9 minute read
A Home Place
Katherine Brooks has reimagined a railway-era boarding house into a signature home for her family in Central, SC.
/ by Sandra Woodward / photography by Carter Tippins
Since its construction around the turn of the last century, a rambling storybook white Victorian with ginger bread trim has stood on Gaines Street as one of the most recognizable homes in the small town of Central, SC (pop. 5,179). Overlooking the railroad tracks and a main thoroughfare beyond, the big white house has always been an object of curiosity for residents and visitors alike. Its size, location and certain details (such as sinks in many unexpected rooms and a somewhat puzzling layout) suggest a boardinghouse catering to either employees and passengers of the railroad or college students, given its proximity to both Clemson University and Southern Wesleyan University; yet its provenance shows it has been occupied by families as often as not. As is always the case, each occupant has made its mark, painting walls, changing flooring, adding or removing details (those sinks), sometimes with intentions that were perhaps better than execution. When Katherine and Tripp Brooks purchased the house three years ago, they were veteran renovators living in Greenville with several major projects under their belts; they also had two daughters under the age of three. This Central house, with its many rooms and deep, shady five-acre property, spoke to them of not just physical space but the small-town family life they could build. The transformation Katherine and Tripp have accomplished is a 21st-century revitalization of a house honoring its origins yet incorporating the practicalities necessary for living comfortably. And, while the thought of taking on a project of such magnitude could be overwhelming, the Brooks’ approach was to eat the elephant one bite at a time. Every inch of the house was ruthlessly evaluated and prioritized for attention on a realistic schedule that would make it possible for them to live in the house while work was being done.
FIRST THINGS FIRST - The easiest way to live through renovation is to get some of the major work done before move-in, and first up was replacing the HVAC system. They also wanted to take the floors down to their original hardwood and knew that, given the layers of carpet, tile, linoleum and other surfaces that had accumulated over a century, that process would be easier before they stepped foot in the door. In addition to its timeless beauty, the resulting rich, dark-chocolate wood flooring that now flows throughout the home creates a clean, unifying visual. “For me, getting the dirty stuff taken care of first was critical,” Katherine says. “Old houses tend to be dusty and musty and the new HVAC system and stripped-down floors helped a lot with that.” Along with getting the girls’ rooms in order so that they immediately felt at home, the kitchen was a priority. The Brooks decided early on that this home renovation would not involve any major structural changes, such as moving walls, so location of appliances and cabinets for an efficient work area was a challenge, especially finding a spot for the refrigerator! The decision to use only base cabinets with open shelving above emphasizes two of the home’s most outstanding qualities: its abundant natural light and the vertical space afforded by the high ceilings throughout. Hex tile used above the kitchen cabinets adds texture to the walls, and its above-average height offers a unique look. The idea of open shelving can give many a homeowner fits about what to do with the canned goods and cereal boxes, various coffee mugs and food storage tubs. In this kitchen, that problem was solved by an adjacent room where cabinets could be added for the non-picturesque overflow, as well as a darling butler’s pantry with a glass Dutch door between the kitchen and the dining room. Reworking the kitchen fireplace to expose the original brick flue turned a nondescript wall into a focal point that’s also functional, though not for its original intent. Using the opening as a combination cookbook library and wine rack is only one example of the creative way in which the 10 hearths (yep the house has 10 original fireplaces) have been reimagined. In the dining room, an asymmetrical grouping of plates joins a pertinent quote from Virginia Woolf above the original fireplace opening. Katherine painted and stenciled this fireplace surround, which was once a solid mass of forest green tile. The front office fireplace is covered by a trompe l’oeil “bookcase” wallpaper. In the playroom, a chalkboard was inserted under the mantle-boards, and in one of the girls’ bedrooms faux stacked wood fills the opening. If the thought of ripping out and completely changing fireplaces or any major DIY undertakings makes you queasy, Katherine offers reassurance: it’s only scary the first time. “There’s something about taking a sledgehammer to your home and having the results be something new and beautiful. You gain experience but also confidence in your judgment about what’s possible,” she says. “And, when you make mistakes, you learn from them, too. You learn to be flexible, to think on your feet and sometimes you learn to just live with your mistakes.”
One of ten hearths in the home, this one cleverly shares space for cookbooks and wine bottles in the kitchen at the back of the house.
A HOME PLACE, NOT A SHOWPLACE - It’s always the personal touches that make a house feel like home, and Katherine’s timeless taste and talent have added her signature to every room. Her use of soft neutrals and understated color throughout the house creates a warm, welcoming environment. An inveterate shopper of antique and consignment shops, she also stalks internet sources and big-box stores for family-friendly furnishings. Each room features unique finds such as a trio of empty Gothic-inspired frames, a faux bull’s head “trophy” on the office wall, a row of stadium seats in the guest room (at least they were there on a recent visit). Katherine confesses to a penchant for moving things around on a whim. Follow her on Instagram and you’ll discover she often asks for input on placement, furnishings, paint colors and more. Watching her pull treasures out of attic storage to stage a dresser or a bookshelf can be a real treat. The content on her account, as well as a website she maintains about the home, is organic in a way that’s contagious (but be warned, following along can result in your own spontaneous DIY project). In the master bedroom, a king-sized bed sits amidst magnificent bay windows. Throughout the house window treatments are apt and understated to celebrate the natural light, while lamps and light fixtures have been carefully planned and positioned to counteract the darkness that can often plague high-ceilinged rooms. The living room is probably the most formal room in the house. Blue velvet chairs and a pair of sofas front the fireplace. Soft lighting and an “inglenook” Katherine created from an inexpensive unpainted pine bench, add to the warmth and intimacy. A bookcase is backed with navy plaid wallpaper and a game table nestles in a bank of windows. It’s a room that Katherine refers to as her grandma room. “My goal was to create a cozy retreat where the whole family can relax together and where grownup guests feel welcome, too,” she says. Living with small children requires flexibility, a sense of humor and sensitivity to their personalities, and the Brooks home features many imaginative elements: mermaids populate the girls’ bathroom, fairies, unicorns and princesses can be found in their bedrooms and the playroom, and what child (or adult, for that matter) would not enjoy a staircase where the steps are numbered? A big art table in the playroom is an old library table found in the house when they bought it and cut down to kid size. The original stained glass window panel, a colorful geometric rug, comfortable seating and even a couple of hiding places make this space an imagination incubator. While there were many reasons why the timing might have been better for the Brooks family to undertake a renovation such as this, they don’t regret the decision. “We just feel so lucky to get to live here,” Katherine said. “We could have waited until the children were older or until we had more money. We would probably have found another house, but it wouldn’t have been this house. I don’t believe there is one ‘forever’ house. People move all the time. But this feels like home.”
The wide plank floors were stripped and refinished in a dark stain before the Brooks family moved into the former Victorian boarding house.
Katherine cleverly backed the bookshelf to the left of the fireplace in the living room with plaid wallpaper, which required only a roll or two.
In her own words . . . For even more detail about this project, follow Katherine’s Instagram account, @design_central_project. In her uniquely witty and warm style, follow along as she sources materials and décor choices, candidly shares inspirations and mistakes, and lovingly documents the transformation of a big old house into a warm and inviting family home.
A miniaturesque staircase leads to one of the home's two attics. Since the back of it is visible to the central hall, Katherine handpainted a sweet saying for her girls to read every day.
The clever salvaging and painting of a vintage shutter added a movable bit of privacy to a powder room near the kitchen.
