A Place To Read
The study, with its 15-foot-tall coffered ceiling and stained bookshelves that cover one wall, relays a feeling of establishment. "We paneled the walls to give the room a sense of permanence," Michael explains.
Julie incorporated a rustic look in this room. The leather furnishings and hand-carved pine desk remind visitors of Texas ranches in the 1920s and 1930s. The architectural design brings in light with a wall of square clerestory windows above already tall windows.
Right off the study is a bath that includes a hidden shower. To continue the natural theme, stacked stones form a pedestal base for the dark oak vanity surround with copper sink. The space is punctuated by a mirror framed with naturally shed antlers.
Family Space
Like the kitchen and breakfast room which connect to it, the family room (see photo on page 1) is enveloped in natural light. "I have to credit Michael and his team for suggesting the cedar beams for the barrel-vault ceiling. The wood draws your eye up to the curved window," Rick says.
Furnishings covered in leather and neutral-toned fabrics fill the comfortable space. Julie used an abundance of pillows and trims to add color. A mixture of ornate items and simple accent pieces, including a wrought iron fireplace screen, carved table, and silk drapery panels in subtle shades of green and gold, collaborate effortlessly for an unexpected look.
Instead of the typical arrangement of artwork, Julie hung an oversize painting in front of the windows and drapery panels. She then used a simple wooden bowl and iron sconces to decorate the space above the mantel.
Classic Table Setting With a Twist
Located just to the left of the foyer, the dining room is enveloped in timeless furnishings and filled with texture and color. Julie used traditional wainscot paneling along the walls but called for it to be raised higher than the standard 36 inches. "The walls and wainscot are painted the same color. We used flat latex on top and a satin enamel on the bottom. To create a feeling of depth, we then glazed the wood on the bottom," she says. "Because it spans the entire room, this feature provides space to decoratively display simple plates." Fixed French doors, softened by flowing draperies, bring in natural light that balances the tones of the room.
The colors of nature are reflected in the decor's greens, blues, and woody browns. Julie incorporated warmth with coral and gold accessories. The space is grounded with an antique reproduction dining table, accompanied by carved chairs with striped cushions in a flat-weave velvet. Reproduction wall sconces complement a pewter-and-gold-finished wrought iron chandelier.
