150-year-old farmhouse renovated into a modern home

A couple of years ago the McPherson Farmhouse was loaded on two trucks, driven across the town of Grapevine, Texas, and plopped down on a grassy plot of land. The 150-year-old home looks like it should have been there all along, surrounded by tall trees and an idyllic white beam fence. And yet, one of the town’s oldest, most historic homes has undergone a huge transformation.

The home, first built in 1886, originally sat on 320 acres of farmland outside of Grapevine. When the family sold the farmland, it donated the home to the city, who moved it to its historic district and hired a team of renovators who specialize in updating historic homes. Throughout 2018, Dave and Siri Smith of Grapevine Historic Homes LLC transformed the farmhouse into a modern version of itself, while keeping the facade intact.

The new (old) house retained plenty of its rustic charm—it has whitewashed shiplap walls and ceilings throughout, original pine flooring, and two wood burning fireplaces that were rebuilt with brick from Virginia. The renovators worked with a paint historian to ensure the exterior paint reflected the era in which the house was originally built.

Inside, the farmhouse is more modern. Large windows line the living room and cast a warm glow on the white walls. A large renovated kitchen has marble countertops, new appliances, and a breakfast bar, while a cozy eat-in dining room sits just off to the side. The master suite is on the ground floor and features a fireplace, walk-in closet, and bathroom. A geometric, iron railed staircase leads from the living room to the upstairs where the other two bedrooms are.

The farmhouse is now on the market for the first time in 130 years—it can be yours for $699,000.