It’s not uncommon for a client to ask an interior designer to work with some of their existing furniture or décor, especially if they have heirlooms or need a bit of value engineering. And, with more and more people choosing to stay in their current homes rather than move in a difficult housing market, renovating is a popular choice.
Designers don’t always start with a blank slate, and that’s not a bad thing. However, the trick to creating a fresh, unique personal space is to know how to make the best of a home’s features and mix old and new in a balance that honors the past while making room for new memories.
The home we’re going to see today, a four-bedroom, four-bath residence on Florida’s Amelia Island, is a perfect example of how valuable a skilled designer can be when you’re trying to blend the past with the present or stay in a home you love while starting a new chapter.
Interior designer Robyn Branch’s clients have lived in this house for 20 years. They have eight grown children, four of whom grew up and were homeschooled here, and 11 grandchildren. The client inherited a significant amount of furniture, art and objects when her mother passed away, and she wasn’t sure what to do with everything.
“My mother had a lot of things she wanted me to keep and take care of,” the homeowner says. “But there were things stacked all over the place. I didn’t know how to sort through it. I was intimidated to work with a designer, but I needed help. I’d talked to some other designers, but I could tell they weren’t interested or couldn’t do it. Robyn had known my mom, so I asked her to help me blend things in.”
What began as a blend-in by Branch and design assistant Ellen Lupone turned into a whole-house refresh. The clients were entirely open to Branch’s ideas and excited about what was possible. “We kept in mind the value of the home, but the client had never had a house the way she wanted it, so we did it for her,” Branch says.
The transformation begins in the entry, where Branch traded a dated front door with oval leaded glass for a contemporary set of glass and steel French doors, chosen by the homeowner with guidance from the designer. While the old door immediately aged the house on first impression, the new doors update and define the space and allow light to flood the front of the home. For accents, she added new lighting and a new rug and refurbished a piece of French furniture. The entire house got new paint and hardwood floors.
To the right of the entry is a small sitting room where the client likes to read. Branch removed some existing furniture to create more space for reading and conversation. Instead of the typical side table and lamp arrangement, she added tall, whitewashed carved floor lamps ideal for reading. “This has always been her escape room,” Branch says. “I wanted it to be casual-coastal without it being in your face. She’s a Southern lady, so of course fabrics are important in every room. All the fabrics we used in the house are beautiful and high-end.”
Custom window treatments in soft blue add color to the neutral space. A new sofa and chairs and a hand-knotted rug complete the room. Branch used pottery from the client’s collection and an antique drop-leaf table to mix old and new.
Straight ahead is the dining room. Branch and her clients decided to keep the existing antique dining table but re-covered the chairs in a beautiful blue quilted vermicelli velvet. Beneath the table is a new hand-knotted Oushak rug with a traditional pattern. An expansive glass cabinet holds heirloom silver and family china, including a set that was a gift from the client’s father. On top of the cabinet, a giant clamshell serves as a bowl for holding drinks, snacks, flowers or floating candles for dinner parties.
The living room, breakfast room and kitchen, where the clients spend most of their time, are open to each other, with fantastic views of the pool deck and backyard. In the breakfast area, Branch kept the client’s large, round pedestal table but added an oversize beaded pendant light to anchor the space. The clients call it “the cone of silence!”
To the right, the living room received star treatment. The designer started with another hand-knotted rug to define the space, then added a new sectional, a floor lamp with a handsome leather shade, two swivel chairs with vibrant Schumacher fabric, and a daring zebra-hide ottoman that also stores magazines, blankets and pillows.
New built-in bookcases flank the fireplace and TV, which are backed by floor-to-ceiling natural stone. Branch used the bookcases to display more of the client’s treasures, antique books and some new objects. Leather hardware on the bookcase cabinets complements the leather lampshade and adds thoughtful detail. “This room is very comfortable, but it’s not pretentious,” Branch says. “It’s very inviting and easy—and matches their personalities.”
The kitchen also got a total makeover. “Everything is new in here but the bar top, which her husband made,” she says. Because the family uses the bar area regularly, the designer added three comfortable swivel chairs with warm wood bases and creamy off-white fabric. Three streamlined black pendants over the bar play off the black appliances.
For the backsplash, the designer chose green porcelain tile with a lot of visual interest. “We were doing greens and aquas throughout the house, and she really gravitated toward green. The porcelain tile has just a bit of mottling that gives it a more relaxed look,” Branch says. New countertops have a slight hint of green veining to complement the tile.
Custom natural wood cabinets with Shaker-style doors have black and chrome pulls to match the black appliances. Cabinets wrap the walls and run to the ceiling, significantly transforming the space and giving the clients much-needed storage.
To the left of the kitchen is a thoroughfare leading to the entry. Branch used a large mirror and console with channeled drawers as a drop zone in this heavily trafficked area.
Across from the kitchen is a shared home office, which the now-retired couple shares. “He is a retired internist, and she homeschooled all of their kids,” Branch says. “As you can imagine, this room was packed with boxes and boxes of papers. This is a nice fresh start.”
The leopard-patterned carpet adds a bit of playfulness and is a nod toward the subtle West Indies and animal print motif throughout the home. Branch used matching chairs to tie the furniture together and added the client’s artwork, sentimental objects and a few new high-end accessories.
Nearby, a full bath with a subtle nautical theme serves the pool area. Akdo tile called “Hello Sailor” runs the wall length through the shower. A navy vanity anchors the blue and white tile, while nautical lights from Visual Comfort flank the mirror.
In the primary bedroom, geometrical custom window treatments inspired the room’s design. Behind the bed, Branch used a textured, boldly patterned Phillip Jeffries wallpaper as a focal point that complements the draperies. The custom bed is wrapped in a light duck egg blue fabric. Side tables by Lexington hold large aqua ceramic lamps with a contemporary abstract pattern. At the foot of the bed, unique rattan ottomans from Ambella are the perfect place to park while putting on shoes. A comfortable chair in front of the windows is a cozy, quiet place to read.
Branch wanted the primary bathroom to feel luxurious, but the room had some challenges, including a massive soffit over the shower that made it feel cramped. She removed the overpowering soffit, opening the room and allowing space for a sizeable curbless shower. The natural stone tile on the floor, classic Crema Marfil marble, resembles a pebble mosaic. “We have a lot of kids, so we don’t travel much,” the homeowner says. “Robyn said we needed a bathroom like the Ritz, and we do!”
A large soaking tub sits beneath a wide window, giving the homeowner expansive views of the trees. The water closet is a small surprise; with its textured wallpaper from Innovations on the walls and ceiling, it feels like being in a grass hut. The custom vanity, recessed between two closets, is Branch’s favorite of all time. “I had this sample with no label. I had no idea where it came from. But it was white with a strié overlay, like hand-painted lines were running through it. It’s just beautiful,” she says. Medicine chests keep the natural stone countertop clear of clutter, while onyx light fixtures above provide a warm glow.
Upstairs are the guest rooms. One is a large room where the grandchildren stay and play. It is decorated with an antique iron bed and a mix of new and heirloom furniture. “The juju hats above the bed are just fun,” Branch says. A toy chest at the foot of the bed holds baskets of books and toys, all belonging to the kids.
In the second guest room, antique animal prints hang above two twin beds that belonged to the client’s mother. All four walls are painted a vibrant shade of blue, which is found in accents in other parts of the home and matches the fabric background. Dramatic fabric from the Clarke & Clarke “Animalia” collection features a pattern of exotic animals that folds into itself like a kaleidoscope. “The dust skirts on the bed are zebra patterned; we were intentional about that,” Branch says. “And the fabric is so vivid we went with a vivid color on the wall.” Stacked tables can be moved to serve as bedside tables. As an example of the small, luxurious details throughout, Branch’s workroom created custom lumbar pillows to complement the window treatments.
The third bedroom is adjacent to the second guest room and belongs to a son who is still at home. His favorite color is green, so Branch used rich emerald accents and his favorite antique artwork.
Though the clients didn’t start out thinking of a whole-home remodel, they’re thrilled with the results. When it comes to a favorite part of the new design, it’s hard for them to choose. “I love the kitchen,” she says. “But I love the living room too. And my bedroom. And the bathroom! I just watched Robyn work. She’s an artist. I’m safe, boring and conservative. She listened to me and was so gentle with her suggestions. There was never pressure or too many choices. We ended up doing more than we planned, but she made it fun and so worth it. I trusted her, and she became a friend. It was such a great experience. Robyn made the best of everything.” *
Robin Howard is a freelance writer in Charleston. See more of her work at robinhowardwrites.com.
