Courtney Vettel has a beautiful Instagram account and blog for The Vettel Farm, where she shares her favorite things, including creating, crafting, cooking, and collecting. Writing and photography have always been a passion for her, so the account is also an outlet to showcase those talents. Photos of all things antique, vintage, farmhouse, and historic restorations and renovations are highlights.
Courtney’s mom significantly influenced her hobby of collecting vintage items and antiques, something she has done most of her life. Together they are renovating a stunning historic 1885 Victorian home in Deadwood, South Dakota. The Victorian on Van Buren, as they call it, has been their special project. Her mother has been the general contractor while Courtney tackles the design and décor aspects.
They had been on the hunt for a notable home for quite some time, searching for a house with good bones and historical features. This one was the perfect fit because of the vintage charm buried underneath the rubble. The project was a complete renovation and took about nine months to complete.
Since the home had not been lived in for over 20 years, it was in rough shape. Thankfully, over the past 135 years, the original trim and flooring had never been painted or removed. The renovation team salvaged all of the trim, although it didn’t go without challenges. Even though things went a little slower than expected due to the pandemic, this allowed them to make thoughtful decisions throughout the renovation process.
If one couldn’t tell by looking through The Vettel Farm Instagram page, Courtney’s design style is vintage farmhouse. She loves incorporating vintage elements with a modern feel and appreciates the history and charm of historic features. This latest renovation of the Victorian on Van Buren took a more vintage, historical point of view. She installed Nostalgic Warehouse outlet covers, switch plates, and brass cabinet hardware to add vintage character to the home.
Courtney chose Nostalgic Warehouse hardware because, according to her, we have the best selection of hardware with an authentic vintage look. The house had all original doorknobs and hinges, so she chose hardware similar to the original pieces from the 1880s.
The Victorian outlet covers and switch plates were the perfect choices to marry the modern feel Courtney wanted for the home while also staying true to its historical roots. She says, “Man, oh man, do we get compliments on our light switch plates and outlet plates…the character they add is unmatchable!” She also included Meadows cup pulls and cabinet knobs in the kitchen to enhance the vintage style of the cabinetry. Nostalgic Warehouse has a fantastic selection to choose from, which made it easy for her to coordinate with what the house already had in place.
Someday, Courtney hopes to build a “New Old” home, essentially a new build but with historic elements. Nostalgic Warehouse will definitely be the one-stop-shop for all of her hardware needs. She also plans to someday restore a few other historical beauties and now knows the best hardware source for those future projects.
Courtney has a photographic memory, so she tends to think very visually. When starting a project, she loves making mood boards to see colors and styles in one place. She also loves hunting for inspiration on Instagram and Pinterest and then taking that inspiration and putting her own spin on it.
As far as tips for readers who wish to take on DIY home projects, Courtney says, “Make sure you go into the project with a good attitude. Whether it’s a large project or something small, new hardware, fresh paint, and new accents can make a huge difference. Take the time to prepare and plan what you really want to accomplish.”
Courtney plans to continue growing The Vettel Farm brand and preserve the rich history of all things antique, vintage, and historic. She also foresees another historic home renovation in her future. Thank you, Courtney, for sharing this unique vintage home with us!
Featured Products
