In 2016, Sidney_Collins_Freeman returned to her hometown of Livingston, Alabama, to take a break after graduating.
The historical Lakewood mansion, where she spent her childhood, was in a state of disrepair, listed on the Places in Peril by the Alabama_Trust_for_Historic_Preservation and the Alabama_Historical_Commission. Faced with the possibility of selling to developers, Sidney, an only child, decided to restore the house_that_had_been in her_family_for_seven_generations. At the age of 22, despite lacking construction experience, she took on the enormous task of reviving the 6,800-square-foot house built around 1832.
Sidney hired a contractor, and together they addressed various issues, including gas lines, flooring, chimneys, and poorly constructed additions. The project became a joint effort with her then-boyfriend, Jake Freeman, whom she later married.
Sidney, along with Jake, refinished the flooring and completed most of the interior_painting. The kitchen, when finished, was painted yellow in homage to her late Aunt Pie’s kitchen. The restoration journey culminated in Sidney’s wedding at Lakewood in October 2017.
Sidney now operates part of the house as an Airbnb, sharing its charm with guests who can experience its bedrooms and common spaces. For Sidney, living in this house is a dream come true, and she embraces the ongoing work, envisioning her children_waking_up_on_Christmas_morning in the same place where she did—creating a truly special legacy.
