Ellen Ruby Blog's: The Shag Is Gone! We Check on the Progress of a ’70s Time Capsule Renovation

Friday 11 June 2021

The Shag Is Gone! We Check on the Progress of a ’70s Time Capsule Renovation

Shag Carpet Removal — The Jackson Family

Out with the purple shag carpet. In with the marmoleum.

At the end of 2020, Alysha Jackson and her husband, Nate, purchased a 1970s time capsule in Fort Wayne, IN. The couple fell in love with the home’s cool vibes and were ready to dive into a restoration project.

We last checked in with the Jacksons in January. Five months later, the demo is well underway.

When they bought the house, nearly every inch of floor—and some walls—were covered in brightly colored shag carpeting, including the kitchen and bathrooms.

As vivid as the hues were, the carpet had to go.

“Even though the purple and the green were striking, shag carpet with toddlers and dogs and Airbnb guests just isn’t practical. I still wanted a material that was appropriate [to the era],” Alysha Jackson says. “The purple was cool, but I do think it kind of took away from the architectural lines of the home. Now we’re putting in marmoleum, which is still a ’70s material, but an updated version.”

New flooring on top of old flooring
The Jackson family

First impressions within the capsule

Alysha and Nate, their two toddlers, and their dog spent about three months living in the home while they pondered what to do with it.

Initially, they planned to begin renovations right away, but that wasn’t possible.

“I was grateful [renovations didn’t happen immediately], because it really gave us a good feel for the house,” Jackson explains. “When we got here, we realized the scope of the project. We knew the house was special, but as we lived in it, we really understood that, and we put a lot more care into how we were updating the house.”

During that time, they also realized they needed to address much more than just the aesthetics.

“The basement is freezing in the winter, as we personally experienced,” she said.

With three of the four bedrooms down there, the Jacksons realized they needed a heat source, and chose a fireplace that fits in the house and coordinates with the existing upstairs fireplace, which is an architectural statement.

“It will be an efficient and stylish way to heat it up,” she says.

As of now, the Jacksons have an overall plan for what needs to be done, and the demolition is almost finished. A new basement fireplace has arrived and awaits installation.

New fireplace awaits installation
The Jackson family

Removing the shag carpet
The Jackson family

Whither the carpet?

The carpet is gone, but has found a new home.

“Someone contacted me and said they have all of these awesome retro vans and would love to come pick up the carpet and salvage it, clean it—everything. He came and took out the carpeting and cleaned it. They’re installing it in cool, groovy vans,” Jackson says.

“It really was a win-win,” she adds, “because it was an iconic piece of the house, and I didn’t want to throw it away, but I didn’t have a use for it anymore. I was thrilled it will live on and will be really well loved.”

A piece of each of the home’s many shag carpet colors will also live on in an art project Jackson has planned.

Some of the couple’s 43,000-plus Instagram followers expressed their feelings about the carpet removal.

“Everyone had different thoughts on it. Some people were really upset we were getting rid of it,” she says, adding that a few people made nasty comments and unfollowed her because of it.

The remaining followers more than make up for the unpleasant ones.

“The most surprising thing is how many people are just so invested in this with us. It really means a lot. I think knowing that people are following along and really care about how this house is cared for means the world to us and really shocked us. We weren’t expecting that kind of support,” Jackson says.

Many followers are giving helpful advice.

“There are people who have messaged me who have a master’s degree in ’70s-era design or architecture, and they have been kindly offering their advice. That has been really cool.”

Other rooms prep for remodel

As for the kitchen, the Jacksons plan to remove a wall and expand into the dining room, making the galley-style kitchen bigger.

Cabinets will feature a wood front, but period-appropriate appliances have proved to be a stumbling block.

“I wanted the retro-look appliances, but they are so expensive,” Jackson laments. “I may just have to do typical stainless-steel appliances and maybe powder-coat them, but I don’t want it to look strange. I’ll have to play with it a little bit.”

The bathrooms are also ready for an update—especially the one with the sunken tub, which was surrounded by carpet. Demo is complete, and the secondary bathrooms will be the first to be updated.

“We’re keeping what we’re calling a ’70s spa vibe. It definitely has those avocado tones, and it’s going to have some teak in there,” Jackson says.

The bathroom paneling will need to be removed because of some mold issues, but wood panels will remain in some other living areas.

Master bathroom before demo
The Jackson family

Most of the intricate wood carvings are also remaining.

“Every single wood carving is being saved. There are quite a few panels all over the house, some in the couches downstairs, some on the walls,” Jackson explains.

The former owners, the family of James Sherbondy, asked for any of the carvings that the Jacksons are not planning to use.

“Everything that I have gotten rid of or given away, I have asked them first if they wanted it for their family,” Jackson says.

Family matters

The Jacksons had planned to stay longer in the house to supervise the work, but had to return to their main residence in Clermont, FL.

“We adopted our two older children from foster care, and we got word that their biological mother was due soon, so we came back,” Jackson explains.

Now the two “littles”—as Jackson calls her children—have a new sister, whom the Jacksons are also fostering.

“She’s a great baby. It’s been really awesome,” she says. “I feel like just when we get a handle on things, more and more things come into the mix—so a new house and new baby.”

Soon, the family will head up north to see the progress in Indiana and visit with family.

“We didn’t really go in with much expectation, except for here’s a really amazing home that we get to pour some more love into,” Jackson says. “That was our expectation when we bought the house. So everything else is just icing on the cake for us.”