Wendy’s Cozy & Historic Indiana Home

Name: Wendy
Location: Wabash, Indiana

My home is an apartment in a 1902 duplex in Wabash, Indiana. At 2,000 square feet it is more than roomy enough for myself, four children and our little dog and big cat. I grew up in this small Midwestern town and after being away for several years I decided to move back after some major life changes.

It was a huge adjustment for us for several reasons: We had lived in our prior home for 12 years. It was situated back a long lane, nestled deep in the woods. We had total privacy. Our new abode is just a couple blocks from downtown, our neighbors share the same roof and our backyard is the size of a postage stamp. Because of all the changes and added stress of being the “new kids”, I wanted to make our apartment a refuge for our family.

My goal was to make our new home cozy and homey on a very tight budget, so most of our furnishings (with the exception of sofa, some rugs, and dining room chairs) were thrifted or family hand-me-downs. Several pieces of furniture were my grandfather’s and he even made the coffee table in the 1950s.

I had always wanted to live in a historic home with charm and character, so when our soon to be landlord showed us this apartment I immediately fell in love. I had to look past the soiled, red, wall-to-wall carpet, stained walls and grime that covered every surface. Others couldn’t look past all of the grossness and were horrified that I was actually going to bring my family into this mess.

Want to see the “before” of Wendy’s bedroom? Check it out! → A Drab Wallpapered Bedroom Gets a Dark Paint Makeover

A year has passed and I’m glad to report that we are all very happy here. The carpets have been ripped out, the apartment got a thorough scrubbing and our duplex neighbors have taken a liking to the new family next door.

Thanks, Wendy!

• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour & House Call Submission Form.