Love is in the Details

Story by Terri Glazer | Event Design by Alexandra Blanton Events | Photography by Annabella Charles

February is the month of love, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a table for two! A special dinner in a beautiful setting can celebrate family or friends we cherish. Event planner and designer Alexandra Blanton styled this enchanting tablescape with a Valentine’s family gathering, girls’ night or supper club in mind. 

The Inspiration

A casual scroll through Instagram provided Blanton’s inspiration for this bold color palette. “I came across a powder room on Architectural Digest’s feed. It was in very deep reds and had a wallpaper that was a lot like the linen I ended up choosing. The walls had really deep, blood red tile along with the bottom half of the room. So I just took that color and the inspiration from that wallpaper and ran with it,” she says. “I decided to go with a jewel tone with a bit of a different twist.”

The Designer: Native Memphian Alexandra Blanton is a full-scale luxury wedding planner and event designer based in Denver, CO. She credits her 12 years of ballet training growing up for her love of beauty and design, and her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics for her ability to plan and execute events efficiently.  

The Setting

The glass chapel of the Florian at Mallard’s Croft in Byhalia, MS, provided a breathtaking setting. Soaring windows allowed natural light to bathe the table and provided a panoramic view of the surrounding forest, creating an intimate, fairy-tale feel.

The Table

Blanton began by draping her table for eight in a floor-length cloth. The Sangria Aviara cloth from Nuage Designs features an updated take on a traditional red toile print. Solid napkins in Valentine’s Red, also from Nuage, continue the romantic theme. 

“I decided to balance all the deep colors with black as a neutral,” says Blanton. In addition to striking cross-back dining chairs, she brought ebony tones into the picture with dinner plates embellished with dark gray thistles set atop black melamine chargers. Simple silverware completed the place settings. 

For the glassware, the designer kept with clear vessels, allowing other elements to take center stage. She paired a tall, linear wine glass from Target with a timeless, faceted coupe from Ikea to create interest.

The Flowers

Kristin Wolter of Everbloom Design created the stunning florals. “We took the colors from my mood board and turned them into an ombre floral runner,” Blanton recalls. “Kristin pulled in whites, pinks and purples and flowed it down the table. The table setting was pretty by itself, but when we added the florals it created this cozy, sweet vibe.” 

Candles in tones to match the flowers provided the romantic icing on the cake. “Once you light the candles, it’s hard to beat this look. Candlelight softens everything and always creates a romantic feel,” says Blanton.

Get the Look

Flowers are the foundation for creating a similar look for your February event. The arrangement doesn’t have to span the entire length of the table as this one does, but a floral element always adds dimension and texture, according to Blanton. Next, add an interesting place setting. “It doesn’t have to be super special or expensive, but just mixing colors and patterns with the plate stack and using fun glassware makes it interesting. Use votives or taper candles to create dimension—to give your eye things to travel along.”

Don’t be afraid to mix patterns, colors and textures, the designer suggests. Things don’t have to match to work well together. Blanton’s pro tip: pay attention to scale when mixing patterns. Too many small patterns together look busy, while only large-scale patterns become aggressive to the eye.

Entrusted to His Care

Story by Terri Glazer | Design by Chad Dickerson | Photos by Annabella Charles

Living in a house that’s over 100 years old entails more than just being a homeowner, says Chad Dickerson. There is an added sense of responsibility for its future well being. “You’re in charge of it for now and you have to take care of it,” he says of his home in Corinth, MS. 

Built in 1908, the house has had several lives. “It was a duplex at one point, and also a boarding house,” says Dickerson. “But it’s been a single-family home for the last 50 or 60 years.” As a result of those varied iterations, the layout was ill-arranged when he bought the house in 2007. “You had to walk through a bedroom to get to a bedroom to get to a bathroom,” he laughs.

Dickerson wasted no time rearranging the flow to make more sense, creating a large primary bathroom and plenty of closet space in the initial renovation. “I was really proud of it and I lived with it like that for a long while.

Well, mostly like that. The house and its furnishings were gradually metamorphosing as a byproduct of Dickerson’s business; he owns Sanctuary Antiques in Corinth. While collecting treasures for his shop the Corinth native often found pieces he felt compelled to add to his own decor.

The change shifted into high gear in 2022 after a tornado ripped through the city in mid-April. A tree fell on the house, damaging the roof and interior. “While I had a [repair] crew there I thought, ‘We’re going to take advantage of this and do some things,” Dickerson recalls. “So we did.”

From refinishing and replacing floors to removing three nonfunctional fireplaces to creating a stairway and repurposing an unused attic into cozy living space, the project encompassed almost every part of the house.

The storm sent a tree limb through the front wall into the living room, but the space now shows no evidence of damage thanks to extensive sheetrock replacement and refinished floors. The room is a showplace for many of Dickerson’s favorite things, both antique and modern. “That’s the kind of look I enjoy. I think it’s a little more practical for the way people live, with something that you might have inherited mixed with things you’ve picked out and something maybe you’ve saved up to splurge on,” he says. 

Chief among Dickerson’s prized items is his collection of antique, leather-bound books. “Nothing warms up a space like they do. I have so many of them,” he admits. “There are a ton in the living room bookcases and they’re also scattered all over the house.” 

Chinoiserie is another motif that appears in the living room and throughout the home. Blue and white porcelain is a classic staple of Asian-influenced decor and Dickerson says his love affair with it goes back to childhood. “My mom has always collected it and I think I just kind of developed a love of it because I grew up surrounded by it. It’s something I have a hard time not buying when I’m out and about. I’m constantly buying it for my shop and I’m constantly taking a piece home. It’s literally in every room of the house.”

Window treatments in a bold Schumacher fabric continue the theme and reflect the home’s diverse palette. Dickerson’s affinity for color is especially evident in the dining room, where he paired the Chiang Mai print drapes with vivid green grasscloth wallcovering by Thibaut.

Just off the dining room is a space that is small, but had a big influence on Dickerson’s decision to buy the home in 2007. “The house was not in great shape when I bought it. In the butler’s pantry there was a hole in the floor that you could see through all the way to the dirt.” Despite its need of repair the little room charmed the future homeowner, who could see its true potential. Now restored to its original condition, the butler’s pantry is dressed up in a large-scale paisley wallpaper. “I’d been looking at [the paper] for a long time. It was busy and bold and it was expensive. I thought, ‘I can afford to put it in a space this size and I will never get sick of looking at it.’ It’s been hanging there now since 2007 and I have never gotten tired of it,” says Dickerson. He thinks the pass-through nature of a butler’s pantry makes it the ideal location for a statement decor element. “It’s not a room you’re going to spend all day in. You’ll love it every time you walk through the space or go past it.”

While the pantry’s charm is original to the home, another of Dickerson’s favorite architectural elements is brand new. In order to access the new upstairs living space created in 2022, the contractor had to install a staircase that encroached on the primary bedroom. Dickerson embraced the idea of a sloped wall, creating a warm and personal corner vignette filled with art he admits others might find a bit quirky. “Some of the things have special meaning to me and some are pieces I’ve invested in,” he says. “It’s the first thing I see when I wake up and I love it every day!”

Dickerson says the secret to success when assembling a gallery wall of diverse items is to use similar frames. “They are all in black or black and gold frames, which gives them all something that is relational. You can have something that’s that bold and colorful next to something that is black and white or very monotone, but they still relate to one another because they’ve got that common piece. You don't have to spend a fortune on frames. Some of those frames I picked up at Hobby Lobby or Pottery Barn. Take them home, frame them yourself.”

The new staircase that gave birth to the gallery wall leads to a homey bonus room that Dickerson describes as his go-to spot to decompress at the end of a busy day. The vaulted room is nestled among the hand-hewn beams of the original roofline, leading to some unusual angles that add to the intimate ambiance. A blue-on-blue patterned carpet covers the floors, providing a subtle source of visual interest. The homeowner didn’t have to look far for furnishings, filling the space mostly with pieces from other rooms in the house. Again, Dickerson paired modern with antique, including a sofa from the estate sale of a prominent Corinthian in whose clothing store he worked while a college student.

The latest in the series of renovations involved the kitchen. While the storm repairs were ongoing Dickerson mentioned to the contractor that he wanted to rework a blank wall and move the refrigerator. The builder cautioned him not to bite off more than he could chew at the time, so he waited. But not for long. Only a couple of months after the initial work was completed he pulled the trigger, adding a wall of cabinetry, new appliances, countertops and subway tile backsplashes. Newly built shelves hold another favorite collection, monogrammed Pickard China. He explains, “It’s something that I’ve had in the shop and I’ve sold some of. All different colors with all different monograms—I really love it a lot.” 

While Dickerson says the renovation projects are mostly finished—the primary bathroom is the last room slated for an overhaul—he also admits that work on a century-old house is never truly done. “There's always a project to do, whether you’re ready for it or not. You just have to love it.” 

It’s clear that Dickerson does love this house; he has perfected it for the way he lives and continues to preserve it for generations to come.   

Game On!

Design by Jennifer Estes | Story by Terri Glazer | Photography by Annabella Charles

This East Memphis media room is all about the games! Whether that game is the upcoming Super Bowl, one of the Ole Miss baseball watch parties the homeowners love to host, a family billiards night or kids video gaming, the newly remodeled spot is the perfect place to watch or play. Jennifer Estes designed the space to suit her clients, a busy, professional couple and their three middle- and high-school aged sons. Jon Gambrell Construction completed the project.

Estes has worked with the family for about a decade, revamping almost every room of their main house. As the children grew older, mom and dad decided it was time to repurpose a seldom-used guest space over their detached garage to become a hangout place for the boys. 

But not just for the boys. Dad insisted on having amenities like a huge TV, a premium sound system, a custom bar and a pool table, and mom worked with Estes to make sure the design is elevated and has enough glamor to accommodate a girls’ night party. “She did not want it to be a ‘man cave,’” Estes recalls. “I presented her several concept boards, and she went with the sleeker, more modern look.

Sleek, indeed, but tough enough to withstand any kind of mess a group of tween and teen boys can dish out. “This is pretty much a bulletproof room. I think of it like glamorous camo,” says Estes. “I like to design everything very pretty. But everything in this room is also stain- and water-repellent. It’s a lot more livable than you would think.”

The room’s practical design began from the ground up. Sourced from Kiser’s Floor Fashions, the engineered wood flooring resists water and scratching. The custom rug, also from Kiser’s, is patterned to conceal crumbs, etc. Estes painted the walls and trim in high-gloss white. She loves the finish for a variety of reasons. “It’s bright and happy, so it’s great for an area like this that doesn’t get a ton of natural light,” she explains. “It’s wipeable, too, and durable. If they ding the wall with a lacrosse stick it’s pretty forgiving. Just a really cost-effective way to give walls a high-end finish without spending a ton of money.”

White upholstery, once considered a no go in high-use settings, is now family friendly, thanks to the advent of performance fabrics. “Liquids, stains, everything either rolls right off of this fabric or comes right up with just a little soap and water,” says Estes. She took advantage of that technology, choosing Nanotex textiles for the Bernhardt sectional and swiveling barrel chairs. Gold and white accent pillows made by Ann Smith Custom Draperies play off the Thibaut wallpaper. Smith’s workroom also created all new shades and draperies for the space.

Estes designed the geometric-patterned bar and back bar with plenty of space for snacks and a beverage refrigerator. The clients requested maximum seating for the room, and the designer delivered. Fashionable stools that look great around the bar but can also be moved around, sleek ottomans near the pool table and window seats in the dormers give the family and their friends plenty of options to relax. Electronic Environments handled installation of the room’s large TV and integrated sound system.

Nestled into a cozy nook, the billiards table is the perfect addition to a space made with games in mind. “Pool tables don’t have to be huge and clunky with leather and fringe any more. This one is bar sized, and we were able to pick the finish and the felt color. Plus, it converts into a ping pong table, too, so it gives them more options,” says Estes. Above the table a chic linear pennant from Visual Comfort’s Kelly Wearstler collection provides both light and sophistication. 

Whether they’re watching sports or playing pool or Xbox, this ultimate entertainment space allows the family and their friends to enjoy the game in comfort and style. With equal attention to design and practicality, Jennifer Estes made sure they can relax and focus on fun.

A Legacy Continued

Story by Terri Glazer | Design by Tara Felice Interiors | Photos by Sélavie Photography

“It’s a continuation of our family, my husband’s family. They lived here for so long.” That principle guided Nicole and Jeff Warren as they sought to put their own stamp on the Midtown home in which Jeff grew up. 

After the couple bought the house from Jeff’s parents, who built a new home next door, they wasted no time planning renovations. Under the guidance of Tara Engelberg, owner of Tara Felice Interiors, they finalized choices while the elder Warrens’ place was still under construction and started the revamp as soon as they moved. “We had everything planned. We had bought all the furniture, we knew the wallpaper, the paint colors. We had a contractor lined up and we had everyone on standby,” says Engelberg.

Because of the home’s family history, a complete gut job was out of the question. The project would be more of a reimagining of the space to better accommodate the young couple and their two small children, weaving furniture, accessories and art they already owned with new pieces. The concept was squarely in line with Engelberg’s design aesthetic. “I love mixing old and new, and I always want it to feel a little funky,” she explains. 

First on the agenda was adding interest to the living room fireplace. The substantial, dark wood surround, a staple in Craftsman-style homes, remained intact, but with a facelift thanks to new tile. “I wanted to pick a tile that would make it pop but also look aged, not like brand new,” says the designer. 

Engelberg filled the room with an eclectic mix of furnishings, pairing new, a tuxedo-style sofa in tranquil green velvet and a trio of modern travertine tables with pieces the Warrens already owned and loved—traditional antique chests, modern leather club chairs and swanky mid-century lamps. Above it all a freeform white pendant light hangs like a pop art cloud. Relaxed Roman shades in neutral linen on the two large front windows create a laid-back vibe.

A wide cased opening leads to the new dining room. Formerly a sitting room lined with built-in bookshelves, the light-filled space now sports classic William Morris botanical wallpaper. A pair of CB2 rattan bar cabinets topped by vintage mirrors give the room symmetry. Engelberg’s affinity for juxtaposing styles is evident here with her selection of curvy contemporary chairs, also from CB2, to surround the antique dining table. The room’s rock star, however, is above it all: the high-gloss caramel ceiling and crown molding punctuated by a linear chandelier that extends from a magenta medallion.

Another hallmark of homes of the era, French doors separate the dining room and the new keeping room. Nicole says the family loves to hang out in the warm and cheerful spot on a comfy sofa Engelberg recovered. “We love to reupholster whenever we can. It’s a good thing to do environmentally and financially,” says the designer. Window shades in a large-scale print fabric give the room a playful feel just right for a young family’s favorite spot.

The room opens into the kitchen, the part of the home changed most dramatically. Even so, much of the “before” remains. Added to the home in an early-2000s renovation by the elder Warrens, the kitchen was well appointed and well maintained. Engelberg was able to keep the perimeter cabinets, most of the appliances and the stainless steel sink/countertop combination Nicole says is “indestructible.” Although almost all the original cabinets received a coat of creamy white paint, a few still show off their original wood finish, freshened up with reeded glass front panels. 

The new island is a multi-purpose space with a prep sink, seating, storage and plenty of room to work. Engelberg knew the soapstone countertops were a must-have from the minute she saw the slab. The piece has marbling that produces a look of movement rarely found in the natural stone.

Checkerboard floor tiles make a striking statement in the kitchen. “They feel a little historical and a little fun,” says Engelberg. With such a bold element beneath, the designer knew a softer color would be right for the island. The robin’s egg blue she chose ups the interest quotient without fighting against the white and burnt orange of the floor.

Also added in the previous renovation, a half bath off the kitchen is like a little treasure in the home. Lush floral wallpaper in blues and golds makes a big impact in the small space. An antique-inspired, high-back wall sink with a showy yellow exterior looks right at home. Brass sink hardware and a gilded bamboo-look wall mirror feel like jewelry on the dressed-up space.

Nestled in the center of the home, the family room is a cozy spot where the family can relax or watch TV. Thibaut grasscloth wallpaper with a woven motif creates a warm mood, especially as it’s put together with an oriental rug in traditional reds and blues. Engelberg coupled a new sectional in a white performance fabric with a pair of exposed-wood armchairs from the Warrens’ collection and punched everything up with colorful accent pillows. New light sconces flank an artistic Elvis tribute in a fun nod to Jeff’s hometown.

Engelberg completed the project last summer, while the Warrens were away on vacation. In a somewhat unconventional plan for the final installation, the couple brought their existing furniture, art and accessories out of storage before they left town and told the designer to use what she wanted, where she wanted. “Nicole said, ‘See where it works,’ and so we made it work. It looks amazing too. It’s not like we had to struggle or sacrifice anything; it all fits great,” Engelberg says.

“We came home and it was the best,” recalls Nicole. “The artwork was great! I expected the [new pieces of] furniture to a certain extent because I knew it was coming, but the artwork and how everything looks, it just was like, ‘Oh, I wouldn’t have thought of doing that.’ And that made it really cool to come home. So fun.”

Her willingness to take an outside-the-box approach during the project is a big part of what drew the Warrens to work with Engelberg. “I love that she could appreciate the context of this being the family’s home and that she worked within that,” says Nicole. “Tara could see our style and what we liked and meshed those things together.” 

British Empire in East Memphis

Story by Terri Glazer | Design by M. Lavender Interiors | Photos by Annabella Charles

“I think we’re home now. It’s ours, 100 percent.” Designer Mark Lavender recently made that declaration about the East Memphis home he and his partner bought in August of last year. Getting to that point required making plenty of changes to the home, keeping some elements as they were, adding new pieces and reusing treasured favorites, all while dealing with the client Lavender jokingly refers to as his “most difficult”—himself.

Lavender spent the previous 23 years in Chicago building his reputation as a designer, first in the commercial realm and more recently at the helm of his own firm. Spurred by the brutal midwest weather in the winter of 2021, Lavender and his partner Guy pulled up stakes and headed south, eager to get back to their roots and a friendlier climate. They settled in Memphis and set about making a home here and establishing a new, locally based design firm.

In just over a year, Lavender has transformed his residence into a handsome and personal showplace, inspired by his extensive global travels and anchored in a style that’s at once English cottage and masculine. “British Empire is our overall theme, our guiding principle throughout the house,” he explains.

Lavender credits his training as an architect for his expert sense of scale. “Everything is properly proportioned for the house,” he explains. Properly proportioned, however, does not mean everything is the same size. Lavender deftly blends stand-out pieces with equally interesting background elements. He says, “There are supporting players and there are rock stars, but everything has a part to play.”

From showstoppers on down, Lavender’s home is filled with an eclectic mix of pieces that hold personal meaning. He strives to incorporate that principle into his professional work as well as in his own space. “We feel that every home has and should have a story, and we really want to create a design that tells our clients’ stories in their homes,” he says. “One of the first things we do when we take on a new project is come in and inventory all the clients' things. We want to know which pieces are special and then we work to incorporate them into the new design for the home.” 

photo by mark lavender

Stepping in the front door, the designer’s love for the Asian aesthetic is evident. Lavender created the foyer’s look around a jungle-themed Manuel Canovas paper he found on the wall of the sample room at Chicago’s Cowtan & Tout designer showroom. A statue of an Indonesian goddess welcomes guests while locally sourced pieces—a chandelier from Graham’s Lighting along with a settee found at a Poplar Avenue antique store and freshly recovered in a Clarence House fabric—help complete the look. 

The striking burnt orange hue on the ceiling foreshadows a theme. “I love orange! I wanted to paint the ceiling in this space for drama and thought, ‘Why not a burnt orange.’ We have orange wallpaper in the back of the house and there are shades of orange on various pieces of furniture and artwork throughout the house,” says Lavender. 

The foyer extends deep into the main floor of the home, creating a strong central spine. Lavender established a waypoint in the back of the space using a framed panel of mural wallpaper behind a table and a graceful chair from Latin American furniture maker Alfonso Marina. “It pulls you in once you come in the front door,” says Lavender. “The idea was to create this point of interest towards the internal area of the home to lead you into the rest of the house.”

Photo by mark lavender

The home’s two front rooms, a formal sitting room and a slightly more casual space with a fireplace, have distinct personalities. The sitting room was one of the first projects Lavender tackled upon moving into the home, replacing marbleized wallpaper with a classic Philip Jeffries grasscloth. Faux alligator wallpaper in rich blue lines the backs of bookshelves filled with mementoes of travels in Thailand, Morocco and Argentina. “We wanted this room to have an exotic feel; like a trophy room from an old English home,” he says. A Lillian August for Hickory White sofa, scaled perfectly for the intimate space, provides a comfortable spot to sit and read or enjoy a bourbon from the bar set up on the built-in cabinets, a nod to the homeowner’s Kentucky heritage. 

“When we looked at this house, the first thing I noticed was the living room curtain fabric. It’s one of my favorite classic patterns,” Lavender says, recalling that he took it as a sign that this would soon be his home. “It’s called Xian Linen from fabric house Brunschwig & Fils. It’s a fabric that we use a lot in our practice and it was already here!” No matter where they’ve lived, the couple’s living room has always been a variation of seafoam green, and this house is no exception. Benjamin Moore Nature Lover covers the walls and sets the backdrop for a melange of long-held favorite pieces and new acquisitions including a Lee Jofa sofa, a Tomlinson lounge chair and a Ralph Lauren bench in front of the fireplace. Although larger in scale than the sitting room, the space has a cozy vibe that makes it the perfect setting for a beautiful Christmas tree and a crackling fire. Lavender achieved his goal of creating an inviting room—comfortable, yet with a bit of a formal feel.

“I love a good chocolate brown paint color. This color, Deer Trail by Benjamin Moore, was already in the dining room, so we stayed with it,” says Lavender, noting another tidbit of serendipity. The custom dining table the couple had made a few years ago has a rustic, “been-here-forever” ambiance that blends seamlessly with a Stickley buffet they have owned for years and a Chinoiserie secretary that they found at a recent estate sale. The room’s artwork is an eclectic mix that includes a 150-year-old portrait, a bright depiction of zebras and a still-life original painted by Guy’s mother. The grouping proves that meaningful pieces collected over a lifetime will always bring interest and a personal touch to a home. 

Rather than a complete remodel, a less drastic renovation achieved the English look Lavender sought for the kitchen. After some debate, the homeowners opted not to paint the cabinets, allowing the rich wood to set the tone. The new green tile backsplash and Rohl bridge faucet bring to mind Mrs. Patmore’s Downton Abbey kitchen. Deep blue walls and white countertops feel crisp and buttoned-up, while Noelle Holler’s original turkey hen painting sourced from Goetze Art and Design adds an element of whimsy. Says Lavender, “There’s something kind of regal about her that just says, ‘You were saying?’”

Adjacent to the kitchen, the family room has a grand scale that comes as much from its tall ceilings as the square footage. Playing off its proportions, weighty design elements are right at home. From the substantial Ralph Lauren chandelier to the massive live-edge coffee table to the sturdy antique fireplace accessories, large-scale pieces make a major impact. Even the television had to be big. A Samsung Frame TV that displays art on the screen when not in use was the ideal choice. Handsome British khaki on the Verellen sofa creates a clean backdrop for an assortment of interesting throw pillows. Lavender first assembled the collection for the 2022 Christmas vignette he created for Serena & Lily’s suburban Chicago showroom. A pair of Cisco Home swivel arm chairs decked out in clean-cut plaid upholstery from Romo Fabrics completes the look. 

After more than a year transforming the house Lavender felt he was meant to have into his own, it’s no wonder he smiles when he says he thinks he’s 100 percent “at home” now. As the old saying goes, and as he will surely agree, there’s no place like home for the holidays.

Flawlessly Finished

Story by Terri Glazer | Design by Ami Austin | Photos by Ross Group Creative

When they bought the house in an established River Oaks neighborhood in 2017, the current owners embarked on a major renovation plan. They created open spaces where walls with narrow doorways had separated rooms. They gutted and completely reworked the kitchen, as well as the bathroom and closets in the primary suite. They repurposed an unused area to become a wine room and added a new front porch.

The couple also furnished it beautifully, bringing treasured pieces from their previous residence and adding others. Their home was lovely, classic, comfortable and well suited for the parties they love to host. 

Yet the wife had the feeling it wasn’t complete. That feeling was especially strong when she was shopping in Laurelwood and discovered Ami Austin Home, the shop and showroom for Ami Austin Interior Design. “Everything she had in the window, I thought, ‘I love that. I could have that in my house!’” she recalls. 

When Austin came for her initial visit in the summer of 2023, she was impressed with what she saw. “The first time I came here [the owner] asked me what I would do. I told her if she did nothing that her house was gorgeous,” Austin recalls. The experienced designer did, however, have some ideas for additions that would complete the decor and further enhance the beautiful furnishings already in place.

It was clear that she and her new client were on the same wavelength as far as the finishing touches. Among Austin’s immediate suggestions were giving the entryway a more dynamic look and adding a chandelier over a seating vignette in the living room, two elements that the homeowner had also realized would amplify the overall impact from the moment guests stepped in the front door. “We tried to create some dimension in the foyer,” explains Austin. “The first thing that I thought when I saw the large wall by the staircase was, ‘This could be predictable…but why not do something really interesting?’ That interest came in the form of a grouping of sculptural butterflies that seem to flutter up the stairway.

Visible from the front entryway, the seating area in the living room needed an overhead focal point. The Ralph Lauren chandelier Austin selected fills the bill perfectly. Its style is classically formal, highlighted by sparkling crystal beading, teardrop pendants, brushed gold framework and silk shades that soften the light. The piece is the ideal accompaniment to the grouping of traditional seating, anchored by an antique Oriental folding screen mounted on the wall behind. Austin’s other contribution to the vignette was a pair of Fortuny leopard-print bolster pillows that look right at home on the center-facing armchairs.

The living room flows directly into the large dining room, where a series of full-length windows allows light to stream in and offers views of the inviting back patio and yard. Punctuating the space is a pair of dramatic bronze sculptures from Atlanta’s Cherrylion Studios. Austin placed the statues on custom pedestals from her own line, the Parker Lauren collection. The designer says the art pieces were right for this home, where large groups often gather. “Because they entertain a lot and have people in the home, I didn’t want to clutter, and anything that would take away from the beautiful view outside did not need to happen. My client liked the idea of more architectural pieces.”

On the adjacent wall hangs “Form Out of Fog,” an original painting by local artist Pam Hassler, inspired by the view on a misty morning on the Wolf River trails. The couple had owned and enjoyed the piece for years, but Austin knew that lighting would bring out its beauty even further. She selected exquisite gold Murano glass sconces to flank the painting. More art than fixture, the gingko-shaped pieces emit muted light, but are every bit as elegant when not illuminated.

Lighting and electrical details are of utmost importance to Austin on all her projects, and the difference that expert choices in those two areas can make is apparent throughout this home. In addition to the statement light fixtures she selected, less notable additions also made remarkable differences. She installed subtle-yet-effective portrait lights over many of the couple’s works of art to showcase all their beauty. The designer also specified that all the electrical outlets along the kitchen backsplash be moved to the underside of the wall cabinets when the new tile she selected for the area was put in place. “This way, you can see the backsplash unencumbered,” she says. “It makes such a clean look.”

Divulging what she calls a “trick of the trade,” Austin says her secret to getting the most effective lighting with the least damage to walls and ceilings when adding or retrofitting a home’s fixtures is with Pico remote control technology from Lutron Electronics. Using transmitters that can be placed out of sight, the system allows “noninvasive” installation with minimal repair work needed afterwards. The versatile remote controls offer options for the homeowners to use lighting in a variety of ways to create ambiance as they wish. 

The lighting, the art, the accessories and the other finishing touches Austin added to this home are a thoughtful completion of the design aesthetic its owners began when they came to live here—the icing on an already beautiful cake.

First Class Second Home

Design by HillCo Construction | Story by Terri Glazer | Photography by Ross Group Creative

“We knew we needed three bedrooms and two baths. It didn’t need to be anything extravagant, just simple and cozy. Someplace comfortable and with enough room if the owners and their grown children are all there together. And it didn’t need to be a million dollar house.”

Those were the marching orders Tracy and Bill Hill, owners of HillCo Construction, used as the jumping off point for the turnkey home project they recently finished on a large parcel of land in the southern part of Collierville. Their clients, a California couple, added one more must-have. Says Tracy, “The client said she wanted color. She likes very bright colors.” 

Past that, the owners let their contractors run with the project. From demolishing a rundown house on the property and preparing the lot, to finding and modifying the plans, to building the home, even designing and furnishing the interior, HillCo took care of every phase of the process. “That’s a pretty big level of trust on [the homeowners’] part,” Tracy says. Although they maintained constant contact, sending photos and information regularly for approval, the owners didn’t see the house in person until construction was about 75 percent finished.  

No doubt they were pleased, though. The Hills hit the design nail squarely on the head, creating a reasonably sized home that is loaded with style and filled with the kind of thoughtful and unique touches that Bill says go into every HillCo project.

The “wow factor” is evident from the first step inside the front door—an open living area and kitchen highlighted by a bright yellow feature wall. Tracy says the wall’s geometric trim accents came about through “a meeting of the minds” between her, Bill and Micah McCauley, Hillco’s senior project manager. “I originally wanted a circular pattern on the wall. Bill is very symmetrical, though, so we compromised. He and Micah built the trim and installed it themselves.”

They took the angular theme a step further by using right-angled lattice molding in place of quarter round or shoe molding. Explains McCauley, “All the door trim, all the baseboard, everything’s got a square look to it. It didn’t make sense to insert quarter round up against it.” 

The bold yellow of the wall sets the stage for the dark and dramatic feel of the kitchen, where Tracy paired fresh white cabinets with Cosmic Black quartzite countertops and backsplashes. She reprised the dark blue/black paint color from the living room TV enclosure on the kitchen island and dressed up everything, including the GE Cafe appliances, with French gold hardware. 

The stunning black-on-black tile wall behind the range is a showstopper, but Bill says future HillCo customers need not aspire to have it in their homes. “We try not to do anything twice in a house,” he says. “We did this custom kitchen just for this house and it wouldn’t be fair to these clients if we took the same thing and put it in someone else’s house,” adds Tracy. 

Careful planning and attention to detail allowed this home to have an array of special features not always found in a moderately priced new construction project. The hall bathroom is a prime example. Its deep soaking tub is a step up from the more shallow builder-grade steel variety that’s often used. The placement of the tub and shower controls on the opposite wall from the faucet and sprayer head didn’t happen by chance: McCauley modified the original plans. “It keeps you from getting wet when you’re turning the water on, and you don’t have to reach over the toilet,” he explains. Thanks to a white quartz waterfall counter, a full glass door and more goldtone in the fixtures and accent tile, this bath has an elevated style that proves a small space can make a big impact.

In the primary suite, Tracy designed a bedroom with a quiet, neutral palette, starting with textured wallpaper in shades of white and gray that lines one wall. It makes a perfect backdrop for a simple king-sized bed she decked out in solids of varying textures with a touch of sparkle and pattern on the accent pillows. She sourced the bed, nightstands and bench, along with almost all of the home’s furniture, from article.com, an online retailer of contemporary and mid-century furnishings.  

In the adjoining bathroom, black, white and gold combine to produce a modern and elegant feel. Here again, McCauley tweaked the blueprints to improve the room’s layout, removing a window on the front wall to create room for a sizeable second vanity. 

With a separate laundry room, a two-car garage, a cozy dining area and a back porch that takes full advantage of the 11-acre property’s pastoral views, the house is the complete package, a stylish, comfortable place to make the most of family visits.

Glamour on the Lake

Story by Terri Glazer | Design by Lovelace Studios | Photos by Selavie Photography

The concepts of a glamorous home and a family home may seem mutually exclusive, but one Memphis couple was set on having both. They got their wish, with picturesque water views to boot, with the help of designer Caroline Lovelace.

Drs. Aditi Bagchi and Kaushal Kalra chose contractor Ken Garland to build their dream home in Piperton’s Twin Lakes community in 2021 and brought Lovelace in shortly after the architectural drawings were finalized to steer the design. With three guiding principles—to give the home cosmopolitan style, to facilitate entertaining large groups, and to maximize views of the backyard pool and the lake that adjoins the property—Lovelace set out to create surroundings that would give the couple everything they desired. The couple moved in last year, only a week before their first baby was born.

“Every room in the house that’s important to them has an amazing lake view,” Lovelace says, “so taking advantage of that as much as possible told us how we needed to orient the furniture. These two love entertaining. They do it often and for large groups so they wanted lots of open space. And they wanted light and airy design, which came naturally with the tall ceilings.”

Lovelace understood the vibe the couple wanted immediately when she saw the sofa they requested for the living room. The curved sectional set the design tone for the living room, and ultimately for the entire project. “You might not expect to see it in a family home, but I think it feels really unique and special for a family to be able to have such an elevated sense of style, even with a toddler in the house,” Lovelace says.

The designer was thrilled when her clients mentioned that they wanted to incorporate bold color into their new home. “They were coming from a very neutral space, so to get to work with color was really exciting,” she recalls. “The living room wallpaper is one of my favorites I’ve ever used.” Lovelace and the couple quickly built a great rapport that gave them confidence to go along with some of her bold design decisions, including the choice of dark teal leather swivel chairs in the living room. “They trusted me on these and they look great. They really pull out the blue in the rug.”

The living room lacks two elements usually found in family gathering spaces: a television and decorative lighting. Both these omissions are by design. Bagchi and Kalra aren’t big TV watchers, so they told Lovelace they didn’t want one constantly visible. In a clever design hack, a drop-down projection screen is mounted into the living room ceiling to provide entertainment when needed, then disappear. Its projector is also hidden discreetly. Had Lovelace placed a chandelier in the space it would have blocked the view when the TV is in use, as well as that of the lake from the living room’s wall of full-length windows. Instead, she opted for LED rope lighting recessed into the ceiling.

In contrast, twin brass and black light fixtures above the adjacent kitchen island add an element of drama. Lovelace explains, “They wanted something statement making, so we went with the oversized lighting. It makes a big impact in the room.”

Because the homeowners love to cook and use their kitchen frequently, Lovelace paid special attention to blending function with form in its design. Thoughtful features like the quartz countertops, a quartz sink, which she says is practically indestructible, a touch-sensor faucet and a drawer that transforms into a cutting board and sturdy mixer stand make the kitchen the ultimate in user friendly. The stunning metal vent hood, Audrey Lane tile backsplashes and gold-veined mirror fronts on the bar cabinet doors bring sophistication. Lovelace says the gilded treatment on the cabinet doors not only provides the bling Bagchi loves, but also reflects the beautiful lake view in a unique way.

Just off the kitchen, the home’s single dining area is anchored by a large oval table in dark wood. Curved-back chairs in moody blue velvet soften the tone and reprise the elliptical line of the table. In contrast, a squared-off banquette adds an angular touch. Its upholstery repeats the marigold tones of the living room wallpaper. The window wall shows off the lake view and can also open fully onto the screen porch when Bagchi and Kalra want room for guests to have room outdoors as well as in.

The room originally conceived as the dining room in the house plans takes a different role in this home, serving as the family’s puja mandir, or home temple. One of Garland’s carpenters constructed two exceptional additions to the sacred space. On either side of the cased opening from the entryway he constructed custom back-lit built-ins, each with 24 square compartments. Some are covered with lotus symbols, while others hold small green plants or other meaningful items. Lovelace says her clients wanted a special place to worship in their home and the built-ins were “critical to making it feel really intentional.” 

In the primary bedroom Lovelace took the charisma up a notch, giving Bagchi and Kalra a  lustrous, silvery retreat. Again, the couple eschewed the idea of a TV. Neither did they need a dresser, as their huge custom closet has plenty of room for all their clothing. The designer took advantage of the substantial open wall across from the bed to add dimensional art. Working with metallic and white components from Gold Leaf Design Group’s Wall Play collection, installer Chuck Bogan brought Lovelace’s artistic concept into being. “Water was the theme,” she says. “We wanted it to look almost like a crashing wave.”

The custom headboard is the focal point on the opposite wall. The straight lines of its channel tufting play well with the stylized ovals in the wallpaper. From the shiny dandelion chandelier to the faux fur accent pillows to the silverized wood nightstands, everything in the room exudes glamour.

If the bedroom shouts luxury, the primary bath whispers it with a bright, airy feel. White vessel sinks, countertops and cabinets accented with chrome hardware create a clean, fresh look. Lovelace seamlessly worked in two out-of-the-ordinary features her clients designated as must haves: a refrigerator drawer for the skincare products Bagchi likes to keep chilled, and a smart mirror that can display the time, weather conditions and more when enabled. Lovelace’s design cleverly embedded that device in the large bank of mirrors that spans the entire wall so that it blends in perfectly when not in use. 

Two factors make it obvious that the upstairs home gym is important to Bagchi: it has a sweeping lake view, and it’s full of color. “Aditi wanted something that would motivate her to come up and work out in the gym,” says Lovelace. The designer obliged with wallpaper from Mable Originals that is an explosion of color and energy. And because no room in this house would be complete without a touch of bling, an artist applied accents of gold leaf to the wall covering by hand.

Lovelace, who launched Lovelace Studios last year after almost a decade cutting her design teeth on the staff of local firm Murphy Maude, says bright color is back in the decor world. “I’m doing a lot of color right now. A lot of color. People are dying for color. Everything was gray for so long! It’s time for something fresh.”

The polished and urbane home Lovelace created for her happy clients bears out the fact that color, bling and family can successfully coexist after all.

A Touch of Whimsy

Story by Terri Glazer | Design by Selena McAdams of spruce | Photography by Stefanie Rawlinson

The house itself was a jewel—tucked away on a quiet and picturesque street in East Memphis with classic architecture, a beautiful setting and a just-right floor plan. So much so that the young couple who lived next door had their eye on it for some time. When it came up for sale they couldn’t resist. They made the short move in early 2021 and began the process of making it into the perfect home for their growing family.

The pair enlisted the help of designer Selena McAdams, who recognized immediately that the new place’s traditional decor needed a youthful makeover with a pinch of whimsy to accurately reflect its new residents. The job entailed repurposing and repositioning much of the couple’s existing furniture and rugs, adding along the way to complete the look.

Changes have come in order of need, says the homeowner, pointing out the new runner on the entryway staircase. The carpet took top priority, as the old rug’s rough texture was prickly to her two little daughters’ bare feet. “They had to walk on the wooden edges of the treads to get up to their bedrooms,” she recalls. McAdams suggested a blue and white patterned runner with a soft feel and look.

“I think the runner sets the tone,” says the designer. Its periwinkle blue, a favorite of the homeowners, appears throughout the new design. "We have a note of that [color] in each room to connect everything. The house was so traditional before, with lots of darker neutrals. Now it feels brighter, a little more transitional and full of energy.”

The living room is a prime example of McAdams’s masterful ability to create liveable rooms with a nod to formality. Comfortable seating and a cowhide coffee table, all sourced from Spruce, give the family a gathering spot that’s cozy yet on the dressy side. Two pairs of large art panels brought from the owners’ previous home give the room an elegant feel. The designer juxtaposed the Impressionist-inspired paintings with a bold wall art piece by Angela Chrusciaki Blehm and black and white accent pillows on the sofa below it. A sputnik-style overhead fixture draws the eye up to the newly painted light blue ceiling. The color McAdams chose was only slightly different from the existing gray, says the homeowner, but the effect is substantial. “It’s much more ‘us,’” she says. 

The blue extends into the adjacent dining room’s walls, punched up by crisp white trim and wainscoting. The light-filled space is scaled as generously as the living room, making it the perfect setting for the custom dining table. McAdams recalls how the piece came to be. “When the homeowners and I were looking at countertops for the kitchen we ran across this slab of quartzite and we all three stopped to look because it was so beautiful. The idea of creating their dining room table out of that one slab just so they could have it in their home came about.” At 120 inches long, the ogee-edge slab needed three supports for its weight. McAdams chose a trio of gold-toned, geometric bases and surrounded the table with neutral rattan chairs in keeping with the project’s dressy/comfortable theme. The homeowner couldn’t be happier. “Our main idea was that we didn’t want the dining room to be a stuffy room that no one ever went in. This is a little more casual, more family friendly. The girls can sit in here and do a project,” she says.

The room’s existing iron chandelier received a fresh gold-leaf treatment; the metallic finish is reprised in the shades of the two contemporary lights on the buffet. Those lamps illuminate a series of paintings brought from the clients’ former home, but hung in a new grouping; one horizontal row for maximum impact on the large expanse of wall. “It’s great that Selena repurposed pieces that we loved,” says the homeowner. “I would never have thought to hang those that way.”

A small passthrough between the dining room and the sitting room received a big style change with a new wine cooler, white cabinet and counter, and pretty wallpaper in shades of periwinkle. McAdams repeated the wall treatment in the hall area outside the downstairs guest room.

The home’s signature color is showcased in the kitchen, where lavender-blue cabinets play perfectly off clean white appliances, counters and backsplash. Of course, the design combines modern and traditional elements: sleek brass and white vinyl barstools stand at the peninsula’s eating area, while mid-century tulip chairs surround a classic wooden table. McAdams took the opportunity to play up the whimsy in the kitchen rug and artwork with colorful choices that have become the young family’s favorite parts of the room.

The area behind the kitchen received the most extensive renovation of any part of the home. McAdams reconfigured the home’s hub, the rear entry, laundry room and butler’s pantry, to alleviate the bottleneck that occurred when all four family members entered the house at once. The new layout provides room for everyone and lots of storage areas that are as attractive as they are practical.

A guest suite as well as the primary bedroom and bath complete the layout of the downstairs. The designer created a serene aura in the guest room, again combining existing items with new; time-honored with current. The blue appears here in botanical-print linen pillows, and blush joins the palette in the full-length drapes. Further interest comes from the lighting, a Visual Comfort chandelier and minimalist bedside sconces.

In the primary bedroom the designer emphasized the “really great pieces” the homeowners brought along in the move. “We repurposed, filtered in, filled in,” she says. The room’s colors are serene neutral tones; a quiet palette, but still with plenty of interest. In keeping with the tranquil feel, McAdams styled the room’s built-in bookshelves in all white items. Rosy blush makes an appearance in this bedroom too, this time in a coverlet and accent pillows.

The upstairs of the home is the domain of the two young daughters, and their bedrooms are the sweetest nods to girlhood. In the older sister’s room soft blue walls set the tone. The “big girl bed” from her room in the previous house is a perfect fit. It features a headboard upholstered in soft lavender velvet, a simple white coverlet and a bedskirt with sophisticated purple Greek key trim. A dusty violet bolster adds an elegant touch to the room’s timeless design, achieved, again, by blending existing pieces with just the right new additions.

The younger daughter’s room is dreamy, with a traditional trundle bed, a tiny table and chairs, plenty of open space to play and tons of toy storage. There’s even a sitting area, complete with a little-girl-sized pink sofa, a pair of floor lamps and a chenille tuffet that would be the envy of Miss Muffet herself.

The home is still a work in progress, and McAdams will be thrilled to once again be at the design helm as the bathrooms and other spaces receive a new look that reflects the family’s style, with just a bit of whimsy. She says, “They’re so open to design with fun moments, and that is really exciting!”  

A Renovation of Style

Story by Terri Glazer | Design by Warehouse 67 Design | Photography by Annabella Charles Photography

Even more than a complete remodel, this renovation project involved defining a whole new style for the homeowners.

“Three years ago we went to the Vesta Home Show. We thought our house looked fine before we got there,” recalls the homeowner. “[It] had gold walls and orange yellow floors, ornate iron, a very Tuscan feel. After seeing the Vesta, we decided it was time to change.”

Their trip to the annual home show prompted the couple to consider moving, but ultimately they decided to stay put and broaden the scope of a small renovation project they’d planned. “It started because I wanted a bigger closet. Then we added the bathroom, our bedroom, and eventually we decided we were just going to make it exactly what we wanted, because we didn’t want to lose our backyard.

Who could blame the family for not wanting to leave behind their property? Their Eads home sits on a picturesque, perfectly manicured four-acre plot that feels more like a high-end resort than a backyard. From the lovely covered patio to the newly installed pool, complete with spa and swim-up bar area, to the outdoor kitchen, open green space, pond, gazebo and immaculate landscaping, the pair have made their surroundings into a personal paradise. 

Once the owners decided to make the place they’ve called home since 2005 into their “new” dream home, they brought in interior designer Kim Loudenbeck, owner of Warehouse 67 in Germantown. First on the agenda was defining exactly the style to perfectly reflect the residents’ taste. After a process in which the homeowner and Loudenbeck explored a plethora of options, they zeroed in on a glamorous, monochromatic theme with plenty of sparkle. The look is inspired by the style prevalent in Las Vegas, where the couple own a second home.

Loudenbeck gives her client credit for being willing to go a bit off the Mid South’s beaten design path to achieve a style that is unique and completely personal. “She was open to doing something different. The best projects are the ones where you can collaborate with the homeowner, really get a sense of who they are and come up with ideas and suggestions,” she says.

The renovation was complete, from floors to ceilings. Tuscan arches and columns, wooden mantels, several walls, a kitchen pantry and a butler’s pantry came out. Room layouts were reworked. All the furniture, rugs, window treatments and fixtures were replaced. The result is sleek, up-to-date and yet welcoming, proving that a modern aesthetic doesn’t have to be cold and austere. Loudenbeck explains, “We thought about each item we placed in this house almost as a piece of artwork. We balanced all the shiny finishes by adding in wood tones and texture. We did a lot of pattern play, since we weren’t going to have a lot of color. I love how all the velvets, the linen, all of the materials just create such an inviting space.” 

Along with the owners’ collection of fine art, the lighting fixtures constitute another artistic element in the home. The designer explains that, due to the home’s high ceilings and grand scale, basic fixtures would have lacked the size and interest she and the homeowner envisioned. “We used lighting to create personality in each room.” 

Nowhere is that more evident than in the foyer, where an eight-foot waterfall chandelier makes an elegant statement. Loudenbeck and her assistant Cassie Hunt assembled each of the hundreds of hand-blown crystals on site, bringing the work of art to life. The homeowner says of all the unique light fixtures in the home, and there are several showstoppers, it is her favorite.

Knowing her client is a fan of faux finishes, Loudenbeck devised a way to incorporate a similar design element into the redone dining room. In the spaces between the beams of the newly coffered ceiling, she placed textured wallpaper. Its subtle metallic accents provide a bit of sparkle when the circular chandelier over the dining table is lit. 

Between the dining room and kitchen is the new wine room, a glass-enclosed, temperature controlled masterpiece conceived by Loudenbeck and executed by an intrepid group of subcontractors who were willing to step outside the box. “Wine rooms just are not done very often in this area,” says Loudenbeck. “It was hard for us to source and find people to work with who understood the requirements, people who were willing to try things that they’d never done and take risks with us.”

The stunning room is now a focal point with a solid granite wall treatment and floor-to ceiling wine racks. Its walk-through layout allows seamless flow between the dining room and the kitchen.

The homeowner knew she wanted her new kitchen to include as large an island as possible. She and Loudenbeck collaborated during construction to ensure the final product fits the scale of the now open design that marries the kitchen with the spacious family room. The ten-foot ceilings soar and a wall of windows floods the area with light. The renovation included fresh wainscoting bathed in a charcoal hue that creates a focal point around the new limestone hearth, the addition of full-length sheer curtain panels on the windows, and of course, more dazzling light fixtures.  

Major alterations took place in the downstairs owner’s suite to create a luxurious, modern and clean-lined retreat. “We changed the layout of where the bed was located, but I think the biggest change here was the fireplace,” Loudenbeck says. “With the more modern style, the traditional wooden mantel did not work. So again, this was one of those times when the granite fabricator said, ‘I’ve never done anything like that, but I'm willing to try.’” The designer’s creativity and the workman’s expertise resulted in an extraordinary design element that continues the modern aesthetic of the suite and the entire home. 

The primary bath underwent one of the more dramatic changes. The new layout allows the eye to flow through the area, and provides sight lines to the beauty of the backyard through windows on the back wall. To achieve the improved floor plan Loudenbeck created a seamless, curbless glass shower surround and coupled it with an oversized, oval soaking tub. The double vanity provides space for husband and wife, but she also has a bonus area any fashionista would envy. “I love the idea of bringing back a dressing area,” says the designer of the spot, complete with sofa, TV and even a beverage refrigerator cleverly hidden in a console. “It’s a place where she can sit just to put her shoes on or to decompress at the end of the day.”

Just as in the home’s main rooms, Loudenbeck also brought panache and drama into the smaller areas. In the downstairs hall bath she kept the monochromatic theme, but punched it up with a full-height mirror, extra lighting and marble surfaces. “It needed that glam feel because the other areas have such big personalities. We couldn’t do just a ‘normal’ renovation; we had to have a bit of sparkle here, as well,” she says. Even the more utilitarian areas near the rear entrance have special details—an accent wall of herringbone marble tiles paired with hand-painted grasscloth wallpaper in the half bath, and custom open shelves to display accessories in the laundry room. 

Now that the almost three-year project has come to completion, Loudenbeck looks back on it with satisfaction as a one-of-a-kind undertaking. “We had to do a lot of exploring because this was a unique property and a unique process. It was a search for their new look. As a designer, I love that they were willing to take that journey with me and trust me to help guide them to something that reflects their personal style.”

The homeowner sums up quickly and completely how pleased she and her husband are with the end result of their style and renovation journey. “It doesn’t feel like we renovated. It feels like a new home to us.”

Staying in Memphis

Design by Ashley Brewer Interiors | Story by Terri Glazer | Photography by Annabella Charles

Designer Ashley Brewer outfits a historic Cooper Young house into the ultimate 901-style vacation rental.

Whether they are visitors to the Bluff City or Mid Southerners on a staycation, the future guests at this upscale rental will be surrounded by pure Memphis style. Local designer Ashley Brewer stepped outside her usual realm of residential work to help the owner, an out-of-town investor, create a comfortable and cool vibe while maintaining the character of one of the city’s most storied neighborhoods.

The house was a real jewel, well maintained both inside and out, so the owner decided to keep the colorful paint scheme and charming gingerbread accents on the exterior of the cottage. The interior had been updated over the years and had a semi-open floor plan, perfect for entertaining. The place was in good condition overall, but in need of a major style infusion in order to fulfill the owner’s vision of an upscale vacation rental property.

A cozy front porch is typical of homes of the early 20th century, and this one is no exception. With two updated Adirondack chairs, it is the perfect spot to enjoy a morning cup of coffee and make plans for a day of Memphis fun.

Brewer began the transformation by adding molding to the walls in the living room, dining area, kitchen and primary bedroom. She says, “My premise was to punch up the character of this older home with an element that could have been there originally.” Thanks to a remodel done by previous owners, the living room flows to the combination kitchen and dining area. Brewer chose a soft neutral for the walls and drapes to create a sophisticated backdrop on which the furnishings take center stage.

The living room decor is a masterful blend of elegant and casual, traditional and contemporary. The sofa, covered in lush green velvet, sits on antique-style legs with casters. By its side, a round marble-top table with a temple jar lamp continues the homage to the classics. They pair perfectly with the more of-the-moment pieces Brewer selected to round out the room, a pair of Four Hands leather armchairs, a set of lucite nesting tables and a cocktail ottoman upholstered in white cowhide. Below the fireplace, a pair of matching stools in a bold geometric pattern provide extra seating and visual punch. A Memphis skyline pillow from Mrs. Post, a series of watercolors of city scenes by Cat Lencke and a trio of framed albums and covers by area music legends display the local love that’s evident in every room. “For all the artwork in this home, we tried to use local artists. We went to Goner Records that’s right around the corner,” Brewer says.

Just off the living area is a half bath that puts the “pow” in powder room. The only spot in the house completely redone in the renovation, it boasts boldly lined wallpaper, brass and black fixtures, a classic gold and marble vanity, and an appearance by The King himself—a pop art faux mugshot proves Elvis has not left the building. 

Fortunately, the hardwood floors throughout the house as well as the kitchen cabinets and countertops were all in great condition and left intact. Not having to replace two high-dollar elements saved both time and money in the renovation. In the kitchen, Brewer added a marble subway tile backsplash and repainted the center island in a subtle blue gray. Punch comes from the modern pendant lights and chandelier, sleek marble dining table with its woven leather and wood chairs, and the zebra rug beneath.

The home’s absolute statement pieces anchor a kitchen wall. Visible from the first step in the front door, the vignette features a stunning Gabby console in dark wood, topped by a large black-and-white photo of Main Street circa 1950s. Crowning the scene is an LED “Walking in Memphis” sign that immediately brings the city’s unofficial theme song to mind and sums up the home’s aesthetic completely. 

“I created a different atmosphere and aesthetic in each of the three bedrooms,” Brewer says. As my family travels, my kids always have fun picking out which room they want. That's how I wanted guests to feel here. One [of the bedrooms is] a little more feminine and one definitely has a masculine feel. I think the primary is right in between.” 

She explains that her design process in the primary began with the addition of the wainscoting. “It needed molding for more character, but I didn't want to do the same thing in every room. The green ceiling was next. I knew that I wanted something bold.”  

The updated canopy bed is a fresh take on a classic, made even more modern by pillows in a reprise of bold geometric accent theme. Pretty floral drapes offset the sharp angles. This room’s love song to Memphis comes in three geographic plates depicting the ancient flow of the sections of the Mississippi River in the local area.

The second, more feminine-styled bedroom, feels like a serene retreat just right for a relaxing getaway. Muted robin’s egg blue covers the walls, giving the white trim and bedding a clean, fresh pop. Cyan ikat pillows and fun red table lamps provide just the right amount of excitement, while extra-tall mirrors flank the bed with stately style.

Black velvet drapes and a dark wood campaign-style dresser sourced from online furniture consignment site New to Me Tn create the manly aura in the third bedroom. “I used a neutral palette here to keep it clean and fresh. I wanted to give this room a comfortable feel but not make it feel stuffy,” says Brewer. Leopard accent pillows add interest to the handsome gray bedding and dimensional rug brings back a touch of geometry.

Although the owner was not on site for the project, Brewer says they worked extremely well together long distance, and he was thrilled with the finished product. “I have ten wonderful rental homes in terrific areas of the U.S., but Ashley’s imaginative design makes this Cooper Young home a standout. I stayed there recently, and the warmth and ambiance are incomparable,” says the owner. The designer is happy to have had the chance to flex her bold design muscles with a vacation rental property. “I love it. It's been a personal, fun project for me because it was different, and I was basically given free rein. So I'm pretty proud of it. Because I was the one here all the time during the renovation, I almost feel like it's my home. I've told the owner it's going to be hard to let this go.”

Arkansas native Ashley Brewer is a Marion-based designer whose projects include homes all over East Arkansas and West Tennessee. She transitioned her lifelong love of beautiful homes into a career in 2019 when she opened a full-service design firm, Ashley Brewer Interiors. Brewer holds degrees in marketing and advertising and has studied at the Chandler School of Interior Decorating in Little Rock.

For the Family

Design by B. Gaines Interior Design | Story by Terri Glazer | Photography by Jennifer Saltsman

“So much in the design of this house was a conversation about not just how the Wilsons were going to use it, but how they were loving their family through the choices we were making,” says designer Becca Gaines of a custom Germantown home she helped create for a pair of empty nesters new to the Mid South. “Everything about it revolved around family; doting on a sister with a guest room or drawing the grown kids home and making them feel comfortable here.”

Homeowner Krista Wilson explains her intentionality in planning the home she shares with her husband Kyle. The couple moved to the area for work, leaving behind their Midwestern roots, adult children and extended family. They wanted their new Southern locale to become a gathering destination for those they love. 

The pair made a weekend trip to Memphis to look for a house prior to their move here in 2019, and found themselves a bit overwhelmed, as many do in the whirlwind process of relocation. Luckily, Krista had done a good amount of online legwork before they arrived. She knew the Vesta Home Show was in progress at Chapel Cove. She also knew that homebuilder David Clark constructed one of the featured houses. Clark recalls, “She walked in the front door of that home and saw me, walked straight to me and we had a long conversation. I was like, this lady’s done her research.

“To leave home and to try to find home again, especially when we weren’t moving with our family, I needed to make a connection; that’s important to me,” Krista says. “I just think we felt a comfortable connection right away with David. We drove out of town and emailed him that week and asked him to build us a home.” 

The couple also found harmony with architect Jeff Bramlett. Krista had a wealth of ideas about what she wanted in her new home, collected her travels and from years of living in other houses. She discussed her thoughts with Bramlett, and was impressed with the results. “I feel like I shared my heart and Jeff got it on paper. And it was perfect. He heard the things I was repeating about how important it is to gather our family, that we would like our home to be a kind of getaway for our extended family. He listened so well and made that a reality,” she says.

Still searching online, Krista came across the website for B. Gaines Interior Design and knew she was onto something. “I saw picture number one and I just thought she’s doing something different. It felt good for me. Very traditional Southern design didn’t really connect with me, being from the Midwest. Becca’s work felt young and fresh and like what I was looking for.” She brought Gaines on board early in the design process.

With its steep-pitched roof and painted brick accented with timbers and deep taupe trim, the exterior is an updated take on time-honored architecture. The floorplan, however, veers from the traditional. Clark recalls, “Krista didn’t want a balanced-front house with the entrance in the center, so we started by putting the entrance off to one side. And then everything else kind of came off that.”

The beautiful foyer has become one of the most picturesque places in the house. Flooded with light from the contemporary iron and glass front door, the space is furnished minimally, but for maximum impact. Gaines selected an oversized vintage rug in neutral tones for the floor. The antiqued glass mirror positioned on the simple timber console gently reflects the light, adding to the warm ambiance.

Krista says she loves the dramatic entryway chandelier, and recalls that getting it there required a workaround, a challenge to Clark’s directive that she enjoy the process of building a home. The fixture’s size and shape were perfect for the foyer, but it wasn’t available in the right color. Always a creative problem solver, Gaines found a local craftsman who replated the metal to its current bright brass gleam.

“David reminded me from our first email all the way through to the end to enjoy the process. Some days I felt like I wasn’t really enjoying it,” says Krista, echoing a sentiment to which anyone who has ever built a home can probably relate. “I actually had to look up ‘enjoy’ and there were synonyms like ‘benefit from’ and other words… I thought maybe I can’t enjoy it today, but I can benefit from it!” 

She goes on to explain that she sees construction hiccups as interesting parts of the story that wouldn’t exist if the process was all smooth sailing. “It reminds you that it is a process.”

Thanks to Bramlett’s thoughtful architecture, the home’s downstairs has a balanced design that the Wilsons appreciate. Perfectly placed windows, walls and fixtures create sight lines and facilitate flow. Gaines’s design choices maximize flexibility; the rooms are cozy enough for the couple but can accommodate a larger group effortlessly.

Case in point is the full glass NanaWall in the family room that can fold away completely, opening the area to the adjoining outdoor living area. Swivel chairs in both spaces allow guests to join in conversation from either room. This adaptability is perfect for the family, which often numbers 12 or more when relatives are in town.

Gaines describes the furnishings as “dressed out but was not stuffy or formal.” She says, “We wanted some elegant details in here but also want this to be a space where you feel like you can come in, sit down and stay. Put your feet on the coffee table.” 

Her design plan started with essentially a clean slate as the Wilsons brought only a few pieces along to their new home. Among them are three works of art that hold a place of pride. “I really do love it when someone has something with history; special pieces that tell the story of the family,” says Gaines. “I like to feature those and surround them with new, fun things. I think that’s key in telling their story too.”

The painting in the dining room came from Krista’s grandparents’ home. Gaines juxtaposed the vintage art and traditional frame by placing beneath it a modern sideboard custom designed with its size, color and fluted front specifically to complement the family treasure. She balanced the dark wood of the Wilsons’ existing dining table with a tiered cylindrical chandelier wrapped in thin abaca rope. 

“I have a lot of favorites in this house, but I love these two spaces and how they connect,” says Gaines, referring to the kitchen and adjacent scullery. Open wall shelves lend a sense of space around the kitchen range and a warm, approachable element. The custom steel vent hood is a dramatic focal point. Its dark finish reacts like zinc, producing variations in color that fluctuate with humidity.   

Over the island hang two overscale pendants in blackened steel. When Krista first saw them installed she worried they might be too big. Once again, Clark eased her fears, using an analogy of a girl getting ready for a dance. “I kept telling Krista, ‘Those are just the earrings, she hasn’t put on her lipstick yet. Let her get completely dressed before you evaluate her outfit.” Skilled advice from a professional who’s spent years in the business.

Just off the kitchen, the scullery is the Wilsons’ beverage center with an espresso maker and wine storage. Gaines placed two of the family’s beloved heirloom pieces of art in the room, but they are by no means tucked out of sight. The image over the sink is visible from the kitchen and living room thanks to Bramlett’s intentional design. The cabinetry, painted in Sherwin Williams Iron Ore, picks up tones from the art and provides a cool balance to the room’s warmer features. 

The primary suite is a tranquil retreat that feels like a luxury bed and breakfast. Krista can hear the soothing sound of the backyard pool’s fountains while having quiet reading time seated in one of the pair of bedroom chairs Gaines placed in the bedroom just for that purpose. The designer also paid careful attention to the attached bath, creating a serene spa perfect for relaxation with clean white walls, dark stained vanities, marble floor and tile, and gold accents.

A guest suite, an office, a laundry room and a sophisticated powder room bathed in black complete the first floor.

The home’s upstairs was built with family in mind, especially the Wilsons’ two grown children who live out of town. Bramlett anchored the guest area with a central living space designed to be a hang out spot for the siblings and the rest of the clan. Gaines provided a loungey, speak-easy vibe with elements including a leather sectional and a round table perfect for casual dining, games or conversation. 

Off the gathering area is a separate suite for each of the couple’s two children. Gaines chose a classic William Morris Pimpernel wallpaper for the accent wall in the daughter’s bedroom. Its olive green and terracotta tones take center stage here, reflecting hues used as accents in the home’s other rooms. The Wilsons’ son took a particular interest in his parents’ homebuilding project and was instrumental in the design choices for his area of the house. The black slate tile, gold-toned fixtures and concrete flooring he selected for his bathroom give the space a cosmopolitan feel. 

As the family has grown with the addition of spouses and babies, the family found they needed even more space to accommodate everyone comfortably. They brought Clark and crew back to create a bunk room from a former attic space. The recently completed area is as fashionable as it is functional with a pair of custom twin-over-queen units. Each bunk has an individually controlled light and a niche to hold a phone and a water bottle.

Even after having lived in the house for a few years, Krista says it still thrills her daily. “We made a great decision. We can look back at it now and know that it was all very orchestrated and felt right,” she says, adding her appreciation for the team that brought her dream home from concept to reality. “Every person brings what they have to give to the journey, and then it comes out just as it should. I could not do what Becca did or what David or Jeff did. We can’t play each other’s parts. We just had to listen to each other and then you get the outcome. Terrific.”

Brunch in Bloom

Story & Event Design by Ginni Jones | Photography by Annabella Charles

The Table

With spring in full swing, it seemed like a tablescape was long over due! This month's table was inspired by the blooms currently thriving at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens, as well as White Door Events newest table linens! Available in apple green, sky blue and dusty rose, White Door's newest Elif table cloth was such an easy pick for the table.

After choosing the linen, it was time to add texture to the table. Their new Dina lampshades are the cutest woven touch to any table! I love the texture they add! Another textural element was their new Elm chairs in a lovely natural finish. The curves on these chairs are so unique for any event.

And finally to top off the table, I paired simple white ceramic dishes with blue Estelle Colored Glass wine glasses and pale green Sir Madam tulip glasses. White hemstich napkins were held with a tortoise shell ring to add additional contrast to a lighter color palette.

WHITE DOOR EVENTS APPLE ELIF LINEN | WHITE HEMSTITCH NAPKINS | WHITE DINA LAMP WITH WOVEN SHADE NATURAL ELM CHAIRS | ESTELLE COLORED GLASS BLUE WINE GLASSES | SIR MADAM GREEN TULIP GLASSES | CRATE & BARREL MERCER DINNERWARE | WILLIAMS SONOMA TORTOISE NAPKIN RINGS

WHITE DOOR EVENTS SKY ELIF LINEN | ESTELLE COLORED GLASS CAKE STAND | J LOWERY CANE MINI MAX  | FRENCH BLUE SAUVIGNON BLANC

The Spread

The Dixon Gallery & Gardens has such great places for picnics! Picking out the spread for the table was an easy task. I headed to Whole Foods to grab an assortment of cheeses, fruit, breads and more. There were so many guests having picnics of their own, it was the perfect day for such a simple yet fun meal.

WHITE DOOR EVENTS WHITE EZIO CHAIRS | LATTICE GARDEN STOOL | WHITE DINA LAMP WITH WOVEN SHADE | LILYPAD BUTTONS PILLOW | BLUSH CHAVA PILLOW | ESTELLE COLORED GLASS PEACH WINE GLASSES

From Crash Pad to Dream Home

Design by Lindsey Black Interiors | Story by Terri Glazer | Photography by Sélavie Photography

After many years of making the daily trek from their home in Crittenden County, AR, to the parochial school their children attended in East Memphis, a travel-weary mom and dad decided things needed to change. They decided to get a weekday place near the school, just to cut down on commuting time.

The couple bought a house off Shady Grove Road and quickly found they were falling in love with not only the convenient location, but also the neighborhood. Recalls the husband, “There are 15 or 16 kids in the 10 houses right around us and they’re all similar in age. And we really like this house, so we made the commitment that we were going to stay here. But we needed it to function the way we want to live.”

The homeowners brought in a team of experts, architect Colin McDoneil, general contractor RKA Construction, and designer Lindsey Black, to handle the transformation. Formerly home to two adults, the reimagined house needed to be fit for a family of four. It also had to have room for their wide circle of friends and family. “We want to be plugged in with our kids. I know the kids’ homes that I wanted to go to when I was their age, and we want to have that place for our kids. Kids are in and out of here all the time. Our oldest son is in high school and we had a 24-person homecoming party here last fall,” the husband says. Mom and Dad enjoy entertaining too, often hosting events ranging from extended family holiday celebrations to neighborhood get-togethers.

The project reworked the home’s layout, changing the function of several spaces, but the new design flows so smoothly it seems as if it’s always had the current configuration. The dining room makes perfect sense in its location on the front of the house. Its rectangular shape is just right for the large table and ten surrounding chairs. “I told Lindsey we wanted as big a table as we could fit in here,” says the wife. The homeowners also asked for wallpaper in the space. Black obliged with a sophisticated gray-green grasscloth. “It’s a big room, but it has a lot of openings, so patterned wallpaper would have looked choppy,” she says. “The grasscloth provides interest and works well in a room that has a lot of openings and windows.”

Twin, arched-top china cabinets frame an original painting by Melissa Payne Baker, while an oval-shaped bar cart repeats the curved lines. Black found the vintage piece years ago and patiently waited to place it with just the right clients. “I didn’t know if I was ever going to be able to part with it because it’s so special and unique!” she laughs.

The true star of the room, however, is the Visual Comfort light fixture above the dining table. The cluster of swirly glass spheres creates a cloud-like appearance that sets off the room and also adds visual interest to the home from the street view. Black says its size and shape made it the ideal choice. “When you’re dealing with eight-foot ceilings like this house has, you can’t have some of the grand fixtures. I went with this linear one that makes a big impact. It fills the large room but still accommodates the low ceiling well.”

Inspired by the dynamic decor they had seen at several local bars and restaurants, the couple knew they wanted dramatic wallpaper somewhere in their new home, and Black was thrilled to serve up a powder bath with a wild and whimsical pattern by British designer Emma J. Shipley. Black describes the paper as a longtime favorite that had been on her radar for a while, again, just waiting for the perfect placement.

The comfortable family room shows no sign of having originally been the home’s garage. Tasked with creating a spot where adults or teenagers would be equally comfortable spending time, Black came up with a design that’s elevated, comfortable and practically indestructible. Her biggest challenge came from the room’s shape; broad and a bit shallow, as is typical of a garage. Because of its width, the space didn’t lend itself to a traditional furniture placement. The designer’s clever solution came in the form of a pair of L-shaped sectional sofas. The arrangement minimized wasted space and kept clear pathways. Matching modern light fixtures hang over each seating area, and behind both sofas she placed a counter-height table and stools, a super spot to have a snack while watching a game or favorite show.

The room’s rear wall is home to a built-in bar that holds the homeowner’s favorite spirits as well as a whiskey bottle painting commissioned from local artist Nate Renner. More original art from Sara Ella Cole and a trio of vibrant serpent prints bring interest and drama, as does a full-length photo of John Wayne. The designer knew she wanted a large black-and-white photo, and the homeowners suggested “The Duke,” as the classic star bears a striking resemblance to the husband’s grandfather.

Black’s design choices for the room ensure that it looks as good today as it did when the project was completed a year ago, even though the room sees constant use. “The fabrics are very high performance, the rug is stain treated and the bar tables are metal. They can be wiped clean easily,” she explains.

“We told Lindsey we wanted our bedroom to feel like a luxury hotel room,” says the husband. Black delivered beautifully; her creation is at once sumptuous and cozy. A full wall of plush wool drapes looks impressive, and it also masks the room’s single, awkwardly placed window. “Usually when house plans are drawn, the primary bedroom has two grand windows and really feels like an owners’ suite,” says Black. “When you just have one little window it kind of makes it feel more like a spare bedroom. So we thought we ought to make it super dramatic; give them that hotel feel with a whole wall of draperies. They can open the drapes to expose the window, but when they’re closed it just feels like a little cocoon. Cozy. And the wall color—it feels very comfortable but not dark. It’s moody.”

A custom-made bed upholstered in velvet adds to the ambiance. “We paid a lot of attention and were really careful in selecting the art for this house,” says Black, pointing out a large botanical monoprint by Celeste Pfau and four sketches by Rachel Payne. The designer float-mounted the figure drawings in simple frames, allowing the atmospheric wall color to function as a “mat.”

The initial renovation plan involved only a few small changes to the kitchen, and the team was hesitant to suggest otherwise at first, as it was basically in good shape. As plans progressed it became clear that the walled-off kitchen wasn’t suited to the family’s needs, so a larger-scale redo got underway. Walls came out to open the space to the adjacent keeping room. Plenty of windows and crisp white walls give the room a light and airy feel. Black designed a simple door style for the cabinets and painted most of them in a warm neutral tone. Stained white oak on the island and two wall units gives the pieces the look of fine furniture. Cambria quartz counters and backsplash in a subtle pattern complete the kitchen’s updated traditional character. The project went on to revamp the rear entry and laundry room and add storage. Black made sure the new pantry had room for all the family’s small appliances, a favorite feature for the couple, who love both the easy access to often-used electrics and the clean, uncluttered look it allows on the kitchen counters. 

“Little things mean a lot” may be an old adage, but it rings true with these homeowners. While they love everything about their remodeled place, it may be the small details that they appreciate the most. “The outlets hidden under the cabinets, the USB ports in certain places, the phone app that controls the thermostats, lights, the TVs, the gate. The pop-up downdraft vent so we didn’t have to have a hood over the island. The fact that we took out a whole wall to move the windows over three inches so they’d be centered. The thought Lindsey and her team put into the custom details of all the finishes, the furnishings and upholstery, the art and the accessories took the project from good to great,” says the husband.

It’s clear this couple made the right choice for their family when they decided to go “all in” on the in-town house they initially envisioned as a temporary fix to reduce commuting. Even though their East Memphis residence lacks the massive square footage of their Arkansas place, they could not be happier. “What we gave up in space we were able to gain in flexibility with the kids and friends. It’s a quality of life thing. You couldn’t drag us off this street!” admits the husband.

More than just location, though, they are delighted with the reimagining of their former “crash pad.” The wife sums it up with one brief thought: “It was a house when we moved in. Lindsey and her team turned it into a home.”

Becoming Home

Design by Parker Design Studio | Story by Terri Glazer | Photography by Annabella Charles

When a well-known local blogger and her husband moved from a compact downtown condo to a spacious East Memphis residence, they teamed up with designer Ann Parker to “course out” their new home’s renovation. The young couple wanted to turn the house into a home for their growing family a room at a time.

Potential design options were limitless, as they brought only a few pieces with them in the move. “It was a really fun opportunity to start fresh; we could be intentional about it,” says homeowner Cara Greenstein. With Parker’s help, Greenstein and her husband Alex Shindler made a plan for the entire house and prioritized the order in which they’d focus on each space. 

First on the redo menu was the kitchen, naturally. More than just a place to prepare family meals, the space is essential to the operation of “Caramelized,” the award-winning food and lifestyle blog Greenstein began about a decade ago. Plans for the kitchen remodel were finalized as soon as the house went under contract and work was completed before the couple moved in just before Thanksgiving 2021.

With the kitchen checked off the list, Greenstein and Parker turned their attention to the areas of next highest priority, the living room and dining room. And since the couple’s first baby was on the way, a nursery came into the picture, as well.

Asked about the initial design vision she shared with Parker, Greenstein says, “I tend to go for a clean, somewhat minimalist palette. My townhome was very neutral. Ann pushed me to think bigger.”

Parker started nudging her client a bit past her comfort zone with the first items they selected for the living room, a pair of modern chairs in a deep merlot velvet. Although she loves them, Greenstein admits that, left to her own devices, she would have opted for neutral upholstery. 

“The two chairs were our catapult in the living room design,” Parker adds. “Then pieces evolved, like the rug. We worked through what would look good—it's very collected. We didn’t just sit down and figure it out all at once, it was over a period of time.” 

Greenstein was excited to have a fireplace in her new living room, and Parker viewed its redesign as “an opportunity to have some dramatic moments but still in Cara’s DNA.” She opted for a Cambria stone treatment from floor to ceiling. The bold veining in the stone makes a statement, and the subtle matching ledge mantel blends without breaking up the movement. 

Situated in the center of the home, the living room has few windows, so a large mirror on the wall opposite the fireplace was the logical choice to add luminosity. But not just any mirror. Leading her client to something out of the ordinary, Parker enlisted Chris Garner of Garner Framing Co. to create a piece that’s more work of art than looking glass. “It really just evolved with Chris and his skill and his thought process,” says Parker. Garner’s creation, a series of  wide antiqued glass strips in varying tones, creates impact with its clean lines.

Visual interest in the dining room comes from striking navy blue wallpaper with gold accents that covers the walls and the ceiling. “That’s something I would have never done on my own, but I just love these subtle examples that really make a difference,” says Greenstein.

The room is a prime illustration of the collected ambiance the homeowners and designer sought. The new dining table is surrounded by eight vintage chairs sourced from online consigner New to Me TN. An original oil painting dated 1965 that graces the wall came from the home of Greenstein’s grandparents. 

“It's such a mood in here. I love it with the gold accents. I've hosted some dinner parties so far and I'm really excited to do it more often. It's exciting to have really dedicated spaces for doing what I love.”

—Homeowner Cara Greenstein

“This is one of the rooms where Cara was definitely the design leader,” says Parker of the nursery. “I was her touch base.” Incorporating her love of all things edible into every aspect of her life, Greenstein chose mushrooms as the inspiration for her new baby boy’s room. “They’re one of my favorite foods!” she admits.

Adorable mushroom wallpaper found on Etsy lines one wall; Parker chose a coordinating stripe for the other three. With a nod to a woodland theme, the room’s palette leans to neutrals with sage and eucalyptus accents. Washed woods keep the look light and airy, and a white boucle glider and ottoman make a comfy spot for quality time with baby Hudson. Faux taxidermy heads of a longhorn and a razorback are a clever and cute nod to the alma maters of Greenstein and Shindler.

The new mom gushes over the nursery closet remake, done by local organization firm Trazo Design in collaboration with The Container Store. The pros at Trazo transformed every inch of the long, shallow closet into practical and accessible storage space with plenty of small containers just right for tiny baby items. 

Greenstein says it’s been a pleasure working with Parker on the master plan, and that she and Shindler are looking forward to adding their style to every part of the house. Parker echoes those sentiments, saying she enjoys helping the young family establish their home. That is the icing on the cake.

New Color for a New Season

Design by Elizabeth Malmo Interior Design | Story by Terri Glazer | Photography by Sélavie Photography
“Coming from Atlanta in 2020, where the trend was still very much the neutrals, I wanted this house to be an explosion of colors—my favorite colors. And I wanted it to reflect how we live in retirement now.”

Those two principles guided the reshaping of a classic ‘60s-era home in an established East Memphis neighborhood. 

Designer Elizabeth Malmo oversaw the project with RKA Construction as the contractor. Says Malmo “Everything just needed to be touched. We didn’t knock down a lot of walls, though. The layout as you see it is almost as it was originally.” Short of taking out walls, however, the home’s renovation was all-encompassing. “There’s not a hinge, not a doorknob, not a light fixture that hasn’t been changed,” says the homeowner.

Malmo, owner and lead designer of Elizabeth Malmo Interior Design, says she wanted the entryway to have a big impact and “why not have fun,” she adds, referring to the statement wallpaper and crisp white light fixture. Twin poufs under a console table give a hint of the coral hues that reappear throughout the home. The only surface in the area that remains as it was is the floor. Malmo and the homeowners agreed that the white marble terrazzo is classic and should remain as a nod to the home’s heritage.

Just through the foyer is a little niche that the owner calls “pure Elizabeth.” A former coat closet now is home to a charming banquette, over which hangs a vintage Carroll Cloar painting. The couple’s art collection is large and varied, from paintings created by family members to works by local and regional artists.

“Having the walls and the sofa the same color gives you a story throughout the space. You have this rich color in the living room and then it’s a little bit lighter beyond. It makes you wonder, ‘What’s back here?”

—Designer Elizabeth Malmo

In the living room Malmo incorporated the homeowner’s request for “a teal velvet couch inset into bookshelves,” then took the concept to a more intense level by painting the shelves, the walls and all the trim in Benjamin Moore Woodbury Green, a supersaturated teal. She added a pair of slipper chairs in a mouth-watering shade of coral. The punchy colors blend perfectly with traditional and antique pieces the family brought from their previous home in Atlanta.

Just past the living room, the dining room almost seems to glow, thanks to another design feature requested by the homeowner. “I knew I wanted a coral, lacquered ceiling in that room,” she says. Paired with subtle white grasscloth on the walls, a vintage Oushak rug in traditional reds and blues, an antique oval table and freshly reupholstered chairs, the effect is stunning. 

Perhaps the most unique feature of the space is the creative reimagining of a former closet. “We had the idea to make it into a china cabinet. It was narrow and deep before and we both thought it could be something better,” explains the designer. Better indeed is the eye-catching little built-in covered in coral paint and accented with the cutest Brunschwig and Fils dotted wallpaper lining its back face. “RKA did an exceptional job of taking our vision and creating this little moment,” she adds.

The kitchen’s original layout made sense and the appliances had been updated recently, so a complete redo was unnecessary. Malmo freshened up the cabinet hardware and fixtures, added new window treatments and replaced the countertops with quartzite in a subtle pattern. The homeowner loves the stone, but the details that Malmo paid attention to have her singing the designer’s praises. “When they were measuring for the backsplash she said ‘Wait a minute.’ She got out a piece of paper, drew the shape out and asked them, ‘Can you make it like this?’ The result is a combination of right angles and curves that adds a graceful touch to not only the kitchen, but is repeated in several of the bathroom stone treatments.

Malmo freshened up the laundry area and powder bath behind the kitchen with more of the homeowner’s beloved teal in both the paint and the wallpaper, glammed up with shiny gold accents. Classic penny tile on the floor will withstand the wear and tear that’s inevitable in a rear entry area. RKA hit another home run with the custom vanity in the half bath, proving that even a small space can exude elegance.

The spacious family room overlooks the home’s scenic backyard. Off to the side, the garage was originally open and could be seen from the den. Now it’s buttoned up handsomely with louvered shutter panels painted in a time-honored Charleston green, thanks to Malmo’s creative suggestion to improve the view from the spot where the couple often spends time relaxing and watching TV.

The room’s focal point is a custom wet bar, another must have for the homeowners. Reeded wood cabinet fronts in a beautiful honey-colored finish, black countertops and brass accents define the generously sized space. By design, there’s plenty of room for the hosts to entertain, and they frequently do.

Along with the primary suite, the home’s main floor includes two extra bedrooms, set up as personal spaces for the couple; an office for him and a “retreat” for her. The office is handsome and masculine with walls bathed in a deep blue and covered with mementoes of a successful career. All work and no play would not do, though so keepsakes from his long-held hobby of golf are also on display. Her retreat is the perfect blend of glamor and whimsy with a burl wood desk, a white fun fur footstool and a fanciful Quadrille wallpaper on the ceiling.

The upstairs is dedicated to making guests feel at home, an important concept since the homeowners have out-of-town friends and family over often. Two comfortable bedrooms give visitors privacy. Malmo redesigned the upstairs bath intelligently, taking out two unneeded closets and replacing them with a freestanding vanity and stool. She also raised the height of the original cabinets to a more comfortable 35 inches, and replaced the countertops, floors and lighting. 

Also upstairs is a small room, too large to be a closet, but not really a full-sized bedroom. After discussing several possible uses for the space, Malmo and the homeowner settled on making it multi-purpose. It’s furnished beautifully, with an inviting loveseat that makes a cozy spot for guests to relax with a morning cup of coffee. The loveseat is a sleeper, though, allowing the nook to function as a private sleeping space when needed. “Our oldest granddaughter is 14 and she loves it. Of course, this is where she sleeps when she comes to visit,” says the homeowner.

The renovated home now suits its owners to a tee, tastefully decked out in their ideal color palette, their treasured art and furniture blended seamlessly with thoughtfully chosen new pieces and perfectly suited to the way they live in retirement.

Evolving With the Family

Design by Tara Felice Interiors | Story by Terri Glazer | Photography by Sélavie Photography
As most homeowners would agree, the term “finished project” hardly ever applies when it comes to a house. This East Memphis residence is a shining example of that concept.

When the current owners bought the house about six years ago, they knew a major renovation was in its immediate future. Not only was the red brick exterior, embellished with New Orleans-style wrought iron, not to their taste, the interior bore the scars of its past several residents: a hoarder, some squatters and thousands of honey bees that were found in the walls. Despite the place’s sad state, the young couple envisioned that it could be salvaged. They also loved the location and the large backyard, perfect for their growing family.

With the help of a long-established architectural expert and an interior designer whose company was just getting off the ground, the family transformed the home from top to bottom, inside and out. Architectural designer Tom Sullivan drew the new plans, which involved a drastic change in the floor plan to accommodate the family, which included two children at the time. Tara Engelberg was friendly with the couple, as her husband and the homeowner are related. As she was just starting to test the waters with her newly formed design firm, Tara Felice Interiors, she reached out to them and they soon became clients. 

“They may as well have taken it down to the ground basically and started from scratch,” Engelberg says. “It has a completely different facade. On the interior they took down walls and really opened everything up. This looks nothing at all like what it looked like before.”

As extensive as the project was, however, it was not the final product. The ensuing years saw the addition of two more children, along with the need to expand and repurpose parts of the house to better suit a family of six. Completed in late 2021, phase II of the home’s evolution added a new living area, an outdoor patio, a bedroom and a couple of bathrooms, and reimagined a former keeping room off the kitchen. Engelberg was at the design helm again, this time with Tim DiSalvo & Co leading the construction effort.

The two additions blend seamlessly, as all good renovations should, resulting in a showplace of a home that is hip, sophisticated but casual, and above all, able to withstand the wear and tear inevitable in a household with four kids and a very large dog.

The home’s visual appeal begins with its new exterior, white wood with black trim. “The white is just so crisp and appealing and the black beams are refreshing,” says Engelberg. She extended the black and white contrast into the entryway, where an ebony- and ivory-toned parquet console greets guests. Above it, a round mirror embellished with stylized triangles breaks up the straight lines, as do twin vintage stools tucked underneath. The designer found the stools at one of the estate sales she loves to frequent, always on the hunt for vintage treasures to add an eclectic touch to a room. Now covered in a fabulous Missoni flame stitch fabric, they bring color and another geometric shape to the vignette. The herringbone pattern of the marble tile floor repeats the pattern. “I always love to use different flooring in a foyer to set it apart from what you’re about to enter in the rest of the home,” explains Engelberg.

“Bold and eclectic” sum up the vibe in the dining room. Inspired by the colors in the artwork the couple selected for the space, the designer chose a deep, moody green for the walls. A bright white ceiling and trim, along with a mirrored backsplash in the built-in bar area, keep the look from going gloomy. The room’s centerpiece, a spectacular live-edge dining table that seats 10, is perfect for entertaining large groups. 

Overhead, a gold burst chandelier gives a glam nod to mid-century style. Dramatic lighting accents most rooms in the home, as it does in many Tara Felice projects. Engelberg feels that statement light fixtures are a worthy place to splurge, as they are unlikely to endure wear or damage during daily living. “Lighting is like the jewelry in a room to me,” she says.

Just off the dining room sits the airy and bright kitchen. Although the basic concept from the initial renovation remains, the most recent work included a few tweaks here. The large center island received a second sink, a new wrap-around maple butcher block, and additional cabinets underneath. 

The kitchen opens into a space that was totally reworked in phase II. Set up as a combination breakfast and keeping room in the first remodel, the area is now dedicated to casual dining. The large natural wood table has plenty of room for the couple and their extended family, and the woven leather seats and backs on the chairs exude a rugged beauty that will stand the test of time and children. New built-in cabinets on the far wall combine beauty with practicality, too. A large family can never have too much storage.

A major component in the latest round of work was the creation of two new indoor living areas. To accomplish this, the homeowners transformed a former sun porch into a den and added a TV room on the rear of the house. The two spaces sit next to one another, and although each has its own distinctive mood, they coexist perfectly.

Drama makes a reprise in the new den, where glossy black paint covers the walls, trim and tongue-and-groove vaulted ceiling. Comfortable furnishings in lighter tones and natural woods pop off the striking backdrop. Engelberg again paid attention to geometry in this space, balancing the straight lines of the paneling and the oversized square coffee table with the curves of the globe-shaped light fixture, the white boucle barrel chairs and the eye-catching round stone game table.

“We knew we were going to have to do something amazing in here,” says Engelberg of the new TV room. “Because you can see the back of the sofa we wanted something that was a show stopper.” Mission accomplished. The channeled-back sectional is both a statement piece and the perfect spot to binge watch favorite shows.

Also part of phase II is a new upstairs bedroom and bath for one of the daughters. Since the space was new construction, essentially a blank slate for Engelberg, she used the colorful floral wallpaper as a jumping-off point for the design. Here again, she combined traditional, vintage and modern elements, topped off with a big scoop of whimsy from the feather globe light fixture, to create a room that will grow with its occupant. Small details like the flower knobs on the attached bathroom’s vanity, lotus sconces in the bedroom and bath, and fancy lucite legs on the custom upholstered bed add to the charm.

During the most recent renovation the homeowners had a bathroom built attached to the downstairs nursery. Engelberg’s design delivered a serene, California-inspired ambiance that the family will love long after all the babies are grown. “I wanted it to have a super organic feel,” she says. The fusion of slim vertical tiles with the look of natural wood, a black floating vanity, bold geometric tile floor and, of course, extraordinary light fixtures produces a classic West Coast vibe.

After two extensive projects, the home’s transformation continues to evolve. Plans are in the works to redo the primary bedroom, add art in several rooms, etc. There’s always an “etc.” when it comes to design, and Engelberg can’t wait to see what’s next. 

Traditionally Contemporary

Design by Maggie Clarke Interiors | Story by Terri Glazer | Photography by Ross Group Creative

“I love color. I know a lot of people are into whites, but I love the colors,” homeowner Julie Upchurch told Maggie Clarke very early on in the process of redesigning the East Memphis home Upchurch and her family had just purchased in late 2021.

Clarke, owner of a self-named local design firm, paired that idea with another concept she discovered early on in her professional relationship with her new client. “I always ask my clients to send me photos of their Pinterest boards or their Instagram saves. Looking at them I noticed Julie loves traditional spaces but with pops of contemporary, like through lighting and pieces of accent furniture. So that's really what we did here.”

The result breathed new life into the house, built in 2005, and gave it a personality that more closely reflects the young family that lives there. First on the agenda was a major kitchen refresh. Not a total gut job, but a rework of the original room. “I think people underestimate the power of paint, says Clarke, referring to the dramatic new look she achieved by painting the existing cabinets. She chose a bold green for the base cabinets and the island, offset by fresh white on the upper cabinets. A porcelain apron sink and a new backsplash of dimensional subway tile glazed in soft white, and new gold-tone hardware and fixtures provide a fresh take on traditional kitchen design elements. 

The original lighting scheme in the kitchen included only recessed can lights. Clarke replaced some of those utilitarian fixtures with pretty pendant lights over the sink and island to dress up the space and provide warmth as well as illumination. 

While the lighting and hardware can be considered the “jewelry” of the room, the window treatments may just steal the show here. The flora-and-fauna pattern fabric by Lee Jofa incorporates the saturated green of the cabinets along with a stunning peacock blue on a light background. It appears in a Roman shade covering the window over the main sink as well as on full-length panels flanking a double window.

The flooring in the kitchen and the adjacent keeping room proves that not every element has to be replaced for a project to be successful. The dark brick tile has a classic, tried-and-true feel and adds warmth to the space. It also provides the perfect backdrop for the traditional Oushak rug that anchors the room’s design. Handed down from her grandmother, the rug was a must-have for her new home, Upchurch says. 

The rug may be antique, but there isn’t a trace of stodginess in the room, thanks to the furnishings Clarke selected to pair with it. Four swivel chairs from Rowe Fine Furniture create an easy, relaxed vibe. She says, “Julie wanted this setup and I think it's great. It's so conversational. It's great for when you have the girls over for a glass of wine, but it's also good for family time and games.” To make sure the seating was comfortable and practical Clarke chose Rowe’s down fill option and performance upholstery. 

The chairs center around a round Noir Furniture coffee table—decidedly contemporary in its style and bright white color. It plays perfectly off the plaster look of the breakfast table the Upchurches already had, now nestled near a large window and surrounded by four simple Windsor-style chairs.

Casual portraits of the family’s two children grace the single full wall in the area. Upchurch says local photographer Rachel Scoggin perfectly captured each child’s personality in the black-and-white works. Clarke placed the photos on the wall on either side of a striking console from Gabby Home, topped by a scalloped Carvers’ Guild mirror. The wall still has plenty of open space, though, intentionally left in the design plan. “I like to leave space in a room for things that are yet to be collected. If Julie wants to find two stools or antique chairs to add, that would be awesome. I think that’s what creates a curated feel. I don’t want to pick out every single thing; this provides them with an opportunity to put the finishing touches on,” Clarke explains.

The living room also received major attention in the process. Unlike similar areas in many other homes, the Upchurches spend a lot of time in their living room, so it had to be comfortable and kid friendly. Mission accomplished with an inviting Rowe sectional covered in a white, almost boucle fabric that no one would ever guess is performance rated. Even the Schumacher velvet throw pillows are wear- and stain-resistant. A pair of spindle chairs in handsome charcoal complete the living room seating, along with a couple of stools from Serena & Lily. “I love stools in front of a fireplace,” says Clarke. “It feels so cozy, plus they’re extra seating when you need it.”

Another of the client’s oriental rugs had the right look for the living room, but not the right size. Clarke solved the dilemma by layering it over a jute rug, custom cut to size locally by Kiser’s Floor Fashions. Another design challenge came in the form of 20 linear feet of full-length windows in the living room. To dress them up without breaking the bank, Clarke sourced fabric from Tonic Living for custom drapes and had each panel’s leading edge embellished with beautiful Schumacher trim. 

Although Clarke and Upchurch, a local realtor with McWaters & Associates, were acquainted before this project, they hadn’t ever worked together. The process went so well, though, that the two plan to collaborate again on other areas of the home. Says Clarke, “People like Julie are my target clientele. Working moms with full-time jobs and kids. They know they have good taste, they just don’t have time to pull it all together.”

Designed to be Durable

Design by M. Cate Interiors | Story by Terri Glazer | Photography by Stefanie Rawlinson

There was a time when a home could either be beautiful or kid friendly, but not both at once. That time is in the past. The home Jessie Cate, owner of M. Cate Interiors, has created for her own family proves that elevated design and durability can now go hand-in-hand.

Nestled into a wooded, lakefront lot in a quiet Eads neighborhood, the exterior has the feel of an upscale vacation property. Cate and her husband Joey purchased the home almost five years ago after having sold the Germantown house they had completely renovated. “After that one sold faster than we anticipated we kind of stumbled across this home. We knew we wanted space and we didn’t want to go through another flip. We also wanted a pool. That’s how we ended up here,” she recalls.

While a complete redo wasn’t called for, Cate set about putting her personal stamp on the house right away, with an emphasis on beauty and practicality in every space. The front room is filled with light thanks to a graceful bay window. The coffered ceiling draws the eye up to the simple six-arm chandelier Cate added—replacing light fixtures was a key part of her overall plan to refresh the entire house. The crisp appearance of the Wesley Hall sectional belies the facts that it has been in the room several years and that two young children jump on it regularly. Their clever mother attributes that to the piece’s sturdy construction. “With to-the-trade or higher-end furniture you get longevity that comes from good craftsmanship,” she says. Down-wrapped cushions and down pillows are a must, Cate adds. Just a quick fluff and they look good as new.

Cate selected performance fabrics for the sectional’s upholstery as well as the throw pillow covers. Today’s wear- and stain-resistant textiles come in a myriad of patterns and textures, making them a perfect choice for worry-free living. “Visually, the acrylic coffee table doesn’t impede on the space,” she points out. And as a bonus, it’s indestructible (Cate says the kids sit on it) and aesthetically pleasing. Ditto for the cowhide rug. “[The children] can spill on it. It doesn’t matter. It’s easy to clean.”

Just as she curates for her clients, Cate selected a lovely variety of works by local and regional artists for her own residence. Over the living room sofa she placed a pair of drawings by Memphian Chelsea Fly alongside a landscape with a bit of an unusual origin. “It was actually part of a wallpaper mural that I loved so much I had it custom framed,” says Cate. Two small landscapes by Atlanta artist Fred Cox make a big impact over a console in the entry area attached to the living room.

Without changing the footprint, Cate transformed the kitchen, giving it a sophisticated look that will stand the test of time. The scope of the work included painting the existing cabinets in Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore, a soft, creamy white, and updating the hardware. To add subtle depth, she chose a slightly darker paint color, Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter, to go on the kitchen island and on a pretty arch feature on one wall. In place of the original stainless steel backsplash she installed oversized marble subway tiles. The Taj Mahal quartzite Cate selected for her countertops is not only beautiful, it can stand up to anything her two little ones dish out, including Sharpie marks. Her secret to keeping its off-the-showroom-floor looks? “You have to maintain it. We seal it once a year. It’s not a big deal.”

And, of course, she changed the kitchen light fixtures. Cate recalls with a laugh that when they were looking at homes her husband told their realtor, “It doesn’t matter what the lighting looks like or the paint color. We’ll be changing all of that!” And they did. Her choices for the kitchen: clear glass jug-style pendants that add substance without obstructing the backyard view, and a pair of shaded brass sconces that up the classic style factor of the pass through above the kitchen sink. 

That classic style carries into the keeping room, a space with a feel that’s a bit dressier, but still totally livable and family friendly. The fact that the upholstery is Sunbrella erases all the worry that might come along with having a light-colored sofa in a home with two- and six-year-old children. While Cate stayed with a mostly blue and green color palette in this room and throughout the home to mirror the lush landscape and the beauty of the backyard swimming pool and lake, she brings in snippets of other hues through throw pillows that she changes seasonally. The art pieces over the sofa, two vintage Audubon bird prints partnered with a pair of small landscapes, blend beautifully and speak to the home’s natural surroundings.

It’s no surprise that the light-filled dining room originally functioned as a solarium. With three full walls of large windows it is a charming spot for a casual meal or a family gathering. Privacy is possible, however, via functional full-length drapes in a cheerful window-pane check.

The upstairs primary suite includes a sitting room that’s an ideal locale for everything from late-night reading to family workouts. The vaulted ceiling makes the space seem ethereal and the soft green paint color, Blue Grey by Farrow and Ball, adds to the feel. Says Cate, “It is a chameleon color; it changes with the light. It can look really green and then sometimes it has blue to it. In rooms like this that have odd angles, I like to paint everything the same color. That way the odd angles are softened and then you can highlight what you want to highlight.” A built-in bookcase/cabinet unit built by Joey anchors the room and provides extra storage for the toys that always seem to end up there.

“I knew I wanted a more cozy feeling even though the room has high ceilings and great light, but then I didn't want everything to feel dark,” says Cate. “So we kept the bedroom area, the sleeping area, lighter, because that has a really tall vaulted ceiling with upper windows.” A whitewashed wood and gold chandelier hangs from the apex of the ceiling like a crown over the room, accenting the simple elegance of its furnishings. Chic details like embellished drapes and pleated fabric lampshades evidence the homeowner’s professional touch.

Cate says she loved designing her daughter’s room, allowing her to be involved in a few decisions and then surprising her with the finished product. The result is a sweet, but not babyish, space that will grow with its occupant through the years. The soft pink bedding, timeless blue wallpaper and white ruffled curtains create a cozy spot for sleep and play. 

Her son’s nursery “came together in a really sweet way,” says Cate. Neutral walls and blue trim set the stage and allow the white crib and faux shagreen shelving unit to pop. Always thinking of safety, Cate framed four vintage dog prints sourced from Etsy in simple frames with no glass, then double secured them to the wall above the crib with 3M Command strips. She also opted for a Roman shade to cover the window rather than long curtain panels. His handsome dresser was once part of his parents’ bedroom suite, now updated with new drawer knobs, and the antique print that hangs above it came from his great grandmother’s home.

The entire project speaks to Cate’s talent and to her dedication to the concept that it is possible to combine custom design and practicality. “I’ve had people tell me, ‘I’d love to work with you, but I have to wait for my children to get older,’” she says. “I just want people to know that you can have pretty things and kids at the same time.”

A Work of Art

Design by Murphy Maude Interiors | Story by Terri Glazer | Photography by Annabella Charles

“It was important to us to show that design can be accessible; it's not just for the very rich or very few.” These words were Leslie Murphy’s guiding principle as she furnished the Art Haus in the recent Vesta Home Show. 

The house represented a departure from those in previous shows; the John Duke Homes entry came in at just over 3,600 square feet. The size of all five houses built for this year’s installment of the annual Vesta Home Show was more modest than in the past, when floor plans often doubled that number.

Murphy, the owner and creative director of Murphy Maude Interiors, says the name Art Haus came about at the start of the design process as she made a commitment to include a creative work in each room. She says, “There’s something either from a collaborative artist who we work with or a piece from our new textiles line that is based on original and local art; there’s a little bit of art or something through the lens of art in every room.”

Built around collaborating with partners in the Memphis art community, Mable Originals is named for her grandmother, Murphy says. “Mable taught me that everything should have a heart and a soul. Don't just throw a picture on the wall, allow it to have some meaning and give the layers to the space that give it a personality and show some history.”

Simple, unadorned lines and a black-and-white palette with natural wood accents set the mood on the home’s exterior, creating a clean and bright backdrop for artistic design. The gallery-like feel surrounds visitors from the first step inside the iron-and-glass front door, where a marble tile floor inlay dresses up the scene. Murphy says the contemporary take on a classic design element adds a bit of elegance. “The house has a more casual, open plan, but we wanted to give this entryway something special and a unique little pop.” 

Drama comes from the ceiling, lined with a custom wallpaper in atmospheric white, gray and black shades. The mural began as a watercolor created by one of Murphy Maude’s in-house artists. The firm’s art department enlarged the painting and turned it into a repeat, giving birth to a product that can now be recreated for other clients in custom colors. The pattern, along with other wall coverings, murals and giclee prints of some of the original paintings found in Art Haus are available through Mable Originals, the newly launched sister company to Murphy Maude.

The entryway blends into the dining room, where more interest comes from an arched alcove on the far wall. The niche is painted in Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams, one of a group of saturated colors that reappears throughout the decor. “We worked to pull the deep, dark blues and grays across the whole home,” says Murphy, pointing out that the blues in this palette are not the same ones that have been used time and again in recent design. “We’ve seen blue cabinets for a while, but not this dark, almost gray navy tone. It feels a little bit more warm— deeper and richer. It was important for us to show how it pairs really well with natural hues, organic elements like the raw woods, and the grays.”

The dining room opens into the home’s main living area. While the space isn’t huge in size, it has an airy feel thanks to a vaulted ceiling and a mostly white palette. A contemporary limestone fireplace leaves plenty of room above for a striking piece of original art by Lisa Mack. On either side, recessed natural wood shelves pop against an almost black background, punctuated by modern three-light sconces.

Project manager Caroline Harris, with help from members of the MMI design team, outfitted the room with pieces from the Owl’s Nest, Murphy Maude’s new express furniture program. Both budget friendly and quickly accessible, the line also remains true to the firm’s design aesthetic. A pair of white sofas face one another, supported by wooden legs with a hint of mid-century panache. The low-slung marble coffee table between them plays off the whites of the sofa upholstery as well as the dark grays of the rug beneath it. Side-by-side white boucle S chairs add to the artistic flair.

Rich, dark color reappears in a big way in the kitchen, where the cabinets are bathed in a tone that appears sometimes blue/sometimes gray. Offset by white Cambria quartz countertops and a waterfall island, as well as an abundance of natural light from the double window over the sink, the dark cabinets bring just the right degree of bold color to the space. Brushed brass blends beautifully in the hardware as well as the over-island vent hood. “Since we were going to have a hood in the middle of the room we thought why not make it such a beautiful focal point that it deserves to be there? That's how this concept was born,” Murphy recalls.

Black, white and natural wood marry perfectly in the adjoining breakfast area. A chic oval dining table is surrounded by an L-shaped white leather banquette. A pair of mod black-on-black chairs completes the seating. The nook’s one solid wall is the perfect home for an oversized equine photograph by Georgia artist Brandon Luther.

Murphy extended the concept of design into the laundry room, where large black hex tiles accentuated with white grout set a stylish mood. Plain white cabinet door faces are zhuzhed up with handsome wallpaper. Even the most utilitarian space in the house has art. A group of Wall Play mini sculptures brings to mind a beehive on the laundry room wall—perhaps a reminder to be busy bees while doing housework?

The home office may be small in scale, but it is huge on design. The star of the show is the Mable Originals wall mural. Says Murphy, “It shows that regardless of the size of a wall you can use a framed mural. It’s a great way to add interesting drama. If you don’t have the budget to do a full gallery wall of art, put up a mural and frame it. Approachable and attainable.”

A global vibe permeates the downstairs guest room. “We like to incorporate texture and a feeling that maybe you’re not in Memphis, you’re somewhere on vacation,” Murphy explains. Stylized birds take wing on the accent wall, proving that a small amount of wallpaper can make a big impact. Art appears not only in the form of a painting opposite the striking black platform bed, but also through the craftsmanship of the set of shell and rope necklaces grouped above the headboard. Ceiling mounted pendant lights illuminate the bedside, as do lamps that bring to mind the look of tribal drums set on side tables.  

The attached guest bath is a study in the use of classic, reasonably priced elements to achieve a custom, high-design effect. On the floating vanity Murphy added metal fretwork on the standard shaker-style door fronts to create a modern focal point. Combined with penny tile, one of the designer’s favorite products to maximize bang for the buck, and tumbled stone in a herringbone pattern, the space makes a statement without breaking the bank. 

The primary suite is part museum piece/part relaxing retreat. Here, Murphy once again turned to a supersaturated paint color, Benjamin Moore’s Raccoon Fur. It sets off the custom piece of art by Memphian Kyle Taylor that serves as the headboard. “It really is about making art into everyday things that you can live with—not just something that you look at but something you experience. This was a great example of that,” says Murphy. Simple furnishings allow the piece to take center stage, rivaled only by the overhead light fixture. A grouping of three sets of brass rods at random lengths accentuated by lighted crystals is a work of art in its own right. Set against the backdrop of the dark gray ceiling, the lights produce a stunning effect.

More oohs and aahs are in order in the primary bath, where natural elements appear in a luxurious environment. Black stone and unstained maple pair with gold accents and, of course, original art. “It’s a great way to bring the outdoors in and make nature a part of your everyday experience so that you feel calm and soothed,” Murphy says.  

The entire house has the feel of a work of art, but its real beauty lies in the fact that its design and furnishings are not out-of-reach show house concepts to which most homeowners can only aspire. “This whole project was about design being approachable and attainable, yet in a really elegant way,” Murphy says. “You don’t have to have a mansion and an unlimited design budget to have a look that’s cohesive and beautiful.”