Happy House

18 Aug Happy House

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Tucked away down a quiet road in Williamson County is a Franklin farmhouse where I recently found myself catching up with a friend I hadn’t seen in several years.

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Olivia and her husband, Dr. Lenwood Smith purchased the home last year. As soon as I saw the blue door I had the feeling I was going to find the inside interesting!

Olivia‘s designer friend Debbie Mathews suggested this shade of blue that would flow so well into the dining room when guests come through the front door. It really works well, right?!?

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The wallcovering is by Scalamandre, known as a destination for connoisseurs of fine design. Debbie worked with Olivia to add color and layers to the house that had white walls, and window treatments that needed a little something extra so she added trim to the leading edges of the draperies and Sister Parish valances.

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Of course I am crazy over this room for two reasons; the wallcovering and the fantastic pedestal and urn Olivia purchased from Debbie. Such a stunning piece in this corner. Debbie’s philosophy is each room needs to be anchored with an antique or two and a tall piece, like this one, and she says that antiques ground a space. She says it’s important to invest in a quality piece for each room and that elevates the space. Mathews also suggests you add trendy pieces in “the last layer” of your rooms, for example in your pillows, lamps, and art that are easier to switch out if you tire of them.

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The living room really captures Olivia’s love of green and pink. From the rug to the green mohair chairs and relaxed roman shades, it’s sophisticated and soothing. Antiques interspersed with more transitional lighting and the see through coffee table make it interesting.

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Olivia has vacationed for years on Kiawah Island, a barrier island southwest of Charleston, South Carolina, thus the painting over her mantle of the marsh. I love how the green paint was used to highlight the bookshelves instead of leaving them white. Debbie uses timeless pieces throughout the space, like the secretaire with walnut and bronze accents.

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And notice the white marble top which ties into the kitchen counters seen from the space.

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The green tray from Mark and Graham is a bright accent on the marble counter and adds to the happy vibe of the kitchen where a banquette was added to increase seating at the table. And Debbie says the fabric she found for the roman shades “screamed Olivia!”

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Debbie found a vintage light fixture she had painted pink that adds the touch of chinoiserie!

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Still more green to love covering the walls of the half bath off the kitchen.

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Additional storage that’s also pretty was included in the updating of the home so when you come in the back door, this is what you see!

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You can tell by now that Olivia loves pink and the softest shade of it gives a glow to the primary bedroom suite.

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Debbie likes to use the wall color on the trim and doors as well. This is such a soothing color used in the bath as well.

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What’s funny about my friendship with Olivia is that we first met at Scott’s in Atlanta where we both wanted the same tapestry! Funny thing is we both got one. I took home the one we saw and she ordered a different size.

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This piece remains one of my favorites, a painting on burlap done by Atlanta area artist Fred Cox. He’s trained in fine decorative arts and specializes in classical techniques in the european tradition. So glad I found his work but also happy that I met Olivia this way! Thanks so much to Olivia for sharing her home and a shout out to the talented Debbie Mathews for her work that is adding her touch, making so many homes even more beautiful for us to enjoy.

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I’d also like my readers to know about Olivia’s kind heart. She is the founder of Healing Housing, a nonprofit transitional living home for women fighting addiction. To learn more, go to healinghousing.org.

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