At Country Living, we have a serious soft spot for a good makeover. Whether it’s a top-to-bottom renovation of a $15,000 fixer-upper purchased on Facebook Marketplace or the revival of a foreclosed hunting lodge that once had birds fluttering about in the foyer, it’s hard to resist a good comeback story. However, as much as we love a straightforward house before and after, we’re especially excited when that makeover involves an unconventional conversion—maybe it’s a tugboat transformed into a floating cottage, a grain silo turned into a guesthouse, or a 160-year-old grain mill transformed into an airy farmhouse.
That’s why our ears perked up when Alabama designer Ellen Godfrey mentioned she had recently turned a century-old country honky-tonk—that’s right, a honky-tonk—into a multi-generational family home. The property, part of an area known as Queenstown Lake, was once a popular destination for Birmingham city folk seeking a day trip or weekend away. It included cabins, a boarding house, swimming hole, and, yes, a honky-tonk. “However, by the mid-century, it kinda fell into disrepair,’ says Ellen.
A few years ago, the current owners—who Ellen has known since childhood—decided to renovate, with the goal of turning the honky-tonk into a weekend retreat for friends and family. While Ellen wasn’t part of the initial project planning, her talents were later enlisted in the name of making sure the character of the property remained intact. “You could say the train had already left the station by the time I came on board,” says Ellen, noting that decisions had to be made quickly as some things had already been set into motion.
The train metaphor is fitting, as trains frequently come through the property on just the other side of the lake. That’s also why you’ll see vintage trains hovering just above the home’s original booth seating right off the kitchen, and railroad crossing signage at the top of the stairwell. These sorts of storied elements and architectural quirks are what Ellen set out to preserve while simultaneously making tweaks to better accommodate needs of weekend guests.
Since the transformation—which now accommodates 16 houseguests at any given time—the homeowners have used it for weekends, assorted holidays, and, most recently, a daughter’s college reunion for a group of friends. In true honky-tonk spirit, that’s music to Ellen’s ears. “Whenever I see it in action, I think ‘Oh, good—that’s exactly what we were hoping for.’”
Tour This Honky-tonk Turned Family Home:
Working Jukebox
Original to the property, the jukebox has been fully restored to working order. The leather chairs are vintage from Nicky Kehoe.
Storied Stairwell
The Queenstown Lake sign is a copy of the original sign that advertised the lake and boarding house. The stairwell banister was reclaimed from an old church balcony.
Feed-a-Crowd Kitchen
Given the home’s history, the main floor was mostly open and the kitchen felt “kind of floating out in the middle,” says Ellen. To create zones more in keeping with a residence—but still capable of hosting large groups—Ellen moved the kitchen back a bit to create more living and dining options in the main area. Six rush-seated barstools (“Dorchester” by Ballard Designs), a soapstone countertop, and three ovens and a warming drawer make for a highly functional gathering spot. The vintage pendant lights (for similar, Rejuvenation) are large enough to hold court in such a large open space.
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Booth Seating
The charming old-school booths—four in total—are also original to the property. To up the comfort factor, Ellen added seat cushions made from a durable ticking stripe fabric (“Tatton Stripe” in Pumice by Perennials).
Warm Welcome
On the back side of the kitchen, you’ll find a new entry-meets-mudroom. “Now when you come into the house, that space feels more like a proper foyer,” says Ellen. In addition to serving up a proper “entry” moment, the new space—painted Sandy Hook Gray by Benjamin Moore (now discontinued)—offers ample storage for both coats, bags, and boots as well as serving ware and pantry items. Upstairs, a vintage railroad crossing sign is another nod to the nearby train track.
Pastoral Patterns
A floral wallcovering (Apothecary’s Garden by Trustworth Studios) brings whimsy to the bathroom. “I like that the paper has a vintage feel. It made me think of being in the country in the middle of summer,” says Ellen. The framed swim meet ribbons date back to the owner’s childhood. “It wasn’t until after we hung the wallpaper that I realized the exact same colors from the ribbons repeated in the paper,” says Ellen. “It was fate.”
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Pool Party
The basement became the game room as a matter of necessity. “We had an old pool table, and it wasn’t going to fit upstairs, so that dictated how the basement would be used,” says Ellen.
Upcycled Bar
The wall-mounted bar is an old coat rack topped with a slab of wood. When paired with bar stools (from Urban Outfitters), it makes for an efficient use of space. The mounted fish, both real and wooden, are a nod to the family’s time spent on the lake.
Den-Like Downstairs
Is there a world where a tufted leather sofa doesn’t make sense in a rec room? Here, a perfectly worn-in leather Chesterfield (by RH) sits pretty with patterned pillows. Just a stone’s throw away, a game table is always at the ready alongside a large antique RC Cola sign.
Under-21 Club
In the kids’ bedroom, spindle beds (“Jenny Lind” by Crate&kids) add classically country charm while whimsical horse wallcovering (“Watercolor Horses” by McGee and Co.) hints at the family-owned stables that sit adjacent to the property.
RELATED: 70 More Stylish Kids’ Room Ideas That Even Grownups Will Love
Closing Time Quarters
When it’s time for the grownups to turn in, a pair of woven beds (“Harbour Cane” by Serena and Lily) outfitted with plaid sheets (by Piglet in Bed) will be happy to accommodate. Textured sconces (“Wimberley” by Visual Comfort & Co.) help brighten up the space, as does the lightened-up brick (painted Aloof Gray by Sherwin-Williams). In the adjacent bathroom, the neutral scheme continues with a small-scale wallpaper (“Berain” by Pintura Studio) and industrial sconces (“Boston Head Light Sconce” by Visual Comfort & Co.).
Rachel Hardage Barrett has written for and edited lifestyle publications for more than 20 years. As the editor-in-chief of Country Living, she has covered all things related to country life—including design, gardening, food, travel, antiques, crafts, and country pop culture—for more than a decade. Before Country Living, Rachel spent several years at Southern Living, where she served as Executive Editor covering travel, food, style, and features. Before Southern Living, Rachel was the Special Projects Director of Real Simple, where she wrote and oversaw books and special issues about food, travel, weddings, organizing, and parenting in addition to working on international editions and licensed products. Before working at lifestyle brands, Rachel started her magazine career at Glamour, where she wrote and edited relationship articles, celebrity interviews, as well as fashion and features content. When she’s not working on the magazine, she can likely be found poking around an antiques shop, perusing country real estate listings, or dreaming of opening a general store.
