Antique Hanging Lights

These cool antique light fixtures are located in the bathrooms, dinning room, and one compliments (a 1920's pan chandelier) the majestic staircase to the second floor.   Too cool!

“Love is like a shining light in the darkness, closing eyes to pretend you didn't see it will not wash it away.”
― Jean Nshimiyimana

 

Everyone Loves Stained Glass!

Another favorite (but really, what isn't a favorite in this house!), Mantis Homes incorporated antique stained glass\beveled glass windows into the design of the renovation.  How do they think of this stuff? Amazing!

 

Custom vanities and sinks, oh my.......

These are one of my favorite parts of the restoration.  The bathroom vanities in the downstairs master and powder room are a turn of the century dresser and armoire with vessel sinks added to create the vanity.  The upstairs master has a hand painted Mexican sink (with back-splash to match) and a small vessel sink added to the make up vanity for the future Mrs of the house.  These are the small details that set this historic house apart from the rest.

Yes, 8 fireplaces

402 S Main St has 8, yes, 8 fireplaces.  In 1908 heat was provided by the coal burning fireplaces.  Mantis Homes exposed the historic brick on the fireplaces to create an awesome focal point in each room.  Where you see the reclaimed mantels they are another piece of local Simpsonville history, they are old ceiling beams saved from the old Simpsonville Cotton Mill.  The cotton mill put the town on the map back in the early 1900's.

Custom Pendant Lights

These 2 lights were created by Mantis Homes.  The large wood pendant kitchen light is an actual 100 year old 4x4 stud removed from a wall of the house.  The ball jar light is just that, and old ball jar from the 1900's that was transformed into the pendant light for the upstairs jack and jill bath.  Fun pieces......... 

Origional Claw Foot Tub!

Yes, this claw foot tub is original to the house, how cool that Mantis Homes was able to save it!  They moved it to the upstairs master bath, gave it a makeover with new paint, custom built a platform to showcase it, and re-plumbed it with the chrome plumbing work.  Always a plus when you are able to incorporate the original character of the house back into the design. 

Meet Stu.........

 Meet Stu, the house mascot.  He is an old hitching post which was inspired by the Hillcrest House, which is located on the same street.  He is named after the Stewart family who lived in the house, of the 3 families who resided at 402, the Stewart's lived there the longest.  The hitching posts have become a signature mark of Mantis Homes projects.  They feel it compliments the character of the historic homes located on the street, and of course they double as a place to tie your horse when visiting the house.

The Year Was 1908 - Fun Facts

-The average life expectancy was 47 years.

-Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.

-Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.

-Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.

-The average wage in 1908 was 22 cents per hour.

-The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year

-More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME .

-Ninety percent of all doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!

-Sugar cost four cents a pound.

-Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.

-Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.

-Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used

-Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

-Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea

-Hadn't been invented yet.

-There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.

-There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.

-The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

-The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower