Making it Happen: Kelly Wilkness’ Soulful Story of Reinvention

Last week, I introduced you to Kelly Wilkness, the lovely woman who had beautifully renovated a home near mine. When I first met Kelly, I was impressed with her style and her vision in taking on such big project. But, as I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with Kelly, there’s so much more to inspire!

A wife and mother of two girls, Kelly is a former trial attorney. After deciding to take some time off from that career, Kelly took a chance on her writing by starting a blog, My Soulful Home. Over the years, the blog grew from its crafty start to a wonderful spot full of home inspiration, including design ideas, gardening tips, recipes and more. Blogging soon led to a podcast, and before she knew it, Kelly was a published author with a beautiful book, My Soulful Home: A Year in Flowers

House Envy: A Victorian renovation with heart & soul

Several months ago, I was walking in an area near my home and I saw the most beautiful house. I’d walked past this old Victorian home on many occasions, and had even been inside during an open house … but on this day it was like looking at a new house!

As someone who loves architecture and is constantly considering a remodeling of my own, I had to know more. So, I knocked on the door and met the sweetest woman, Kelly, who was responsible for this house’s unbelievable transformation. A former prosecutor who shares my love of architecture, design, gardening and more, Kelly was so inspiring … and a perfect fit for PLANK!

Grateful for My Full Plate

I should warn you … today’s blog is going to be all over the place … just like I’ve been for the past week, lol.

Between memorizing lines, working and helping my husband with a renovation project at his office, I’ve been stressed out and just plain bogged down. At times like this, my gut instinct is to say “let’s find something easy to do for the blog.” But then I realize that my life is probably like many of yours in that way, and this is one of the many reasons I started PLANK – to share and discuss this juggling act called life. And maybe, in doing so, we can help each other out.

The “Fruits” of My Labor

ScarecrowI have built a vegetable garden, in some form, at nearly every home I’ve lived in as an adult. They have taken many forms – big and small, in raised beds and in rows – but no matter their size or shape, I’ve always loved starting with literally nothing, creating something and then watching it grow.

And I’ve had fun with the gardens in other ways too. I used to live in a corner house with a nice size front/side yard. There, in addition to building a vegetable garden, I created a new “lady” scarecrow every year. It became something of an urban garden for the neighborhood, with people stopping by on walks with their dogs or babies to see how the garden was growing. It was so sweet!

Having a Vision

A few weeks ago, I blogged about “Having a Vision”and my friend Marlowe’s ambitious project of renovating a house that is over 100 years old. While I showed the progress over 3 weeks but it took Marlowe many months but she has completed it and it is absolutely beautiful. All the charm of an old house but with all the modern conveniences of a new one. It helps that

she has beautiful taste (believe me I was salivating)! A nice ending to this story is that she sold it before it ever went on the market to a nice family with young children who will enjoy it for years to come. Marlowe and her family made a nice profit and feel incredible pride for a job well done. She stuck with her vision and made it happen. I took a little walking tour so you could all see the finished product…. hope you enjoy!

 

Approaching the finish line

There have been some fun advances in my friends remodel. Oh, by the way, her name is Marlowe … just so I can stop saying my friend! She has similar taste to mine and we both love old houses, so it’s been great fun that she let me be a part of her project. She is getting close to the finish line and people are already clamoring for the sale. I know she and I will be sad, because it’s now the house we would both like to live in and are attached to our ideas. It has such beautiful open spaces that flow from one room to the next and wonderful high ceilings.

Work in progress/ home improvement idea

Another week of my friends remodel brought some fun ideas for me to share with you.

The downstairs has a long hallway that was not well lit. To brighten it up she put transom windows above the doorway on either side and painted it a light gray. She decided it still needed more light and that reflective would work. She had a handy man nail boards down the hall and will be painting the lower half a gloss paint in Benjamin Moore Linen White. It is not quite finished but has already added so much to the overall look of just an ordinary hallway for little effort and expense. This is an easy project that you can do yourself.