My Houzz: Peeling Back Layers in a 1908 Home
Hidden fireplaces, buried hardwood and covered beadboard resurface thanks to a Mississippi couple's DIY efforts
Megan Patton bought a 100-year-old home in Water Valley, Mississippi, after falling in love with its quirks — and its $85,000 price tag. It was the first home purchase for Patton, who took on the project with her now-husband, Matt, who works as a bass player for the Drive-by Truckers. Together the couple peeled back the layers of history in the home, uncovering original hardwood floors, beadboard and several fireplaces in the process.
“I never thought I would ever sand a floor or learn to patch a plaster wall,” says Megan. “But I did it, and it’s a very satisfying feeling.“
A restaurant manager, an avid quilter and the co-owner of a local art gallery, Megan worked tirelessly with Matt to restore the home’s timeless features, one project at a time. Original artwork mixes with family heirlooms and thrift store finds for an eclectic look.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Matt and Megan Patton and their dog, Leon
Location: Water Valley, Mississippi
Size: About 2,300 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
That’s interesting: Megan discovered that the home originally had 6 fireplaces after seeing 6 separate chimneys connected in the attic. (Most of the fireplaces are now boarded up.)
“I never thought I would ever sand a floor or learn to patch a plaster wall,” says Megan. “But I did it, and it’s a very satisfying feeling.“
A restaurant manager, an avid quilter and the co-owner of a local art gallery, Megan worked tirelessly with Matt to restore the home’s timeless features, one project at a time. Original artwork mixes with family heirlooms and thrift store finds for an eclectic look.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Matt and Megan Patton and their dog, Leon
Location: Water Valley, Mississippi
Size: About 2,300 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
That’s interesting: Megan discovered that the home originally had 6 fireplaces after seeing 6 separate chimneys connected in the attic. (Most of the fireplaces are now boarded up.)
Small keepsakes are displayed on the living room mantel below one of Megan’s original paintings. The fireplace was originally boarded up, so Megan painted and did a bit of masonry work to restore it.
Wood stain on floor: Dark Walnut, Minwax; artwork above mantel: Megan Patton
Wood stain on floor: Dark Walnut, Minwax; artwork above mantel: Megan Patton
“For its age the house was in pretty good shape,” says Megan. “Cosmetically, it needed a lot of work.” She and Matt did most of the renovations themselves, with help from their friends. They jobbed out the task of converting the home to central air and heating.
A few framed posters and artwork color the living room walls.
A few framed posters and artwork color the living room walls.
The front door opens into a small foyer showcasing paintings by Megan and her friend, Coulter Fussell. The two co-own the local Yalo Studio and Gallery.
Megan and a friend tore out some wood paneling and were pleased to discover beadboard wainscoting hidden underneath. They also found plaster walls, which they patched.
Artwork: Megan Patton (left) and Coulter Fussell (right)
Megan and a friend tore out some wood paneling and were pleased to discover beadboard wainscoting hidden underneath. They also found plaster walls, which they patched.
Artwork: Megan Patton (left) and Coulter Fussell (right)
Megan recently found this quilt in a thrift store. “It’s the only quilt in our home not made by Megan or a family member,” says Matt. “She felt an instant connection to it. It’s a flea market rescue, you could say.”
The couple’s books are stored on a built-in shelf made by Matt with help from Megan’s father.
Wall paint: Saxon Blue, Farrell-Calhoun
The couple’s books are stored on a built-in shelf made by Matt with help from Megan’s father.
Wall paint: Saxon Blue, Farrell-Calhoun
Megan’s grandfather collected these Illinois license plates and displayed them in his garage. When Megan’s grandmother moved, Megan and her sister inherited several pieces of furniture and keepsakes from the home, including the license plates. Megan displays the collection in her dining room exactly like she remembered seeing them in her grandparents’ garage.
Wall paint: Vermont Cream, Behr
Wall paint: Vermont Cream, Behr
Another painting by Megan accompanies the minibar in the dining room.
Wall paint: Vermont Cream, Behr
Wall paint: Vermont Cream, Behr
The kitchen is the first room Megan painted after moving in. The retro-style room was left untouched apart from the soft blue paint applied to the walls and cabinets. The yellow phone is another family hand-me-down.
Cabinet and wall paint: Valley Mist, Behr
Cabinet and wall paint: Valley Mist, Behr
Megan’s collection of salt and pepper shakers is arrayed in pairs along the top of the kitchen cabinets.
More collectibles are displayed in a curio cabinet on the kitchen wall. “When Matt is on tour, he will try to scout out shops that sell salt and pepper shakers,” says Megan. “It’s fun to get tour gifts from different cities around the country.”
Wall paint: Valley Mist, Behr
Wall paint: Valley Mist, Behr
An extra bedroom serves as Megan’s sewing room. A vintage table provides a flat surface for her work, while a secondhand dresser keeps fabric organized. Megan’s favorite colors are pink and blue, and she used variations of both hues throughout the home.
Wall paint: Pale Shrimp, Behr
Wall paint: Pale Shrimp, Behr
The wrought iron bed in the guest room originally belonged to Matt’s grandfather. A small display of artwork personalizes the corner.
Wall paint: Crisp Linen, Sherwin-Williams; wood stain on floor: Dark Walnut, Minwax
Wall paint: Crisp Linen, Sherwin-Williams; wood stain on floor: Dark Walnut, Minwax
Matt uses this former bedroom as a music room. He bought the cabinets from the record store he worked at during college.
The Rich Marks painting above depicts the band The Dexateens standing in the doorway of The Chukker, a bar in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, that gave the band their start. Stacks of 45s brighten the secondhand coffee table.
Wall paint: Vermont Cream, Behr
The Rich Marks painting above depicts the band The Dexateens standing in the doorway of The Chukker, a bar in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, that gave the band their start. Stacks of 45s brighten the secondhand coffee table.
Wall paint: Vermont Cream, Behr
Matt remembers seeing these unique space-age chairs in the lobby of the bank his family did business with when he was younger. One day he noticed the chairs in a junk store, and after confirming that they were the same chairs from the bank, he purchased the set for $20. He now uses them to host guests in his music room.
Artwork: Lamar Sorrento
Artwork: Lamar Sorrento
A wraparound porch festooned with vines welcomes guests and offers ample room to enjoy coffee or dinner outside. A dormer extends the attic over the front door.
The front yard has also undergone a complete transformation since the couple arrived. “When I moved in, there was not a single shrub in the front yard,” Megan says.
The front yard has also undergone a complete transformation since the couple arrived. “When I moved in, there was not a single shrub in the front yard,” Megan says.
Matt and Megan relax in the living room with their dog, Leon. Artwork by Butch Anthony, an artist featured in Megan’s gallery, hangs above a wooden bookcase. “We buy a lot of our artwork from my gallery,” Megan says. “We try to buy a piece from every artist we show. So that is definitely a perk of owning a gallery.”
The couple hopes to replace all of the paneled walls and restore the remaining hardwood floors. “We plan on staying in this house a long time, and there are so many things I want done,” Megan says. “I just have to be patient and do what I can, and know my house is a work in progress!”
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The couple hopes to replace all of the paneled walls and restore the remaining hardwood floors. “We plan on staying in this house a long time, and there are so many things I want done,” Megan says. “I just have to be patient and do what I can, and know my house is a work in progress!”
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More: 10 Broad-Stroke Ideas for Choosing and Displaying Art
She continues, “The sanding was not the easiest, either. It was a long process but well worth it.” After being sanded, the floors were treated with Minwax’s Dark Walnut stain.