Southern Spirit
Originally built in the 1920s, Ryan and Brian Kopet’s home is one beaming with character. With each homeowner who has come and gone, unique elements have been restored and expounded on, resulting in a charming house that is truly one-of-a-kind. This added dose of personality was perfect for this family of four and is exactly why they chose to call it home.
By Christina Cannon / Photography by Philip Slowiak
A quick glance at the Kopet home is all it takes for one to immediately get a sense of its traditional influences. The stately three-story home features four arch-top dormer windows that mimic a row of windows on the bottom floor. In between is another row of windows, and a spacious second-story porch is elevated by traditional white columns.
“One of the things I loved about this home that made me really excited was the fact that it could accept color,” explains Ryan. “The outside of this home is a light yellow, which feels very Southern to us. We wanted to make sure we brought colors into the house.”
After stepping into the Kopet home, the strong traditional style witnessed on the exterior becomes much more fluid. Rich hardwood floors run throughout, and quality craftsmanship is on full display with detailed plaster moldings, but the colors and furniture that dot the rooms are not from the 20s – rather, they span decades for a timeless look.
Passing by a cut-velvet sofa resting in front of a stone fireplace takes guests to a sitting room. Here, an oversized, tufted leather ottoman rests in the center of the room and is surrounded by yet another sofa that is mirrored by a pair of armchairs.
“When I saw these pieces, I immediately loved how low they were,” says Ryan. “It’s the perfect height to be able to see out the windows, and it draws the eye outside. It feels very continental to me, almost like a Parisian apartment.”
Passing through a set of original French doors, guests arrive at the heart of the Kopet home. This family room effortlessly caters to an array of seating arrangements, which allows Ryan and Brian to enjoy a cup of coffee in one part of the room while their children play in another. This room, once again, mixes numerous periods and styles, and Ryan notes that the entire room was anchored by one piece – a large antique secretary tucked respectfully into the corner.
“This secretary is probably my favorite piece in the whole house, and I found it interesting because of the fretwork,” says Ryan. “There is a pediment that’s not original, and you can tell someone just found a gilt carved shell they loved and placed it. It just makes it even better to me because it’s quirky and joyful.”
After exiting the family room, guests walk down a long hallway that takes them past the main staircase offering second-floor access and on to the home’s eating areas.
The expansive kitchen is Southern in its own right and features harlequin marble floors topped with a set of four chrome and bright green barstools. Pale blue cabinetry that is lightly distressed covers the room and is capped with white marble countertops that are divided on one side with an apron-front sink.
Open to the kitchen is a breakfast room. Here, a round, glass-top table is surrounded by four Chippendale chairs and provides the Kopets with yet another option when it comes to enjoying a meal together.
A swinging door off the side of the room provides access to the home’s formal dining room, which doubles down on color and personality.
“We carried this wallpaper sample around for months before we pulled the trigger,” says Ryan. “It just felt so inviting.”
The bright green walls are embellished with a reproduction floral pattern that brings in blues and pinks. Pale blue window treatments mimic the color found in the kitchen and work to tie the two rooms together as well as provide a bit of continuity.
Heading back toward the center of the home, guests climb the staircase to the second story, which contains the majority of the home’s bedrooms. On the second-floor landing, a door to the left takes visitors to Ryan and Brian’s master bedroom sanctuary.
“All downstairs, we wanted it to be bright and cheerful, but then upstairs in our master, we tried to keep it a little calmer. I’m a loud person, and sometimes my husband needs a break,” laughs Ryan.
The room features a comfortable palette of neutrals and pulls in some added warmth with two gilt uplight chandeliers and curtains with oversized trim to complement the size of the room. A green chair and energetic painting that hangs above the fireplace offer an additional pop of color without overwhelming the space.
Regardless of how color is being used throughout the Kopet home, it’s meant to evoke emotion and complement the various styles that the house so effortlessly blends into one.
“I really felt like this house could take whatever we threw at it,” says Ryan. “I wanted the spaces to be bright and cheerful, while comfortable and calm, and I think we’ve accomplished that.” CS
