Issue 3
Victorian Homes to love
Shotgun house before & after
Bee keeping 101 SHARING THE
Love
FOR OUR
River Valley
REGION
14 Before & After
25 Features
25 From Outdated to 4 8703 Angel Drive Opulent Local Home Tour 34 Hankins Home Reno 14 Capers Emporium 41 Lake Living 53 The Attic Reno 59 Pop of Color 77 Worker Row House Transformation 82 The Plaza House
18 Collector Confession 50 Chic Tropical Dinner Party
59 Design 12 Furniture Crush Friday
77 Expert Advice 10 Bee Keeping Pollination
20 Dark Wood In or Out 22 Create an Oasis in an Afternoon 48 Quick Fixes 70 A Touch of Design: Outdoor Spaces
32 Staging to Sell 62 Pinspiration
64 Mount Vernon Victorian Local Home Tour 74 Creating a Backyard Paradise Built on a Budget
HOME RIVER VALLEY 1
LETTERS FROM THE EDITORS This time of year is a favorite time for home project enthusiasts, giving every DIYer, the beautiful mild weather needed to bask in their creative and/or relaxing endeavors. From gardens to patios, we have tons of inspiration and information in this issue to give you the tools to get started. Whether you are looking to hire professionals to make your spaces shine or want to pull off a quick facelift for a corner of your yard, we’ve got you covered. And, as always, our Before and After houses and projects will wow you into dreaming of the facelifts you too can give your rooms and spaces. In this issue we dive in to the outdoors, odd rooms and furniture makeovers. We hope you feel the spark of creativity and the itch to pick up a tool to bring your home to life.
Cheers!
JoElle Knight and Nikki Davis
JOELLE KNIGHT
FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
CO N N E C T W I T H U S
2 HOME RIVER VALLEY
NIKKI DAVIS
MANAGING EDITOR
Meet The Team BEHIND HOME JoElle Knight
Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief JoElle Knight has been in the design and event business for over 15 years. As Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ENGAGED! River Valley bridal magazine, she has the pulse on Tri-State area trends and the many small businesses that make our region home. It has been a long-time dream to create a regional Home Magazine modeled after the success of ENGAGED!. While weddings and events have always been her business, her heart has always been called to Home Design and creating a haven full of warmth, soul and personality. Whether it is dreaming up the next magazine issue, creating beauty for homes and styled shoots, or getting giddy over new design projects, she always has an eye for quality, design and new trends. Obsessed with décor, DIY projects and home renovations, she loves to overhaul houses and bring personality into her surroundings. When she is not writing, creating or designing, she is with her 3 kids and husband dreaming of new projects, summer yard sales and epic books. You can follow her on Instagram at @JoElleEliseHome
Julia Baker
Accounts Manager Just call her Mama Bear. Julia is not only our accounts manager, she is also Editor-in-Chief, JoElle Knight’s mother. With a career in sales, education and small business management, she was the perfect fit for representing ENGAGED! and now HOME River Valley. For years, she witnessed the passion and hard work put into the creation of these publications and we couldn’t be happier to have her at the helm of our partner accounts. You will find no one else who champions our brand more. When she is not building relationships in our local small business industry, she is loving on her grandchildren, traveling or doing home-reno projects.
Nikki Davis
Co-founder and Managing Editor Nikki Davis has been a leader in the local small business industry for almost 20 years and is the 20 years and was the 2020 Athena Entrepreneur of the year. She began her career as a local photographer. Her passion for giving back has led her to be a driving force behind many local nonprofit agencies and initiatives. Nikki co-founded ENGAGED! River Valley bridal magazine and is the organizational mind behind the publication, where she uses her networking and writing skills to provide information and inspiration to our local audience. She, along with Editor-in-Chief JoElle Knight, have planned for years to create HOME River Valley and expand the reach of local small businesses and service providers. She lives in the Historic Boehne House in Evansville, where she, her husband and 2 kids are constantly taking on new restoration projects. She's also ramping back into flipping houses, too! Check out more about Nikki and her family's many home and lifestyle adventures on Instagram at @1000milemom
Bobbi Hammonds
Web & Graphic Designer Bobbi has been our company's website guru since our Engaged River Valley magazine debuted and now handles the layout for both publications for each issue. Bobbi began her graphic career over 10 years ago, specializing in design and hand illustration. Her artistry can also be found in many of our photoshoots showcasing her 5 Pink Peonies LLC, custom stationery. A woman of many talents, she has written a children’s book, magazine articles and assisted many local businesses with their branding and marketing. Her greatest work though, comes at home as the mother of 5 girls, one of which is special needs. She has become an advocate for local families dealing with special needs children and her handicap parking campaign has been featured on multiple local news sources. Bobbi’s idea of fun is home renovation projects, whimsical drawings, being with her family and going to Disney World, her happiest place on earth. Follow her on Instagram @my_5_girls
8703 Angel Drive Local home tour
2021 Parade home by CAC Development, winner of Best Exterior, Best Interior, Best Kitchen, and Best Bath says it all. A great room with a 20 foot vaulted ceiling, gorgeous slate fireplace, and oak beams. Gourmet kitchen with a 9’ island, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, 5 burner gas cooktop, and walk-in pantry. The breakfast room has a coffee bar with a wine fridge. The large master suite has a modern barn door leading to the private master bath featuring custom herringbone tile shower, free standing tub & large walk in closet. The main level also has an office, formal dining room, an additional bedroom, a full bath, and a fantastic laundry room. Upstairs you will find three bedrooms all with large walk in closets. Two bedrooms share a Jack and Jill bath, there is an additional hall bath, a play room, and a spacious bonus room. The full walk out basement is spectacular with a 2nd kitchen, workout room, craft room, a 6th bedroom, full bath, and rec room. Outside covered deck, covered, front porch, and back patio stamped concrete driveway and patio, 3 ½ car garage, lush landscaping and irrigation. Julie Bosma has provided outstanding customer service for many years, and along the way formed long lasting relationships and friendships with homeowners. By understanding her clients goals; she is able to guide them through the process of buying or selling. Contact her at 812-457-6968 for more information on this beautiful home!
HOME RIVER VALLEY 05
HOME RIVER VALLEY 07
Bob Davis, Agent 1209 Lincoln Ave Evansville, IN 47714 Bus: 812-491-7888 www.evansvillesf.com
HORTICULTURE Pollination is one of nature’s most amazing phenomena. Most of us take it for granted. Yet the act (or acts) of pollination are responsible for fully a third of all the food we eat and contribute over $34 billion to the United States economy annually. Pollination is the process where the seed of the plant it fertilized. The role of the pollinator is to facilitate the transfer of pollen to the ovary of the flower to create a fertilized seed. In some cases, it’s the seed we eat such as in nuts. In most cases however, it’s the fruit that grows around the seed we are after as in apples, peaches, tomatoes, etc... In the absence of pollinators, we would not only be hungry, our whole ecology would collapse. The food we eat from pollinators is a tiny fraction of the variety and abundance of seeds and fruits that many species in the wild rely on as well. While we often think of the honeybee when we hear the word pollinator, literally hundreds of other species of insects are involved in the process of pollination as
Bee Keeping 10 HOME RIVER VALLEY
POLLINATION
well. Honeybees are generalist pollinators
services. Likewise many species of native,
meaning they a do pretty good job of
wild pollinators are on the decline though
pollinating many different species.
tracking those populations are difficult.
However many species of plants need
Honeybees however can be considered a
specialized insects in order to be
canary in the coal mine.
pollinated. One common example is the tomato which needs bumble bees to
If you are concerned about the plight of
vibrate the flower to release the pollen.
honeybees and pollinators in general, you
Watermelons are another example,
can help by supporting your local
honeybees can and do pollinate melons
beekeeper by buy local honey. You can
but native bees are known to increase
also help by being a smart consumer and
both the number and size of melons.
look for sustainable and/or pollinator friendly labels on food products.
Insects are also not the only pollinators, in some cases birds, bats, lizards, and even
Submitted by the Beekeepers of
mammals are known to pollinate certain
Southwest Indiana
plants. That said the honeybee is the most economically and ecologically important pollinator on earth. They are responsible for pollinating over 80% of our cultivated crops. Yet honeybees and many species of wild pollinators are struggling due to chemical poisoning and habitat loss. Beekeepers are experiencing 30-40% losses of hives annually, adding to the cost of the business of providing pollination
HOME RIVER VALLEY 11
INTERIOR DESIGN If you know me through social media or we are acquainted on a personal level, then you probably realize I have a genuine passion for furniture. Like architecture, furniture represents a certain style and is indicative of the time period in which it was created. Furniture tells a story of both new and old trends in the industry and is an essential part of your home decor. It is a reflection of your personality and allows others to understand your taste and preferences. On Fridays I create a tag line wherein I display new or unique pieces of furniture. I call it “Furniture Crush Friday,” and I showcase pieces that I have selected that I hope will inspire you to choose something for your home that you truly love. My own furniture crush lies in the mid century style, and it has been my absolute pleasure to seek out and purchase items that take me back to my grandmother’s era and the warmth of those days. The entire world is filled with amazing
Furniture Crush Friday 12 HOME RIVER VALLEY
furniture. At your fingertips is the ability to choose the perfect item, something that pleases you the most. I would love to accompany you on this exciting adventure. Let’s get your lifestyle design conversations started today. Brian Ferguson Interior Designer brian@yfactorstudio.com
HOME RIVER VALLEY 13
VENDOR FEATURE
If your mealtime often has a deja vu feel to
dinner table. To that end, it features
it, you're not alone. The majority of
carefully chosen kitchen gadgets and tools
American households have nine different
that make it quicker and easier to create
meals they make, rotating through the same
tasty, nutritious food, not to mention more
choices over and over again. Capers
fun. Plus, the store's cooking classes
Emporium aims to change that!
provide an opportunity for cooks of all experience levels to raise their game, learn
Located in New Harmony,
new techniques, broaden their culinary
Indiana, Capers Emporium's goal is to get
repertoire, and add new options to their
people back in the kitchen and around the
meal rotations.
Capers 14 HOME RIVER VALLEY
EMPORIUM
Private cooking class parties can be customized for the type of cuisine and the method of preparation desired. Hands-on? Sure. Prefer observation only? That's fine, too. Mind-blowing air fryer classes that feature dishes from cheeseburgers to cheesecake, brussel sprouts to salmon are particularly popular, as are courses in making bread and cheese. Attendees leave feeling empowered, inspired, and ready to hit the kitchen. And because tasting is believing, no one leaves hungry. Capers is accomplishing its mission, one class at a time. Photographs by Bree Neeley Neeley Photography
HOME RIVER VALLEY 15
Collectors Confession It’s not every day that collectors converge on each other, but every year, HOME managing editor Nikki Davis hosts her annual Vintage Pyrex and Glassware Swap and Sale at her Historic Boehne House home in Evansville. Vendor friends come from near and far to swap and sell their retro wares and tell stories of where they discovered their finds from the year past. The annual event is a colorful collection of eye candy that is sure to please, and major deals can be scored to add to your collection!
18 HOME RIVER VALLEY
Even the “ever on top of what’s in demand” furniture appraisers on PBS proclaim, “if it’s brown, it’s got to go down!” In value of course, which translates into desirability. None of that clunky, dark, 70’s esque stuff need apply. Dare I mention that dark wood paneling that was so often paired with the orange or avocado shag carpeting? No. White on White
and on many a Pinterest board, is there a shift on the horizon? Possibly, with traditionally used woods such as walnut, cherry, mahogany and teak taking center stage once again. It may be time to take a deep breath and see dark, rich woods with fresh eyes. So how exactly does this old theme look new again? Matt Duffy / Century 21
Every house flipper worth his or her paintbrush knows the same thing---brown baseboard and crown molding is the “kiss of death” and must be painted white. Or must it?
The key to avoiding a “grandma’s hand-medown” look is to use dark woods judiciously. By selecting one or two quality pieces in the same tone, or mixing several wood species in the same room, the result will be a more curated look.
In interior design, as in fashion, what’s old becomes new again. The trendsetters “zag” when everyone else “zigs.” Given that the last decade has seen plenty of white on white in residential design,
Dark Wood 20 HOME RIVER VALLEY
Room and Board
IN OR OUT
Balance can also be achieved by adding lighter colored accents with upholstered furniture pieces, area rugs or décor pieces. Another option is to add greenery and a few modern pieces, resulting in a look that remains current.
Jessica Glynn
To keep the look safely in the twenty-first century, steer clear of pairing dark woods with paint colors with warm undertones, such as yellow, orange, or red. Neutral tones in white or off-white or light grey will keep things looking contemporary. Finn & Juhl
When it comes to wood trim and moldings,
Written by Iva Kapetanovic
beautifully crafted millwork in dark tones exudes character and can add richness, soulfulness and warmth to a room.
HOME RIVER VALLEY 21
OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING
Create an Oasis in an Afternoon Feeling the pinch of sky-high lumber prices? What about service providers such a builders and patio creators with months-out start dates? If anything, the pandemic has gotten us all wanting to spruce up our spaces. Now, the only problem is that everyone else also has a deep need to design. So what’s a person to do who desperately wants an outdoor place to hang and entertain? You get creative! HOME Editor, JoElle Knight, was in the same situation waiting for a new concrete patio to be poured and a pergola built. With a start date months away, she didn’t want her family to go through summer without a space to sit outside and entertain. Her solution? Barrels, café lights and potted plants. Using the same space intended for their future patio, she bought four outdoor barrels and fitted them with large screw-in hardware to hold heavy metal poles on two corners of the space. Large potted plants provided the other two corner anchors, where she found some old copper poles and stuck them into the bottom of the pot’s soil. 22 HOME RIVER VALLEY
Then she bought outdoor-grade café lights, zip-tying them to each top of the corner poles. Two other barrels were set against the house and an old slab of painted wood set on top to create a make-shift buffet table. A patio table and outdoor umbrella provide shade during sunny days and two cedar benches were set to provide extra seating and a boundary for the space. Extra plants and large pots give the space color. Now her family can enjoy al fresco dinners and watch the kids catch lightning bugs while lit by the glow of her stringed lights.
From Outdated to Opulent
26 HOME RIVER VALLEY
When owners Ron and Debbie stepped into their newly bought, Westside home in the Poplar Grove area, they knew they had a daunting task before them. The sweet deal that landed them the two-story Victorian-era house also meant they had the unenvied task of unburdening it with decades of outdated stuff. Clearing out towering piles of boxes, furniture and past belongings became their first priority before they could tackle room by room renovations. Always up for a challenge, these two DIYers literally dove right in and spent weeks clearing, cleaning, and repainting each room. When they were done, they were left with a house of large spacious rooms, a charming sunroom, huge upstairs living space, a butler’s pantry and a vintage kitchen. Over the past 8 years they have tackled literally every space and renovated them to reflect their love of French Country Style and of course, chandeliers. Their children jokingly call it their Chandelier Palace and with over 10 chandeliers, it certainly sparkles. Renovations included a massive list of tasks not for the faint of heart. Stripping and staining wooden floors, tile-laying, whole-house painting of both the interior and exterior, new landscaping, a lush vegetable garden, a completely renovated bathroom and new antique light fixtures for each room are just some of the renovations they have taken on to create a home that exudes vintage, romantic vibes. They both say it has been worth every bit of work to create a home that is so uniquely theirs.
HOME RIVER VALLEY 31
REAL ESTATE Are you preparing to put your home on the
Clean and declutter by taking a critical eye
market? If so, then just remember that first
at your “stuff.” If you find when you are
impressions are everything! So with that in
tidying things up that your personal
mind, consider that when it comes to
belongings aren’t fitting in your space,
“staging,” you have lots of options
consider putting your overage into a
available to you!
temporary storage unit.
Why should you stage a home? Because
Depersonalize your home by removing/
staging your home and presenting it in its
putting away personal items such as family
best light can often net you a higher profit
photos. You want new buyers to picture
from the sale. You can either do this by
themselves in your home, not see you and
going DIY, bring in a professional stager, or
your family around every turn.
have your real estate agent digitally stage the home if it is vacant to help your home
Remember that not everyone is a pet
stand out from the competition.
person and hide away Fido or Fluffy’s care items. It is best to try and remove any
Drawing buyers in by helping picture
perception of pets if possible in order to
themselves in your space is a critical first
not conjure up the smells and/or potential
step to obtaining an offer. With that said,
damage or wear and tear pets can have on
“According to the Zillow Group Consumer
a home!
Housing Trends Report, 82 percent of urban sellers, 71 percent of suburban sellers, and
If you want to bring in a professional, you
61 percent of rural sellers say that staging
can do partial and whole home staging.
their home is one of the top pre-listing
Partial staging is when you take care of the
activities they complete.”
cleaning yourself and bring someone in to put on the finishing touches. They might
If you are planning to stage your home
rearrange your current furniture pieces, or
yourself, here are some ways to start…
they might just do a walkthrough and give
Staging Options to Sell Your Home 32 HOME RIVER VALLEY
your items yourself. A full home stager on the other hand will help you room to room by consulting and providing the furniture used. Lastly, another option is digital staging, which has recently been brought to the spotlight. Work with your agent to digitally put furniture in a room so that you can effectively and quickly sell your home. Digital staging can help enhance photos and assist potential buyers imagine use of the space.
BEFORE
Whatever route you choose, working with a professional Realtor can help you with the advice what is the best route for your to help obtain top dollar for your home! Contact one today to assist with your listing! Nikki Davis FC Tucker Emge Realtor/Broker 812-449-4118
BEFORE BEFORE
Stat source: www.zillow.com/sellersguide/how-to-stagehouse-to-sell BEFORE
HOME RIVER VALLEY 33
Before & AFTER Hankins home reno
We’re loving this before and after. From the homeowner: "This is something we have been wanting to do for years. We finally got our shot to do it. Our house was originally an old Farmhouse turned duplex turned back to a single family home. When we bought the house about 10-11 years ago, it was from an investor who turned the duplex back into a single family home. The layout was choppy and had a lot of wasted space. The washer and dryer was in a ‘closet’ in the kitchen,
the kids’ things was something very high on my NEED list. We wanted a laundry room. Our office off our living room was our pantry, so we wanted to make sure our kitchen had cabinets on every wall to hold all of the small appliances, cook ware, food, etc. We called Newburgh Bath Experts, and Carl took them on a tour of our downstairs. We explained our thoughts and what we had visioned for our house. I sent multiple Pinterest ideas on what I wanted for my fireplace/tv stand, my drop station,
[and while] the kitchen was large, [it] wasn’t being used to its capabilities. We had a living and family room that was two separate rooms. The
coffee/whiskey bar, etc. Josh and his crew at Newburgh Bath Experts then went to work. They were able to take our thoughts and vision and
layout was fine and something we could handle at the time since the kids were little and that allowed them to have a ‘playroom,’ but we knew from the time we bought the house there was so much we could and wanted to do to the house. We wanted to move our washer and dryer to a small office space off of the living room, we wanted to open up the kitchen, living and family rooms to have more of an open floor plan concept. With having four small kids, animals and a very busy schedule that comes along with four kids it was hard to make our home into our dream home. So fast forward to now, [and] we were able to take advantage of the high property values and the low rates and make our dream a reality. Carl and I both had a vision of a modern farmhouse type of look. Carl loves to cook so he wanted a large island with a six burner gas stove. That was his two main NEEDS. I wanted a fireplace with a mantel. I needed a place to hang Christmas stockings. Having an area for the kids things such as backpacks, shoes, keys, mail, etc was very important to me. So a drop station/hook area for
made it better than what we could have imagined. In all it [took] around 12 weeks to finish the entire project. It took 10 full weeks for us to get back into our full house to use the kitchen and living room completely. We still have a few odds and ends that needs to be done.” -Nicole Hankins NMLS 1634704 Mortgage Loan Originator Heritage Federal Credit Union www.hfcu.info/nicole After Photos By Jessica Bond - Photographer
HOME RIVER VALLEY 35
Before
Before
Before
Before
HOME RIVER VALLEY 37
Before
Before
Lake Living
Before & After
42 HOME RIVER VALLEY
Sometimes a home away from home is exactly what the doctor ordered, and never is this more enticing than when that bonus home is on the water. While we here in the River Valley are nowhere near the coastal breezes, we more than make up for our lack of ocean living with an abundance of large lakes perfect for boating, skiing, and general lake-life relaxing. With large lakes such as Patoka Lake, Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake within an hour or two drive from our area, there are an abundant array of lake houses, lodges and condos just waiting for you to rent. Check out this recently renovated condo, just steps from Kentucky Lake near the popular Moors Marina in Gilbertsville, KY. Transformed from an outdated 90’s apartment to a breezy, bright, lakeside condo, Buckhorn Condo is an ideal place to unwind and have waterbound fun with your family and friends. Now available to rent on all the major vacation rental sites, you can have your pick of dates for a lake getaway. With a focus on watery blue tones and bursts of coral and orange, this condo was designed to unwind. A full kitchen accommodates any cooking sessions while the outdoor balcony is ready for relaxation. Bedrooms decorated in layers of patterns and blue colors give you privacy and the living room is well situated for conversations and game time.
A private dock slip allows for boat owners to be steps away from lake launches and a community fire pit beckons you to enjoy s’mores and a cozy night under the stars. To book your stay go HERE.
46 HOME RIVER VALLEY
QUICK FIXES UPSCALE YOUR GLASS-FRONT BOOKCASE Our editor, JoElle Knight, is always looking for ways to incorporate more storage into the co;age home she shares with her 3 children and husband. Recently, she bought a set of standard white bookshelves with clear glass doors to provide pantry storage for food while their kitchen underwent renovaAons. Not one to pass by an opportunity to bring design into her projects, she decided to paper the backs of the top half of the shelves in a chinoiserie-pa;erned, removable wallpaper. But, instead of papering the backs of the bo;om of the shelves, she papered the backs of the glass doors to block the assortment of food items from sight. The finished project is a gallery of mementos and family pictures on display while blocking sight of the muchneeded pantry storage. Remote control ba;ery puck lights adhered to the tops of the shelves are the finishing touch to a budget makeover. Want to recreate this project for your home? Find these items and similar ones through our Amazon links below: White Glass Door Bookshelf Chinoiserie Peel & SAck Wallpaper Ba;ery Powered Remote Control Puck Lights Do you have a Quick Faceli0 in your home? We’d love to see your crea:ve ways of transforming small spaces using ingenuity and style. Message us your ideas on our HOME River Valley Facebook or IG page!
Quick Facelifts FOR YOUR HOME
48 HOME RIVER VALLEY
\
HOME RIVER VALLEY 49
ENTERTAINING
Do tropical-themed parties bring to mind images of tiki umbrellas, coconut drinks and saturated sunset colors? While we love any chance to have an island-vibe party, we also love the idea of turning the standard color palette on its head and creating something a little more on the chic side of the tropics. To create this cool color tropical tablescape, we took our cue from the flora and fauna of the rainforests and islands. Large fronds of palm branches and purple toned orchids give us a look that is less Tiki and more Bali. A crisp white tablecloth, bold patterned charger plates and gold utensils elevate the entire look, making the floral the showpiece of the table. Our lantern centerpiece swaps candles for overflowing orchid blossoms creating a look of a flower display box. For our dessert cake, we took a bronze outdoor metal table and got clever with a new gold wire wastebasket. By turning it upside down, we created a platform for our cake and a cage to insert palm branches and orchids within it. The whole look is an unexpected minimal tropical style with metal accents sure to impress your guests and make them feel swept away to a resort in the islands.
Chic Tropical Dinner Party 50 HOME RIVER VALLEY
Produced and Styled by JoElle Knight Photographed by Sharin Shank Photography Floral by Zeidlers Flowers Cake by Pactre
HOME RIVER VALLEY 51
The Attic Reno Before & After
54 HOME RIVER VALLEY
HOME Co-Editor Nikki Davis and her husband have wanted to convert their third story attic into livable space since they originally bought the home. The first challenge was to remove all of the existing flooring, but underneath lied a hidden gem of the old TKE fraternity insignia as this space had previously, many lives ago been the sleeping cold dorm for the fraternity. As an anniversary gift, Bob had the piece of the home’s history extracted, and it now hangs on the residence’s 2nd story as a reminder of days gone by! Fast forward a few years (because the Davis family generally runs on full speed 365 days a year), and the majority of the renovation officially started during COVID year 2020. Drywall and supplies were hoisted through the moon window at the front of the house, extra expenses were paid to better secure the infrastructure of the home and to insulate the house, and slowly but surely the family room and additional guest suite started to come together. From the beautiful bathroom to the custom built-ins and unique bookcase, the family planned each detail with care to make the area as guest and family friendly as possible!
58 HOME RIVER VALLEY
Color can make all the difference in a living space! Our reader Hannah Whitehead "Saw on HGTV two colored cabinets: I needed them. So I got to work. Hubs even kept me company and built me pantry shelving. Swoon over my tiny victorian kitchen. It’s the little things.” Kitchen Before and After from reader Lauren Popp. Look how a can of paint creates a beautiful updated pop of color!
Before & After POP OF COLOR
HOME RIVER VALLEY 59
S I N CE 19 9 8
210 Main Street Evansville, IN 47708 (812)424-Cake(2253) PieceofCakeBakery.com
We have the happiest birthday cakes in town!
PINSPIRATION
INSPIRATION TO SOLVE YOUR DESIGN CHALLENGES
Cluttered spaces? Soaring Ceilings? Odd room size? We’ve faced our share of design challenges! Thankfully with the advent of Pinterest there are tons of photos and inspiration just waiting to be found! Each issue, we will tackle some common design problems that have stumped our readers. Send us your current home photos and we will scour the depths of Pinterest to find the best
GE DESIGN CHALLEN
Pinspiration to solve your home challenges!
Design Challenge : HOW TO SPRUCE UP AN ODD CORNER FIREPLACE Pinspiration!: While eye-catching, a corner fireplace stumps a lot of home owners. You usually can’t angle furniture in front of it, or it is used as a pass-through space to get from one room to another becoming a neglected feature instead of a stand-out one. Our solutions? Use the space for what you need while treating it as a cozy nook that beckons for a snuggled up reading or a intimate space for fireside board games. Think smaller furniture pieces such as a round side table, upholstered armchairs or pretty cushioned stools. Nestle them close to the fireplace and this forgotten corner may well become your favorite place to unwind!
62 HOME RIVER VALLEY
DESIGN
CHALLEN
GE
Mount Vernon Victorian Local home tour
Home seller Chris Johnson shares, “We are
town, so Mount Vernon made a lot of sense to
always on the hunt for unique homes, and
look at. I work in Evansville, so if we ever
when the Mt. Vernon Walnut house hit our eye,
return to the office rather than work from
we had to jump on sharing the photos and a
home, the commute is still manageable.
little history.” However, there was a perfect 4th ‘small What I know about the home is not in written
bedroom’ that I can make a home office, so it
information except what is in the abstract. I left
works out!
that at the house with the new owners. It tells about when it was built and who has owned the
Our son just turned 12 and going into 6th at
home up to two families before my husband
Mount Vernon Junior High School. Looking at
and me. The last family listed is the
having to change schools from elementary to
Funkhousers. They sold the home to Mr. and
junior high, it was also the right time to make a
Mrs. Hale. They owned it for 4 years. My
move from Evansville’s west side to wherever
husband and I bought the home in 1996. We
we ended up. New school, new town, new
lived there for almost 25 years.
home, etc. We are also getting married on Oct 2, so 2021 is full of new things for us!
The original owners built in 1900. The Rosenbaums owned the general store in town.
Beats how 2020 went for everyone, right?
There is a book on the history of Posey County. There is a picture of the Rosenbaums in the
AFTER store. You may [also] find the book in the
We were of course drew to the house, too. We love the age of the home (c.1900) and history.
Alexandrian Library in Mt Vernon. There was
We are the 10th owners of the home, which is
also a Rosenbaums Newelry store. There is a
pretty amazing considering its age. I am a
building on Main Street in town that still has
history nut, so I had to do the research, even
their name painted on it.
before the Jonhsons told me they had paperwork (abstract) of the home. A little
I know the home was painted gray. The
history of Mt V shows that these plots of land
original gray is still under the siding. There is
were originally given to William Henry Harrison
also a block with a ring in it where horses
by President James Madison. We are in the
would be tied up still in the front yard by the
“Williams Section” of MTV, as Aaron Williams
street.”
was one of the original guys to split up much of the land. We’re Williams Plot 188. Here’s my
New owners Richard W. Morris, Katherine
quick story on the history, I am sure you’ll be
Conner, and their son Quinten Conner add, “I
sorry you asked..
think we were drawn to the location. I grew up in Posey County ,and she grew up in a small
Mount Vernon, Indiana has a long history. In the early 1800s, the then Governor of the Indiana Territory (and eventual eighth President
HOME RIVER VALLEY 65
of the United States), William Henry Harrison,
Douglas passed away in 1925 and Margaret
was granted 371 acres of land by President
lived on Walnut until her death in 1944. Since,
James Madison to further bring settlers to the
seven other families have raised their families
area.
in the home. Our home.
Before moving to Ohio, Harrison sold off much
There you have it I guess.
of his land. 185 acres were sold to a man Aaron Williams in 1816 for $500. The area of town still
Our favorite part about the house since we’ve
bears his name today, 205 years later.
settled in? Small town feel is great and we’re close to most anything we need. Quinten can
In 1819, a group of stock investors that
walk to school. Everything you need is a few
included Jesse Y. Welborn purchased the plots
minutes drive at most. But the space we have
divided by Williams to continue the expansion
in this house also allowed us to have a
of the small community.
dedicated room for our pool table … Having what we call the ‘pool room’ is awesome. It’s a
In February 1835, the Welborn family split off
great thing to have for the family, and it beats
plots of land they owned in the Williams Part of
having it in the garage like we did in our
Mt. Vernon. Most of the plots were passed
townhouse in Evansville. Sounds funny, but it’s
down to other members of the Welborn family.
our favorite room in the house now.”
Williams Plot 188 was purchased by Peter
FC Tucker Emge Agent Peggy Forbes,
Shelhorn in July of 1849.
represented the seller and FC Tucker Emge Agent Will Ritter represented the buyer on the
Eventually the undeveloped plot sold to the Rosenbaum family in December, 1887 after the Shelhorns failed to pay taxes on the land. The cost to the Rosenbaums? $1135. Circa 1900, David Rosenbaum, a local pharmacist at his family store built a Queen Anne Victorian home on that very Walnut Street plot. The Rosenbaums moved to Cincinnati in the summer of 1917, selling the family home for $4500 to an Ohio River Steamboat captain, Douglas Jones and his wife Margaret. Captain
sale of this home this past spring.
HOME RIVER VALLEY 67
HOME RIVER VALLEY 69
OUTDOOR SPACES
A Touch of Design: Outdoor Spaces Designing Your Setup Before purchasing furniture or diving head first, think about how you want to use your outside space. Will you be hosting friends and family? If so, how many place settings do you need? Will you be using this as an alternate place to work or primarily just leisure? Imagine ideally how you want to use this space and choose furniture that supports the activities you will be enjoying there. This will help you figure out what you need in your outdoor haven whether that is entertaining guests, serving up cocktails, or writing on a laptop. I use my front porch mainly for morning emails and savoring a hot cup of coffee. I’ve picked comfortable, ergonomic seating and several small tables that are easy to move for my computer and a drink. Pro tip: Scotch guard your furniture immediately to protect your new digs. If you have problems with birds hanging out on your furniture, string gold metallic ribbon or wrapping paper in the area where they like to hang out. Your feathery friends should keep away without any harm. Add a citronella plant or candle to help keep insects at bay. 70 HOME RIVER VALLEY
Ambiance & Theme Think about the mood or the kind of vibe you want in your space. Choosing a central theme helps steer decisions and guide your visual aesthetic. Pick a color palette that fits your concept but keep it flexible. Choose items that spark joy and bring you happiness. A few pieces of inspiration can help you build a collection. I personally tend to mix and match palettes. My backyard area is a warm cedar wood, a light tan fabric, dark gray rod iron, and striped navy and white patterns. My front porch is black galvanized steel, acacia wood
and an off-white fabric. Lighting can completely change how a space feels and allows you to utilize these locations for longer amounts of time long after the sun goes down. Consider what kind of light you will need to support your activities. Do you have any fixtures on your house that will help shed light on your space? String lights are a great way to bring soft ambient light and style to your space. I’ve got a few solar powered sets hanging on my fence that automatically come on at dusk which I absolutely love. They are very low maintenance and durable. Keep Shade in Mind There are a variety of methods to bring comfort and shade alfresco. These options extend your living space and allow you to spend more time outside while enjoying extended seasons. Depending on your budget, a pergola is a great option. You can purchase at a number of stores or DIY from scratch. Sun shades come in many different sizes and colors. These can attach directly to
the side of your house, a fence, or trees using strong rope or twine. An umbrella provides another accessible option with lively patterns and shapes to boot. Market umbrellas are very popular and work well between a few chairs or at the center of a table. Some umbrellas have built in lights but be sure to look for an extra heavy base if you live in a windy area. Think About Privacy A little privacy can transform a typical yard into a hidden sanctuary. But solitude comes at a price. A full fence is brilliant but consider alternatives if that’s out of the budget. A partial fence even ten to fifteen feet long can offer a lot of privacy without making you feel boxed inside your backyard or exposed to your neighbors. Privacy can also be achieved using shrubbery. Pick fast growing greenery like a burning bush, a leyland cypress, a green giant arborvitae or an emerald green tree. Plant several of these in a row to serve as a privacy screen. HOME RIVER VALLEY 71
Upgrade Your Space with Layers If you’re looking for a way to elevate your present area, add dimension to your space by incorporating elements that boost your current arrangement. These are simple upgrades that can offer a major glow up. Outdoor rugs are an excellent way to integrate color, texture, and patterns. Avoid materials that will mold or mildew. If you’re using a rug underneath a dining table, be sure to pick a rug large enough to pull out all the chairs comfortably. Side tables can bring charm and functionality. I like to infuse multiple styles to curate my look. Planters are another way I like to bring personality and texture into my spaces. They can change with the seasons, are a nice pop of color, and a beautiful element to any space. Don’t be afraid to have some fun and play around a bit! There are no strict rules, give yourself permission to play. This is your space and you have the opportunity to create whatever atmosphere you desire. No need to rush, you can slowly collect inspiring pieces and develop your own oasis over time. Jacklyn Nicole
Creating a Backyard Paradise Built on a budget
When we started creating our backyard paradise, we had one goal in mind, to create a space for our whole family to enjoy for years to come. Our plans took years to create and we still have more ideas. We have built things as we can afford them and most everything was done by us with the help of friends and family. We knew what we could do and what we needed to outsource. This kept our costs down and our plans on track. We always consider function first. It does not matter how great our outdoor space looks if it does not function for our family’s needs. Carefully plan your outdoor space, even if you can only do one project at a time. With this mindset, we have created an every growing vacation space right in our backyard.
HOME RIVER VALLEY 75
Before & AFTER Worker Row House Transformation
Over 100 years ago, many neighborhoods were
backsplash and appliances were brought into the
created near railroads and factories to provide
kitchen where a new rustic, white island acts as
affordable housing for industry workers near their
the showpiece to the vintage farmhouse style.
place of employment. Now you can find the commonly called, Worker-Row houses in many
Whites and grays were chosen for both the newly
Midwestern and southern towns. Evansville is no
constructed bathroom and the renovated
exception and familiar neighborhoods such as
additional bathroom. Breezy sheers and patterned
Franklin Street and the Howell area have avenues
curtains show off the tall windows and allow for
filled with these classic, simple houses. Most
both privacy and light to filter throughout all the
consist of shotgun style design with rooms
rooms. Julia says she cannot be happier with the
erected in a row, hence their name.
changes that breathed new life into the spaces while still maintaining the historic charm of this
Owner, Julia Baker was looking to downsize and found the Howell neighborhood to offer one such house. With the rooms all on one level, a walkable neighborhood and easily managed yard space, she felt it offered the ease of living she desired. She and her family quickly set to work gutting and renovating the kitchen and created better flow from the living room to the back kitchen by constructing a hallway with French-sliding doors to access the now-private second bedroom. An oversized utility room provided ample space to add a second large bathroom to the home and the washer and dryer were moved from the kitchen to the master bedroom for suite-style, ease of access. A large closet was added to the master bedroom and a picket fence was placed around the front yard to add function and charm to the simple home. When designing the overall style of the home, a classic color palette of blues and accents of reds were chosen to flow from room to room. All trim was painted bright white to highlight the soaring ceilings and transom windows. New cabinets,
78 HOME RIVER VALLEY
classic-style house.
Before Before
Before
Before
80 HOME RIVER VALLEY
Before
Before
Before & AFTER THE PLAZA HOUSE
The 835 Plaza Drive, Evansville house currently for sale has been the home of three families over the years. It’s current owners Lindsay and Steven Charles invested over $100,000 in renovations into the home after they acquired it from his grandmother in 2015. Prior to that, the Brill Family built the home, and they had the twin girls that the upstairs back bedroom built in custom storage and vanity were built for. Art and Bonnie Holm bought it from them. Art died in the 1990s, and Bonnie lived there until she passed in the nursing home. The Charles family purchased the home from their family at that time. The home is the perfect combination of vintage charm meets modern neutral colors and updates! Boasting 3,638 square foot on the main and second floor, it also includes 1870 of basement space for entertaining and storage!!! You probably couldn’t tell it from the road, but the home includes 4 beds/ 2.5 bath and sits on .76 acre lot. The main floor includes 2 fireplaces, a large living room, a four seasons room (used by the homeowner as a master bedroom), and a family room/den! Two bedrooms and a beautiful kitchen with updated backsplash and stainless steel appliances round out the first floor! Then head on up to the second floor, which includes 2 more bedrooms, a full bath, freshly redone hardwood floors, a walk-in storage room that runs almost the entire length of the house, and built in custom storage. Downstairs you will then find a full basement with an entertaining/family room space that
Vintage Photograph
includes a wide, brick fireplace and freshly epoxied floors. The storage and
HOME RIVER VALLEY 83
laundry area in the basement are also HUGE! Then don't miss the downstairs workshop, too! The basement is so big!!! Next, head out back to the brick patio perfect for entertaining all of your guests, and then don't forget the 3 car garage and the spacious backyard, all privacy fenced in for your comfort and convenience! Because Plaza Drive is such desirable neighborhood, we asked the Charles family’s neighbor Becky Brown to weigh in a bit more on the street as well! Becky has lived on Plaza Drive since the summer of 1969. Her memories of the street include, “There were no fences in the back lawns—you could see through all properties north to south like a huge parkland. There were no manmade boundaries… An agricultural field existed along the back properties from Outer Lincoln to Newburgh Road stretching west to the houses along Burkhardt Road. Corn/ soybeans crops were alternated year to year.” She goes on to share that “houses have been moved or taken down and replaced, some have been reimagined and some have changed very little during the past 52 years.” She adds, “One of the most frequent comments I hear from the general public when I mention owning a property on Plaza Drive is that the eclectic design aesthetic of the homes is pleasing.” She also goes on to share that, “US House of Representatives (INR), Roger Zion lived in the house across the street from the Charles’s home while he was in office in Washington DC
Before
Before
Before
1967-75” and that “Plaza Drive homeowners through the years have been passionate about their edible and ornamental gardens. Plentiful, homegrown veggies could be purchased from the owner of the far southwest corner home during Summer months and many admired and wrote about the azaleas grown by a renowned owner on the east side, mid-street. (A holly tree in my Back Garden is from a property two doors south where the house was moved and the owners allowed neighbors to help save plant material that otherwise would be uprooted because of the structural move.) Original owners still live on the street; newer owners’ grown children have purchased properties and live on the street. Plaza Drive has always been a home to residents of various ages… young and old alike. It’s been difficult for childhood friends of mine letting go of their parents’ homes on Plaza Drive if/when needed. It’s a street where memories have been made and kept for a lifetime!” For more information on this home, contact FC Tucker Emge agent Nikki Davis at 812-449-4118
Before
HOME RIVER VALLEY 85
Before
Before
HOME RIVER VALLEY 87
ISSUE 17 2021
ISSUE 13 2020
Wedding Planning
DURING COVID
Bonfetti
EPIC CREATIVITY AND FUN
Covid Honeymoon
Editors’ Picks
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pandemic Weddings
REAL COUPLES AND THEIR COVID WEDDINGS SHARING THE
THE BEST OF 2019 WEDDINGS!
Honey Bee
THE SWEETEST INSPO SHOOT EVER
love IN OUR BEAUTIFUL River Valley
REGION
SHARING THE
love
IN OUR BEAUTIFUL
River Valley
CHECK OUT ALL OUR GORGEOUS ISSUES
ENGAGED-RIVERVALLEY.COM
Check out
HOMERIVERVALLEY.COM
REGION
@HOMERiverValley
