Paige Rumore
CAROLINE SHARPNACK
CAROLINE SHARPNACK
CAROLINE SHARPNACK
CAROLINE SHARPNACK
Constantly pondering new creative ideas, interior designer Lilly Taylor got the itch to renovate her own home last fall, using it as a canvas for her inspiration.
She and her father, John Gianikas, built the residence eight years ago on a great property that backs up to Richland Creek and the Greenway. While the home fits in with the neighborhood it’s in, it still holds an elevated aesthetic and a functional layout that takes advantage of the magical creek view and landscape, feeling very lush and private in the back. The design reflects Taylor’s personal aesthetic, which is classic, comfortable, and carefully curated interiors that feel sophisticated and approachable.
“I like to make things feel organic and balanced, using old and new, raw and refined, and really playing with texture and tone,” Taylor says. “The goal is to have my designs feel organic and not too stylized. Adding layers with antique pieces and custom textiles really helps make a space feel more bespoke. My goal is to create comfortable, livable interiors that feel well curated and balanced.”
They did a full main-floor renovation of the mudroom, powder room, laundry room, dining nook, kitchen, and the primary suite, as well as Taylor’s office and her daughter’s nursery.
“Adding warmth and using more organic materials throughout the scope was the main objective. We did lots of painting, swapping out lighting,adding millwork,wallpaper,and custom textiles,”Taylor says.“I wanted the house to feel cozier and more enveloping than it had before. We color-drenched a lot of the rooms, which is one of my favorite techniques to making a space feel moody and cozy.”
Though Taylor adores every space in the house, her favorites align with where she spends the most time, such as the kitchen, bedroom, and her daughter’s room.
“Her room was really the catalyst for wanting to redo the rest of the house. We covered the room in this gorgeous Sanderson wallpaper that has subtle blush tones. I played off that palette for the rest of the finish selections and created lots of layers with texture—the result is just so dreamy. Not too girly, and just the right amount of sophisticated and playful,”Taylor says.“I remember details of my childhood bedroom vividly, the curtains, the wallpaper, the rug, and it fills me with such warm and happy memories. I hope when she’s older, she’ll have that same sense of nostalgia when she thinks of her room.”
For the bedroom, Taylor color-drenched it in a very warm and calming off-white color with green undertones.
“Even though the space has a large, vaulted ceiling, the color application made it feel so serene and still feels moody without being dark,” Taylor says. “I then used warm colors in the textile choices, switching the bedding and drapes from white to ivory made a huge difference, and lets the gorgeous tapestry-like headboard fabric really stand out. Every time I go in there, I can actually feel a shift in my mood—it’s so peaceful. I always tell my clients that your primary bedroom should be a priority space because it does wonders for your mental health to have your place where you start and end your day feel calming, curated, and balanced.”
That peaceful motif doesn’t just lie in the room, it is carried throughout the entire home — mastering serenity, and welcoming coziness and comfort in style.