The couple knew at first sight that this was just the right home for their family of five, which includes three daughters (Olive, 11; Frida, 8; June, 5) and three cats (Calvin, Hobbes, and Dottie). “Coming from a much smaller space, we loved its generous acreage, which would mean room for all our girls to roam. It also felt like a blank canvas — just right for us to put our stamp on it.”

A fan of older homes with character, Faye explains this house was “warm and welcoming but needed a fresh style update” when they first moved in. “[I]t very much felt like a dated space but with some vintage charm, of course. We kept the warm and welcoming vibes but added a little maximalist, mid-century style with the furnishings and wallpapers.” 

The couple have definitely put their own stamp on the space, having renovated quite a few of the rooms in the past three years, and make a dynamic design duo. “I am an illustrator and fabric designer, and my husband is in the world of insurance but is also the resident handyman,” Faye explains.

“Since we’ve been married we’ve worked together to create living spaces that reflect our personalities and creativity; I generally dream up the design and source the furnishings, and Morgan makes it happen with his woodworking and handyman skills!” 

Like many folks tackling home renovations, one of the biggest challenges for the couple was trying to stay within budget. “It felt like every time we saved up a chunk of cash it went right back into a house project. We did try to guesstimate the cost of each project down to the smallest detail prior to starting, so that helped immensely,” Faye explains.

Doing much of the work themselves likely helped them complete the renovations within their budget, and Faye was also gifted some of the wallpaper and fabric in the home, which has helped. “We also try to buy a lot of vintage pieces through yard sale-ing and going to antique shows, which helps to keep us from buying new and spending more — not to mention adding more character and personality to the styling as a bonus.”

All the details the couple have added have created a rich, storied home — one fitting for the house’s interesting past. “Our home used to go by ‘Mary House’; it was previously a Catholic retreat center for monks and other folks who wanted to get away for silent retreats and such,” Faye begins.

“And even before that, it was an inn owned by a New York City socialite. So, when we first visited this home, we were immediately drawn to its roots in hospitality. We decided to name our Instagram handle ‘The Mary House Revival’ in hopes that we will be able to revive and restore the home to its former glory, and make it a place where people feel welcomed and wanted, embracing hospitality as a hallmark of this property.” 

• Living Room — Backdrop’s “Brooklyn Cowboy” (Color matched to Benjamin Moore)
• Bathroom — Benjamin Moore’s “San Antonio Rose” 
• Kitchen Cabinets — Farrow & Ball’s “Calke Green” (Color matched to Benjamin Moore)
• TV Room — Clare Paint’s “OMGreen” (Color matched to Benjamin Moore)
• Olive’s Room Trim + Ceiling — Benjamin Moore’s “Magnolia Americana Egg”

• Wallpaper — Spoonflower
• Mirror — Spoonflower
• Hand Hooks — Anthropologie

• Cabinet Color — Farrow and Ball “Calke Green”
• Wallpaper — Spoonflower
• Floor — Home Depot
• Stools — Anthropologie
• Sink — Amazon
• Faucet — Signature Faucets
• Fridge — Big Chill
• Oven — ILVE
• Lighting — Etsy
• Sconces — Sazerac

• Rug — Anthropologie
• TV — Samsung Frame
• Sofa — Wayfair

• Tulip Wallpaper — Spoonflower
• Checkered Duvet Cover — Spoonflower
• Red Blocked Curtains — Spoonflower
• Desert-Themed Fabric — Spoonflower
• Pillow — Anthropologie
• Wavy Shelves — West Elm
• Decorative Plates — Anthropologie

• Dark Teal Vertical Striped Curtains — Spoonflower
• Light Teal Vertical Striped Curtains — Spoonflower
• Teal Check Duvet Cover — Spoonflower
• Diagonal Striped Curtains — Spoonflower
• Birds of Paradise Wallpaper — Spoonflower
• Decorative Plates — Anthropologie

• Switch Plates— Anthropologie

Thanks, Morgan and Faye!

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

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