When Cathy and David Minyard bought the pink house at the corner of South Huntington and Coleman streets in 2013, it was originally an effort to move closer to family in Vaiden from their previous home in Biloxi.
But moving into the home across from the Attala County Library has brought more than the usual changes associated with moving to a new residence.
For each, the move brought forth talents they never knew they had.
For her, it has been creating stained glass and sewing draperies. For him, it is carpentry skills.
The house was named “Magnolia Hill’ by previous owners, but Cathy Minyard said converting the décor to match that of the state flower was among her first challenges and projects.
Replacing some windows led to Cathy’s first attempts at creating stained glass.
Windows in the living room parlor allow light to enter through her stained glass creations of magnolia blossoms.
In an upstairs workshop, she creates her works of art which have since been installed in several windows and in other displays in the home.
Since embarking on her stained glass venture, Cathy has now been recently commissioned to craft a bathroom window for a home in Madison, testifying to her innate ability in the rare art.
The Minyards said the history of the house is limited, but they have determined that it was titled in 1905.
“The color pink did not appeal to us, but since the house is a landmark and people identified it as such, the color kind of grew on us,” said Cathy.
Walls of the parlor are papered in a Japanese magnolia pattern.
Pink is also used in subtle ways in the kitchen with its cast iron stove and hints of the color scheme are detected in other areas, as well.
Tall windows became a challenge and through the internet Cathy was able to locate a pattern which she received permission to copy.
She also created cornices with patterns from silicone molds. In a bathroom window, the cornice pattern was copied from an antique dresser.
Along with the changes in decor, the Minyards have also made some structural changes. David had some previous construction skill, but became more detailed as work continued on the house.
The Minyards now point with pride to the stairway that now has a striking appearance after they removed a wall and added a newel post once used in a church in Vaiden. Each of the stair steps are adorned with a design intricately fashioned and installed by the couple.
Despite all they have done already, the couple refers to the home as “a work in progress,” and talks of future plans.
Cathy is an occupational nurse with Tyson in Carthage, as she is a former employee of the Attala Nursing Center. David, a former employee of an off-shore company, is now in the construction business.
