By Christina Davenport Photography by Jess Harris – Creative Revolver
When Patrick McNeil landed a job in the Scenic City, he and his wife Maddox set out to find a place to call home.
“My dad lives not too far from here, so we already knew that we loved the Northshore and Riverview area,” explains Maddox. “We really like the feel of the neighborhood, and it’s very close and convenient to the things we enjoy.”
After a highly competitive purchasing process, the McNeils finally took ownership of a stunning Tudor home that has already proved to be a labor of love.
Maddox and Patrick McNeil
Built in the early 1930s, this stately home commands attention from the entire block with its white brick façade. The horizontal brickwork gives way to a herringbone pattern in places, and several windows are topped with a vertical frieze for a subtle change of pace. A steeply pitched roof culminates with a gentle slope, and the curvature is repeated in the arched front door.
“We were drawn to this house because of its architecture,” explains Patrick. “But it has also presented a few challenges. The exterior, for example, is a terracotta brick, so it basically functions as one big block all the way up to the roof, which makes it nearly impossible to add outlets or lanterns.”
But for every way this historic home provides limitations, it also offers up character and charm.
Nowhere is this distinguishable character more on display than in the home’s foyer. A small recession appears in the wall adjacent to the front door, and the rich wood tone of the door is mimicked in the lateral beam that anchors the space. Additional beams curve upward toward the top of the vaulted ceiling, but the craftsmanship doesn’t stop there.
A lattice casement window can be found above an antique church pew that now functions as a bench, while just feet away a radius window contributes to the old-world feel. A wide U-shaped staircase is topped with an ornate wrought iron railing and sports a matte black finish.
“We wanted to preserve this home’s architecture as best we could,” says Patrick. “Everything was in great shape for being almost a century old, and we got really lucky with this space. A fresh coat of paint on the walls and railing was all this room needed.”
Just off the foyer, a wide arched threshold provides access to the shared living and dining space, which offers up the perfect balance between formality and a more casual nature. A detailed dining room table is surrounded by eight Queen Anne chairs, and just overhead a gold candle-style chandelier with crystal accents is an opulent addition.
Steps away, a built-in bench and built-in shelving serve as the perfect reading nook, and three of the original blueprints for the home that were discovered in the attic have been framed and now serve as a form of interactive artwork.
While the McNeils’ dining space may imbue that of a formal dining room, its connectivity to the adjacent living room softens the aesthetic and takes on a more transitional style. Here, a gray sofa is paired with two camel-colored tufted barrel chairs, and a marble coffee table brings weight to the space without darkening the atmosphere.
“I don’t like things to be too matchy,” explains Maddox. “I just find stuff I like and make it work. I’m a big fan of art, so incorporating that is always important, and I want my spaces to just feel comfortable and down to earth.”
The mixed materials in this space go one step further with the addition of a sandstone fireplace that is embellished with botanical details, and gold accents punctuate the room. Chantilly Lace walls are paired with sand-colored euro pleated drapery and roman shades for an airy feel that travels into the next space in the home – the kitchen.
“I went with a marble that wasn’t very busy and didn’t have any high-contrast veining. With a lot of the finishes throughout our house, we just wanted a more subtle change in color and texture.” – Maddox McNeil
A set of arched-top French doors allows access to this space and doubles down on the traditional woodwork seen throughout the home.
“We’re in our kitchen a lot,” states Patrick. “It’s not a huge space so it’s really nice to have the living room so close. Even though it’s technically a different room, it still feels connected to this space, and we use it pretty frequently when we have more than a few people over.”
The kitchen is outfitted with simple shaker-style cabinetry whose double stack reaches nearly to the 11-foot ceilings. The island is painted in a calming Evergreen Fog, and creamy marble countertops run throughout the room.
“I really like more crisp and clean looks,” says Maddox. “I went with a marble that wasn’t very busy and didn’t have any high-contrast veining. With a lot of the finishes throughout our house, we just wanted a more subtle change in color and texture.”
Black hardware, leather barstools, a pot filler faucet, and two lantern-style pendant lights round out this space and make it a comfortable area to cook dinner or carry on a conversation.
On the top floor of the home, a chic master suite awaits. The home’s original hardwoods work in unison with several other neutral textiles to create a foundation for the emergence of color. A tufted bedframe sports navy blue bedding, and the color is repeated in the abstract artwork hanging just overhead.
In the bathroom, quartz countertops imitate Calcutta marble, and the large format marble on the floors and shower walls is broken up with a smaller herringbone detail on the shower floor. The same Evergreen Fog used in the kitchen is incorporated in the vanity, and various finishes from chrome plumbing fixtures to bronze pulls and sconces create a layered look.
Back on the main level of the home and just outside is a game day favorite. A sunken screened-in patio features a sectional, wood fireplace, and a flat-screen TV. A brick accent wall is dotted with a reclaimed wooden mantel, and a beadboard ceiling with a shallow coffered element adds visual interest. Recessed lighting and a ceiling fan make for a nearly year-round space that the McNeils can enjoy with friends and family.
“This entire moving and renovation process went by really quickly for us, and it’s been a bit of a whirlwind,” says Maddox.
“But at the same time, it has been really neat to take on this project,” Patrick chimes in. “We’ve taken this storied home and tried to modernize it a bit while still respecting the original construction and architecture, and it’s been pretty cool to watch this house come back to life.”
