Would you want to stay on your childhood home? Six decades ago, Mark and Elisabeth Yutzy were given the chance to rent the house Mark grew up in, a 1930s farmhouse in Ohio, and decided to give it a try. Mark’s parents purchased the house in the early 1950s, and it was in the family ever since.
As well as the house in the 1970s added more room; besides that, the home was Mark recalled it. The couple brought their vibrant characters into the space with reworked classic furniture and a great deal of DIY touches. “Living here helps bring back memories of my youth,” he states. “Not a lot of people get that chance.”
at a Glance
Who lives here: Mark and Elisabeth Yutzy
Location: Madison County, Ohio
Size: 3,000 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
That’s intriguing: The original 1930s wallpaper still hangs in the stairwell and upstairs hall.
Julie Ranee Photography
An inviting table place with a classic tablecloth and Elisabeth’s Fiesta dinnerware sits on the front porch. A collection of classic watering cans infused together speaks to her love of gardening.
Elisabeth found the table and chairs at a garage sale, repainted them and re-covered the chairs.
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In the kitchen, a cabinet located at a garage sale sits adjacent to the cooker. The item adds much-needed storage in addition to character.
Julie Ranee Photography
A”New Eggs” signal, also a flea market find, is a nod to the farmhouse background of the house. Vintage Dove brand milk-glass spice containers were given to the couple by Mark’s sister.
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This Hoosier-style cabinet was seen by Mark and bought for just $25. “We did not have to do something for this,” Elisabeth says.
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This cabinet is just one of Mark’s finds and holds treasures from Elisabeth’s mother and grandmother, along with other vintage finds.
Julie Ranee Photography
In the living room, a bold red sofa and a patterned armchair make a cozy gathering place. The doorway to the right leads upstairs. Mark recalls coming home after curfew if he was younger and trying to be silent,”but the staircase would constantly squeak and wake up Mother,” he states.
Seat and chair: Smith Brothers
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This primitive-style cabinet was bought at a flea market and is just one of Elisabeth’s beloved pieces. Framed family photographs adorn the walls.
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A sitting room in Elisabeth’s art and sewing room provides a place to unwind. The dresser was bought at an auction and painted mint green. The ticking wallpaper, beadboard ceiling and firkin boxes all pay tribute to the home’s roots.
Julie Ranee Photography
Elisabeth framed pages from 1950s magazines, including Life and Ladies’ Home Journal, as artwork. A generous stranger gave her dresser for a gift.
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According to Elisabeth, this seat was in poor shape when it was picked up from the garbage. She also gave it new life by minding it and adding colorful fabric bands for a bright and joyous touch.
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This view reveals the original 1930s wallpaper in the upstairs hall, combined with Elisabeth’s mother’s Amish bonnet displayed on the bedside table.
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This bedroom, lined with wallpaper in the 1970s, was shared by Mark as a child with three of his brothers. “Once a year we shifted the straw in the bed,” he quips.
Mark and Elisabeth rescued the full-length mirror after a neighbor lost it. They repaired the frame and replaced with the mirror.
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Dried hydrangeas and a classic quilt match the classic dresser picked up at an auction. The seat is a unique find from Mark and Elisabeth’s youth church.
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Elisabeth’s style proceeds into the flower bed. Here, a spray painted seat and table sit in a bed of vinca. One of Elisabeth’s recent projects was to drill holes in used paint cans, spray paint them bright colors and plant some of her favourite flowers in them.
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Boxwood planted in pots become instant garden boundaries and can readily be moved. A basket of petunias and lobelia sit beneath a large maple tree trunk. Purple sage and spider wort offer color and variety close to the bench. A classic tricycle bought for $1 could be observed behind the shrub.
Julie Ranee Photography
The upgraded Adirondack-style glider is constructed of a durable polylumber comprising recycled milk jugs. Elisabeth painted a classic wooden ironing board and placed it in their front porch to hold decorative things and freshly cut flowers in milk bottles. The “No Dumping” sign was a flea market find.
Glider: Holmes Crafted Furniture
Julie Ranee Photography
The front of the 1930s farmhouse remains structurally the same. The 1970s addition could be seen in the far right of the photo. Because the few rents, they are limited to what renovations they could do. While they’ve embraced the quirks that include an old house, there are plenty of things they would still love to change.
More: Ways to Acquire a Modern Farmhouse Look
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