Our Story: Finding a 1960 Mid-Century Modern Home and Restoring with Intention
House of Carpenters isn’t new — it’s simply been waiting for the right season to come back to life.
The name first came to me years ago, when we bought our very first home: a foreclosure that had sat vacant for years and required more do-it-yourself projects than we could count. I dreamed of documenting our renovations, sharing ideas, and learning as we went. But then came babies. And if you’re a mother, you know just how emotionally, mentally, and time-consuming those early years can be.
Today, I’m in a new season of life. For the first time in 19 years of motherhood, I’ve found spare time again. All of my children are now in school full-time, and through sacrifice and intention, we’ve created a life where I don’t work outside of the home. That space — literal and creative — finally gave House of Carpenters room to breathe.
Finding Our 1960 Mid-Century Modern Home
We bought our 1960 mid-century modern home just over seven years ago. My husband’s work allowed us flexibility in location, and initially, we assumed we would move back to our hometown to be closer to family. But we quickly realized that the quiet, country life we longed for simply wasn’t possible there.
So we started looking for a new home base.
Eventually, we discovered a small town we instantly fell in love with. We made friends quickly, but homes rarely came up for sale. Then one day, a new friend sent me a listing. The moment I opened it, I knew — this was my house.
A House I Had Already Imagined
Here’s a little backstory. When we originally planned to build in our hometown, we had purchased land and were selecting house plans. The plans I sent to builders for quotes shared so many similarities with the mid-century modern home we would later buy: expansive windows, open living spaces, exposed beams, and wood-paneled walls.
The biggest difference? The plans didn’t leave much room for our family to grow.
This house did. There was space in abundance — so much that at one point we even considered renting out the lower level. If you believe in manifestation, I truly believe I manifested this home long before I ever saw it.
Seeing the Potential Beneath the Layers
The day we toured the house for the first time, my heart sank just a little. In the listing photos, I could see the potential. But walking through it — surrounded by decades of belongings — felt overwhelming. The original mid-century modern details were there, but they weren’t being allowed to shine.
Still, I trusted my intuition.
I knew this was our home.
The seller knew it too. Many people doubted she would entertain my offer, but she deeply cared about the house and wanted it to go to someone who would honor its history and character. To everyone’s surprise, she compromised — and just like that, our mid-century modern home was ours.
Bringing an Old Home Back to Life
Restoring this 1960 mid-century modern home has been a slow and steady process. We’ve made mistakes along the way, but with patience, creativity, and determination, most things can be fixed — and often, those mistakes become part of the story.
House of Carpenters is about honoring original architecture, making thoughtful choices, and proving that old homes don’t need to be erased to feel alive again.
Join me as I share my love story with this 1960 mid-century modern home — one intentional decision at a time.
