A Family Farmhouse Full of Charming DIYs

When Maggie York met her now husband Adam in 2006, he was renovating his family’s century-old Illinois farmhouse. She ended up falling for both of them. “I’ve always had a passion for older homes, and the fact that Adam was fixing up the place himself was so impressive,” she says. She soon joined him, honing her design skills as they updated the 2,400-square-foot structure. “The house had good bones, but it needed a lot,” says Adam, who lived there as a teen. They worked with a contractor to open up the floor plan while keeping original features like oak flooring and beadboard ceilings. “When you live in a home that’s been special to so many people, preserving the history matters,” says Maggie.

Now, 16 years later, the Yorks have four kids and thriving careers (Adam started a sustainable farming business on the property; Maggie officially became an interior decorator) — and the house is as glorious as ever. "Maggie has truly transformed this house — it did not look like this when I was a kid!" says Adam.

The exterior looks refreshed yet classic with a timeless blue-and-white palette, which Maggie carried throughout the interior as well. The siding is painted Pure White by Sherwin-Williams with powder blue on the shutters and door (Blue Porcelain by Benjamin Moore). “The coolest thing is to watch my kids run around just like I did,” says Adam, “and to know this place will always be theirs.”

Serena & Lily wallpaper livens up the steep old staircase. Maggie worried a carpet runner would be a tripping hazard for the kids (and goldendoodle Woody), so she painted one on with Maison Blanche by Sherwin-Williams.

When the Yorks first renovated this space in 2009, they went with off-white cabinets; Maggie recently painted them Pure White by Sherwin-Williams. Polished nickel accents, including pendant lights from Visual Comfort and drawer pulls from The Home Depot, are timeless and fitting for a farmhouse. Maggie salvaged the mantel from the living room fireplace and had it outfitted with hooks from Target to hold shopping bags. She displays her ginger jar collection on top. The family has a greenhouse, so fresh veggies are always on the menu.

Everyone wants to linger at the table (from RH) thanks to the cushy chairs: Maggie reupholstered her old ones with performance fabric from Thibaut. “I wanted to sink in with friends and have a drink without moving to the couch,” she says. She loves the coastal vibe of the Serena & Lily chandelier so much, she put one in the living room, too.

Adam’s grandparents added this big, open room to the house in the 1970s. Maggie brightened it up with a mix of old and new pieces, including a coffee table that’s meant for outside. “I love mixing wicker with upholstery,” she says. The blue couch was a vintage score; Maggie had the slipcover made in an easy-to-clean fabric, then she added tape trim and bullion fringe. “I don’t want to sacrifice style just because my kids have chocolate on their faces!” she says.

The design decisions here started with botanical wallpaper from Lulie Wallace. Maggie painted the other three walls in matching Sherwin-Williams paint (pale turquoise is Finley’s favorite color), then added custom drapes from Merinda Studio and pink bedding. “I love the pattern on pattern on pattern,” says Maggie.

Maggie has lots of experience with blue-and-white color schemes — her clients with lake houses love the combo. Here she chose vintage-inspired Quadrille wallpaper and an Amanda Lindroth quilt. The tufted RH bed adds a formal touch but is super comfy. "This space is calming and serene — much needed with four kids!" says Maggie.

The couple’s oldest son inherited Adam’s childhood bedroom — and his style. “He’s an all-American farm boy,” says Maggie, so she went for classic pieces like a caned headboard, woven Target chair and Cailíní Coastal wool rug.

“The blues and greens in here remind me of the landscape surrounding the farm,” says Maggie. She found the garden stool at HomeGoods; the wallpaper is by Meg Braff Designs. “We only have two bathrooms, and Finley has claimed this one,” says Maggie. “I don’t blame her!”