Restored to Beauty

Builder: Clay Henley, Henley Brothers Construction

Interior designer: Vicki Runge, The Furniture Shoppe

Architect: Heidi Hefferlin, Hefferlin + Kronenberg

This historic home underwent extensive renovations under the care of Clay Henley of Henley Brothers and Vicki Runge from The Furniture Shoppe. Together, they turned this historic Georgian residence into a family-friendly, modernized masterpiece. Their overarching goal was to preserve the home’s historic integrity while delivering fresh décor and a more open, flowing floor plan.

By Katie Faulkner | Photography by Lanewood Studio

Total Restoration

This home makes a vibrant first impression. In the entryway, the original floor, chandelier, and staircase were all refurbished to shine in their full glory. The wainscoting, authentic period crown moulding, and elaborate door frames were custom crafted to perfectly match the home’s original fixtures. 

“One of the main challenges of this home was opening it up for modernized family living. Homes from this era were broken up by room, and the kitchens were usually tucked far away in the back. So we really worked to open up the main level by widening door casings, taking out some walls, and rearranging some of the plumbing and electric,” says Henley. “We also completely refurbished the floors, walls, roofing, fixtures, and basically the whole house, being very careful to retain the original historic elements.”

A blush tone washes over the formal living room, and a widened window highlights the home’s greatest asset – the view. “We re-opened and re-worked all of the old windows that had been sealed shut a long time ago to help make this home functional again,” says Henley. Working with the impressive view, the furnishings set a more formal tone. The cocktail ottoman sits under a Baker glass table with bronze legs that were custom molded in Italy. The complementary arrangement of the Baker glass table and ottoman makes it very versatile. “The nice thing about this room is that it has a warm elegance. It’s all very genuine,” says Runge. The furniture colors and fabrics carry traditional embellishments like tufting, but the sleek straight lines and shapes are contemporary, keeping the tone fresh but classic.

Evidence of historic accuracy can be found in the living room’s millwork. “The whole house was in need of a total uplifting. The homeowners also really wanted us to retain as much of the original millwork as possible. That is really visible in the living room and sunroom,” says Henley. Custom woodwork and specially matched details in the crown moulding and door casings showcase the amount of time and attention each room received during the renovation. “That was a tedious process that ended up being completely worth it because you really can’t tell which moulding is original and which we created for them. A lot of it was done by hand in our shop. Because it was so detailed, we had to take our time comparing it to the original,” Henley says.

This traditional dining room was important to enhance, because it serves as a passageway. To get to the kitchen from anywere else in the house, you have to walk through the dining room. Runge managed to freshen the aesthetic with contrasting colors. “The dining room was already green, and the homeowners wanted to keep that color. So we worked backwards to find fun ways to play off that deep shade,” says Runge. The homeowners’ chairs were made over with a coral colored leather which nicely juxtaposes with the dark green walls and works as a durable fabric. Rich jacquard woven damask draperies flow with the rest of the room, pulling out greens and working in blues. “Those colors actually worked really well to bring the outside in. And with that beautiful bay window, it tied in really nicely,” Runge explains. The crystal chandelier and hand-knotted rug maintain the traditional elegance.

The kitchen was originally a 17th century-style servants’ kitchen, narrow and separated from the rest of the main level. Henley and his team tackled the challenge of opening up this space to better integrate it into the rest of the home for modernized family lifestyles. “That was probably our most challenging room. Everything was completely re-plumbed and re-wired. We took down a couple of walls and re-worked the layout,” Henley explains. The lovely bright blue walls and industrial brass pendant lights balance each other to keep the overall tone efficient and approachable.

Tile: The Tile Store

“Each room had a different color palette but the styles of the furnishings were the grounding elements that allowed easy transitions from room to room.”

-Vicki Runge, The Furniture Shoppe

In the den, bright colors are carried from accent pillows to upholstery. An eclectic mix of traditional pieces and funky, bright colors plays to the taste of both owners. The two styles are married by an elegant simplicity of strategic choices in furnishings and the strong bones of the room which were polished by custom woodwork and clean lines.

(above) The master bathroom stayed true to an authentic Georgian floor plan by retaining a ‘his and hers’ style layout. It was punched up with a restored light-fixture, new vanity, cheerful blue-patterned wallpaper and crowned with a luxurious soaking bathtub. “The homeowners love blue so we integrated blue in a very fun way into this room,” says Runge.

Taking full advantage of breathtaking mountain views, the pool runs parallel to the ridge and angles toward the valley vistas. Complete with a hot tub, this outdoor retreat is secluded but simultaneously unobscured. “The patio and privacy fence had to stay in the same traditional style as the rest of the home’s aesthetic,” Henley explains. The consistent color palette of natural greens and blues keeps the space fresh, but subdued and classic. Linear loungers, marbled pavers, and evergreen landscaping keep the retreat traditional too. The entire addition emphasizes the goal of creating a historically respectful yet family-functional abode.

Other Suppliers:

Antique light fixtures and chandeliers: High Point Antiques

Brickwork and patios: David Detter

Countertops: Pinnacle Stone & Granite

Driveway: Weeks Paving, Inc.

Paint and wallpaper: Gale Niceswanger

Plumbing fixtures: Wholesale Plumbing

Pool: Increte, and Olympic Pool & Plaster

Shower doors: Independent Glass Co.

Slate roofing: Jason Helton

Tile installation: HC Corporation