Lakefront Living Meets Contemporary Design in This Memphis Family Home
This Memphis family home balances luxury with livable comfort, with sleek details and all set against a stunning lakefront backdrop. Image: Jennifer Saltsman
When interior designer Galey Grimes of Galey Grimes Interiors joined this Memphis project by DickensBuilt, she wasn’t starting from scratch. The personal home of builder Chris Dickens had already been designed with care — a lakefront property rooted in beauty, function, and the rhythm of family life. With four children, a playful new puppy, and a love for entertaining, the goal was clear: to refurnish the main living space in a way that honored the family’s lifestyle while elevating the home’s elegant foundation.
With its serene lakefront views and spacious layout, the home already had strong architectural bones. Galey’s role was to enhance that foundation with furnishings and finishes that struck a balance between timeless style and livability.
“There’s an elegance to the home,” she adds, “but it’s never fussy. It’s layered, grounded, and generous — full of textures and memories.”
Designing for a bustling family meant every piece had to be as functional as it was beautiful. “Luxury and livability aren’t mutually exclusive; they just require thoughtful choices,” says Galey.
She leaned into performance fabrics, family-friendly finishes, and soft, welcoming silhouettes that stand up to real life while looking effortlessly stylish. One standout example? The custom cabinet that hides the home’s sound system. “It’s the kind of quiet solution that elevates the room while serving a real purpose,” she explains.
The home’s location, perched on the edge of a tranquil lake, played a guiding role in shaping the color palette and material selection.
“We leaned into soft greens, warm woods, and layered neutrals to echo the landscape outside,” says Galey. “There’s a serenity to lakefront living, a natural calm that we wanted the interiors to reflect.”
With two energetic twin boys, a preteen, a teenager, and a dog named Lola, the layout needed to serve a wide range of needs. Galey prioritized open spaces for gathering, plus a few cozy corners for retreat.
“It had to work hard behind the scenes,” she says. That meant scale and substance in furnishings, easy-to-clean materials, and inviting zones for everything from movie nights to impromptu get-togethers.
To ensure the home would feel as relevant in 10 years as it does today, Galey avoided fleeting trends and focused instead on classic silhouettes, natural textures, and muted tones. “Everything was selected with longevity in mind,” she says.
From quarter-sawn oak to handwoven textiles, the materials were chosen to patina gracefully over time.
One of Galey’s favorite styling moments came when arranging the family’s collection of coffee table books. “Each title reflected their interests, travels, and personalities,” she shares. “It added instant character and lived-in charm.”
Antique accents, warm brass, and aged materials were layered in to further infuse the space with meaning and soul.
Working on a fellow creative’s personal home could be daunting. But for Galey, it was an enjoyable collaborative experience.
“Designing for a builder’s own family was an honor,” she says. “Chris and his wife brought clarity and care to every decision, and the result is a home that reflects how they live and gather. It’s personal and purposeful, with every element grounded in their story.”
At the end of the day, Galey hopes guests feel something the moment they walk in, “like they’ve stepped into a space that’s not only beautiful, but deeply loved.”
Whether it’s the kids running down the hall or Lola curled up on a sofa — with no “off limits” spaces — this is a home that celebrates the magic of everyday moments and is designed to be lived in, not just looked at.
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