20 Woodlawn

We'll finish our Yazoo City, MS projects with one final renovation:  our home at #20 Woodlawn. It was a very special property and our home for 10 years. The memories we made there with family, friends and grandgirls during their vacation time made every ounce of effort we put into the place well worth it. But it was a Biiiiiig project!!!

On a rainy, late summer day, Scott and I followed our weary real estate agent--Glo Baker--up a crumbling driveway that seemed to lead nowhere... just like the contract we had put on the perfect red-brick two-story colonial with cute white trim that I had fallen in love with. Unfortunately, the inspection revealed some $20,000 worth of termite damage. I had been heart-broken.

Tired of looking at uninspiring homes, we trudged up the hill in our A/C-less 1965 F-100 side-step truck, peering through the windshield fogged by 100% humidity. A mature, well-shaped ginkgo sparked a glimmer of hope. I loved the tree's perfect little fan-shaped leaves shimmering fresh green in the late afternoon light. As we rounded the bend of the driveway, a structure--hidden from the road by the tall row of magnolias--revealed itself in all of its weathered glory. Graying cedar siding framed peeling-paint trimmed window walls covered an entire side of the house. Ornately carved, extra tall wooden doors marked the entrance and took me back--albeit it momentarily--to the summer I had spent in Michoacán, Mexico. Monster coastal oaks shaded the front of the house, and several tall southern pines loomed over it, their toes nestled in a bed of ruddy red needles. A moss-covered brick walkway led us up several steps and through an unkempt sea of green. I wanted to dance and cry all at the same time--every creative fiber of my being enlivened by the perfectly disrepaired structure and by the foreboding feeling that Glo--our fearless agent--had forgotten our limited budget. Why would she tease us this way? Scott cast her a sideways frown that screamed, "How could you do this to me?" as politely as possible, then followed her dutifully inside as she whispered, "Just take a look around."

A wide breezeway located off the three-vehicle carport showcased an archway of hand-hewn solid oak beams out of a 150-year-old barn. Glo began gushing magical details that showed its unique heritage as the brain-child of an eccentric artist. The terracotta tiles had been brought up from Monterey, Mexico, in 1967 when the home was built. Glo pointed out the one unique tile that sported a Chihuahua paw print perfectly set in it. The art room off the side-entrance was the artist's potting space--full of shelves and windows, and a work sink (perfect for my husband who loves to paint, I schemed). The banister and beams on the ceiling were also salvaged from an old  house and barn, the huge solid-core doors and brass hardware were out of an old downtown hotel. In the study--oh the study!!! --a wall of wooden paneling and the hand-carved mantel piece came from a turn-of-the-century home, scarred by years of blazing fires, now retired to the job of housing a simple set of vintage gas logs. Floor to ceiling built-in bookshelves and window walls (Anderson windows, Scott gasped) showed off the high-beamed ceilings and I imagined myself lying on a chaise by the fire reading many a good book. I continued to ooh and aahhh! at the glorious details:  a butlers pantry for serving drinks during fancy parties, a mid-century intercom system, a cloak closet for guests, a glass display case in the upstairs closet as big as a bedroom reclaimed from a downtown haberdashery (for all her mink furs and debutant gowns, I guessed). Meanwhile, Scott scoured the place for flaws. "Not a single crack in the walls. This house was built to last. Three-phase electricity! It must have cost them a fortune to install that. Do you think they just slightly overbuilt here?"

While Scott admired the home's perfect bones, I sat on the sea of carpet in the master bedroom and looked back and forth between two window walls--one displaying a magnificent view of the brick terrace and jungle of trees and flowering bushes out back, the other of the indoor swimming pool surrounded by more window walls. I was falling in love with a home we couldn't afford, but even more, I was intrigued by the one who had created this layout in her mind and lovingly gathered the historic and unique pieces and materials that made the house so unusual and eclectic. It was the final home of William and Genevieve Barbour--dreamed up and pulled together through years of planning and collecting.

A final tour of the backyard revealed broken brick steps and pathways leading to a termite eaten gazebo with marble floors pulled out of some historic setting. A rusty old green gate was "the original vault door from the Bank of Yazoo." And a five-tiered waterfall constructed of sandstone brought over from Vicksburg looked as if it had always been there. For a 1967 home, everything about it was meant to look aged, original and special. Part hacienda, villa and rustic lodge, the home--hidden on five acres of perfect peace--left us speechless. I loved the woods surrounding it making it feel like we were miles from anyone while in truth, we were less then five minutes from just about any location in Yazoo City.

The dreaded moment came, and Scott forced Glo to tell us the asking price. A native Californian, Scott was already used to sticker shock after living in Mississippi for seven years, but the asking price--though still considerably over our budget--was surprisingly lower than we expected.  She reminded us that Scott needed a house to work on (we are notorious home-improvement fanatics) and with his construction skills, restoring the home would be a realistic investment.

Needless to say, we bit. Of course, it has been somewhat of a money  pit--every old house is--but when renovating is your favorite hobby and you enjoy doing the work, restoring a house like this one is a gift...  meant to be shared! Ten years ago, on that first rainy day with Glo waiting in the kitchen (full of 1967 appliances that didn't work), Scott sat me down and said, "Honey, this is a huge financial commitment. There will be no vacations, no new cars and no new clothes." Those were hard words to swallow. "And where is God in this? Is this just what we want?" We eyed the pool again, an indoor pool--although currently a murky dark brown from lack of maintenance. "This house was built to entertain." We looked around the massive foyer that we have affectionately dubbed "The Hotel Lobby." And the Barbours did entertain--fancy dinner parties and high society function fitting of a well-known Delta family. "If we buy this house, we'll entertain for God," we agreed.

And entertain we have. In the early years, we held sleep over/swim parties for the Volleyball team we coached. We hosted youth group events, church picnics, and Bible studies. We housed a seminary student, a high school senior, a single mom with her young son, and wandering church planters who just needed to get away for a break once in a while. The Hilltop Haven--we liked to call it--provided the perfect setting for coffeehouse nights, where musicians provided live music and a message about a ministry close to their heart.

Granted, some of the renovations have been a bit taxing--like the year-long kitchen project, but with Scott's love for helping other people with their projects, we have been able to call in a few favors and enjoy roofing parties, a Quaker-like shed-raising and plenty of feedback on our finished projects. Everyone who comes over gets a house tour--which usually turns into a "closet tour" because the unique storage spaces are so spectacular, including the "Confessional," the concierge--drinks, anyone?, and the "Narnia wardrobe."

Our favorite times are family Staycations, when we heat the pool, sip wine or hot chocolate by the large lodge-like fireplace, enjoy meals in our sunny kitchen, take coffee breaks in the study, hike the deer trails on our five acres and play in the CHIP house (the old potting shed which became Carol's Happy Inspirational Place). The perfect ending to any day is live music around a campfire and roasting marshmallows under the tall pines.

In the final four years at 20 Woodlawn, we opened our home via AIRBNB to travelers from around the world. Blues-lovers, roadtrippers, foodies and vagabonds came from far and wide to stay in the upstairs suite and explore the Delta while relaxing at the Hilltop Manor. We loved making breakfasts for our guests--the infamous John Wayne Special or spicy, beer-batter pancakes--and hearing about their travels while sharing details from our experiences in Yazoo City. We learned so much about the guests who visited us, often talking far into the night, playing games like Mexican Train, cooking exotic dishes like Chinese steam rolls or Spanish Tortilla, hearing about politics and viewpoints from a multitude of countries and religions.

Because we didn't have family in Yazoo City, we developed a close circle of "y'all not from around here" friends with whom we shared holidays (when we couldn't be with family). Those were special times, and over the years, these families became family to us. We deep-fried turkey on the back terrace, played corn hole on the front lawn, ultimate Frisbee in the field, swam in the pool, set off dazzling fire-cracker shows and celebrated everything from Christmas to National French Fry Day. When one of these families asked to hold their daughter's wedding reception at our home, we couldn't have been more thrilled. At the same time, we received a contract on our home, and began to prepare for our move to Boise after years of wondering if our house would ever sell. Down to the final seven days in our beloved home, we decorated for the event, making sure the house looked its absolute best. It was a beautiful, momentous occasion, the perfect way to end our time there. Like the day we first saw 20 Woodlawn in June of 2006, it was a rainy, wet day. The expansive house was practically busting at the seems with people, forced inside by the storm. Hundreds of happy well-wishers celebrated the joining of two wonderful people, and in our hearts, we celebrated the amazing gifts this house had given us over the years.

Leaving 20 Woodlawn was bittersweet. There is no other way to describe it; we bonded with this house.

BEGIN THE TOUR:

 

 

Our first view of the property we would call home in 2006.

The sweeping driveway to nowhere was a bit of a mystery,

and that  perfectly shaped gingko looked like a bonfire blaze in the fall.  

 

#20 Woodlawn. Hidden by overgrown trees, we first viewed her in a slow summer shower.

The heavy afternoon air hung on us, and it felt like we were lost in a Delta swamp.

 

 

 

The mossy brick pathway was chipped and slick with moss. The coastal oaks hung low in front of the house, and the peeling paint were all signs of years of neglect.

 

 

BEFORE:

 

 

PROGRESS:

 

 

Our F-100 side step :)

 



BEFORE:

 



 

AFTER:

 

 

In 2012, this was the updated photo we used for our AIRBNB listing.

 Reroofed, painted and landscaped, it's an oasis ready to share!

The front parking pad was perfect for bible studies and Airbnb guets!

 

 

 

 

For several years, roofing became a hobby :)

And sadly, the skylights had to go.

The backyard was a jungle to be tamed.

Starting with the house, we stained the worn siding and repainted all the trims.

Scott even rebuilt several Anderson windows that had slowly rotted over the years. 

 

 

Scott rebuilt the broken brick steps and pathways,

and, once tamed, the mature landscaping wowed us

with spectacular blooms in every season.

 



 

In the late 1960s, Mrs. Barbour brought in stone from Vicksburg

 and had a five-tier waterfall created.

Scott's final project was getting the fountain working again.

 

 

She also had a unique gazebo built at the end of the brick walkway.

For several years, a tree uprooted by one of many tornadoes threatened

to fall on the structure. And it finally did.

 

 

 

 

The gazebo was built on a marble slab, which did survive.

With the help of a few friends, Scott designed and built a new structure in its place.

 

 

 

 

 

Inside, we loved the lofty ceilings and window walls.

The Monterey Mexico tile floors and old Chicago brick fireplace

were timeless classics. We called this the Hotel Lobby.

 

 

 

And of course, on the closet tour is... The Confessional (or cloak closet):

 

 

 

 The kitchen wasn't quite so classy.

Dated cabinets, a concrete countertop DIY, and appliances straight out of the 1960s

had to go. We got right to work!

 

 

We went with the open-concept kitchen,

easily removing the wall separating the dining room from the kitchen.

 

 

 

Resident Rosaline helped out.

 

The cabinets were custom-made:

 

 

The tiles were laid:

 

 

 

And Carol commissioned her favorite painter (Mom)

to create a masterpiece that would tie it all together!
 

 

 

The colorful Kitchen revealed:

 

Meals were cooked!

 

The kitchen bench seat was enjoyed by all!

(note:  griddle ready for those famous spicy beer-batter pancakes!)

 

Cooking events were held:

(I think that's a famous chef. or something)

 

International guests cooked with us

 (sweet couple from Spain here; Spanish tortilla)

 

And special events were celebrated.

Those sunflowers turned out great!!! (Thanks Mom!)

 

 THE POOL:

 

 





The pool!!! We sooooo enjoyed this room; but the highlight was sharing it with

friends and family during the holidays.

 Especially when it was steamy and warm inside and cold outside! 

 

 

 

 

 THE LIBRARY: 

 

(yes, that's a southern magnolia Christmas tree :)

 

 

 

That Master Suite with a view:

 

 

 

(the Japanese Maple carpet in Fall was my favorite view)

 

 

 The spacious master bath had unique features--

like vintage light fixtures and

 reclaimed marble and mahogany vanity tops.

 

 

 

 

The Gentleman's vanity:

 

 

updated: 

 

 

 

The Lady's vanity:

 

updated:

 

 

Goodbye blue tile:

 

 

 

AFTER:

 

 

 

THE POWDER ROOM

 

BEFORE:

 

 

AFTER:

 

 

 

 

The upstairs suite hosted our "daughter for a year" :)

 

 

Which eventually became a tranquil AIRBNB suite for our guests:

 

with views of the lush back yard

 



 

And there was the potting shed... barely standing:

 



 

Before... 

 

During:



 



 



 

building the loungers



 

the youth group roofed it for us!

 



 

Room with a (screened-in) view!

 



The CHIP house:  Carol's Happy Inspirational Place

 



 

The good times we had in this house...

 

 

In 2015, we said goodbye and prepared for new adventures!

 



 But I will always miss the Southland in the Springtime

and the beauty of every season at #20 Woodlawn.