Lady Bessie’s Room at the Mayberry Manor – The Caudle Home Place – in NC

The before and after photos of Lady Bessie’s room reveals that it was used to store decorating items that may or may not be used in the house. It remained full of “stuff” for most of the project. Now, I can better imagine the beautiful Lady coming in to take her ritualistic afternoon nap in the big sleigh bed with the luxury bedding pulled up to her chin. Lady Bessie was the loveknot that held the Caudle family together. And she did it with grace, charm, and elegance. The Mayberry Manor is filled with memories of the great lady who, lived, loved, and labored there.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Read Full Post »

My Next Project

I’ve got my hands full with this wonderful project. The home was built in 1940-41.  I hope you can help me with ideas as I work my way through the monumental task of bringing her out of disrepair and into her majestic splendor without changing her dated character. Some updates have been good, and some have not.  The gutters are pouring water onto the wood trim instead of draining out properly. Holes have appeared at every corner, and are big enough for pigeons to freely fly in and out. Notice the window air conditioner in the upstairs bedroom.

Paint is peeling from the wood trim on the sun porch, and the screen door is an old aluminum door that blends with the windows.

The dental moulding and fluted pilasters around the door are dirty and the paint is peeling. Shingles have blown off the top of the frame, and the full-view screen door is broken out. The metal frame is all that’s left. The stoop is covered with indoor/outdoor carpeting that is frayed. The house boasts of crown moulding around the top that wraps around the corners. However, some of it is rotten.

Notice the four window air conditioners on the back of the house. The upstairs veranda is leaking into the laundry room below, and the ceiling is falling down. Another aluminum screen door is on the back. The basement access has no covering. Her redeeming qualities, beyond her obvious charm,  is the nice patio out back, the roof is fairly new, and the beautiful lot has a circular driveway. So put your thinking caps on and help me rescue this beauty, located in Mount Airy, NC.

Read Full Post »