A Digital Restoration for US Folk Art
Some projects feel less like web design and more like historical preservation.
his was one of those.
Austin T. Miller deals in the kind of Americana that stops you in your tracks—early American furniture, folk art, historical objects, and pieces that feel like they’ve carried stories across centuries. The problem was that his website had started doing the same thing… just not in the charming way.
The old WordPress site had been sitting untouched for nearly ten years. Ancient plugins, fragile architecture, outdated styling, and the sort of backend that makes even seasoned developers whisper, well, this could go badly. It wasn’t just old. It was a total write-off.
Enter General Merle, Defender of the Republic.
With one white chest blazing like a Union banner and a black chin that means business, Merle supervised the campaign from headquarters, ensuring every move honoured the spirit of the collection.
The mission was clear: rebuild everything on Squarespace and create a digital gallery worthy of Austin’s remarkable eye.
The new site leans fully into beauty and scholarship. Rich imagery now takes centre stage, allowing each object to feel respected and elevated. The design language draws from Americana itself—quietly influenced by Ohio history, heritage tones, and the sense of permanence these pieces deserve. Instead of fighting the content, the website now frames it.
Somewhere in the background, I’m fairly sure Titus Andronicus’ The Monitor was playing like a battle hymn for the entire rebuild—equal parts urgency, history, and glorious noise. It felt oddly fitting for a project rooted in Civil War echoes, old America, and the stubborn joy of rescuing something worth preserving. If you know, you know. And if you don’t, my desert island discs post might point you in the right direction.
We also gave the brand itself a proper polish. The logo was redesigned to feel cleaner, more timeless, and more aligned with the calibre of the collection. On the practical side, I rebuilt Austin’s domain email into a modern Google Workspace setup, replacing the unreliable old server-era setup with something he can actually depend on.
General Merle, meanwhile, remained vigilant.
Some say he patrolled the CSS files like a sentry at Gettysburg. Others say he simply knocked a pencil off the desk and demanded lunch. History remains divided.
What matters is the final outcome: a site that now feels less like an old forgotten antique mall and more like a curated museum room—clean, elegant, visual, and built for the future.
This was one of those rare projects where the work itself mirrors the subject matter: restore what matters, honour the craftsmanship, and make sure it lasts.
