Porchfest in Athens’ Normaltown

Shelby Day and her family were looking for more than a house when they moved to Normaltown in January 2024. They wanted a neighborhood where people knew one another, shared spaces and created a sense of belonging.

Day found that in Normaltown, one of the seven historic Athens neighborhoods participating in Historic Athens Porchfest. Now, as Porchfest co-chair, she is preparing her home for its third year participating in the annual free festival.

“I didn’t even know places like this existed anymore, just that sort of community feel,” Day said.

The house, built in 1944, has evolved alongside Day’s family. A renovation expanded the home from three bedrooms and two bathrooms to four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The nearly 2,000-square-foot residence combines historic features with colorful, personal touches.

Day said she and her husband, Jon, chose Normaltown for its location, proximity to a good school for their now 6-year-old son, Theo, and opportunities to connect with neighbors. Events such as First Friday and Porchfest have helped make the area feel like home.

“You’re just close to everything, can meet more people, and so that was something that we wanted as well,” Day said.

Preserving the Past, Adding Personality

An addition prior to the renovation made its layout less practical for the family. Some bedrooms connected through other bedrooms, creating an awkward arrangement in the roughly 1,400-square-foot home.

Day had expected to remodel the house eventually, but a burst pipe in January 2025 accelerated those plans. The renovation added almost 600 square feet after creating a hallway, bedroom and bathroom, along with a laundry room. The new layout gave the family more space while allowing Day to preserve details that attracted her to the original house.

As president of the Historic Athens board, Day understands the importance of preserving historic buildings and their character. She kept the exterior’s original paint color and retained the existing hardwood floors and fireplace.

However, she added her personality to the fireplace by painting it pink.

“I love color,” Day said.

Arches throughout the home maintain a consistent architectural feel. Day incorporated an arched hallway into the renovation to complement the house’s existing features, while continuing the hardwood flooring into the new space.

“I wanted to keep the feel of the home,” she said.

Day describes her style as vintage-inspired, with a mix of historic details and contemporary color. Rather than making the house feel entirely new, she wanted the renovations to look like a natural extension of the home, preserving its integrity while “also having our own kind of color and vibe to it,” Day said.

Color, Creativity on a Budget

The home’s interior reflects Day’s preference for bold colors and distinctive details. Her bedroom is her favorite room, with forest green walls that create a rich, enveloping atmosphere. The adjoining bathroom features green tile, black-and-white flooring, a large shower and a walk-in closet.

The laundry room continues the playful design with black-and-white checkered flooring and pink accents.

Even with the extensive renovation, Day and her husband looked for ways to make the home feel personal without spending more than necessary. Their closet, for example, uses IKEA products rather than custom cabinetry.

“Renovation is crazy expensive,” Day said. “And so just looking for ways that we can still make it us and have a personality, but not break the bank.”

The renovation also required the family to temporarily move out of the house. Day’s parents lived two blocks away, allowing the family to stay with them and check on the project regularly. On the day Day moved out, she broke her ankle, adding another complication to an already demanding process.

The family is still working on its next project: the yard. Day said the work is scheduled to begin in preparation for Porchfest, when the home will welcome visitors and musicians.

A Home for the Community

Preparing the house for Porchfest is about more than improving its appearance. She wants the property to be a place where neighbors, families and visitors can gather.

“Porchfest, our community, is what pushes us to want to make sure that it’s a nice space,” Day said. “I want it to be a place where kids can come.”

The family hosted her son’s birthday party in the yard last year, using the outdoor space with a pergola as a gathering place for friends and family. Day said she hopes the property will continue to serve that purpose with the new yard updates.

“I’m really excited about the yard getting done because it’s just not usable right now, and I think again, houses are meant to be lived in and yards are meant to be like lived in,” Day said. “Especially for my 6-year-old, him having a place where he can do what he loves … that is one of the things that drew us to the community.” 

When the family moved to Normaltown, the kindness they experienced made an impression on them.

“When we moved here, that was one thing that struck me, the kindness that we saw,” Day said. “That makes me want to do more and be better and get involved.”

The relationships built through neighborhood events are part of what Day thinks makes Normaltown special. She hopes the house will continue to provide a space for those relationships to grow, whether through birthday parties, everyday gatherings or the annual Porchfest celebration.

“I think that really creates a sense of belonging,” Day said. “I think it’s so special. It’s very unique.”