“For as long as I can remember, I dreamt of what life would be like to live in one of these historic homes one day,” Lindsey says of the homes that perch along the river in Defiance, Ohio. “That feeling probably began when I would spend summers visiting my grandmother in our current town.”

Fast forward to when Lindsey was pregnant with her third child — she and her husband, Cory, decided to look for a bigger home. Lindsey was excited to tour a historical home, but suddenly felt deflated after seeing the home’s modern interior renovation. 

Lindsey vocalized this disappointment to her real estate agent, who took them to a home that wasn’t yet on the market. Immediately, she knew the five-bedroom 1889 Queen Anne home (which is on the National Register of Historic Homes) was meant to be their family’s. 

“When we walked through the house for the first time, I immediately was drawn to its subtle beauty in historic charm and had the desire to restore this house and make it our home,” Lindsey shares. 

Since moving in six years ago, their family has grown to include five children — Hayden, Finley, Olive, Eleanor, and Theodore — as well as two Doodles, Winnie and Rufus. They’ve also taken on several projects and the responsibility of restoring the home. Throughout all the changes, Lindsey has kept designer, poet, and artist William Morris’ phrase in mind. 

“‘Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful,’” Lindsey repeats Morris’ quote. “Throughout these past several years, I have tried to carefully curate most of the items we bring into our home. I fully believe in romanticizing your life.”

• Living room, walls — Farrow & Ball “Pointing”
• Living room, trim — Farrow & Ball “Slipper Satin”
• Mantel — Farrow & Ball “Drop Cloth”
• Kitchen walls — Behr “Ultra Pure White”
• Kitchen trim — Sherwin Williams “Creamy”
• Kitchen paneling — Sherwin Williams “White Duck”
• Living room fireplace and bookshelves — Farrow & Ball “Drop Cloth”
• Hallway — Farrow & Ball “Wimborne White”
• Boys’ bunks — Farrow & Ball “Mouses Back”
• Bathroom walls — Behr “Ultra Pure White”
• Wainscoting — Benjamin Moore “Gray Mist”
• Bedroom walls — Benjamin Moore “Simply White”
• Bedroom trim — Farrow & Ball “Slipper Satin”

• Jute rug — Revival
• Vintage rug — Revival
• Sofa — Sundays
• Pillow cover — Amazon
• Side chairs — Sixpenny
• Candle sticks — June Home Supply
• Coffee table — Facebook Marketplace 
• Iron candle sconce — June Home Supply
• Crock — Local antique shop
• Rocking chair — Local shop
• Rocker — Facebook Marketplace
• Cabinet — Facebook Marketplace 
• Framed artwork — Thrifted

• Sofa — Sixpenny
• Jute rug — Amazon
• Vintage rug — Revival
• Candle sconces — June Home Supply
• Double sconces —Schoolhouse
• TV — Samsung Frame
• TV frame — Deco TV Frames
• Lamp — Thrifted
• Coffee table — Estate sale

• Dining table — The Parsons Nose
• Chairs — Local antique store
• Rug — Amazon
• Chandelier — Wayfair
• Plates — Thrifted

• Cabinets — IKEA
• Cabinet fronts — Semi-handmade
• Cabinet hardware — Rejuvenation 
• Sink — Vintage
• Stove — Vintage 
• Refrigerator — Vintage 
• Rug — Found locally 
• Sconce — Etsy
• Pendant — Vintage 
• Cafe + herb rod — Target
• Towel dryer — Amazon
• Bread boards — Olive Ateliers
• Stool — Olive Ateliers

• Bed — Facebook Marketplace
• Rug — Revival
• Sconce — Schoolhouse
• Bedding — Parachute
• Chair — IKEA

• Bunk beds — Facebook Marketplace
• Rug — Jean Stoffer x Loloii
• Bedding — Schoolhouse
• Quilt — Schoolhouse
• Lighting fixture — Schoolhouse
• Dresser — Flea market
• Lamp — Target

• Beds — Found locally
• Scalloped jute rug — Etsy
• Wallpaper — Sandberg
• Bedding — Garnet Hill
• Dresser — Facebook Marketplace
• Framed artwork — Thrifted 
• Custom framed artwork — Lore Pemberton
• Crib — Facebook Marketplace
• Rug — Target
• Baskets — Milk & Honey Clothier
• Wardrobe — Facebook Marketplace 
• Piano — Vintage 
• Barn — Thrifted
• Mirror —Thrifted

• Sink — Vintage
• Sconce — Schoolhouse
• Dresser — IKEA
• Shower curtain — Parachute
• Antique rug — Facebook Marketplace 
• Tub — Original

• Rug — Etsy
• Candle sconce — June Home Supply
• Gallery wall — Framebridge

Thanks, Lindsey!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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