When the Thomas family acquired the historic Laurietta estate near Fayette, Mississippi, the accompanying house was far from inviting. Built in the 1820s and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it had suffered years of neglect and was a shadow of its former grandeur.

Determined to restore the 2,770-square-foot home to its former glory, the Thomases embarked on a meticulous three-year renovation. Their dedication was evident in every step, including hiring a crane to lift the entire house onto supports. The home remained elevated for over a year while the foundation was repaired and new insulation, plumbing, and electrical systems were installed.

According to Country Living, the restoration team removed and carefully numbered each wallboard before reinstalling them after electrical work was completed. As they scraped away layers of old paint, they uncovered original artistic details, such as marbleized baseboards and faux bird’s-eye maple panels, which a restoration artist skillfully revived.

The Thomas family also referenced a 19th-century diary describing Laurietta’s interiors to guide their efforts. They sought to replicate the simple white and wood palette from the home’s early days. The heartwood floors were lightly sanded, intentionally preserving imperfections like scars and burn marks as a nod to the house’s history. “Those flaws are part of the story,” explained Tere Thomas. “Besides, Laurietta’s not a grand house.”

Once a dilapidated structure jokingly referred to as a “buzzard’s nest,” Laurietta has been transformed into a warm, welcoming retreat where the Thomas family now gathers for holidays and weekends, honoring the home’s rich past while creating new memories.