Kevin Lee Jacobs

Gardening, Recipes & Home DĂ©cor Tips

House Tour Part 2: The Parlor

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 56 Comments

Last updated on September 17th, 2017

As I told you in Part 1 of this video series, Mr. Fox and I are restoring a house that was built in 1826. Part 2 features the green and cream parlor, in which Prudence the Portrait resides. To watch the video, just click the “play” arrow.

Well. I hope Prudence didn’t scare you. She’s actually a lot of fun, once you get to know her.

Got questions about the house? Please post your thoughts in the comments section below. I’ll try to provide answers when we shoot House Tour Part 3!

xKevin

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Comments

  2. 2

    Kay in Neb says

    Loving these house tour videos. Maybe the last one could just be a walk through (with voice over) from the front door through the house to get a sense of the size and layout?

  6. 6

    Becca says

    Wow! Those windows all the way to the floor are stunning! I’m wondering, are there any unique issues that arise stemming from them being all the way down to the ground-like flooding from rain or snow or security issues? Just curious…

  7. 7

    Becca says

    Also, can they be used as doors? So cool to see all these uniques features of your house! Thank you very much for providing this virtual window (pun intended)!

  11. 11

    Nancy says

    What a lovely room! We once tried to restore an older home, so I can truly appreciate what it must have taken to bring it back to it’s current beauty. Thank you for sharing the parlor with us.

  13. 13

    Charlotte says

    Hi Kevin: The house is really super and I applaud you for saving it from the wreckers! Who hung the wallpaper? I’m a retired professional paperhanger and my eyes go automatically to the installation. I thought I saw an error, but I won’t tell you where because then your eyes will always go to it first just as mine do. Did you pick out all the wallpaper in the house? Great choices here as well as in the foyer. Can you perhaps get more light for the videos as it was very difficult to see the details in the fireplace. Loving the tours. Keep them coming. Charlotte

  15. 15

    John says

    I’m so glad you didn’t rip out the over mantle! It is probably original to Clover Hill. ‘Chinoiserie’ (Chinese-style) mirrors, furniture and accessories were hugely popular in the 1820’s. No doubt the original mantle was more in the Federal style.

    Your home is truly enchanting!

  16. 16

    Sharon says

    What a pleasure to see an old house so sensitively restored! As a (mostly) recovered old house addict, I can appreciate the grueling work that goes into this project. I believe the legs on your pretty corner stand are called spider legs. Looking forward to the next installment!

  17. 17

    Sandy says

    Thank you for your wonderful tours. More people need to appreciate, save and restore older buildings. Newer structures, public or private, just don’t have the many architectural features that are so beautiful.

  19. 19

    Elizabeth says

    The dealer’s term for the legs on your candlestand is “spider legs.” The turned support on your Federal-period sofa is “arm support.”

  20. 20

    Sandy Martinez says

    Kevin, what a treat to wake up to. Thank you for showing us your home again. I bet the parlor is filled with people at the holidays. I can just imagine you, the Silver Fox and all your friends laughing and drinking and having a wonderful time together. I look forward to your next video. Thanks again for sharing your love.
    Love, Sandy Martinez

  22. 22

    Stacy B. says

    Thank you for the tour, Kevin! I look forward to seeing it during the holidays ! I believe the arms on your sofa are referred to as “scrolling arms”.

  23. 23

    Gail L. says

    Thank you Kevin for sharing more of your home with us. It is just lovely to see all the work you you have put into to it to restore it! Shame on the people who wanted it for salvage purposes! Can’t wait to see the parlor decked out for Christmas festivities.

    And, dogs are always allowed on the furniture when they are family, as Lily is!
    Perhaps sometime you could share a bit more about Lily too? When and how did she come to be yours, what she likes to do besides assist you in the kitchen and with house tours? What type of dog do you think the original owners of the house might have had back in that period?

  25. 25

    Margo says

    Kevin- your floors positively GLOW! Awesome video. Nice to take a step back in time and picture oneself wandering those halls. Can’t wait to see how the bathrooms are done.

  26. 26

    Linda A says

    Hi Kevin, The doors to the parlour are beautiful. What did you
    do to clean up the wood and make it shine?

  27. 27

    Linda says

    What a beautiful room. I was most interested in those floor to ceiling windows. I was not aware of their existence . Do you put an exterior storm on them in the winter months? Anxious to see the room decorated for Christmas. You give such a nice presentation in your videos. Thank you for sharing, Kevin.

  30. 30

    Carla says

    Thank you, Kevin, for another tour! I’ve followed your website for several years, and have enjoyed the before and after renovations. You have done a wonderful job. It touches my heart to see someone who saves a wonderful old house, and loves it so much. Our home was built in 1890 and is just a folk Victorian, but we cherish every old quirk.
    Looking forward to more; God bless you and Mr. Fox.

  32. 32

    Pam says

    I love, love, love the parlor windows as well as the window treatment. I like them even more than the mantle. You’ve done a spectacular job with all of it!

  33. 33

    Ellie B says

    I love your tours, Kevin. Please continue! I would like to know more about Lily, too. I am also interested in any issues from the floor-to-ceiling windows and how you keep those floors in such perfect shape. I look forward to more videos and–of course–the Christmas decorations.

  37. 37

    Ardelle says

    Thank you Kevin. As a professional designer – retired – I appreciate your RESTORATION. I have cringed many times when wonderful homes have been ‘updated’ – which I referred to as destroyed. I gave up the new home side of business to only doing restorations. It’s like working a giant puzzle, being creative and having something unique and special. Thanks for the tour.

  38. 38

    Kathy C. says

    Thanks for the tour, Kevin. You know what would be helpful? A simple diagram of the layout of the house–just so we get a sense of how all the rooms relate to one another. Maybe you could just hold it up at the beginning of each broadcast.

    I think that you and Mr. Fox did an outstanding job of choosing colors for each room. I’m sure your wallpaper and fabrics are within your historically accurate parameters, yet all the colors are lively and vivid. (Just like you!)

  42. 42

    Gail says

    Clover Hill is so lucky you and the Silver Fox were able to purchase and restore her! In our town we have a beautiful Romanesque castle from the 1800s that gave up all its beautiful woodwork and staircases to renovate other historical homes in California. Fortunately the state recently deeded it over to our preservation group who has reroofed it and continues to restore and protect it.

  45. 45

    Frederique Jennette says

    Indeed gorgeous! As a Dutch citizen I am always so glad to see old houses Americans have restored in order to keep them for the future generation to admire. You both have furnished it beautifully, thank you for sharing with us all!

  46. 46

    Julie R says

    Kevin, I am glad that you have an appreciation for antique wood furniture. My dad used to make all kinds of furniture out of many different types of wood. He did beautiful work and I enjoy having some of his work in my home. I think the legs on the table in your tour are called spider legs. I so enjoyed this tour and I’m glad you included sweet Lily. She looks like she belongs on that couch. I’ll bet Lily can’t wait til there is a nice fire going in the fireplace once the weather gets colder. Am looking forward to more tours. I enjoy them all.

  47. 47

    Rose says

    Kevin,

    Thanks for sharing! Our home in Huntsville, Texas was built somewhere between 1880 and 1890. It was never as fine as home as yours. I think it would be considered a Folk Victorian, it has the “massed roof” and L that was common to Queen Anne homes. Most of it has been wiped away over the years in an effort to “modernize”. We are trying to give it back some era appropriate dignity, but once it is gone, you can’t put it back. I am so happy that you saved your old home from the wrecking ball!! The architectural features in your home are literally priceless!

  48. 48

    Patricia Cremens says

    As a born and raised New Englander, I love that you have a “parlor”. The rooms are beautiful and decorated with such flair and taste. I love this tour. Thank you so much for sharing your home with us.

  51. 51

    sherry garnant says

    I love these tours, such warm and cozy feel you have in your home. I think that is what is
    missing in the open space concept. would love to see more of your home, and also a layout
    would be great to see.

  52. 52

    Kathy says

    I have been privileged to be the caretaker-owner of 2 older homes, though neither was in need of the type of restoration you are doing. One was a bungalow and the other a colonial revival. The colonial revival celebrates its hundredth birthday this year and was loved by the families who lived in it. They would come back to to visit. Both daughters of the couple who built the house came to visit and the one loaned me her mother’s photo album so I could scan the photos of the house under construction and newly occupied. It is a record that I hope stays with the home. Congratulations on the wonderful job you and Mr. Fox have undertaken to preserve this gem. And, thanks for sharing with us.

  53. 53

    Barb says

    Kevin the corner table in House Tour #2 I believe is a Duncan Phyfe table created from 1768-1854 you can google them. At least that is what I think. Love the tours, your house is awesome.

  54. 54

    Leslie MacDonald says

    2 hours ago I stumbled across your tutorial on how to force tulip bulbs…..
    I so enjoyed your writing style, photos, and excellent information that I looked you up on Pinterest. One click led to another, until I was eventually taking video tours of your beautiful home!
    Thank you for sharing your passion for all things home, garden and food. Kevin your style and delivery exudes a warmth and “down to earthness” that will have me visiting your blogs regularly and watching any new videos you post.

  56. 56

    lani987 says

    Just lovely – the wallpaper and drapes really make the room.

    BTW – the legs on the table are called tripod spider legs. The table you have is a New England candle stand in the Federal style. Candle stands were lightweight and small so they could be moved about the room wherever light was needed at night. Usually the tops became ruined with scratches and wax drippings. Often the tops were replaced. Your is a very nice one.

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