'Ready for southern living': almost everything in this renovated home is Kentucky-made

Lennie Omalza
·6 min read

JC Phelps is a Russell County native. Today, he splits his time between Louisville and his home in Russell Springs, which was bequeathed to him by his aunt Jerry "JJ" Phelps Jones.

"She was very special to me," JC told The Courier Journal. "She passed (away) about two years ago, and I inherited the home."

Renovated with respect

Homeowner JC Phelps sits in his screened-in porch, where he does most of his work.
Homeowner JC Phelps sits in his screened-in porch, where he does most of his work.

JC put the home through a significant renovation but was careful to keep the abode’s charm and character intact.

"It still looks very antique-forward," he said. "I wanted it to look like the same house that I loved as a child, (because) I’ve always loved coming here. It was my happy place."

He took photos of each space before the renovation began. This ensured that when all was said and done, he could return furniture and other items back to their proper place.

"While I did renovate it, it didn’t require renovation," JC explained. "I just wanted to modernize some of the (spaces). (JJ) was immaculate — (the house) was ready for southern living at any time."

Beneath the wall clock in this Russell Springs, Kentucky home is the last cross-stitch piece that the homeowner’s late aunt ever made.
Beneath the wall clock in this Russell Springs, Kentucky home is the last cross-stitch piece that the homeowner’s late aunt ever made.

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JC gave the entire house a fresh coat of paint and replaced the blue carpet with new flooring. He also replaced all the countertops in the bathroom and kitchen and painted the original cabinetry white.

As a food and recipe blogger, JC is constantly in the kitchen, whipping up tasty southern fare.

"This is the kitchen I use when I film for (my) blog," he explained. "(Since it’s) my filming kitchen, it needed to be nice and bright."

Outside, JC replaced the stepping stones with a 139-foot-long sidewalk and relandscaped.

Full of family heirlooms

The renovated kitchen features the home’s original stove, which has been in the Russell Springs, Kentucky home since it was built in 1972.
The renovated kitchen features the home’s original stove, which has been in the Russell Springs, Kentucky home since it was built in 1972.

Though the house itself underwent cosmetic changes, most of its contents were there long before JC could have ever dreamed of owning the property. Each room is full of family heirlooms, some of which date back to the early 1800s.

"And you’ll notice that … almost everything in this home is Kentucky-made," JC said.

In the dining room, almost all the furniture pieces are Willett Cherry, which was made in Louisville. The two tables between the tea service cart were crafted by Ben Hancock in Columbia, KY.

There are smaller heirlooms spread throughout the home as well, including a silver butter mold and dish that predates the civil war.

These built-in shelves at this home in Russell Springs, Kentucky are filled with Louisville Stoneware pieces.
These built-in shelves at this home in Russell Springs, Kentucky are filled with Louisville Stoneware pieces.

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"I would say (it’s from the) early- to mid-1800s because my great-grandfather was born at the start of the century and (it belonged to) his great-uncle,” JC said.

One of JC’s favorite pieces is a Kentucky-made corner cupboard, which was crafted with wood from his family’s farm.

"I’m the fifth generation to own (it)," he said. "Inside of it is my great-grandmother’s Rosenthal china."

Odes to an aunt

This bedroom suite was crafted with wood from the family farm, Phelps Acres Farm.
This bedroom suite was crafted with wood from the family farm, Phelps Acres Farm.

JC added that his absolute favorite piece is a clock that hangs from a wall in the dining room.

"It’s a fully functional clock," he said. "However, I took the battery out and keep the hands at 7:11 because that’s the day that (JJ) died — the eleventh of July. … I keep the hands there in honor of her."

Just below the clock, there’s the last cross-stitch piece JJ made.

In the living room sits a coffee table that brings back fond childhood memories.

"I sat as a little boy here, with my legs between the two leaves," JC said. "I would eat my breakfast — like a bowl of cereal or whatnot. It’s also made of wood from the (family) farm."

This homeowner commissioned this oil painting of his late aunt, who was the previous owner of the house in Russell Springs, Kentucky.
This homeowner commissioned this oil painting of his late aunt, who was the previous owner of the house in Russell Springs, Kentucky.

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Sitting atop the table is a bell that JJ received upon retirement from the Russell County School System.

"JJ was the most beloved teacher in Russell County history," JC exclaimed. "She was the last living teacher to have ever taught in a one-room schoolhouse. … She was very proud to be a teacher, so I display the bell very prominently."

The clock and bell hold a special place in JC's heart, but the one piece he makes sure to show anyone who steps into his home is his painting of JJ. Set just inside the set of double doors, it is a reminder of the special woman who once owned the house, and the impact she made during her 91 years of life.

"Everyone in Russell County knew her, so they know (this is) JJ’s house," JC said. "But when friends from the city … or people from a different generation come down, I want them to know that this is JJ — a woman who had a significant legacy here in Russell County."

This unique, ornate piece sits in the foyer of this Russell Springs, Kentucky home. It features Asian-made porcelain atop marble surfaces.
This unique, ornate piece sits in the foyer of this Russell Springs, Kentucky home. It features Asian-made porcelain atop marble surfaces.

Know a house that would make a great Home of the Week? Email writer Lennie Omalza at aloha@lennieomalza.com or Lifestyle Editor Kathryn Gregory at kgregory@gannett.com.

nuts & bolts

Owner: JC Phelps, who is part of the business faculty at Lindsey Wilson College; the statewide training coordinator at Kentucky Small Business Development Center; and the owner of Phelps Media Company.

Home: This is a 3-bed, 3-bath, 2,800-square-foot, ranch home in Russell Springs, Kentucky that was built in 1972.

Distinctive elements: Southern brick ranch home on a tree-lined, five-acre plot; long,inviting brick porch with a 24-pane bow window; oversized two-car attached garage and one detached brick garage; 450-square-foot screened porch with entrances from the living room and primary bedroom; large collection of Blue Willow, Louisville Stoneware, Staffordshire dogs and figurines, McMahan Cherry Furniture (Campbellsville, KY), ginger jars, Fenton lamps, silver, oil paintings, and art featuring birds and equestrian scenes; in the foyer: commissioned oil paintings of family members, double French doors, crystal chandelier, Victorian Eastlake Dresser, Kentucky-made grandfather clock, and piano; in the kitchen: original 1972 GE oven, oversized island, 1970s wood custom cabinetry, and attached breakfast nook with oversized bay window; in the living room: large brick fireplace, Scandinavian wood beams, triple-width built-in cabinetry, and mantle lined with lusters, Staffordshire Dogs, and French Gilt candelabras; in the formal dining room: Willett Cherry furniture, crystal chandelier, custom Martin-Durr drapery from Danville, KY, and custom side tables made by Ben Hancock of Columbia, KY;. in the formal sitting room: Willett Cherry furniture, Victorian settee, circa-1800s handmade cherry corner cabinet, and fourth-generation German china; in the guest bedrooms: full Willett Cherry bedroom suites with antique 1920s light fixtures; in the primary bedroom: custom walnut bedroom suite by Ben Hancock made from wood on Phelps Acres Farm, and a custom, four-door display case styled with family photos.

Applause! Applause! My grandmother, Judy Phelps, for her generosity and time; Mike and Debbie Egnew, my most special neighbors and friends, for always being of assistance; Logan Gill for his many weekends of labor; my renovation team: Tommy Voils, TNT Carpet and Flooring (Russell Springs, KY), McGowan Painting Company (Russell Springs, KY), Lawless-Smith (Russell Springs, KY), and Hubbards Building Supply (Russell Springs, KY); and most importantly: my beloved Auntie JJ, the late Jerry Phelps Jones, who bequeathed me the property. JJ was the most immaculate homemaker, and I will work to always maintain her beloved home to her standards for decades to come.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Renovated Russell Springs home full of Kentucky-made goods, antiques