Sometimes pictures are worth a thousand words. Today we are sharing a tour of the childhood home of one of HYD’s own; Sara Kate Carr, known by most of us as SK. It is rare to find a home so lovingly preserved and so in keeping with the age and style that a home was originally built for. Historic homes are a lot of work and this house has been lovingly curated over the span of a lifetime. One could argue that the entire home and it’s contents are an intentional collection in and of itself. The shining star of the home was Linda Eubanks whose legacy remains in the form of her beloved family and the incredible home that she made for them. SK’s dad, Reavis, graciously agreed to share some thoughts about their home.
Reavis and Linda on their wedding day
Reavis and Linda
“Now that’s she gone, we love honoring her by cooking in her kitchen and using her beautiful things for holiday dinners and other occasions.”
Many people would never believe that this house was home to 5 children- 4 of which were boys, but Linda was always quick to clarify that her home was an extension of herself, an art form in its own right and that the kids acclimated and learned how to take care of it.
Tell us a bit about the history of your home and how long you’ve lived there.
The house was built for Frank Barber in 1927 and designed in the Virginia Georgian style by architect William Lord. We bought our home in 1983. We did not move in for 10 months because of the need of extensive renovations. Barber lost the house during the depression, and it was owned by the bank until the 40s. It then was sold and has been owned by various individuals over the years, including Frank Seely, Jr. (E.W. Grove’s grandson) We purchased it from Lamar Gudger, who had lived in it since 1960. He was a career politician and served in the Congress in the 70s and 80s.
How would you describe your style of decorating?
We have decorated differently according to the rooms. The living room is similar to Colonial Williamsburg. The Dining Room reflects 19th Century New Orleans. The Breakfast Room is in the style of New England. The downstairs Guest Bedroom is also of the New Orleans style. The Library resembles a Men’s Club room. The Veranda also reflects New Orleans and the Deep South (Wicker furniture, Ferns, etc.)
What does home mean to you?
It is the place where we raised our children. We have lots of family photographs of both sides of the family so it truly represents the blending of the lives of husband and wife into one new family.
Do you have any favorite pieces in your home?
Some of our most favorite pieces are in the living room and include a blanket chest from colonial New England, a corner cupboard from early 19th century Charleston, SC (made of Cyprus), a maple chest-on-frame from Rowan County, NC, and an 18the century Mahogany tea table of the Philadelphia style. There is an early 19th century hunt board in the foyer. The guest bedroom has an early 19th century 4 poster mahogany bed. There is also a mid 19th century schoolmaster’s desk in that room. The breakfast room has an unusual Pewter cupboard made of Walnut, reflecting a Southern Origin.
A family tradition of hosting large Christmas dinners sometimes including nearly 40 people required tables to be set up in multiple rooms to accommodate all the guests. The family loves to host dinner parties and Linda loved to go all out on the decor. Any excuse to celebrate and throw a fanciful party was a good one.
All photos taken by Sara Kate Carr
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