Tucked back near Wolf Pen Branch Road, on a sprawling piece of now-developed old farmland, is a house that capitalizes on the beauty of its surroundings while still maintaining a modern feel. At 2,400 square feet, this three-bedroom home adheres to a simple, minimalistic aesthetic, which in turn maximizes all of its potential. Once inside, this home is crisp and clean, with a concentration on quality furniture pieces, plus unique decor and art, all of which are special to the homeowners.
Built in 2013, this home has a floor plan that is very typical of newer construction, with a great room that extends into a kitchen and dining area. Instead of a sea of furniture, the homeowners designed their space with carefully chosen furnishings, decor and rugs acting as defining tools to separate areas in the great room. The effect is warm and inviting, without occupying a lot of physical space.
The home is bathed in natural light, and that light, coupled with a neutral palette, creates a luminous setting inside. It is the light peeking in, in many different ways, that makes this home with a very basic layout into something much more special.
The homeowners have a distinct affection for quality furniture, which is used sparingly for dramatic effect throughout. They also have a love of art and natural decor. Most of their art is derived from nature with natural mediums displayed throughout and on the walls. As with any space that is minimalistic and clean, it is automatically relaxing, as a lack of clutter and loudness of decoration is completely absent. All elements of this home serve a purpose; however, the carefully curated selection exhibits a greater truth that these pieces are all functional art.
There is an intentional consistency in materials used throughout the home. Wood, metal, leather, plush fabric and art are taken from nature. A neutral palette is present throughout with occasional blue accents used in minimal but impactful ways.
Let’s have a look, shall we?
Enter through the front door into a two-story foyer, which is punctuated by a minimal metal light fixture above. On the large wall in the foyer is a series of six mixed-media, bulls-eye prints, each perfectly symmetrical in different colors of paint and gold leaf. Dark wood floors in the house are offset by the light, neutral-colored walls.
A view from above in the foyer, showcasing the six mixed-media, bulls-eye prints made of paint and gold leaf.
Through the foyer, the home opens up into a great room, with distinct kitchen, dining room and den areas. All of these settings are defined by furniture and rugs, rather than having tangible walls between them. Most notably, a sea of natural light bathes the entire great room, and house, for that matter. The effect is illuminating without being too bright. The home is minimally chic, with just the right amount of furniture and decor to make it perfectly comfortable and not cluttered.
KITCHEN
This kitchen is a typical layout for a typical kitchen. But this is not a typical kitchen because of one interesting detail. Do you see it?
The kitchen is white with pendant lights. Notice the cabinets in the background.
The kitchen cabinets on either side of the cooktop have windows behind them. At first glance, they appear to have a mirrored background, but on second glance, you notice the outdoors through them. This feature adds another pathway of light into this room, rather than just having a solid wall of cabinets. Ceramic art is displayed in both cabinets, an opaque addition to a translucent space.
The kitchen cabinets have windows behind them.
The walls are painted a light gray with white subway tile throughout the backsplash. Light marble countertops complement the white cabinetry. The kitchen island is painted a dark gray, accentuating the darker colors of the marble on the countertop.
Light fixtures are a simple pendant with a chain. But the oversize chain and nail detail around the lamp, in addition to having three large fixtures in a row, creates a dramatic effect out of a very simple design.
The crisp, clean kitchen is white, with the kitchen island painted dark gray.
View from the kitchen, through the den, to the outside side patio
DINING ROOM
The center of this room is dominated by a custom-made walnut table set in an iron frame. David Bramblette made the table with the frame made by Pohl Ironworks. White, slip-covered Parsons chairs complement the white ceramic bowl on the table. A muted sea green and gray abstract painting adorns the main wall of the dining room, bringing the colors of the outside into the neutral interior palette.
The dining room with a custom walnut table and metal frame, made by David Bramblette
Detail of the centerpiece on the dining room table
DEN
The den is a showcase of beautiful designer furniture and smaller details, making this room feel like a warm home and not a cold showroom. The focal point is the blue Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams tufted sofa. A deep pigmented blue with luxurious fabric is an inviting touch. Two leather chairs, made by Thayer Coggin, face each other. In the center of this arrangement is a black marble coffee table with hairpin legs.
The den is neutral, with a large, blue Mitchell + Gold couch as the focal point.
Detail of Thayer Coggin leather and stainless chairs in the den
The coffee table is black marble with hairpin legs. A handcrafted wooden bowl and design books rest on top of it.
The homeowners’ collection of cheaters lives in the wooden bowl on the coffee table.
A view out of the great room shows the fireplace, which is both indoor and outdoor, framed with glass.
Another interesting focal point of the room, tying in with the kitchen cabinets, is the fireplace with an opening to the outside. Closed off by a glass pane when not in use, this creates a window-like effect in the room.
The console table along the back wall is a vignette for a modern lamp and art. The art around this table is decidedly marine-based, with jellyfish prints and corals mixing with organically shaped ceramics.
Console table with art from the sea
MASTER BEDROOM
With a fabric bed frame and clean, crisp, white bedding, this master bedroom is an inviting space for relaxation and sleep. Above the bed is a curated collection of the homeowners’ favorite pieces of art, some from local Louisville artists, like Steven Irwin and Letitia Quesenberry.
Carefully hung art vertically frames the bed above the headboard.
Local artists Steven Irwin and Letitia Quesenberry are featured in this collection.
With the round lines of design, the chest and wooden mirror complement each other.
The starburst installation above the bed mirrors the wooden starburst mirror on the opposite wall. Textures of metal, wood, ceramic and paper resonate throughout the house, with a concentration of art in the master bedroom.
A soft place to land, this brown velvet chair is the perfect place to relax, read a book or enjoy a drink.
This brown velvet chair in the master bedroom is a luxurious place to land.
GUEST BEDROOMS AND GUEST DEN
Colors upstairs carry a neutral theme with interjections of blue. The same blue from the downstairs couch is brought upstairs and shown with lamps, shams and a large couch in the upstairs den.
Another pop of blue shows up in the guest room pillows and lamps.
A similar blue color couch is in the upstairs den, this one by Mitchell + Gold, as well.
Beautiful minimal lamp and ceramics on a side table in the upstairs den
Textures play a large role in this room, with metal, wood, ceramic and fur setting a consistency that was established downstairs. This unites both floors with similar design elements.
ART
Here is just a sampling of the art in this home. It is unified in its inclusion of elements of nature. Art is ubiquitous throughout the space and an homage to the homeowners’ personal taste. 
The design of this home provides a modern day respite with its contained, curated spaces and use of natural light elements to highlight all of the home’s intrinsic beauty. It is minimal chic at its finest.
RESOURCES
- Kitchen pendant lights: Visual Comfort
- Table: Custom made by David Bramblette, frame by Pohl Ironworks
- Bullseye prints in foyer: Natural Curiousities
- Console in foyer: Vanguard Furniture
- Rug in den: Surya
- Blue sofas in dens upstairs and downstairs: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
- Bedside tables: Chelsea Textiles
Photography by Christine Mueller Photography.
