The couple’s first glimpse of their modest home was anything but reassuring, and the overwhelming scent only made it worse. They coined the name “the cabbage,” blending the words “cabin” and “cottage” into a fitting moniker for their unusual dwelling.
Melissa Gilbert and Tim Busfield married in 2013, each for the third time. They left behind the fast-paced life of Los Angeles to settle in a quiet Michigan town where Busfield has deep ties.
Melissa Gilbert and Tim Busfield’s Journey to a Simple Life
For Gilbert, moving to Michigan wasn’t just about leaving Hollywood — it was the fulfillment of a childhood wish. Growing up in Los Angeles, she had always imagined life on a farm.
“I experienced the Hollywood version while working on ‘Little House on the Prairie,'” she explained. From 1974 to 1983, Gilbert portrayed Laura Ingalls Wilder, affectionately called “Half-Pint” on the beloved series. “There were chickens, cows — I even had my own horse named Peanuts. I loved playing Laura because I wanted to be like her.”
Although the actress embraced country living, five years felt like the right amount of time. In 2018, she and Busfield traded their quiet Michigan town for Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Gilbert quickly stepped back into theater, taking on a role in “The Dead, 1904,” a stage adaptation of James Joyce’s novella. Busfield kept busy directing and acting in television, with appearances on “Law & Order: SVU.”
Despite their professional success, something was missing — especially for Busfield. As Gilbert shared in her memoir, “Back to the Prairie: A Home Remade, A Life Rediscovered,” “It became important for us to have a place where we could escape.”
The need for a retreat from city life led Gilbert and Busfield to an online search, which pointed them to Highland Lake, New York — a quiet spot in Sullivan County.
Buying a home there was no conventional choice. “This is one of those places that most people would say, ‘Are you nuts?’ if you expressed interest in buying it,” Gilbert admitted. “But Tim and I are the best kind of nuts. We’re hopeful visionaries. We knew this house would shelter us well and serve us well.”
What they could afford was far from picture-perfect — a small, neglected structure with peeling stucco, questionable half-timbering, and a cluttered interior left behind by the previous owner. Mice, mold, and mildew only added to the challenge, but beneath it all, they saw potential.
By January 2019, Gilbert and Busfield officially owned their new home, affectionately naming it “the cabbage” as a blend of “cabin” and “cottage.”
With a clear vision for renovation, they set to work, balancing creativity with a tight budget. Due to financial constraints, the Hollywood couple took a hands-on approach to their renovations.
Their resourcefulness guided every design decision. When they found a well-sized but drab gray sofa, Gilbert refreshed it with burgundy slipcovers, cushions, and fabric. She applied the same creativity to a loveseat, using a floral pattern and checkered dust ruffle. Her DIY efforts extended to assembling a windmill ceiling fan and a table saw.
Some tasks, like kitchen demolition, plumbing, and wiring, required professionals. But the couple brought the personal touches to the space, crafting a retro diner-inspired look.
Repurposed bowling alley wood became red-painted floating shelves, while standard cabinets decoupaged with vintage recipes provided character to their kitchen. In a similarly homely style, a corrugated tin panel, aged with vinegar, served as a backdrop for cast-iron cookware.
A farm table with chrome-and-red-vinyl chairs completed the aesthetic, alongside nostalgic décor, including Donald Duck and Olive Oyl figurines, Lincoln Logs, and a vintage Coca-Cola syrup bottle.
Unlike in past homes and marriages, where Gilbert handled everything alone, this time was a true partnership. She admitted her usual approach was to take charge and present a finished space, but with Busfield, the process became collaborative.
The transformation of their home continued over time. Gilbert and Busfield later replaced the windows and painted the exterior a warm shade of yellow. That spring, they added shutters and planted climbing roses, with plans to build window boxes in the summer.
While the house met most of their needs, an extra bathroom remained on their wish list. In the meantime, they relied on a functioning outhouse and additional bathrooms in the RV they purchased for guests. “In my opinion, a house is never finished. It’s always a work in progress,” Gilbert said.
As their home took shape, so did their connection to the outdoors. During the COVID lockdown in 2020, Gilbert and Busfield introduced raised garden beds for herbs and vegetables and built a chicken coop. Now, seven hens roam the property.
