Susie Doland knows her house is different than others and that’s exactly the way she wants it. “Personal choices, that’s what makes a house a home, doesn’t it?” she asked. “People either hate this house or they love it,” she said. “We didn’t do it for them. We did it for us.”

She and husband, Sam, live on Hodges Street and her house is one of those that adds personality to the neighborhood bordered by Ryan, Hodges, 7th and 10th streets.  The exterior colors of 1631 Hodges are varied and bright and the front yard is filled with banana trees and other plants.

The eye-catching color and landscaping have a story. When Susie and her husband married, the house was filled with antiques. He preferred modern. Rather than decide on one or the other, they agreed on a new direction: A tropical vibe.

Susie uses live and artificial plants, rattan furniture, fabrics and fantastic wood carvings with beach bird themes executed by family members to make it feel like a paradise getaway.

The kitchen has been completely remodeled and features an oversized array of three windows that looks out onto the Doland’s deck and patio. Affixed to the window header framing, which was customized by Sam, are three porch lights painted the same color as the window frame. I was so disappointed when he showed me what he had picked out for lighting,” Susie recalled. But she didn’t say anything and she’s glad she didn’t. She loves the final product. The window unit sells for around $1,600 according to Doland. However, Susie and Sam found it at Habitat Restore for $350. She scours garage sales, flea markets and even the side of the road for trash to turn into treasures. She’s painted bottles and lamps to resemble zebra markings and another example of creative resourcefulness is her use of decorative wrought iron supports for a pantry microwave stand.

The house was built in 1896. Only three families have owned it according to Susie. According to a Lloyd Barras article in the American Press, the Doland’s house was built by C. A. Jeffries and his father-in-law. In 1946, the house became a home for Mr. and Mrs. Columbus Moss when the house they were renting was sold. Susie bought it because she needed a house big enough for four kids.

“The house needed a lot of work,” she said. But it wasn’t until her children were grown that she was able to tackle some of that work. “I patched the roof where it was leaking the worst until the roofers wouldn’t patch it anymore she said. Finally I replaced the whole thing.”

With so many ongoing projects necessary on any property, (and especially on a home built in the late 1800s), there was a time when Susie wondered if she would ever finish everything that needed to be done. That’s when she had her epiphany. “It was like God spoke to me and said, you’re not supposed to get finished. Ever since then, I’ve felt a peace about it that I didn’t have before,” she shared.

With that newfound peace, resourcefulness and hard work, Susie and Sam Doland continue to discover ways to make their house a home.Susie Doland was disappointed when her husband