One of the first things you notice when you walk into the room addition at Jacque Richmond’s St. Charles’ home are the brightly colorful window panels: Uzbek Suzani, sourced by Vintage Rug Land in Instanbul, Turkey. Each is unique, and they set the tone. This room is about vibrancy and energy. It was built for dance parties with live musicians, game nights and family dinners so large that 20-plus people can eat at the same long table, and, like the rest of Jacque’s home, it’s an eclectic mix of cultures with furniture and accessories from her travels around the world.
Joyce Mathis of MJM Design Company, who designed the space, has worked with Jacque on redesigns of her kitchen, bedrooms and master bathroom, and was excited to team up again for this addition, 20 by 38 feet, a project inspired by Jacque’s travels to Morocco and an annual dance party that she holds every January.
The beauty of the room is in the details, says Joyce — the pierced carved panels from various Central American and Indonesian countries that are displayed on the cornices, Bamileke Juju hats sourced by various artisans, a Sumatran bird and an antique Moroccan mirror, both sourced by Tierra del Lagarto and the Rajasthani temple ceiling panel. The walls are painted Sherwin Williams Irish Cream, which makes all the color in the panels, pillows and accessories stand out.
The attention to detail continues in the new butler’s pantry, 8 by 20 feet, located just off the main room. It is where all of the catering and entertaining equipment is stored, but there’s nothing utilitarian about this space. A hanging pierced lantern/chandelier is just inside the entry, and inside the cabinets, the dishware (Vietri, Poppy and Vietri, Old St. Nick) looks more like art than something to eat off of.
The furniture is sparse but meaningful: an antique Mughal daybed, a refreshed antique that Jacque purchased on the outskirts of the Boudhanath Stupa in Nepal and an antique Chinese Butterfly Style cabinet sourced by the Golden Triangle. There’s also a pair of mission-style chairs and built-in window seats with lighted cubbies underneath filled with games. All of it is easily pushed aside for the dance parties, Joyce notes, and there are floor outlets where the musicians set up.
Much of the furniture and decór were hand-picked and discovered by Jacque herself, Joyce says. “The main pieces are all her vision.” Joyce pulled everything together into a cohesive design. The end result is a space fit for entertaining and fun.
Resources
Interior Design: MJM Design Company
Appliances, Cabinetry, Kitchen Design: RSI Kitchen & Bath
Architect: Gregg Nadler
Builder: Fuhr's Custom Carpentry
Flooring: St. Charles Decorating
Granite, Stone: Stone Trends
Lighting: Metro Lighting
Plumbing Fixtures: Immerse by Atlas
