A 761-Square-Foot Restored Carriage House Is a Gorgeous Slice of History
Name: Holly Mellis, husband, youngest child, dog, two cats
Location: Lynchburg, Virginia
Type of home: Carriage house
Size: 761 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years, owned
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: We retired to the beautiful Rivermont historic district of Lynchburg, Virginia. We fell in love with the wide central avenue, colorful turn-of-the-century mansions, wrought iron fences, and flowering trees. We bought a turn-of-the-century Victorian property with a main house, a carriage house, and a tiny chapel. The 128-year-old carriage house was in very poor condition due to decades of neglect.
The restoration of the carriage house became a family project during the COVID-19 lockdown. Our children decided that we should create an Airbnb, preserving the historic character while incorporating modern touches. The carriage house was lovingly restored with antique details and features original antique patterned brick and wide plank wood floors, handmade doors, and stairs. We locally sourced vintage furnishings, and carved out a beautifully unique kitchen. One daughter had the design vision, the other the tech vision. It’s the perfect Victorian tiny house!
I find my taste has changed as I’ve changed through the years. I prefer quiet and serene colors with uncluttered design. I love the elegance of a bygone era, like 11-foot ceilings, elaborate woodwork, and roofs made of slate or metal. I appreciate the quirkiness of handmade structures and enjoy highlighting the unique details. We rely on beautiful artwork, photography, and family portraits to complete our home.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: A gorgeous slice of history
What is your favorite room and why? The kitchen is our absolute favorite! The patterned bricks used for the kitchen floor were made in the Chilhowie Brick Plant from 1880-1910 and designed to provide a firm footing for both horses and pedestrians. The bricks can be found in Lexington, along the paths and walkways of Washington & Lee University, the Virginia Military Institute and in our carriage house here in Lynchburg. The handmade door that opens to the side porch has an upper hooked door that opens up to let the sunshine in. The floors and ceilings are not all level. The bottom steps of the kitchen stairs are not all the same height. But a very talented carpenter put in butcher block open shelves, kitchen counter, and made a formerly dark and dreary space into the most charming kitchen we could ever imagine!
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? Handmade ceramic dishware from Emerson Creek Pottery. Their pieces have been featured at Mt. Vernon, Monticello, and the Smithsonian Institute. Dogwood trees grow spectacularly in our part of Virginia, so we chose the Dogwood Classic design.
Any advice for creating a home you love? We tried to ensure that every family member’s voice was heard. We listened to what really mattered the most to each person. The carriage house was meant to be a home for either of our children should they decide to live there. One child is a baker, so her function and process input about the kitchen was essential. One child loves to create visual enjoyment, so each room vignette told a story. My husband felt that comfort and reliability was the most important, so he was determined that all the mechanicals be energy efficient. And I wanted anyone who walked in the door to feel this was a place created with love.
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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