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by Beth S. Buxbaum
Memories of planting in the fields, family gatherings and the joys of being part of a close-knit family fill Stephen Bye’s thoughts as he reflects on the history of the property he now calls home. Living on his ancestral land has been a sentimental journey. The original land purchase dates back to 1699 when Thomas Bye bought 200 acres in a William Penn land grant. This land, known as Byecroft Farm, has been in the Bye family for centuries; either handed down, bequeathed or sold to Bye family members.
One of Thomas Bye’s well-known descendants, Dr. Arthur Bye, was an historian. In his History of the Bye Family, he writes “the original homestead of the Byes in Bucks County has been occupied continuously until the present day by a Bye.” The property, also referred to as Old Congress, was posted to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. As a family of artists, the Bye family’s widely recognized lineage includes Steve’s father, Ranulph Bye, a renowned Bucks County artist who was considered one of the foremost watercolorists in the country. Ranulph’s father, Dr. Arthur Bye, was an artist who painted Bucks County landscapes, as well as an historian penning several books.
Steve’s journey has returned him to this family homestead, after years elsewhere. “We lived just three miles away,” explains Steve. “I have memories of spending a lot of time here growing up,” he adds, “a lot of that time planting in the farm fields.” Steve explains that when Arthur Bye, his grandfather, passed away, the land was split amongst the four children. Steve’s father, Ranulph, was one of the sons. Another son, Ed, was a landscape architect who lived off this land and developed a patch of the land in hopes of creating a business venture. “This land was farmland,” Steve describes, “until my uncle created a tree nursery on it with the help of all the cousins.” Over the years, family members have handed down their piece of the property to their relatives. Today this family homestead, which is approximately 65 acres, is currently occupied by several family members and is surrounded by preserved land.
Steve was away from the area for years attending college and art school. He met Nancy while they were both attending Tyler Art School, sharing their interest in photography. The thought of returning to the family homestead may not have been something Steve entertained once he moved away. When Steve and Nancy were married they lived in Clinton, NJ. for four years while establishing their lives and careers. “I have been a house painter since high school,” Steve says, “which began as a summer job and evolved to having my own small residential painting business.” After several years living in Clinton, an unexpected opportunity arose in 1987. “My Uncle Ed, who had inherited 20 acres from my grandfather, wanted me and my wife to have the land,” Steve explains. While somewhat unexpected, Steve was excited with the idea of returning to his family’s homestead.
Cherishing those memories of his youth growing up nearby, this new chapter would bring him back to his early years at Byecroft Farm. Steve and Nancy built their forever home here in 1988. They had the opportunity to define and create their new home from the ground up. After looking through a series of architectural style books to identify a style they preferred, they contacted Jeremiah Eck, an architect known to their family, to create the blueprints. Modestly designed for comfort and function, the concepts for the house’s interior footprint were put into place. Steve notes that Jeremiah even built a small model of the house that he still has on display in his office. As the preliminary design elements were developing, Steve and Nancy requested a few specifications. “We knew that we wanted a one-room-wide house,” explains Steve, “reminiscent of Colonial-style architecture.” One quality of many colonial homes is low ceilings without a lot of windows, making the interior dark. “We wanted windows on both sides to bring in the light,” Steve explains, “and afford us views of the landscape.” He adds that they also wanted a kitchen sink with a view. Putting these specifications into place, they used the backdrop of the land as the focal point. All the rooms were designed with windows to bring in the natural light and enjoy views from anywhere in the house. With the blueprints in place, they contracted Jarrett Vaughan Builders to construct their new home.
Construction began, appointing all the elements and details that were in the plan. Steve characterizes the exterior details as Carpenter Gothic. Carpenter Gothic is described as a decorative architectural style using Gothic Revival elements in wood-framed buildings. Having a more modest decorative quality, this style is known for its charm and quaintness. Features incorporated into the building of their home reflect both Colonial and Carpenter Gothic. From the outside, the many windows are prominent features that add an interesting dimension to the exterior structure. “This house was built with board and batten on top and siding on the bottom portion,” Steve continues, “and the roof has steep gables and deeply pitched and pointed roof lines to emphasize the vertical definition.” With a distinctive Carpenter Gothic styling, the exterior design enhances the quintessential quality of the home.
This charming cottage is infused with woodsy, natural elements throughout. The centerpiece and foundation of the interior living space was designed around the wood stove in the middle of the eating area. “We wanted a stove that could be centralized to heat the entire house,” adds Steve. As for the footprint, rooms are moderately sized and the house’s interior flow is compact. For years, the space was adequate for their first two children. In 1994, to accommodate their third child, they repurposed the screened porch into a second living room and added another bedroom to the second floor. In a flow from room to room, the appointments are distinctively different and boldly displayed.
Embellished with both artsy and elegant touches, the interior living space is a mélange of colors, textures, and stylings. Eclectically appointed, from the furniture to the wall art, an array of materials, patterns and tones fill every room. Flea market and yard sale pieces, family heirlooms and more current purchases define the living space with a sense of comfort and familiarity. Guided by Steve’s keen eye and curated palette and complimented by Nancy’s nuanced talent for capturing and defining the room’s ultimate feel, they embellished their interior living space. “When we moved in we painted all the walls white,” Steve explains, “then five years later we changed all the wall colors.” Now the interior is awash in many colors. Artistic patterns, florals, and stripes add splashes of color on the walls, fabrics and rug-covered floors. Walls showcase collections of art objects, artwork, stained glass and photography.
Steve explains that much of the house’s personality is a testament to his wife, Nancy, who passed away several years ago. He adds that Nancy created the feel of the house with her sense of style and artistry. “Nancy lived her life in an artful way,” Steve muses. He shares how Nancy was an amazing shopper and had a knack for finding just the right pieces to fill their home, mostly on their flea-marketing adventures. Nancy was involved in a variety of artistic ventures and owned a small shop in Holicong with imported art objects from Indonesia. Together they accented their modest home in a unique style, from informal and cozy to elegant and sophisticated. Each room offers a different sense of décor and personality. Informal space; like the kitchen, living room and enclosed porch entranceway, are bathed in warm colors with a lot of wood accents. With quite a departure from the rest of the interior, the formal dining room has been fashioned like an elegant Paris dining spot. A beaded chandelier swings delicately over a Spanish tile-topped table. Walls are striped in shades of salmon and the floors are black and white marble. This room’s sophisticated feel is heightened by its uniquely different ambiance from the rest of the house.
Every room feels lived in and welcoming. Together all the accents and tones bring the home to life. Interior elements are a testament to their passions and talents. All of these influences from their lives define their home. From Bye family art and Nancy’s unique finds and imports, to their photography and their travel mementos, the living space is a culmination of their lives together. Enjoying the landscape and the views, they immersed themselves in this life. “It’s all about inside and outside and appreciating the land where we are,” adds Steve. Gifted this priceless piece of land on the family estate, Steve has come full circle; living on the land he once visited and owning a swatch of his family’s history.
Beth S. Buxbaum is a freelance writer from the Philadelphia area.