As an enthusiastic designaholic, interior designer Brandon Branch already has bought and renovated seven houses β yes, seven βΒ in Savannah, Georgia. And he just turned 40. βHouses really are my passion,β he says. βI have a real love for the process of taking a home in need of love and turning it into a showplace.β
Savannah is ideal for architecture aficionados, after all, with its shady town squares lined with historic houses.Β The coastal Georgia town is home to the artsy school SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design), so although interiors may be rich with antiques, thereβs usually a bit of a bohemian vibe, as well.
Brandonβs seventh house is pure Savannah charm β with a colorful history. βMy home was built in 1886 and has a New Orleans feel to it with iron railings,β he explains. βIt wasΒ originally a boarding house on the top two floors, the first floor was a candy store and in back was a barber shop.β
PinThe 1886-built Savannah house has its original iron balconies, giving the faΓ§ade a New Orleans flair.PinAn elegant foyer sets the tone at Brandon Branchβs house. βI put in the black and white marble floor because itβs classic andΒ appropriateΒ for the home,β he says. βI just love wallpaper, so I put Thibautβs grass cloth on the walls for texture.βPinBrandon found this striking antique rug on igavelauctions.com and built the whole room around it. As a contrast to darker antique pieces in his house, he chose a sand-colored sofa and chairs from Restoration Hardware to anchor the living room. As for that piano? Brandon says: β(Husband) Jim and I love a sing-along after a dinner party!βPinFloor-to-ceiling drapery panels also are from Restoration Hardware.PinLeopard-print pillows (fabric from Brunschwig & Fils) add a cheeky element to the formal living room.PinAn abstract painting by local artist Daniel SmithΒ energizes the dining room. The table and chairs are from local antiques source, Jereβs Antiques.PinThe crystal chandelier is from Circa Lighting.PinPale green kitchen cabinets are accented with a unique mirror-and-stained-glass backsplash tile from Garden State Tile in Savannah.PinβThe kitchen sitting area is where we spend most of our time,β says Brandon. βItβs so nice to sit there with a cocktail and watch the news while one of us cooks.β
A lot of architectural features were intact in the house, giving Brandon a good starting point. He and his realtor husband, Jim Johnston, did some key remodeling β putting in a new kitchen and bath, and new flooring for the first-level foyer, for instanceβbut they never lost sight of the fun part: decorating.
Antiques fill the historic home, each with a provenance that appeals to Brandon. βI love anything that has a story or a history,β he says. βIβve always enjoyed collecting antiques and I buy most of them in Savannah.β To avoid the house feeling like a museum, the designer mixed in modern art, fresh pillows and the occasional unexpected accessory.
PinThe second-floor foyer showcases an Empire sideboard from the 1840s that was made in Savannah. βI had the ottoman custom made to fit underneath it,β says Brandon. βI love the great pop of color with the rug.β The artwork is by a SCAD student.PinThe master bedroom features neutral, masculine colors.PinβI have carried that zebra rug from house to house for years,β says Brandon. The master sitting area also highlights a painting he bought from igavelauctions.com.PinWallpaper by Phillip JeffriesΒ covers the walls in this gracious master bath.PinβI love having a fireplace in the bathroom,β says Brandon. βOn a cold winter night β¦ to soak in the tub with the fire going and a glass of wine is perfection!βPinGray tones in the master bath are warmed up by touches of brown and gold.PinBrandon bought the chandelier in this second sitting room from a mansion on Forsyth Park. He enjoys the hunt for one-of-a-kind pieces, such as this Louis Phillip mirror he found at a favorite antique store in Savannah called SeventhΒ Heaven; the rug was an eBay find.PinβThe bar in this room is from the 1800s,β says Brandon. βIt has a silver tray built in and, when you close the sides, the tray goes down into theΒ cabinetΒ to hide the liquor.β
βI think the key to blending antiques and keeping a fresh look is not to completely fill a room with antiques,β Brandon advises. βI like a nice blend β¦ I try to stick with a mix of 60 percent new and 40 percent antique. I do feel in Savannah you can push it to 60 percent antiques and 40 percent new,β he says, adding, βWe are, after all, a city rich in history.β
Thanks to Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn for todayβs beautiful photography. See more of her work here.
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