
Sanders built this outdoor shed using old wood salvaged from a dilapidated building on the property. “It’s filled with tools and toys,” Thompson says.
Sanders built this outdoor shed using old wood salvaged from a dilapidated building on the property. “It’s filled with tools and toys,” Thompson says.
Behind the home is the couple’s vintage trailer — a 24-foot-long 1969 Airstream. The interior is inspired by folk-rock-country music pioneer Gram Parsons and his band, the Flying Burrito Brothers. The screen door is custom.
Thompson and Sanders used their Airstream for camping trips before they bought the farmhouse. “We stayed in it during the renovations. We use it as a guesthouse now but plan to take it out camping again soon,” Thompson says.
“Gram was known for wearing glitzy Nudie suits, so I sewed curtains and pillows with rhinestones and embroidered flowers. I added muted gold fringe and crystal to add a glamorous edge without the glare,” Thompson says.
“Decanters made into vases and wild horse additions are meant to reference Gram’s time with Keith Richards and Mick Jagger,” she adds.
“Decanters made into vases and wild horse additions are meant to reference Gram’s time with Keith Richards and Mick Jagger,” she adds.
“Joshua Tree images remind us of the time Gram spent there with Keith, Anita [Pallenberg] and friends in the late 1960s,” Thompson says. Other musical references include a drum serving dual purpose as a toy and a table. The front of the minifridge looks like an old amp.
Even the handmade tambourine light fixture is in keeping with the theme.
“The main house was stripped right down to the main outside boards, and the battens that were on the house were replaced with new ones,” Thompson says. “You could see right through the house at one point.” The couple replaced the windows and doors, and they added the blue star shutters.
Thompson says Jack enjoys the family’s weekends in Burton. “While he misses the screen time, he knows it’s not an option there so doesn’t complain when we are there. He gets to be a little boy digging in dirt piles and playing with lizards and bugs,” she says.
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My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Thompson says Jack enjoys the family’s weekends in Burton. “While he misses the screen time, he knows it’s not an option there so doesn’t complain when we are there. He gets to be a little boy digging in dirt piles and playing with lizards and bugs,” she says.
See more of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
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