On November 25, 2018, Emmy May Downey’s historic home burned to the ground. Nestled in Jackson’s beautiful Belhaven neighborhood, the home she shared with her husband Scott, was completely devastated.
“We had three exterior walls that were fine, but the back of our house burned, and the rest had severe smoke, fire, or water damage,” reflects Emmy. “It was a lovely historic home. We were the third owners, and it was over 100-years-old. I grew up in Belhaven, just a few blocks away, and developed a passion for renovation, restoration, and preservation at a young age.”
Emmy is the owner of Emmy May Design & Construction Management, LLC. With degrees in architecture and art from Mississippi State, Emmy founded her company over 25 years ago. “I love old houses,” she smiles. “I made a niche for myself. I have bought and sold almost 15 houses in Belhaven. I love to take an unloved old house and breathe new life into it.”
Emmy is a licensed, bonded, and insured home remodeler. “I also have the architecture education, so I draw the plans, and have an incredible team of subcontractors who do all of my work,” she says.
The housefire was very traumatic for Emmy and Scott and renovating a charred home was unknown territory for the couple. “I have been restoring homes most of my life, but I had never worked on one devastated by fire,” Emmy reflects.
Shocked by the loss of their beloved abode, Emmy and Scott began slowly navigating the rebuilding process. “I wanted to take deep breaths. We spent several months staring at everything we owned that had burned. We only saved a handful of sentimental items,” says Emmy.
To jumpstart the design process, Emmy decided to approach the rebuild as she would with a client. She and Scott each made a wish list for their ideal home, igniting her creativity.
“Before the fire, the kitchen was a small, closed-off space in the corner,” reflects Emmy. “Scott recommended we change the floor plan from the original home, opening up the space for easier entertaining. We moved the kitchen and opened it up to the main living area, which was the perfect idea.”
Demolition began, and Emmy’s colleagues helped every step of the way. “I have the best crew. We have worked together for a long time, and they all pitched in to help. We worked nights, weekends, and holidays, and I think this is some of the best work that we have ever done.”
As the layers of wallpaper and drywall were stripped away, Emmy discovered original shiplap walls, created with six-inch horizontal planks. “I realized that I wanted to keep some of the historical elements of the home, but also add modern amenities that weren’t available a century ago.”
As a nod to the original design, Emmy installed shiplap paneling throughout the first floor. She carefully selected sconces and plumbing fixtures that mirrored the originals and kept the proportions of the windows and doors. Emmy also worked closely with the Jackson Historic Preservation Commission to ensure they were sensitive to any exterior changes of the home.
The fire had all but destroyed a stunning antique walnut table from Europe. “It was a piece of furniture I truly loved. I had it restored, and it looks better now than it did the day it arrived off of the container,” Emmy smiles. “We reoriented the dining room for this fabulous table.”
Emmy and Scott slowly rebuilt their dream home, including an open floorplan for entertaining, a wood-burning fireplace, and a beautiful porch reminiscent of Emmy’s childhood house.
“In the Belhaven historic district, most of the homes feature small kitchens, closets, and bathrooms. The houses are so charming, but the floor plans can challenge the way people live and entertain today,” says Emmy. “I wanted to be historically sensitive, but our home is not a museum! We live here and want modern conveniences.”
On November 25, 2019, exactly one year after the fire, Emmy and Scott moved into their newly renovated home. “We love it, and I don’t think we will ever move again,” reflects Emmy. “I believe the result is the perfect marriage between the historic Belhaven past and the way we live today.”
