Brooke and Brittany Richards tore a page out of Brooke’s history when the young couple moved into a bookstore built by his late father.
The Cumming building was fashioned after a store that Brooke’s dad, Dennis, worked in as a kid in Maryland. D. Brooke and Son Booksellers was filled with rich, dark wood, built-in shelves containing 10,000 books, including rare titles and Bibles.
Brooke, whose childhood home was next door, did not continue the business, but the couple decided when they got married in 2008 to turn the bookshop into their residence.
“When Brooke mentioned us living in the bookstore, I was totally excited about that. It had so much charm and character,” Brittany said. “I knew that we could make it look beautiful and make it work.”
Snapshot
Residents: Brooke and Brittany Richards, their kids, Tripp, 5; Ethan, 4; and Sydney, 2 1/2; and dogs Denver and Dawson. Brooke is an owner of Team Elite Baseball, a travel ball team; Brittany is a stay-at-home mom.
Location: Cumming
Size: 2,600 square feet, three bedrooms, one bathroom
Year built/bought: 1995/2008
Architectural style: Storybook farmhouse
Favorite architectural elements: The built-in bookshelves and stained glass windows. "This bookstore had a special place in his heart and that's why we love it so much," she said.
Project consultants: Michelle Mentzer (Brittany's twin sister), who owns Miles Design Group
Renovations: They remodeled the bookstore area to add two bedrooms for the kids, which retained the built-in bookshelves. The main area was one open room, but now has a foyer, two living rooms and a dining room. In the only bathroom, they removed the carpet and brass fixtures to make room for tile, wall sconces and a new bathtub. They turned part of the book storage area into a hair salon where Brittany cuts hair for family and friends. The rest of the storage space now holds a laundry space and closets.
Interior design style: Americana
Favorite kid-friendly elements: The sliding ladder in the living room, and furniture that can withstand nicks and scuffs from toy cars and other play. "I have a lot of the older furniture, which is strong and well made. Kids really can't do too much damage to that. Also, we prefer the more shabby chic and scuffed up look," she said. "If it scratches it a little bit, it looks more perfect in my eyes, because it was meant to be that way."
Favorite outdoor elements: Spending time on the front porch, where they can watch the cows on their 18-acre property.
Resources: Furniture and accessories from Z Gallerie, HomeGoods, Kirkland's, Queen of Hearts Antiques and Interiors, The Green Bean Exchange and Scott Antique Market. Light fixtures from RH, Circa Lighting, The Home Depot and HomeGoods.
Decor tip: Use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint to update furniture. You can mix regular paint with it to make your own color, she said. For example, she blended her wall color and trim color with some of the blue decorative Chalk Paint.
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