- Emily and James Riter bought a home for their soon-to-be family of six and turned it into the perfect retreat for memories
- The colonial architecture of their space—where they were the owners, designers, and builders—was partially inspired by the 1992 film. Father of the bride
- Emily tells PEOPLE she hopes to inspire others to invest time in a classic aesthetic that’s harder to achieve than ever
Emily and James Riter had a clear vision of the kind of home they dreamed of for their family. However, getting there was a challenge.
“For the first nine years of our marriage, my husband and I lived in this tiny 1,300-square-foot house with all three boys. Even in that house, we wanted to make a simple and beautiful home,” Emily tells PEOPLE.
“As our family grew, we really wanted to create a space that was more long-lasting. We wanted somewhere we could grow our family and be welcoming and generous, a place to share memories and slow down and enjoy each other. That’s when we started looking.”
The couple wasn’t sure whether to “buy land or find a neighborhood we love” until they came across a neighborhood with “kids playing in the street on their bikes.” That was their sign that they were home.
“The house we found was originally built in the 70s. We had a picture of this mid-size in our minds Father of the bride“a house in style,” she says.
The 1992 film struck a chord with Emily as she watched it many times over the years. It stayed in her mind as they discussed the next steps for the home.
“That style is so nostalgic. It appealed to us for two reasons. It’s a classic aesthetic and Father of the bride it illustrates what really makes home – the people, the memories, the experiences, all the suffering and joy that life can bring.”
“We were lucky that at the beginning of this project we had a lot more opportunities and years of our children’s childhood ahead of us,” continues Emily. “We were able to think and envision exactly what we wanted for, hopefully, the next 60 or so years of our lives and 20 years of their lives. We thought about hosting possible rehearsal dinners and Thanksgivings, as well as the traditions we already do together.”
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The couple “had always loved colonial architecture and wanted to stay true to it.”
“We also both genuinely love the movie. We would watch it together. I’ve watched it myself for years and it’s been a dream of mine since childhood to create something similar.”
“It was important for us to have a place to read. We are all big, passionate readers. We would like our children to grow up with literature, so it is important to have a special place to read. We also had books stacked up to the ceiling everywhere in our first house, so we needed a good way to store them all.”
To make this happen, they took the former office space and equipped it with a “secret door”.
“That way, when we want to be more extroverted and have social events, people could go into the living room and we can keep it open. If we want to be more introverted and have it as a quiet family space, the library is there,” she says.
“Originally there was another bedroom upstairs and a narrow hallway. We removed that bedroom and opened it up to have a lounge area, so as a family in the evening, after they’d brushed their teeth and everything, we’d still have a place to reading, bonding and relaxing before tucking them into bed without having to come down the stairs.”
The family also decided that their three boys would continue to share a room, as they did in their first home.
“Our boys like to share a room, so they wanted to continue with that, and so did we. We installed bunk beds with four beds. We have three boys at the moment and it’s really special because even with more space, they still want to be together.” says Emily.
The soon-to-be mother of four says the “playroom on the first floor right next to the kitchen” was a game changer for her.
“I can hear them while I’m preparing meals or putting laundry in. There are also French doors that go into our outdoor space. We wanted them to have that Montessori feel with indoor and outdoor space, so we built a sunroom so they could just run out to their playground or into the garden and play. We can still see them from several places in our house or outside,” says Emily.
“Whether we’re eating at the table or in the kitchen or in the living room, I can still have a view of them without being in the room with them. We also have options for space, thinking further,” she continues.
“When our children are older and out of the house, we could separate the space from the kitchen and living room, which is a playroom, and turn it into a tea room or other eating area that other people can enjoy.”
The kitchen includes “our island and nook for eating,” as well as outdoor tables that make the space “such a cozy zone.”
“Our heart is definitely in the kitchen. I love to cook and there are three meals a day plus snacks, so that space is probably my favorite. It lets the light in. We can still go outside and experience it both ways. It just makes me think about family , entertainment and entertainment.”
During their time at the home, Emily and James, lovers of fun, have come to love their pantry.
“We have what they call a butler’s pantry, which is really just a large pantry with pocket doors off the kitchen, which is also used for laundry. That was helpful because we added a sink in there. We recently hosted an event and it was nice to be able to throw all the dishes in there and close that door and not have to worry about cleaning the dishes and the kitchen right away,” she shares.
“I was able to hide them and share them with my husband, James, after everyone left because we had two sinks to wash them in. We are very grateful that we created them because they are very helpful.”
In total, it took them almost two years to transform the home.
“We really, really wanted that new-old home—something timeless with all new finishes, fixtures and systems. We wanted to build a true Colonial Revival architectural style, which was popular in the 1920s,” says Emily.
“Our home is partly completely remodeled and partly newly built. We tried it, but there are some original spots. Achieving that new-old vision can be a challenge for owners, architects, designers, builders, subcontractors.”
She continues, “My husband and I couldn’t have done it without our subcontractors. We had a few contractors who found it too difficult, so they gave up on the challenge. Then we had other contractors who stepped up and stepped in and did their part of the project. , including a couple who ended up bailing us out when we were in a bind.”
The challenges of bringing a vision like theirs to life led Emily to realize, “I think there’s a reason why our culture doesn’t build as much of a classic look as we have historically. Part of it is the cost, but part of it is that finding the right contractors and suppliers could be more difficult for some builders.”
Emily’s experience and others’ interest in it were big factors in her decision to share her home on Instagram through her persona, @emily.riter. She began sharing scenes from her home and process in September 2023.
“I want to support that desire for people who want to build homes like we used to. I hope to give inspiration and ideas for what people can do in their homes,” she says.
“I opened it to share the beauty and design behind creating our home so others could see it was achievable and do something similar. I honestly never thought it would grow to the size it has in six months.”
As interest grows, Emily and James are working on a website that can provide even more details about the products, subcontractors and sources that helped them build. Emily will also provide design consultations and floor plans to purchase, amidst a wealth of information.
The growing family is enjoying days in their beautiful home, where they are making the first of many future memories.
“I think there are some areas that we will still finish and decorate more. I think the main parts of the house are finished. We are constantly working in the garden. We are always learning something new in the garden, so those spaces are always evolving. We have dreams of maybe making a spiral stairs to the attic space and the third level if necessary, but now we have enough space for our family.”
“We have a fourth baby on the way and it’s a girl, so we’re very grateful for that. That’s coming this October. And until then, we’re working on launching our website, Heirloom Terrain, in July,” Emily says. “It’s a big effort to do that and then slow down and continue to enjoy the time we have as a family this summer.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education