A Charming Fixer-Upper In Tennessee Has Some Great Rustic Interior Design Ideas

The Joy of Transformation

Don't you love seeing an old home or building get transformed into something modern and amazing? That's what brothers Seth, and Chad Gilbert did when they found the perfect cottage to create a weekend retreat for their families. Along the way, they found that all renovations have a few surprises, and some good old brotherly rivalry as well, all in good humor, of course. When the brothers were young, they both loved a little farmhouse back in Buck Mountain, Tennessee, and would admire it from their bus window as they rode home from school. The property was kind of spooky, but it also held so much intrigue for the kids at the time, wondering what it was like in the old house and imagining what it could be made into.

A Long-Awaited Dream

The entire property and the house was covered in overgrown bushes, but they were still drawn to it even years later when they had young kids of their own. Their own homes were only 15 minutes away, and Seth would still drive by that old house saying that he always envisioned himself there one day. So as luck would have it, he wrote a letter to the owner expressing his admiration for the home and property and left it unsure of what would happen next.

Seizing the Opportunity

A short time later he got a call from the grandson of the property owner, who was named David Vaughn who said that he'd be happy to sell the property. He was so excited to hear the news he called his brother Chad to see if he and his wife wanted to go in on the property together with Seth and his wife and they decided to renovate the 1,500 square foot home from the 1930s together. The home is also on 200 acres which is great for the kids and the adults alike to run around and enjoy nature to the fullest. The results of their renovations are incredible, and most people will have a hard time believing that this home was all but falling apart before they reached it.

Embracing Rustic Charm

The home was kept as close to the original home as possible, made with stone and insulation material to hold the stone pieces in place and provide a tight barrier , it kind of looks like an old log cabin and brickwork making for a very uniquely rustic home. One of the most inspirational areas of the interior has to be the kitchen where they added a small kitchenette complete with fresh white subway tile for the backsplash and open cabinets above that are painted a nice, lite shade of blue. They added a glossy white vintage style fridge to keep the age of the home and then added in a stainless steel stove for cooking. The island is a piece of art itself made from reclaimed wainscoting from the front porch painted a darker blue-grey colour.

Revealing Hidden Treasures

They removed the surrounding material from the fireplace that looked like it was from the 1970s, and to their surprise, they revealed the original fireplace made from concrete and rock with a wood mantle. The living room glows with the light of the fire which keeps it nice and toasty on colder days. They added a newer antique looking rug with a leather sofa and two chairs with a coffee table for comfortable seating around the fire , the perfect place to play games together or just relax and enjoy each other's company.

Creating a Family Hub

The dining room is nearby with a large table to accommodate the big family when they're all there together. They had to replace all of the windows, the roof and doors, of course, to make the home more weatherproof and efficient. It also creates a cleaner, fresher look for the home. Overall, this is such an inspiring renovation that shows what is possible, even with an old home that looks like it's falling apart.