Emily and James Riter did not have any doubts about the sort of house they envisioned for their family while they were growing up. On the other hand, getting there was the difficult part.
“During the first nine years of our marriage, my husband and I lived in this modest home that was 1300 square feet in size, and we brought all three of our sons with us. Emily tells PEOPLE that even while they were living in that house, they wanted to create a home that was both basic and lovely.
As the size of our family increased, we had a strong desire to establish a location that would be more permanent. Our goal was to find a location where we could cultivate our family, where we could be kind and giving, where we could slow down and take pleasure in each other, and where we could create memories with one another. It was at that point that we began our search.
The pair was uncertain about whether they would “buy land or find a neighborhood we love” until they came across a neighborhood where there were “kids playing in the street on their bikes.” That was the indication that they had arrived at their destination.
When we first discovered the house, it had been constructed in the 1970s. As she explains, “We had this mental image of this Father of the Bride-style house that was about the size of a medium-sized house.”
Emily felt a connection to the film that was released in 1992, which she viewed several times throughout the course of her life. While they were talking about the next steps for the house, it continued to linger in her thoughts.
The look is very reminiscent of the past. For two different reasons, we found it to be attractive. It is a timeless aesthetic, and Father of the Bride exemplifies what it is that really constitutes the home: the people, the memories, the experiences, and all of the pleasure and misery that life has the potential to offer.
“We were fortunate that at the beginning of this project, we had so much more opportunity and years of our children’s childhood ahead of us,” Emily says in conclusion. “We were able to contemplate and visualize precisely what it was that we desired for the next sixty or so years of our lives, and for the next twenty years of their lives,” We discussed the possibility of hosting Thanksgiving meals and rehearsal dinners, in addition to the holiday celebrations that we regularly participate in together.
The individuals involved have “always loved colonial architecture and wanted to stay true to that.”
In addition, we both have a true affection for the film. The two of us would watch it together. It was something that I saw myself for many years, and ever since I was a youngster, it has been my ambition to do something that is comparable to it.
“We placed a high value on having a space to read. Every one of us is a voracious reader. If we wanted our children to grow up surrounded by books, it was essential for us to provide them with a dedicated space in which they could read. Additionally, in our first home, we had books piled up to the ceiling in every room, so we needed a nice method to store all of them.
This was accomplished by repurposing an existing office space and installing what they referred to as “a secret door.”
When we wish to be more outgoing and have social events, people will be able to enter the living room, and we will be able to maintain that space as an open space. There is the library available for us to use if we want to be more introverted and have it as a peaceful spot for our family,” she explains.
In the beginning, there was an additional bedroom located upstairs, as well as a narrow corridor. “We removed that bedroom and opened it up to have a landing space so that as a family, at nighttime, after they have finished brushing their teeth and everything else, we would still have a spot to read, connect with one another, and unwind before putting them to bed without having to come downstairs.”
Additionally, the family came to the conclusion that their three sons would retain the practice of sharing a room, just as they had done in their first residence.
“Because our sons like sleeping in the same room, they expressed a desire to continue doing so, and we agreed with them. The bunk beds that we constructed were four bunks each. Emily adds, “At the moment, we have three boys, and that is really special because even though they have more space, they still want to be together.”
Having “a playroom on the first floor that’s right off the kitchen” was a game-changer for the woman who is about to become a mother to four children, according to her personal experience.
“Even if I am preparing meals or doing laundry, I am able to hear them. In addition to that, there are French doors that go out onto our outside zone. We wanted them to have the Montessori atmosphere with an indoor-outdoor area, so we built a sunroom for them so that they could easily go out to their playground or the garden and play throughout the day. “Emily says that we are still able to see them from a number of different locations inside our house or outside.”
It is possible for me to keep an eye on them even when I am not physically present in the same room as them, regardless of whether we are dining at the nook table, in the kitchen, or in the living room. As she adds, “We also have opportunities for the space, thinking about the future with that in mind.”
“When our children are older and out of the house, we could take the space off the kitchen and living room, which is the playroom, and turn it into a tea room or another eating space for other people to enjoy as well.”
It is said that the kitchen has “our island and eating nook,” in addition to outside tables, which contribute to the room being “such a comfortable zone.”
It is without a doubt the kitchen that holds our hearts. Considering that I like cooking and that there are three meals a day in addition to snacks, it will most likely be my favorite room. It allows access to the light. We are still able to go out and discover all sides of the situation. Simply said, it makes me think about my family, as well as hosting and entertaining guests.
Emily and James, who like hosting guest gatherings, have developed a fondness for the space in their pantry throughout the course of their stay in the house.
We have what is known as a butler’s pantry, which is really simply a huge pantry with pocket doors that is located off the kitchen. This pantry is also used for laundry. Because we installed a sink in that space, it has proven to be useful. Recently, we were throwing an event, and it was a pleasant experience to be able to dump all of the dishes in there and lock those doors without having to worry about cleaning the dishes and the kitchen straight after,” she reveals.
Due to the fact that we had two sinks to wash them in, we were able to store them away and then split them up with my husband, James, once everyone else had departed. Things like that are examples of the kinds of things that we are really thankful to have developed since they are so useful.
Over the course of almost two years, they were able to completely alter the house.
In addition to all of the new finishes, fixtures, and systems, we really, truly wanted that new-old house vibe. We wanted something that would be timeless. We wanted to construct a building that was a real example of the colonial revival architectural style, which was prominent in the 1920s,” Emily adds.
Our house was a combination of a fresh start and a complete renovation. Even if we pushed it to the extreme, there are still certain parts that are unique. Owners, architects, designers, builders, and subcontractors may all have difficulties in bringing about the new-old vision they have for their projects.
She continues by saying, “Without our subcontractors, my husband and I would not have been able to accomplish this.” We did have a few of contractors for whom it was too challenging, and they eventually gave up on the project despite our best efforts. After that, we had additional contractors who championed the project and came in to complete their portion of it. Among these contractors was a couple who ultimately came to our rescue when we were in a difficult situation.
Emily came to the realization that there is a reason why our culture does not develop as much of a classical appearance as we did throughout history as a result of the difficulties that were encountered throughout the process of bringing a vision similar to theirs to life with them. There is a possibility that it will be more challenging to locate the appropriate trade contractors and suppliers, in addition to the fact that the cost is a contributing factor. On certain builders, it might be a significant amount as well.
The choice that Emily made to share the house on Instagram under her account, @emily.riter, was heavily influenced by both her own personal experience and the interest that others had shown in it. The month of September 2023 marked the beginning of her sharing of scenes from her house and the procedure.
It is my intention to provide my assistance to those individuals who have a strong desire to construct the sort of houses that we used to have in the past. She expresses her desire to provide individuals with motivation and suggestions for activities that they may do in their own homes.
“I opened it to share the beauty and design that went into the development of our house so that others might understand that building a home like ours is not only possible but also accessible. To tell you the truth, I never imagined that it would expand as much as it has in the last half year.
A website that may give even more information on the items, subcontractors, and sources that assisted them in their construction is now being developed by Emily and James in response to the growing interest in their project. In addition to the abundance of information, Emily will also provide design consultations and floor plans that may be purchased.
The expanding family is having a wonderful time spending their days in their lovely house, where they are creating the beginnings of many memories that are still to come.
It is my opinion that there are some parts that we will complete more and decorate more in the future. My guess is that the primary components of the home are finished. Everything we do is gardening. The garden is a place where we are always gaining new knowledge, which means that the spaces there are continually changing. While we do have aspirations of maybe constructing a spiral staircase into the attic area and a third floor if it becomes necessary, we are currently in a position where we have sufficient room for our family.
As a result of the fact that she is a little girl, we are quite thankful for the fact that we are expecting our fourth child. This is going to happen in October. Emily explains that until then, they are working on releasing their website, which is called Heirloom Terrain, in the month of July. “There’s a big push to get that done and then slow down and continue to enjoy our time as a family this summer.”