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| A baseboard stencil of urns, pineapples and filigree. |
It's been our great concern, since taking charge of Freegrace, that we restore her. Taking note of water damage throughout the house on the first showing, it was obvious we had to replace the roof and with the shaking of the shingles came evidence of rot along the porch that runs along the ell. The entirety of the roof and porch had to be removed and replaced, an exact replica of what stood just months before just without the leaking and decayed pillars. We painted her. She was shiny and watertight again.
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| Shingle! |
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| Rotten to the Core |
Restoration is relative. There are parts of a house this elderly, 200+ years, that require structural attention. There are portions of the tavern, a shelter that's housed the decorative vagaries of hundreds of souls, that beg for cosmetic ministration.
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| painted garlands to frame the door |
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| a pineapple of welcome |
And there are areas of the house we'll never touch. Specifically those walls that were graced by the talent of
Bordermen (and women), itinerant stencil painters who traveled New England in the 18th century. They carried with them sturdy templates over which they applied naturally pigmented paints fortified with noxious additives like arsenic and lead. Stenciling added elegance to the walls of houses where using wallpaper was an extravagance that couldn't be financially born. At Freegrace, the stencils that remain line the edges of the entryway, borders that frame the doorways and travel the length of the ceiling and the floor. Over time, where the plaster has cracked, it's been patched, leaving random splashes of bright white as a counterpoint to the border's even balance. I wouldn't change a thing.
I'm working on my master's in historic preservation. Glad that you are stewarding your home with such care. Cheers, Angi B.
ReplyDeletethose stencils are gorgeous! now i must go learn about Border(wo)men.
ReplyDeleteAmazing...simple yet beautiful. I would much prefer stenciling to wallpaper. I wouldn't change a thing either.
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness. the stenciling really is lovely, gesine! your home is beautifully Vermont and the improvements/renovations will make it all the more comfortable and cozy for many, many happy years to come.
ReplyDeleteI too am curious about these border women and the stenciling surely is a precious plus to the history within it's walls....thank goodness you don't want to paint over these fine artist gifts, You are lucky to still have them!
ReplyDeleteHaving such details add so much personality, history, character, and charm. It makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteThough you won't touch the stenciling, do you need to somehow preserve it or are the walls still in good shape?
With so many living with landlord white, only reassuring to know our ancestors were more daring and imaginative--painting walls red decorated with black accents. Comforting that there are still people out there like you and a few others that want to preserve and protect instead of the HGTV approach of gutting and going through life in neutrals.
ReplyDeleteThis history nerd thinks living amongst the charm and character of days gone by is completely fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine the massive endeavor of keeping up with a 200+ year old must be like.. Oy!
I wouldn't change a thing either. How beautiful it is and how lucky are you to have it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful home! I love that you are attempting a re-do while keeping the place what it once was. I think lately that we live in such a throw away society - a home like this in D.C., where I live may be torn down to build a McMansion - makes me so sad... thanks for doing your part in your corner of the world to preserve our history.
ReplyDeleteFacinating! Bordermen ... thank you for the enlightening info! Freegrace is lovely!
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