During the COVID-19 pandemic, designer Eny Lee Parker purchased an 1870s farmhouse in Connecticut that was in foreclosure. The 1,716-square-foot home, known as Brandy Hill Farm, became the focus of a comprehensive renovation led by Ms. Parker and her studio’s manager, Soren Ferguson. The project combined preservation of original features with thoughtfully crafted updates, resulting in a kitchen that balances vintage charm with modern functionality.

Ms. Parker initially bought the property with her then-husband, but following their divorce in 2022, she acquired his share of the house. With ambitious plans for the restoration, she invited Mr. Ferguson to relocate from New York to help oversee the renovation and manage the property. To align ownership and responsibilities, the two agreed that Mr. Ferguson would invest in materials and retain equity in the home. Although he has since moved to Seattle, Mr. Ferguson maintains a financial stake in the property.

The renovation was documented on social media, capturing the transition from a deteriorated farmhouse to a carefully curated residence. While several rooms feature rich hues, the designers opted for neutral tones in common areas such as the kitchen. A highlight of this space is a backsplash composed of beige tiles from a 2023 collaboration between Ms. Parker and Concrete Collaborative. The kitchen also centers around a Lacanche range that was part of the original house and was preserved.

Significant original elements were retained where possible. Exposed rafters made of aged pine with a deep amber hue serve as a distinctive architectural feature. However, many of the kitchen cabinets were replaced due to their melamine surfaces, which did not harmonize with the farmhouse’s aesthetic. Mr. Ferguson refashioned units from a home improvement store, crafting custom drawer fronts and refinishing cabinet frames to match the home’s trim. The cabinets were finished with Shaker-style ceramic knobs handmade by Ms. Parker.

For the countertops, the designers intentionally avoided stone materials, which they found costly and less fitting. Instead, Mr. Ferguson sourced oak wood slabs from an auction and invested several weeks in handcrafting the surfaces. The leftover wood was then repurposed to build a kitchen island featuring spiraled legs, a motif echoed in other parts of the house such as stair railings and columns.

Part of the renovation involved demolishing a barn with a collapsed roof on the property. Rather than discard the timber, Mr. Ferguson salvaged the wood for reuse. Some of the material was fashioned into a large sideboard to provide additional pantry storage. Notably, the wood retains a dark patina from years of horses rubbing against it, a tangible remnant of the farm’s equestrian history. This resourceful reuse of materials became a defining aspect of the restoration, highlighting both sustainability and connection to the site’s past.