Photo by Hector Sanchez
On the exterior, fresh creamy paint replaced the previous yellow. A local plaster artisan added detailing over the French doors and arched porte-cochères.
Many factors come into play when determining whether a decorating scheme is successful, but Lauren Robbins’s longtime client Joye Richards conveyed her absolute satisfaction with perhaps the ultimate compliment: “I never want to live anywhere else!”
This is the third house that Lauren has worked on for Joye, so she really understands what her client likes—elegance mixed with comfort. As Joye explains, “I don’t want people who visit to feel that they can’t touch anything.” While the architecture of the 1919 house, with its Mission-style leanings, double portecochères, and tall ceilings, could lead to the assumption of very formal interiors, Lauren knew exactly how to dispell that notion. She paired streamlined antiques with more contemporary pieces, adding in some edgier art finds along the way.
Photo by Hector Sanchez
In the sitting room, a mélange of old and new décor includes a Louis-Phillipe mirror with floral carvings and an alabaster-hued coffee table from Mr. and Mrs. Howard for Sherrill Furniture. Lauren covered the walls with a subtle Cowtan & Tout wallpaper. “It adds some movement,” she says.
When it came to selecting the palette and fabrics for the home, Lauren kept any sort of fussiness at bay. “Joye loves coral pink, so we wove that color throughout the main living spaces,” she says. “It feels young and fresh.” Sometimes the hue comes through in a whisper, as seen in the pillow on the front entry bench. In other places such as the family room, it’s in full bloom in the rug, the framed Gracie panels, and the floral fabric on the ottoman. The dining room also reveals hints of pink in drapery panels and a large abstract painting.
Photo by Hector Sanchez
In the living room, hand-painted, framed Gracie panels set the tone for the palette of soft blues and pinks. The brass chandelier used to be in the entry of the family’s former home. Here, it makes a statement centered in the original molding on the ceiling.
A different color story plays out in the sitting room, connected to the family room through meticulously restored original pocket French doors. “Since the family room leans more feminine with the florals and softer colors, I went in a more buttoned-up, manly direction for the sitting room,” says Lauren. “It has more of an art deco vibe.” The designer employed navy and olive-green tones, a muted wavy-patterned wallpaper, and a creamy white coffee table with a hint of Moroccan flair. An understated Louis-Phillipe mirror accompanies an antique storage buffet with clean lines, emphasizing the polished theme. In the Oushak rug, a thread of coral pink appears among shades of blue and mustard, bringing a subtle sense of connection between the rooms.
Photo by Hector Sanchez
A profusion of fresh blooms complements an array of colored glassware on the dining room table. Flower-shaped ceramic candlesticks by Lisa Alpaugh of LiBird Studio add to the floral theme. The homeowner’s favorite shade of coral pink appears in the hurricanes on the mantel and in the Cowtan & Tout drapery panels.
Perhaps the quietest spot in the house is the outdoor porch, which connects to the formal dining room. “I wanted it to feel like an extension of the house, which is why I included table lamps and a subtle cheetah print rug,” says Lauren. “I used white and brushstrokes of light blue to complement the dining room without competing with it.” Still the porch shows off one bold element, a cheetah painting that artist Elaine Burge treated with a shellac compound to make it suitable for outdoors. “I love art, and I’m not scared of funky pieces,” says Joye. “I also like supporting emerging artists who aren’t well known yet. I’m not interested in ‘names’ or provenance; I just want to fall in love with it.”
Photo by Hector Sanchez
For the back porch, Lauren commissioned Georgia-based artist Elaine Burge to create the cheetah painting which plays off the rug. Photo by Natalie Thompson Photography.
The Richards have also fallen deeply in love with their home. “I always knew how strongly I felt about this house, but I wasn’t sure if my husband shared the sentiment,” says Joye. “One day I asked whether or not he would consider selling if someone offered us an outrageous sum. Without hesitation, he said, ‘Absolutely not!’ ”
