nysister
Well-Known Member
"For a lot of Black people, we don't want old homes, because we don't want the history that comes with them," says renovator Jamie Arty
For a lot of Black people, we don't want old homes, because we don't want the history that comes with them," says renovator Jamie Arty.
The Artys stumbled upon the mansion in Oyster Bay, N.Y., when they were house hunting and made a wrong turn. It was in a state of great disrepair.
by Meg St-Esprit McKivigan, Washington Post
Published
Aug. 3, 2021
Any homeowner renovating a historic property knows there’s a possibility of discovering a surprise or two behind the walls. Water damage, mildew, and faulty wiring systems are not uncommon. But for Black homeowners, the surprises may be more than expensive or hazardous. Sometimes, they’re painful reminders of generational trauma.
"For a lot of Black people, we don't want old homes, because we don't want the history that comes with them," says Jamie Arty, a Long Island homeowner. "Were they enslavers? What side of history were they on?"
Jamie, 39, and her husband, Frantz, 41, a tech engineer, are restoring a circa 1834 mansion in Oyster Bay, N.Y. When they purchased the stately Colonial-style house in 2018, they were apprehensive about its history. But they soon discovered that their new home had once been owned by a prominent New York abolitionist and judge, William Townsend McCoun.
Several months into the renovation, Jamie created a Facebook group to keep family and friends updated. The group, Making Over a Mansion, quickly grew and now has more than 25,000 members from around the world. She also started an Instagram account (@making_over_a_mansion). In addition to documenting their restoration, the family posts about the home’s history, including interesting finds and photos of famous 19th century guests.
Jamie, an event planner before the pandemic, also showcases the elaborate holiday decorations that adorn the mansion each season. In 2020, she created a business around her fun, over-the-top decor.
"I had to make a left turn, since no one was throwing parties anymore," she says.
The Artys are not entirely sure why their story resonates with so many people, but Jamie believes one reason is that she and Frantz are Black in a home-design world dominated by white voices — particularly when it comes to restoring older homes.
As a Black designer, Leslie Antonoff, the Los Angeles-based lifestyle blogger behind Hautemommie and cohost of the upcoming HGTV series Divide and Design, can relate. She says barriers to homeownership are one of the main reasons Black consumers don’t often undertake historic home renovation.
Jamie and Frantz Arty with their children Fitzgerald and Fallon, 5, and Frantz, 7, in front of their home.
.
... Read more
Calla Kessler
Robinson doesn’t want that to deter Jamie, though. “Representation matters, and so her entering into this space is her opening up the door for more Black people who are into [design],” she says. “And showcase it, because there are more. They exist.”
That’s why the family has been so public about bringing their home back from near destruction.
For a lot of Black people, we don't want old homes, because we don't want the history that comes with them," says renovator Jamie Arty.
by Meg St-Esprit McKivigan, Washington Post
Published
Aug. 3, 2021
Any homeowner renovating a historic property knows there’s a possibility of discovering a surprise or two behind the walls. Water damage, mildew, and faulty wiring systems are not uncommon. But for Black homeowners, the surprises may be more than expensive or hazardous. Sometimes, they’re painful reminders of generational trauma.
"For a lot of Black people, we don't want old homes, because we don't want the history that comes with them," says Jamie Arty, a Long Island homeowner. "Were they enslavers? What side of history were they on?"
Jamie, 39, and her husband, Frantz, 41, a tech engineer, are restoring a circa 1834 mansion in Oyster Bay, N.Y. When they purchased the stately Colonial-style house in 2018, they were apprehensive about its history. But they soon discovered that their new home had once been owned by a prominent New York abolitionist and judge, William Townsend McCoun.
Several months into the renovation, Jamie created a Facebook group to keep family and friends updated. The group, Making Over a Mansion, quickly grew and now has more than 25,000 members from around the world. She also started an Instagram account (@making_over_a_mansion). In addition to documenting their restoration, the family posts about the home’s history, including interesting finds and photos of famous 19th century guests.
Jamie, an event planner before the pandemic, also showcases the elaborate holiday decorations that adorn the mansion each season. In 2020, she created a business around her fun, over-the-top decor.
"I had to make a left turn, since no one was throwing parties anymore," she says.
The Artys are not entirely sure why their story resonates with so many people, but Jamie believes one reason is that she and Frantz are Black in a home-design world dominated by white voices — particularly when it comes to restoring older homes.
As a Black designer, Leslie Antonoff, the Los Angeles-based lifestyle blogger behind Hautemommie and cohost of the upcoming HGTV series Divide and Design, can relate. She says barriers to homeownership are one of the main reasons Black consumers don’t often undertake historic home renovation.
Jamie and Frantz Arty with their children Fitzgerald and Fallon, 5, and Frantz, 7, in front of their home.
.
... Read more
Calla Kessler
Robinson doesn’t want that to deter Jamie, though. “Representation matters, and so her entering into this space is her opening up the door for more Black people who are into [design],” she says. “And showcase it, because there are more. They exist.”
That’s why the family has been so public about bringing their home back from near destruction.
How one Black family is making inroads in the largely white world of historic home renovation
"For a lot of Black people, we don't want old homes, because we don't want the history that comes with them," says renovator Jamie Arty.
www-inquirer-com.cdn.ampproject.org