"It's a joy to work with a client who's so adventuresome," says Suellen Gregory, the interior designer responsible for this lively reimagining of a classic Georgian grande dame. We couldn't agree more - we always love working with clients that are willing to take some risks here and there. We believe in staying in line with your own style, but it's always fun to switch it up a little! Especially when the results are as beautiful Richmond home, as featured in Veranda. This stately Virginia home could have easily gone stuffy, but thanks to an eclectic mix of antiques and furnishings, the home feels light, fresh, and full of stories.
Fine French, English and Swedish antiques abound, but so do elements of whimsy. The 1921 home was designed by one of the classical masters, W. Duncan Lee, who was a leading residential architect back in his day. When they first moved in, the homeowners found Lee's original floor-to-ceiling windows, columns, pilasters, and elegant mantles with gold-trimmed fireplace surrounds, all beautifully and perfectly unaltered.
Says Gregory of her designs, interiors were meant to be "crisp, but comfortable; sophisticated, but welcoming." She achieved this by using pops of color against a palette of cream, gold, and gray. In the dining room, she introduced drama by filling in panels on existing millwork with mirrors. Throughout the house the designer upholstered with cottons, avoiding fabrics that would look "dressy," especially for antique pieces. Animal prints are used as accents on furniture, floors, and walls—inspired by a zebra-skin rug the client inherited from her grandmother, who nabbed it decades ago on safari.
Like we said, this home appears to have stories around every corner. We're a big fan of this light and bright space - it feels like the perfect mix of classic traditional Southern style paired with whimsical, fun, worldly elements. Just what we love!
How about you? Are you loving the space?
