Peggy recently retired from a 23-year career in the military — including stints in Iraq — and now she’s enjoying the good life all shacked up with McDuff, a westie who watches out for her. Peggy bought her 1950s ranch house in an amazingly picturesque area in Aiken, South Carolina, in 2010, when she began planning for a life where she could establish permanent roots. At first, she thought she would gut renovate the original kitchen and bathrooms — like all the neighbors did. But just in time, she discovered this blog, and her thinking turned around. Yes, she had to do some renovation work — and it was ugly — but it’s all better now. She even started a blog to celebrate her journey, Hazard Girl.
Peggy has two decorating questions for us … Morever, she shares her story and some of the fabulous features of her house — including floors I’ve never seen before. This is a good one! –>
Hi Pam,
I am a 23-year vet, and I learned about Aiken while stationed in the Carolinas, and decided that this would be a great place to retire. It’s a small town with lots of culture…and one of the most lovely historic sections in South Carolina…. made famous by the 100-year-old live oaks that were planted by Henry Dibble.
Pam, the first time I drove down my street… with this amazing canopy overhead, I was in awe! There are wonderful little ranch cottages with metal roofs, and beautiful historic homes known as the “winter colonies” up and down the street. So, when this little house came up for sale, I thought I just had to jump on it. So I bought it, with the intentions of renting it out until I finished my last tour (I was stationed in Delaware), and found out that I had a lot of work to do!
I was still in the Air Force, and was deploying to Iraq every 10 months, in fact, out of the last 3 years I was in, I spent a year in Iraq. From Iraq, I orchestrated the replacement of worn out shingles because the roof was leaking, replaced leaking metal windows, some of which wouldn’t even close, old cast iron drain lines and copper plumbing that were original to the house and leaking, duct work that had collapsed and was blowing air underneath the crawl, the electrical was the original two wire system and was dangerous, complete with an old federal box, that was no longer up to code having been deemed a fire hazard years before, but had somehow passed my home inspection. I had the house partially rewired, grounding major appliances and the bathroom and adding a new breaker box.
And then there was the yard! 14 large pine trees dwarfed the little house, dropping huge limbs that threatened the roof, roots busting up the concrete drive along with a rotting wood fence covered in sticker vines, behind a chain link that was hidden by overgrown azaleas, and a rusty tin garden shed.
It was a lot of money, a lot of second guessing myself and my decision to buy the house, and a lot of work both before and after McDuff and I moved in. (McDuff is my little westie sidekick, best pal and watch dog.) I never will forget the first night we pulled in to the broken up drive and drove over the tree root that was still there, I just wanted to turn around and drive the other way. We lived the first month in the house with only a bed and a table, because there was so much to be done before I was to have my furniture delivered.
After I had the cabinets refinished and new pulls added, and with a fresh coat of paint on the walls, I started to feel encouraged. Gone was the dark cave feel and now the house felt light and airy. McDuff and I got our furniture, and we both started to feel more at home. However, I felt the house was still “dated”, so I was debating what I would replace when I found your site.
Aiken, has its share of midcentury homes, but a lot of them are totally renovated, kitchens torn out, bathrooms gutted and redone. And a lot of folks here like the cute little houses with metal roofs, picket fences around meticulously manicured yards resplendent with lovely porches. They embrace English colonial and cottage, furnishing them with antiques and vintage rugs, but have new kitchens and bathrooms, complete with granite and stainless steel. I thought that’s what I wanted too. My thoughts were what should I do with the old brick planter that runs the length of the brick wall in my dining room? Or the retro red-orange, gray and peach broken tiled floor?
Or what about the pink bathroom? How long would I need to live with it? Should I put in a granite counter top? Not knowing what to do, but knowing I didn’t have the funds to completely “redo” everything in my house, I went searching the internet looking for what would work with the retro, and that’s how I found you. I typed in renovation and retro and your site popped up. After reading and going over the stories of other owners of midcentury modest homes like mine, I started seeing my home with new eyes.
I had been drawn to my little house from the beginning, and I’m so very glad I didn’t get rid of the very things that give it the character that make it unique. Now, I will never get rid of my broken tiled floor, or my exposed brick wall, and I actually added some river rock and put some spider plants in my planter!… and I love the iron railing, the sunken living room and vaulted tongue and groove ceiling. I just wish I had sliders instead of French doors and would love a Pasadena mid mod front door.
My questions are for my next projects:
I have newer tile in my kitchen that runs down the hall. It bumps up to my retro broken tiled dining room, and my hardwoods in my bedrooms….I was thinking that perhaps I would have it taken up and install hardwoods?
And my peachy/pink bathroom….I was thinking of painting the walls a deep cream? What do you think?
By the way, I want to share how my place got its name. In my neighborhood there are a lot of homes that are “named”…Magnolia Place, or Twin Trees, etc….when McDuff and I first moved in, there was a prowler outside one night lurking around trying to open my back door, and Duff barked and alerted me he was there and he ran away. So I thought it was more than appropriate to name our place, McDuff’s Manor. He lets everyone know he’s on the lookout and he guards it well! He is my hero!
Peggy, thank you so much for this great story and for sharing all these photos. You are doing an amazing job bringing all-new TLC back to that house. It found a good owner. Hey, I also want to say “My Bad!” for making Anyone question their desire to paint an interior white. Or greige, for that matter. First of all, I think it is a really good thing when you are first in a house to paint the interior white. You can then see the house. If you decide to add more color later, so be it. Also, when I slow down and check myself, I know that: Colors are wavelengths of energy — and every individual interacts with them differently. So does every house. Your home has such a … calm … to it. A happy serenity. And McDuff is just as cute as my boy.
Those broken tile floors: AMAZING! I have never seen any quite like them. And the interior architecture: The beamed ceiling and the sunken living room including those brick stairs — I love those! What a livable house — it’s perfect.
As for your questions: I’ll let readers chime in first. My short answer, though: You have great instincts. xoxo you go, girl!
Peggy’s blog: Hazard Girl.
Peggy Miniard says
I agree Pam, my insticts are saying wood. I liked the idea of the marmoleum and VCT, but think hardwoods would provide better continuity with the overall space…..and I do like the idea of mixing a tint of peachy pink with an offwhite paint color…that room does have a tendency to cast a blue or grayish look to the walls…so I will probably take you suggestions and try different paints “swipes” on the wall to see which ones might look the best with the lighting….One thing that has been an issue is finding a towel in the right shade….the pink ones I have are a bit too pink…and a peach towel is too pink….
I appreciate all of the advice and encouragment, this has been so much fun. thank you. 🙂
pam kueber says
Towels and rugs in the color of the accent tile would really pop – that’s what I’d try!
Mary Elizabeth says
Since you have an Elizabeth Mary comment, I think you should have a Mary Elizabeth one too! Ah, yes, to see with new eyes (and an open heart) can change a life. Your house has come to life with all your hard work and TLC. Having seen most of the metamorphosis for myself, had you given any thought to adding some “Before” pics to highlight the amazing makeover? So, glad you are happy in your home and happy to have shared some of that process with you. BTW, I like the linoleum suggestion. It’s what I remember from the houses I lived in when I was growing up. So I’m a little partial. I also like the embrace the pink notion. But whatever you decide, paint is the easiest thing to redo.
pam kueber says
Welcome, Mary Elizabeth!
PAppel says
Again, thank you for serving.
Kitchen floor: BTW, I absolutely love your cabinets! Wood would be nice, but alternatively, a checkerboard picking up two of the colors of the broken tile floor, either in a vinyl tile or in a linoleum (eco and foot friendly for standing long periods of time) would also be an option and would continue the colors in that beautiful broken tile floor.
I like the idea of a deep cream in your bath or an off white (shaded to one of the tile colors).
Great home, great street. LOVE those trees.
Peggy Miniard says
You all have some great ideas, some I have thought of…and then some. Leslie, the spread in my master bedroom is actually a quilt from TJMaxx that was on sale. 🙂
pam kueber says
I’ve seen more photos of your kitchen… Based on your leaning toward hardwood, I’d say go for it. Seems like “your gut” is tell you — and often, that’s the right answer for you. I’m seeing a rug under the table and chairs in the kitchen, though, to “soften” things up. Capel makes a chenille braided rug that you just cannot destroy. You could bring in those strong harvest tones from the broken tile and bricks nearby… I think it could look smashing. Braided might be too Early American for your taste – but you get my drift…
Leslie says
The story and house is great! BTW where did you find that adorable bedspread in the master from your blog?
Olga Plant says
Peggy,
Congratulations on your retirement. I was married to a man that did 24 so I know it was no small stint! Thank you for your dedication and service! That being said, your dedication also shows up in your determination to have a lovely home and wow… it is gorgeous! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the kitchen cabs and the bright white. You have wonderful instincts. I think wood flooring instead of that new tile would be great to tie in with the wood you have in your bedrooms.
When I moved into our house, I hated the carpet but didn’t have money to spare, so I pulled it up and painted the foundation to look like tile… besides, by painting I got the exact color I wanted. I made our stock built home look cottage by adding bead board to half the walls. I say this to say… be free… try something different if you get the urge. In your peach/pink bathroom you can go subtle on the wall and contrast on a shower curtain like black or bring in the bright white. Painting your shed is wonderful!
Of course now, if you do anything else… we are going to want to see updates!
Thank you so much for sharing!
Heidi says
Peggy, another shout out to say thanks for your years serving our country! Your house is really sweet! I am with those who vote for wood flooring in the kitchen. However, I put cork flooring in my 1948 kitchen and I love it. It may not be specifically “retro”, but it has been around over 100 years and is a sustainable alternative.
pam kueber says
Heidi, cork is absolutely positively 100% retro. For example, I have cork original to my 1951 house in my foyer and both upstairs bedroom. A great material!
Wendy M. says
Our 1964 home has cork in most of the upstairs and it’s original. It is such a wonderful material for flooring- we feel so lucky to have it (especially when we priced it for other areas of the house!)
Beth at the Woods Hole Inn says
My grandparents put in a “modern” kitchen in their colonial house in New England in the 1950s and it had stainless steel appliances and CORK floors that lasted over 50 years. I think cork is thoroughly mid-century, and a great choice. I am putting some in the Woods Hole Inn (which I am renovating with the help of this wonderful blog) and I like that its inexpensive, durable, green (made from a renewable source) AND muffles sound between floors. Win, win for me. Good luck with your project – I love the house and your dog is adorable. –Beth
Lauryn says
Wow, Peggy, congratulations and gratitude to you on your retirement from service.
What a fabulous house and story … so envious of that gorgeous tree-lined street! I would love to just gush about the house, but instead I’ll address your questions. I think wood floors in the kitchen would look great next to that fabulous floor, but you might also look into real linoleum (Marmoleum has a huge color palette). You could do one color that picks up a color from the dining room and since linoleum has more of a mottled look (for lack of a better word), it would be a nice soft transition. It would also set off those great cabinets beautifully.
As for that gorgeous bathroom … if the pink is pushing it for you, a cream would look great. But if you want to embrace the pink, you might try picking up some hint of the lighter pink/peach shade in the tile that would contrast nicely with the darker trim tile.
Whatever you do, I’m sure it will be lovely! Welcome to the RetroRenovation family, good luck to you, and enjoy your well-deserved retirement.
And a p.s. to Pam: I wonder how many homes have been saved as a result of random searches that turned up your blog? What a service you provide!
Elizabeth Mary says
Peggy,
Welcome to this great place and to your new — for you — home. What a great place to come to after all the hard work you did for all of us over all those years.
Like everyone else, I LOVE the dining room floor. When I first saw it, before learning it was tile, I thought you had a “crazy quilt” wood floor. So glad you are not ever going to get rid of it.
As for your kitchen cupboards — I think they are probably original. My little Cape Cod ranch was built in 1946 and has wood cupboards that look like yours — in terms of the way the doors are shaped and how they look to fit over rather than flush and into the frames. When I bought this house in 2003 the entire kitchen was original with only one new thing — a 1967 range — and, of course a few layers of paint on the cupboards. I love the cupboards and will never take them out. I think that in those days cupboards were made on site and so are custom built to the home. At least that is what the carpenter who replaced the counters told me.
Peggy Miniard says
wow, thank you all so much for all of your encouragement…I feel as if I am among friends here. 🙂 Reading over you comments has me smiling so big I have lipstick on both ears!
Gene Brake says
Thank you for your service in the military and glad to know you found such a lovely place to nest. Love the house, love the broken tile floor and love the Aqua bath. Hazard girl, eh? My mom was a Hazard girl too, from a holler called Bonnyman, her maiden name was Combs. Small world, eh. Keep up the great work on your house and enjoy embracing the vintage charm.