My Houzz: Colorful 1930s Family Farmhouse in Ohio
A quaint childhood home in Madison County gets new love with DIY projects, flea market finds and eclectic vintage treasures
Would you want to live in your childhood home? Six years ago, Mark and Elisabeth Yutzy were given the opportunity to rent the house Mark grew up in, a 1930s farmhouse in Ohio, and decided to give it a try. Mark's parents bought the house in the early 1950s, and it had been in the family ever since.
An addition to the house in the 1970s added more space; other than that, the home was as Mark remembered it. The couple brought their colorful personalities to the space with reworked vintage furniture and plenty of DIY touches. "Living here helps bring back memories of my childhood," he says. "Not many people get that opportunity."
Houzz 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 interesting: The original 1930s wallpaper still hangs in the stairwell and upstairs hall.
An addition to the house in the 1970s added more space; other than that, the home was as Mark remembered it. The couple brought their colorful personalities to the space with reworked vintage furniture and plenty of DIY touches. "Living here helps bring back memories of my childhood," he says. "Not many people get that opportunity."
Houzz 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 interesting: The original 1930s wallpaper still hangs in the stairwell and upstairs hall.
In the kitchen, a cabinet found at a garage sale sits adjacent to the stove. The piece adds much-needed storage as well as character.
A "Fresh Eggs" sign, also a flea market find, is a nod to the farmhouse history of the house. Vintage Dove brand milk-glass spice containers were given to the couple by Mark's sister.
This Hoosier-style cabinet was spotted by Mark and purchased for only $25. "We didn't have to do a thing to it," Elisabeth says.
This cabinet is one of Mark's finds and holds treasures from Elisabeth's mother and grandmother, along with other vintage finds.
In the living room, a bold red couch and a patterned armchair create a cozy gathering place. The door to the right leads upstairs. Mark recalls coming home after curfew when he was younger and trying to be quiet, "but the stairs would always squeak and wake Mom up," he says.
Couch and chair: Smith Brothers
Couch and chair: Smith Brothers
This primitive-style cabinet was purchased at a flea market and is one of Elisabeth's favorite pieces. Framed family photos adorn the walls.
A sitting area in Elisabeth's craft and sewing room offers a place to relax. The dresser was purchased at an auction and painted mint green. The ticking wallpaper, beadboard ceiling and firkin boxes all pay tribute to the home's roots.
Elisabeth framed pages from 1950s magazines, including Life and Ladies' Home Journal, as artwork. A generous stranger gave her this dresser as a gift.
According to Elisabeth, this chair was in bad shape when it was picked up from the trash. She gave it new life by repainting it and adding colorful fabric bands for a bright and cheerful touch.
This view shows the original 1930s wallpaper in the upstairs hall, along with Elisabeth's mother's Amish bonnet displayed on the bedside table.
This bedroom, lined with wallpaper from the 1970s, was shared by Mark as a child with three of his brothers. "Once a year we changed the straw in the mattress," he quips.
Mark and Elisabeth rescued the full-length mirror after a neighbor discarded it. They repaired the frame and replaced the mirror.
Mark and Elisabeth rescued the full-length mirror after a neighbor discarded it. They repaired the frame and replaced the mirror.
Dried hydrangeas and a vintage quilt complement the antique dresser picked up at an auction. The chair is a special find from Mark and Elisabeth's childhood church.
Elisabeth's style continues into the flower bed. Here, a spray painted chair 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 favorite flowers in them.
Boxwood planted in pots become instant garden borders and can easily be moved. A basket of petunias and lobelia sit atop a large maple tree trunk. Purple sage and spider wort provide color and variety near the bench. A vintage tricycle purchased for $1 can be seen behind the tree.
The updated Adirondack-style glider is made of a durable polylumber consisting of recycled milk jugs. Elisabeth painted a vintage wooden ironing board and placed it on their front porch to hold decorative items and freshly cut flowers in old milk bottles. The "No Dumping" sign was a flea market find.
Glider: Holmes Crafted Furniture
Glider: Holmes Crafted Furniture
The front exterior of the 1930s farmhouse remains structurally the same. The 1970s addition can be seen in the far right of the photo. Because the couple rents, they are limited to what renovations they can do. While they have embraced the quirks that come with an old house, there are plenty of things they'd still love to change.
More: How to Get a Modern Farmhouse Look
Houzz call: Do you have a colorful, creative home? Share it with us!
More: How to Get a Modern Farmhouse Look
Houzz call: Do you have a colorful, creative home? Share it with us!
Elisabeth found the table and chairs at a garage sale, repainted them and re-covered the seats.