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Paige Rumore
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Paige Rumore
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Paige Rumore
When one enters this Oak Hill home, the library to the left sets the tone, literally.
It is painted a dark, velvety green, an inky color that reminds one of fir trees in coastal Maine or the 1954 Jaguar D-type sportscar painted British Racing Green. It adds gravitas to the space, rendering it stately, serene, and cozy, like an exclusive members’ club in London.
Interior designer Connie Vernich chose the color, Sherwin Williams Courtyard, as part of her overall design plan. She has a talent for making a home look traditional yet fresh rather than overwrought or stuffy.
“We painted the library a moody green to give the room a masculine, big-city feel that we knew the husband would love,” Vernich explains, noting that he’s a native New Yorker.
The dark green hue comes with historic ties, yet Vernich made it modern in her application, much as interior designer Miles Redd does with his deep lacquers. She had the library painted from top to bottom in the color, with the walls, trim, and shelves rendered in a semi-gloss finish and the ceiling in a high gloss. Two accent pillows in the Schumacher fabric Grey Gardens, a bold and billowing floral, tie in with the color palette. Incorporating a shiny black piano into this room was a practical move: The wife, a true Southern belle and former Miss Mississippi, has played since childhood.
The themes of geography came into play as Vernich transformed the six-bedroom, six-bath home. She affectionately refers to the homeowners as “North and South” due to their disparate birthplaces.
“Finding the right house that reflected their traditional values and modern lifestyle took extensive research and patience,” she says. “The couple wanted an open concept floor plan with a few designated formal rooms. They also had conflicting taste preferences. The husband, who grew up in a big city, wanted a more modern look, while she wanted a more traditional look.”
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Paige Rumore
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Paige Rumore
Opposite the library is a dining room decorated with tailored and sophisticated pieces that reflect the wife’s Southern flair. Even with the classic Greek keyhole trim on the drapes and two chairs, the room looks light and airy, not overly traditional.
As the home opens into a great room, one sees the limestone fireplace that inspired the serene color palette. Whimsical striped pillows coordinate with pillows upholstered in Schumacher’s Pyne Hollyhock fabric, an elegant print that complements the Schumacher velvet on the armchairs.
“It is a formal living room, but we didn’t want it to be stuffy or feel off-limits for use,” Vernich says.
Artist Charlotte Terrell created the landscape painting above the fireplace, which finishes out the room’s calm mood. A statement piece is found in the Naples chandelier by Aidan Gray with its strands of smooth, natural crystal beads.
“I love that it’s a little modern,” Vernich says of the fixture.
As the great room flows into the kitchen, screened porch, and den areas, one experiences a calming aesthetic that flows effortlessly from room to room. Vernich remodeled the kitchen by changing the cabinet doors, adding oversized brass pendant lights, and tasking Tony Leebrick, owner of Mid South Custom Cabinets, with creating a black range hood featuring brass trim. Barstools that feature beautiful Chippendale fretwork add a classic touch.
In the end, the home is a harmonious mélange of two geographic backgrounds.
“You’ve got to really find what the husband and the wife are going to feel comfortable with,” Vernich says. “She’s a Southern belle; she loves the traditional. He had to be comfortable in those rooms, too. So even though the look is traditional, it has a little bit of a modern twist to it.”