NEPTUNE – An Ocean Grove home with a connection to Liverpool, England, is featured on the latest episode of “In With the Old,” available for streaming Friday, Dec. 29, on Max and Discovery+.
The Magnolia Network show, now in its fifth season, centers on renovating homes across the country and preserving their historical integrity. Episode 11, which began filming at the beginning of 2023 and ended in September, focuses on New Jersey natives and Glen Ridge residents John and Arianna Wiley, and their over 140-year-old Victorian cottage in Ocean Grove.
“We’re not home renovators or people who did this by trade, so it was a lot of learning,” said John, a media analyst originally from Bloomfield. Arianna, originally from Freehold, works as a regulatory strategist for a biotech company.
“Throughout our relationship, we always watched ‘Fixer Upper’ with (Magnolia Network’s owners) Chip and Joanna Gaines,” he continued. “Now to have the opportunity to be featured on the network was really exciting, and they did a fantastic job of producing it … really telling our story, as well as the story of the town.”
“The episode is set to feature several local businesses, including Floors by the Shore, and Salvage Angel, as well as a visit to the Ocean Grove Historical Society,” said John in an email. “[People] can see more on our renovation on our Instagram.”
The Ocean Grove Historical Society helped the Wileys understand the heritage of their second home, built in 1882, which is known as Everton Cottage for a reason.
Thanks to old newspaper records, the Wileys discovered the home was once a bed and breakfast, operated by Julia Cowell and her husband, John.
John served as a boat captain, and was originally from Everton, a neighborhood in Liverpool. Julia supposedly ran several bed and breakfasts in the area.
The Wileys even found some historic mail of Cowell’s family hidden in the attic.
The town, founded in 1869 by Methodist clergymen, is known for Victorian-style homes, and is commonly called “God’s Square Mile.” It was also one of the only places women could own land at the time.
“When we bought it [in March 2022], it was in its original Victorian feel, all the original hardware, a lot of old vintage wallpaper,” said John, describing it as “charming but not yet livable.”
Major renovations were done to the dining room, kitchen and bathrooms. They also replaced the leaky plumbing, which was old galvanized steel.
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“Everything we could keep we tried to keep,” he added. “We have this cool beadboard that runs throughout the rooms that was covered in layers of paint.”
“We kept the plaster walls in tact instead of ripping them out and replacing them with drywall…,” Arianna said.
While the “In With the Old” episode can be streamed starting Dec. 29, it is expected to air on the Magnolia Network “at some point in 2024,” said a representative from Warner Bros./Discovery.
The Wileys are looking forward to people seeing New Jersey in a different light.
“It’s really nice to be part of something where we get to highlight this town and this state,” John said, “and show a side of it people don’t often get a chance to see.”
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Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA Today Network New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to [email protected].