were busy playing hockey the day before . ( They wore socks for maximum gliding effect .) “ Our house is very lived in ,” she says with a laugh . During the pandemic , Jennifer showcased the four-bedroom house on her Instagram channel , ( instagram . com / rural _ rhodey _ saltbox ) amassing an impressive 35,000 followers . She ’ s since slowed down her posting schedule , but you can still find her putting on a cinnamon simmer pot for visitors and showcasing her gift for seasonal decoration when time allows .
The original homeowner sourced much of the wood used in the post-and-beam construction from an old factory in East Providence . As such , most rooms have wooden beams throughout and soaring , exposed ceilings , which you can often find Thackery perched upon .
The living room fireplace was crafted from bricks salvaged from Boston ’ s Big Dig project — a nice nod to the couple , who met while attending college ( Simmons for her ; Tufts for him ) in the city .
One of Jennifer ’ s favorite spaces is the treehouse room : a tidy guest nook tucked into the eaves that she loves to decorate — especially for Christmas — with twinkling lights , strings of garland and a Charlie Brown-sized Christmas tree .
“ My guests just love it ,” Jennifer says . “ It ’ s so cozy .”
They added a master bed and bath suite and an adjoining mudroom / laundry room in 2020 . The bedroom and bath replicate the home ’ s soaring ceilings , but with a more modern feel than the rest of the space . Pale whitewashed walls let the grain shine through , and plenty of windows let in ample light . It ’ s especially lovely to sit in the soaking bath during a snowstorm , Jennifer says , watching the flakes fall outside .
Glass doors open onto a back deck and fire pit space , and the mudroom has lockers to hold everyone ’ s belongings . Jennifer , who grew up in a 1910s farmhouse , recreated a Dutch door she had fun playing with as a child . It became a smart barn-red door that separates the bedroom suite from the mudroom , and her children play with it just like she once did .
She loves that they ’ re growing up in such a serene , quiet area , and that they get to run free on all those acres .
“ Sometimes I miss the convenience ; Providence isn ’ t far , but it is a ride ,” she says . “ But we like the privacy , and I love that my kids are growing up with chickens and duckies . I think they ’ ll reflect back on their childhood fondly .” 🆁
130 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l SEPTEMBER 2023