Drive up to Elizabeth Peavy-Tabor’s home in the Forest Hills neighborhood, and you may not even see it at first. This home, tucked quietly back from the street, is simple and unassuming. Walk in, though, and the house vibrates with color and texture, a unique reflection of this Wilmington family.
Knock on the door, and Elizabeth will open it, the cute brown eyes of her 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Geddings, peering out from knee level. Immediately, bright white light, lush green plants, and a vintage typewriter welcome you into the home. It is graceful, elegant, and full of personality.
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Elizabeth and her husband, Forrest, are small business owners (running both Sahara Crawlspaces and Neighborhood Mosquito Patrol), Forrest is a musician, and Elizabeth does freelance marketing. With all of their roles, combined with a toddler, it is no wonder why home is a place of simplicity and calm for them.
“We are happiest at home,” Elizabeth said. “We use home to recharge, and being home reminds me that it’s okay to slow down, to focus on family.”
Elizabeth has worked hard to define her family’s style and it has been a journey. They bought the house two years ago and slowly whittled down their belongings, painted every wall, removed sheetrock to expose original beadboard, and made the house a reflection of their personalities.
“I began paring down things that aren’t me,” Elizabeth explained. “We decided to simplify and to start building back with only quality items. If we didn’t love something, we didn’t put it in our new home. We also decided to take our time, to wait for the right furniture pieces.”
Elizabeth has an eclectic, bohemian style that screams artistry. The stunning light fixture in her living room is a vintage basket which she and Forrest converted using a light kit from Amazon. Her favorite places to shop these days are Facebook marketplace, threve mercantile and Zartiques. With a nod to midcentury modern flair, Elizabeth loves furniture pieces that tell a story, add texture, and are unique.
“You have to know who you are when it comes to home decorating. Great things are nice, but you have to get something you want on your walls. Your home should be a reflection of the things you care about and who you are. Home is more than just four walls.”
The Tabors have built the foundation of their living room around a few sentimental pieces. The typewriter sitting in the foyer was Elizabeth’s grandmother’s. The piano is from Grace United Methodist Church downtown, where the Tabors have been members for years.
Also a special place to Elizabeth is Geddings’ room. Capitalizing on the simple, bohemian style, Geddings’ room is full of found treasures that will grow with her. While playful, the toddler’s room isn’t juvenile.
Elizabeth’s passion for her home has led her down some surprising paths. This fall, in response to Hurricane Florence, she and a friend started House of Provision, now partnering with the nonprofit organization Furniture Finders. Together, the women collect high-quality donated home goods and create a space for those who lost their homes during the Hurricane to come and “shop.” Recommended by Catholic Charities at the Harrelson Center, those in need browse the items and take home beautiful treasures to begin to rebuild their home.
“It is disorienting to start over again,” Elizabeth explained of House of Provision’s mission. “We can say home is ‘only four walls’ but that’s not true. There are memories in it. Your home makes you feel like you. We want those in need to come in and get good, high-quality stuff. They shouldn’t feel like a victim. They should feel like they are worth a beautiful home.”
