When a project begins with partnership, both the homeowner and designer share equal satisfaction in watching the vision come to life. Julie Abner and her client have spent years creating spaces that lead with both function and beauty.
“This is a client I have worked with for many years, and it has been very fun and rewarding to get to know them,” Abner said, having helped them design their previous home. “When I met them, their family was young, and I have gotten to see how their home has changed and grown with their evolving needs.”
When the homeowners moved in to their current home just over 10 years ago, it fell flat with a very neutral color pallet. While its strong footprint, striking woodwork and beautiful ceilings provided an excellent foundation, the space lacked flair. This was when she decided to call upon Abner once again, and from there they developed a long-term renovation plan to bring in fresh elements while matching the family’s lifestyle and practical needs.
Though the homeowner’s style has always followed a common thread, Abner has noted its small evolutions as well. Having long favored antiques and traditional elements, the homeowner now prefers to layer in modern pieces, creating a dynamic visual outcome that Abner was especially proud to see in the latest design iteration.
Factoring in the flow of one room into the next, Abner was challenged to ensure that the design was appealing from different vantage points. Whether standing in the sunroom or the great room, each space needed to be visually appealing. It was a large area to undertake, though Abner was confident to make each room feel connected yet distinct, both welcoming and cozy.
“The house is not comprised of showrooms—each area is used by the family and we needed it to function well, look pretty and connect with one another,” said Abner. “This will be their forever home, and I wanted to make sure they can enjoy it as the years go by.”
The great room, as a more formal area, used more subtle pattern mixing and lighter colors. As it has become an ideal hosting space that maintains an intimate feel, the homeowner deemed this as her favorite room.
“It’s where I often spend my evenings curled up in a chair with a book, listening to the gentle busyness of the house,” she said. “From there, I can see up the stairs to my children’s bedrooms and into the kitchen and sunroom. I love taking in the beauty of the great room while feeling connected to everything happening throughout the rest of the home.” The great room’s subtle elements flow into the wet bar, where the patterns are a bit stronger.
Acknowledging the homeowner’s love for entertaining, Abner created the wet bar to be a space that feels both purposeful and inviting for the homeowners and their guests. In its original iteration, the bar was tucked in the corner and clad with neutral, warm wood tones. In the redesign, she layered the space with texture, added new appliances and a stack of drawers to improve the overall function of the space. While changing the cabinet colors and adding a patterned backsplash, the wood bar stayed the same, unifying the new with the old. Now the wet bar serves as a cohesive area of the home while maintaining its own element of playful sophistication.
The sunroom brings in even more color and pattern. Originally functioning as a playroom during the family’s early years, the space has transformed with their needs while maintaining a casual feel. It is now used to share a drink with friends, play a family game night, take a Zoom call or simply have a quiet moment to escape the busyness around them.
A home goes through many iterations through the years, not only through design but in the individuals who build their lives in the space. When this young family moved in, the home was well-loved with a strong foundation, but felt a lack of life and too tired for them to connect with.
Through Abner’s guidance, they were able to reflect the family’s joy through each redesigned room, bringing vitality to original beloved elements with a newfound brightness. Now around every corner is a reminder of what makes their story unique and that personality and life can be returned to even the most classic spaces.
Resources:
Great room artwork: "Emma & Eugene" by Josh Young Design House
Cabinetry: Brian Perkins
Granite Fabricator: Stone Forest
Sun room rug: Patterson Flynn
Sofas: Bernhardt
Pink sofa: Thiabaut
Swivels: Hickory White
Cocktail ottoman: Lee
Acrylic side tables: Vanguard
Sunroom Desk: Serena + Lily
Desk Chair: Hickory White
Sunroom ottomans: CR Luine
White side table: Highland House
Glass/gold table: Villa & House
Sunroom Lighting: Currey + Co
Powder room lighting: Visual Comfort
Pink Lamps: Regina Andrew
Powder faucet: Immerse
Powder console: Premier Plumbing
Wallpaper: Thiabaut
