Ken and Nancy Miller’s 1900 Victorian home is another Sault Sainte Marie gem filled with antiques, family heirlooms, and even peacock feathers.
Once inside the front door, notice the rich woodwork, the L-shaped stairs, French doors, and an apple butter kettle. The lamp on the foyer table is from Ken’s grandmother’s home in Ontario.
Beginning in the foyer and throughout the home, you can see Ken’s artwork and his hanging stained glass pieces. Examples of Ken’s work are in the sitting room as well as peacock feathers from Nancy’s mother, who has two pet peacocks. The sitting room also has a claw foot, snake head, and spiral leg table. It’s a unique piece to see in person! Be sure to check the stool in this room with the blue pillow. You’ll get a surprise.
The dining room contains an impressive, dark wood nine-foot table that has the capabilities to expand to thirteen feet. Above the table is a beautiful chandelier perfectly suited for this Victorian home. On the side marble topped washstand table is a local artist Ginny Johnson torso piece.
Ken and Nancy completely renovated the kitchen themselves, which included removing the drop ceiling, wallpapering the walls, installing a new countertop, and painting the cabinets. Along with Ken’s artwork, a piece of local artist Sue Johnson’s work, the squirrel, is displayed in the kitchen.
Part way up the stairs, be sure to notice Ken’s blue glass stained piece. It is unique due to the etched birds. The second floor hallway contains an 1814 cross-stich piece among several other framed pieces including a photo of Ken’s grandfather in Scottish uniform. One of three bedrooms is the master bedroom which has a walk-in closet and a gorgeous metal floor lamp with a ship in the design.
The Millers completely renovated the bathroom demolishing it to the studs. The beautiful bathroom has new floor and bathtub tiles with a lot of help from friend Randy Suggitt as well as a large pedestal sink. By taking blacksmith lessons from Bill Morrison, a former Sault Schools teacher, Ken and Nancy made all the bathroom fixtures: towel rack, shelf braces, paper holder, and hand towel hook. (Bill Morrison made the custom railing along the front exterior steps.)
Another bedroom upstairs has floral murals from the former owners, the Cook family, while the other bedroom, presently a TV room, has a sailing theme. The trip up the steep attic steps is worth the effort to discover two rooms: a yoga/office/relaxing room and a library/music room. Ken’s violin, mandolin, and banjo are in the room with the stenciled hardwood floors and the antique Singer sewing machine.
An addition was added off the kitchen in 2004, which includes a full bathroom and the all-important-to-Sault-Sainte-Marie-living large mud room. Outside are two garages. One serves as Ken’s art studio.
The gated yard also contains two gazebos, a spacious city lawn, and multiple trees with one gigantic tree in the front. One can easily imagine summer parties on this property. How about a wedding? Ken and Nancy were married in one of the gazebos.
“In the 2 1/2 years we’ve been married, we have worked really hard to make this house part of our story. The time we spent working on it together have been very precious. I can’t wait to do more projects!” says Nancy.
Note: House-side parking is available on East Spruce Street. Limited parking in back of home. Enter through the front door.
