This is one of those stories we really love – a testament to the idea that our homes have a profound impact on the course of our lives. James and Jo Ford bought their first home together in Russellville, Arkansas in 1958 for $6,500. Little did they know that 51 years later, they'd be buying that house back for the much lower sum of...
...$1! When the Fords discovered that their first family home was slated for demolition, they couldn't let it be torn down. They purchased the ramshackle cottage and moved it to the backyard of their six-acre Arkansas farm.
The Fords renovated the little house as well as they could, but were burned out once the time came to decorate. Luckily, their son Brad, an interior designer, was willing to makeover the cottage on a $3,200 budget. The catch? Country Living would document the story, which meant Brad had just one week to decorate the whole house.
The first photo above shows the house "before," with all subsequent photos revealing the "after."
The 2-bedroom cottage is full of inspiration for a small space. Read the full story and see the slideshow (complete with budget decorating tips) right here, or pick up the September "makeover issue" with lots more budget before & afters. As an added bonus, you can read Brad's account of his labor of love at his blog.
Photos: Lucas Allen / Country Living
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I love it! How wonderful for this little house to get a second life.
view twitteringbirdie's profile
nice...iI wish there were more "before" photos to really appreciate the "afters" though
view abc123's profile
I liked the "before" bedroom better than the makeover.
view mei-ling's profile
I read this article a few nights ago and was wowed by the after but was more in love with the story about the house and the couple who brought it back into the family decades later.
view Seaside's profile
I do like the before bedroom better, the remake seems a little busy. The rest of the home though is beautiful! Great colours and a really nice feel. Very touching story too... awe.. cutest thing ever!
view Shannon Ashley's profile
Also love the story more than the remake. I like the before bedroom better and the rest of the cottage looks pretty busy after the remake, just from the pics posted.
view sassydo's profile
Sorry, but cottages and bungalows don't seem to fit in my head with Apartment Therapy, specially not the "country" look...
view Cyb's profile
Definitely like the after bedroom. Before is just rather heavy and tired looking.
view Nikita's profile
Could someone explain why they prefer the 'before' bedroom?? I certainly don't think it looks bad, but the bedding flooring wall colour bedside table configuration doesn't really work for me. I think the 'after' is leaps and bounds better.
view twoheadedboy's profile
It's kind of cataloguey, but I guess that's because it was for a magazine. Hopefully, they added a little more life to it since.
view jooly's profile
Why should the country look be forbidden on AT? Are only modernist, mid-century temples acceptable?
The "before" bedroom's outdated linens are happy and pretty, and seem appropriate to a cottage, while the "after" linens and wallpaper look drab to me. I do like the rest of the "after" though (white chest, new rug, lighting).
The "after" bathroom is dreadful, though.
view Cassis's profile
I don't think the "after" bedroom is very mid century modern looking. What I like about it is the floral wall paper and the new lighting and the bed linens. It feels more fresh but still reads cottage - to me anyways.
view Nikita's profile