A North Carolina’s Bungalow’s Former Front Porch Is Now a Dreamy Mini Library

published Aug 22, 2022

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Kitchen with green wallpaper — Credit: Jen Mathis
Kitchen redo, with cork flooring, tiled wall, range hood.

Name: Jen Mathis, husband, cat, new puppy, and youngest daughter when home from college
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Type of home: Bungalow
Size: 1300 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, owned

Credit: Jen Mathis

Living room - map hiding tv for the win. A gift to my husband after he earned his Master in Early Education in the '90s.

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: It is a 1927 Arts and Crafts bungalow. It was originally a 1000-square-foot, two-bedroom/one-bathroom home with remarkably little closet space. We added a small addition (10×16) to house a primary bath and walk-in closet, enclosed the front porch, and pushed out the kitchen five feet (game changer!).

Credit: Jen Mathis

We moved from Charleston, South Carolina to this house in Asheville a little over a year ago. My husband retired from teaching and has teamed up with me to care for our rental properties (three short term and one long term). We are hands-on DIYers when possible and were very involved in our own home renovation. From the design to some of the work — kitchen renovation (floors, tile wall, cabinetry, and range hood).

Credit: Jen Mathis

I definitely identify as a creative. Our house changes were my design, and the way it lives and expresses itself is a reflection of our family. I love a small house where every space is utilized.

Credit: Jen Mathis

More living room. The fish piece is the first artwork that Mike and I bought together.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Eclectic, art filled, sun drenched.

Credit: Jen Mathis

What is your favorite room and why? My daughter calls it our library but I have a hard time giving it a name. It’s the former front porch. It has a bookshelf on one end that my husband and I built and a small bar in another corner. It is filled with things we love — books, my husband’s well-curated album collection, a gallery wall of favorite photos and art. And the wallpaper!!

Credit: Jen Mathis

Dining room corner - built-in bench seat, beautiful old windows

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? Does a puppy count? If not, a native plant for my ever evolving backyard garden.

Credit: Jen Mathis

Some of my favorite pieces of artwork.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Incorporate things that make you happy — art, items collected from adventures/travel, favorite books.

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