Getting tired of your decor? Need some inspiration? Step inside a local home that is brimming with style and flair that is perfect for spring. Go ahead, steal an idea or two to give your space a refresh today!
“Nestled within a woodland setting of poplars and oaks in Ivy lies this homeowner’s gracious colonial home. The front path, lined with herringbone brick, leads to a lovely portico framed with stately pillars. The red door, accented with evergreen planters, adds to its all-around welcoming appeal.
Originally from North Carolina, the owner first came to Charlottesville as an undergraduate student at the University of Virginia, returning to the area with her husband and young family for graduate school to study landscape architecture.
Upon entering this home, one is instantly put at ease by its peaceful feeling, and its organic sensibilities. The neutral, blue and green-gray hues are noticeably the influence behind the color palette throughout the home.
An open floor plan with a light-filled kitchen and family room serve as the central hub for this family of five and Coco, their beloved Springer spaniel. A stunning handcrafted gold and beaded Ro Sham Beaux chandelier creates a dramatic focal point in the family room.
The homeowner notes that it was important that their home be welcoming, comfortable and accessible for their children and their active lifestyle. No room is ‘off limits’ for exploring one’s creative passions. All three of her children are budding artists.
In order to display some of their artwork, she created a gallery wall in their breakfast room (seen above), where the children’s work is arranged alongside the works of other local artists. Each child’s personality also shines through in their artwork.
Two of Ellen Hathaway’s paintings, a local artist, are also displayed featuring sunflowers and daylilies. ‘I love the color and abstracted notion of flowers,’ she says. ‘You can feel the painting captures mid- to late-summer blooms, and the messiness of meadows and heat around that time where we live.’
Gold accents throughout add an elegant unifying touch to the décor. A stunning wallpaper weaves its way from the cocktail room along the hallway and stairwell, influencing the selection for several furnishings. The gray-green tone in the leaves is repeated in the color of the chest behind the loveseat as well as in the pillows. The loveseat was reupholstered in a soft pink-colored velvet, complementing the pink tones in the wallpaper and further unifying the space. Adding a sophisticated touch, a French bench with gold and pink accents, above, graces the front hall. Other decorative details such as the ginger jar and tasseled pillow create a warm, relaxing atmosphere that even Coco loves to enjoy while lounging on a chair.
The family’s first-floor powder room is highlighted by a lovely chinoiserie mirror and wallpaper, a gorgeous mosaic floor all perfectly accented with an inlaid tile wall and marble sink. Its peaceful aesthetic further reflects the unique beauty of this elegant and welcoming home.
Elegant accents, works of art and an organic ambiance perfectly showcase this homeowner’s creativity and passion for beauty in nature.” ~
This article appears in Book 3 of Wine & Country Life. Start your subscription here or give a gift subscription here.
Photography by Andrea Hubbell
