Annual Homes & Design Issue 2019
In this stunning house built by Brandon Waters and Mitch Holland and designed by Missy Locklear of Waters-Holland Residential Builders, soft natural color palettes, layers of texture, and a smart floor plan all help to create a refined interpretation of traditional features, culminating in a truly timeless home.
“We designed this house for an urban-style lot, meaning the layout is deeper than it is wide. We put a lot of thought into the exteriors, implementing many traditional elements like operable shutters, custom cedar brackets, gas lanterns, and even buttresses, but in updated ways,” explains Waters. By reimagining these details, Waters-Holland was able to create a fresh take on traditional style. They chose a pale gray-green to paint metal-clad windows and the accents. They also brought in touches of natural wood, and added a curve to two brick buttresses supporting the façade, all to subtly update these established elements. “This home is in a very traditional neighborhood, so we wanted it to be cohesive and fit in while still standing out and being unique,” Waters shares.
The kitchen is situated at one end of the open floor plan which contains all three main living spaces (the kitchen, dining area, and living room). Its U-shaped layout is ideal for the workflow, and a specially designed kitchen island was placed to produce a specific effect. “I really wanted the sightline to continue all the way through the island to show the true volume of the room, and so I began thinking about worktables,” Locklear says. The island was modeled after a worktable to provide additional seating, open sightlines, and ample workspace. Overhead, a bubble light fixture adds visual interest with a touch of whimsy.
Warm white cabinets are topped by contrasting dark marble countertops to break up the continuous white carried through the textured subway tile backsplash and upper cabinets. The black and white color palette on inset, extra-tall cabinetry reinforces the updated but timeless styling.
Flowing through to the other areas, nearest the kitchen is the dining room. With a textured wood table, slip-covered parsons chairs, and oversized wingbacks at the heads of the table, the furnishings accentuate the sheer size of the space.
Earth tones, warm neutrals, and natural beams continue into the living room, providing a sense of comfort and continuity. Waters says, “We continued the beams through all three living spaces to connect them and reinforce the spaciousness of these areas.”
The comfortable furnishings are configured into a floating arrangement, which naturally encourages traffic flow. As Locklear says, “This type of arrangement is excellent for entertaining and makes everyday living more comfortable.” A cream-colored chesterfield sofa faces two gray velvet chairs with animal hide throw pillows. Even the leathered-topped coffee table brings in a new texture. All the mixed fabrics help ground the space and add visual interest and dimension to the room. Botanical prints and an antique brass accent lamp contribute to the room’s understated sophistication.
“We chose to layer textures, fabrics, and mixed metals throughout – it helps the home to feel established, like each piece has been thoughtfully collected over time. It’s all about creating a refined space that works well for entertaining and has an excellent flow.”
– Missy Locklear, Waters-Holland Residential Builders
A bold color in the master creates a sense of drama while still feeling restful. “I think the color in this room is memorable. It catches your eye but retains a soft and natural palette,” Locklear explains. Mixing the deep blue wall colors with naturally finished wood in the nightstands and accents of the bed frame maintains a warm, grounded vibe. With sumptuous bedding in light colors, the bed is inviting,
and a large piece of art on the wall depicts a serene landscape. Locklear says, “I think that painting just pulls you in, especially surrounded by the deep blue wall color.” Hints of consistency remain, tying this room to the rest of the house – the coffered ceiling is composed of beams that match the main living spaces, and the floor is the same custom-stained red oak plank that is found throughout the home.
“I wanted to create a moody look in this powder room. So we combined the dark green color with dimmed lighting and the custom mirror to amp up the drama,” shares Locklear. Arguably the powder room’s most impressive feature is the custom mirror, antiqued and cut to fit the room floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall. It makes the space feel large and deep, which pulls you in. The vanity is also a nod back to the worktable-style island in the kitchen, as it is also designed with an open base, showing the antiqued mirror underneath.
In the master bathroom, classic whites invoke a timeless elegance. “I’m very proud of how the master suite turned out,” Waters says. “I think the bathroom looks elegant. The gold plays off the white vanities well, and the marble-look tile in the shower turned out really nicely.” With all drawers in the lower cabinetry, the vanity looks more like a piece of furniture than a bathroom counter. Dual sconce lights over each mirror provide well-balanced lighting, while chrome faucets and shower fixtures juxtapose the brass handles of the vanity nicely.
This thoughtfully laid-out home with a soft color palette, refined styling, and a fresh take on traditional features is a stunningly timeless abode.
