Step into the enchanting world of Lesli, a cherished friend and immensely talented painter residing in the serene countryside of Greenwood, Virginia. If her name rings a bell, you might recall our past collaboration, perhaps even a memorable giveaway featuring her incredible artistry. Beyond her canvas, Lesli captivates with an inspiring blog and a truly captivating old farmhouse – a property that embodies the quintessential dream of country living. This isn’t just any old house; it’s a treasure trove of character, boasting covetable extra-high ceilings and over 100-year-old architectural details that make “old farmhouse” enthusiasts (ourselves included!) swoon. We were absolutely thrilled to be invited into her home, eager to explore every nook and cranny, and now we can’t wait to share this exclusive tour with you. Prepare to be inspired as we delve into Lesli’s world of vibrant creativity and artful repurposing.
The Welcoming Embrace: A Farmhouse Entryway with Personality
From the moment you step across the threshold, Lesli’s home radiates a sense of warmth and genuine personality. It’s a testament to her philosophy that almost every item can be lovingly restored and given a new lease on life. Take, for instance, the charming old bench gracing her entryway. This piece, originally a secondhand find for a mere $50, has been transformed with a fresh coat of paint, instantly elevating its presence. Above it, a thoughtfully curated collection of mixed and matched art creates a playful yet cohesive gallery wall, exuding a casual, almost beach-house-like atmosphere, despite its inland Virginia setting. This eclectic display perfectly sets the tone for the entire home, hinting at the joy and vibrant energy that permeate every room.
One of the most appealing aspects of this country home, beyond its gorgeous mountain views, is its unwavering sense of approachability. Nothing feels overly precious or untouchable, making it a truly family-friendly environment. Our daughter, Clara, had an absolute blast during our visit, and as parents, we could relax without the usual fifteen heart attacks worrying about breakable items. This relaxed ambiance allows life to unfold naturally, encouraging comfort and carefree enjoyment. And speaking of delightful details, did you spot the vintage suitcase Clara is standing on? This particular piece has its own story, even appearing in a Burger birthday video! Sweetly enough, Lesli’s daughter actually gifted it to Clara to take home, a testament to the generosity and warmth that define this household.
Flexible Living: Redefining Spaces for Modern Family Life
Beyond the vibrant entryway, to the left, lie two expansive rooms, both beneficiaries of those awe-inspiring, envy-inducing high ceilings that are so characteristic of historic farmhouses. The front room serves as a comfortable living area, a space designed for relaxation and conversation. The room directly behind it, however, offers a brilliant example of Lesli’s innovative approach to interior design. Originally conceived as a formal dining room, Lesli shrewdly recognized that her family’s lifestyle demanded a more flexible arrangement. Instead of adhering to traditional layouts, she bravely reimagined the space, transforming it into a second cozy sitting area. This ingenious decision allowed for a large, inviting couch perfect for reading, providing a dedicated quiet zone for Lesli to curl up with a book while the kids enjoy television in the adjacent room.
This strategic reallocation of space speaks volumes about Lesli’s understanding of her family’s needs, prioritizing function and comfort over outdated conventions. By relocating the dining room to the other side of the house, she created one sprawling, casual chill-out zone – a perfect testament to how a home can and should adapt to its inhabitants. This flexibility is a hallmark of truly thoughtful design, demonstrating that historical homes don’t have to be rigid in their application but can evolve to support contemporary living, all while preserving their inherent charm. The high ceilings in these rooms, while offering grandeur, are expertly balanced by Lesli’s decor choices, ensuring the spaces feel inviting and intimate rather than cavernous or overwhelming.
A Symphony of Color: The Main Living Area’s Creative Flair
Walking into the main living area, one is immediately struck by Lesli’s fearless and masterful use of color – arguably some of the most noteworthy design choices in the entire home. This room is a vibrant celebration of hues and patterns, each element contributing to an overall sense of joyous creativity. Just observe those bold, patterned curtains that frame the windows; they are not merely functional but serve as a significant artistic statement. The impact of the bright pink mats surrounding the playful kid-art on display further amplifies the room’s cheerful disposition, proving that art, regardless of its origin, can be a powerful decor tool. Even the quirky, colorful Uglydoll nestled on the couch seems to be an intentional splash of whimsy, inspiring a smile. This space truly ignites excitement, demonstrating how thoughtful color choices can profoundly influence a room’s mood and energy.
Perhaps the most fascinating detail about those captivating curtains is their origin: Lesli designed the fabric herself! She took one of her own horse paintings, uploaded it to Spoonflower, a platform for custom fabric printing, and then duplicated the design multiple times to create a stunning, abstract ikat-ish effect. Learning this behind-the-scenes detail was truly awe-inspiring, a testament to her multi-faceted artistic talent and entrepreneurial spirit. The ability to translate personal art into functional home decor is a brilliant example of bespoke design, allowing for truly unique and personalized interiors that speak volumes about the homeowner’s creative vision. This level of customization elevates the space from simply decorated to deeply meaningful, weaving Lesli’s artistic identity directly into the fabric of her home.
Repurposed Elegance: The Second Sitting Area and Vintage Charm
Moving into the room behind the primary living area, which, as we discussed, was cleverly reconfigured from its original role as a formal dining room, we continue to see Lesli’s design prowess shine. Her decision to make spaces work for her family, rather than being constrained by the previous owners’ layout, is a recurring and highly admirable theme throughout the home. This flexibility allows for a dynamic and responsive living environment, perfectly suited to the ebb and flow of daily family life. It’s a powerful lesson in adapting your home to your lifestyle, not the other way around.
A prime example of Lesli’s ingenious repurposing is the round coffee table in this space. This wasn’t bought as a coffee table; it was originally a kitchen table from her old house. With a simple yet brilliant act of DIY, she cut down its stand to achieve the perfect coffee-table height, giving it an entirely new purpose and extending its lifespan within her home. This “use-what-you-got” trick is not only budget-friendly but also injects a layer of personal history and resourcefulness into the decor. The home is filled with such clever adaptations, turning forgotten items into functional and beautiful pieces.
Dominating the mantelpiece in this room is a grand mirror, a truly exquisite piece that is original to the 100+ year old house. Its intricate details and aged patina speak of a bygone era, adding a profound sense of history and gravitas to the space. Lesli, with her characteristic humility, might understate its beauty, but we were absolutely captivated by its presence. This farmhouse stands as a magnificent example of how to furnish a historically rich home by blending inexpensive finds and reinvented thrift store treasures with irreplaceable original features. The result is a space that feels curated, lived-in, and deeply comfortable, where every item tells a story, yet nothing feels so delicate that you’re afraid to truly live in it. It’s approachable, inviting, and effortlessly chic.
Charming Details: Kitchen Storage and a Refreshing Upstairs Bathroom
Continuing our exploration, we discover a secondhand cabinet that Lesli rescued and revitalized with a fresh coat of paint. This transformation showcases the incredible power of color and a little elbow grease to turn an overlooked piece into a focal point. The cabinet is thoughtfully styled with delightful pops of yellow and a charming wooden fish adorns the wall, proudly bearing the name of her city, Greenwood. These small, personalized touches are what truly make a house a home, reflecting the homeowner’s character and connection to their surroundings. And notice the bolt of fabric leaning casually in the corner – an unexpected yet entirely delightful decorative element. It’s these seemingly effortless arrangements that contribute to the home’s overall refreshingly unfussy and easygoing aesthetic, a testament to Lesli’s innate ability to style with natural grace.
Upstairs, Lesli’s bathroom continues the theme of clever design, with a few more vibrant pops of color appearing in the artwork and textiles. It’s particularly interesting to observe how Lesli masterfully blends old and new elements to create a cohesive yet dynamic space. An ornate antique mirror, with its rich history and intricate detailing, provides a beautiful contrast to a more contemporary geometric bath mat, a savvy find from TJ Maxx. This playful juxtaposition of eras is unified by a generous application of fresh white, which provides a clean, bright backdrop, allowing the individual pieces to truly sing. This blend of vintage elegance and modern sensibility, all anchored by a crisp, clean palette, creates a bathroom that is both stylish and incredibly inviting, reflecting Lesli’s eclectic yet refined taste.
Lesli’s Retreat: The Master Bedroom’s Creative Nook
Despite some ongoing drywall work in certain areas, we were fortunate enough to capture a glimpse into Lesli’s master bedroom, revealing a corner rich with creative details and ingenious solutions. The focal point of this cozy nook is a fun, graphic chair, which boasts an incredible backstory of budget-savvy transformation. Lesli acquired it cheaply as a floor model, recognizing its potential. She then recovered it with stylish Dwell Studio fabric, found at the incredibly low price of $9.99 per yard from U-Fab. To top it off, she discovered a skilled local upholsterer who charged a mere $100 to reupholster the entire chair, resulting in a high-end look for a fraction of the cost. This is a masterclass in achieving designer aesthetics on a practical budget.
Adjacent to the chair, a non-working fireplace has been cleverly repurposed, transformed into a charming and unique bookshelf, filled with an array of captivating titles. This demonstrates Lesli’s knack for turning architectural quirks into functional and aesthetically pleasing features, showcasing that even non-functional elements can contribute significantly to a room’s character. Above the window, a beautifully crafted window cornice adds another layer of texture and visual interest. What makes this cornice truly remarkable is Lesli’s ingenuity: she actually made it herself out of fabric and foam core! She even took one down to show us, and it looked so professionally done, we never would have guessed its humble origins. This brilliant DIY project is a testament to her resourcefulness and ability to achieve a custom, high-quality finish without the expense of traditional materials, offering a fantastic example for anyone seeking elegant, budget-friendly window treatments.
Phoebe’s Award-Winning Haven: A Dreamy Kids’ Room
Now, prepare to enter what might just be our favorite room in the entire house: Lesli’s daughter Phoebe’s bedroom. You might even recognize this space, as it recently won a prestigious award in a Washington Post kids’ room contest. Even if you’ve seen it before, this vibrant and imaginative room is absolutely worth a second, lingering look. Every single detail contributes to its completely fun and charming ambiance, making it a true masterpiece of children’s interior design.
From the moment your eyes land on the awesome, colorful chandelier, a fantastic find from Urban Outfitters, you know you’re in a special place. The bold blue wall provides a striking backdrop, perfectly complemented by a playful pink border that encircles the room, adding a whimsical touch. More of Lesli’s signature patterned fabric cornices adorn the windows, tying into the personalized, custom feel that permeates her home. And below, a great geometric rug, snagged on clearance from PB Teen for an incredible $150, anchors the space with both style and practicality. The careful curation of color, pattern, and texture creates a room that is both stimulating and soothing, perfectly suited for a child’s imagination.
The Beds: A Masterclass in Budget Upholstery
Without a doubt, the absolute highlight of Phoebe’s room, and perhaps the entire house tour, are the beds. It’s almost unbelievable to learn that Lesli acquired them at a thrift store for an incredibly low price, then proceeded to paint and upholster the headboards herself. The finished product exudes a million-dollar look, showcasing her exceptional DIY skills and an eye for high-end results on a budget. The curved design of the upholstered back looks incredibly intricate and professional, leading many to wonder about the complexity of achieving such a smooth curve with fabric. However, Lesli revealed her ingenious secret: the curved panel actually pops out! This allowed her to easily add batting and fabric, pull it taut, staple it securely in the back, and then simply screw the panel back into place. This “easy peasy” method transforms what appears to be a challenging upholstery project into an accessible DIY endeavor for those willing to get creative. The chosen fabric, Premier Suzani Slub in Corn, adds a sophisticated yet playful texture and pattern, further enhancing the bespoke feel of these magnificent beds. They stand as a testament to Lesli’s ability to envision potential and execute a stunning transformation, proving that incredible style doesn’t have to come with an exorbitant price tag.
Inspired Play: The Boys’ Shared Bedroom and Creative Lighting
Just as thoughtfully designed and brimming with character, the room that Lesli’s sons share is equally sweet and inspiring. This space features delightful orange accents that inject a vibrant energy, balancing the room with playful pops of color. The oversized ceiling shade in a striking orange hue immediately draws the eye upwards, adding a contemporary and fun element. Complementing this, Lesli crafted custom curtains using this fantastic fabric, which beautifully ties into the room’s energetic color scheme. These details ensure the room feels cohesive and thoughtfully designed, providing a stimulating yet comfortable environment for two active boys.
A Whimsical Display: Lamps Filled with Memories
However, the absolute standout feature in the boys’ room, and undeniably one of the most creative and heartfelt ideas in the entire farmhouse, are these crazy, awesome lamps. Far from being expensive designer pieces, they were simply cheap, fillable glass lamps Lesli purchased from Target. Her stroke of genius was in how she chose to fill them. One lamp is brimming with a collection of tiny toys that her son had amassed when he was younger but no longer actively plays with. The other is filled with a delightful array of old cars that once provided countless hours of enjoyment. This innovative approach to decor is such a cool and sentimental way to keep cherished childhood items around, transforming them from dusty relics into captivating display pieces that evoke fond memories.
The possibilities for such fillable lamps are truly endless and inspiring! Imagine them filled with vibrant LEGO bricks, miniature Polly Pockets, a kaleidoscope of colored pencils, an assortment of quirky rubber erasers, a collection of unique seashells from a family vacation, or even colorful buttons and beads. This concept extends beyond mere decoration; it’s a brilliant method for preserving sentimental value and creating personalized, conversation-starting elements in any room. What started as Lesli’s inventive solution has now sparked a new obsession: expanding the realm of shadowbox displays to include these wonderfully imaginative, fillable lamps. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes the most impactful decor comes from the simplest, most personal ideas.
An Ode to Inspired Living: Lesli’s Creative Farmhouse
And so concludes our captivating tour of Lesli’s truly awesome farmhouse. We extend our sincerest gratitude to Lesli and her wonderful family for so graciously inviting us into their home and allowing us to share their incredible creativity. We had an absolutely fantastic time exploring every thoughtfully designed space and couldn’t wait to share all of her inspiring ideas and resourceful solutions with you. From the custom Spoonflower curtains that Lesli designed herself, showcasing her unique artistic vision, to the inventive lamps filled with cherished kid paraphernalia, we left her home feeling profoundly inspired and creatively charged. Lesli’s farmhouse is a vibrant testament to the power of personal style, DIY ingenuity, and making a home that truly reflects the life lived within its walls.
Now, let’s play the “what’s your favorite part” game! For us, it’s a tough choice given the abundance of brilliant ideas, but we have to stick with those genius thrift store beds that Lesli completely redid for Phoebe’s room. Their transformation from humble secondhand finds to stunning, custom-upholstered masterpieces is simply amazing and encapsulates the very spirit of Lesli’s design philosophy. Her home is a beacon of inspiration for anyone looking to infuse their living space with personality, resourcefulness, and undeniable charm.
Psst- Can’t get enough of home snooping? You can explore dozens of other captivating House Crashing adventures right here, offering a treasure trove of design inspiration!