This Major Renovation is a Win for Both Husband and Wife
In this Chickasaw Gardens home, interior designer Lisa Mallory saved her clients the trouble of a move by turning their existing house into their dream home.
It was a little like a real-life episode of HGTV’s “Love It or List It.” For years, the owners of this Chickasaw Gardens home had debated whether or not to sell — and then in stepped interior designer Lisa Mallory.
“The husband did not want to move. He loved the views, and he loved to walk in the neighborhood. But the wife wanted a new kitchen,” says Lisa, owner of Lisa Mallory Interior Design. “They had me come over to the house, and they were talking about moving. They told me what they were looking for and asked me if I knew of anything on the market.” However, Lisa immediately saw potential in their existing house for both husband and wife to happily co-exist.
She gave the couple a quick run-down of her ideas. “I just said, all you need to do is move your laundry room, open up the kitchen and go back a little bit, and you can have exactly what you’re looking for,” Lisa explains. “After discussing the potential the home had with remodeling and redecorating, we decided to go forward.”
With the help of architect Charles Shipp, the owners undertook not simply a kitchen upgrade, but a whole-house renovation. From the living and dining areas to the bedrooms and laundry room, not a single area remained untouched.
“We redid the dining room, living room, entry hall, master bedroom, den, kitchen, sitting room and laundry room,” Lisa says. The master bath received a makeover as well, as did the patio and exterior. “We painted the whole outside of the house and added a new bench for the front porch,” says Lisa. “We pretty much redid the whole thing.”
In many areas, the footprint remained the same and only the design details changed. Along with the exterior, the design team repainted all interior walls. The kitchen, though, received the most extensive makeover.
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“Before, it was all chopped up,” Lisa says. “We took out two walls and just totally gutted the kitchen, and then we went back about 10 feet to make the seating area.” The team borrowed space from the patio to create the cozy, yet functional sitting room that allows guests and family members alike to hang out comfortably and talk while food is prepared. Soft-hued upholstery fabrics are complemented by a painterly abstract that hangs above a mint green tufted chair. “They just really live in that kitchen now,” Lisa says.
In the kitchen itself, the formerly cramped space is now an open-concept, beautifully functional room awash in clean, crisp shades of white. Three striking brass pendants above the island are by Visual Comfort. Hardwood flooring underfoot brings warmth and an organic element to the sleek, casual-contemporary space.
In the den, the footprint remains intact, but Lisa and her team updated the space with a mix of comfortable furnishings highlighted by pieces from the homeowners’ art collection. A gallery wall above the sectional sofa creates a stunning focal point anchored by two framed pencil drawings by Carlyle Wolfe that Lisa sourced from David Lusk Gallery.
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“We moved doors and made the den, which is right off of the kitchen, more functional,” Lisa says. “Updating all the furniture and adding window treatments helped modernize the cozy space. We also added a game table with four beautiful chairs, which was very important because the client loves to play bridge and work on puzzles. We kept the house transitional by mixing antiques with modern pieces. We had a great mix of new versus old to work with for artwork, accessories, upholstery and wood pieces.”
The new, casual game table rests at an angle and is surrounded by comfortable club chairs upholstered in a deep, rich gray-blue. Beside the table hangs a colorful painting by Pam McDonnell. Says Lisa, “They were great clients to work with because they fully trusted us with all of our decision making.”
The master suite received a full revamp, with a new, soft color palette and a cozy seating area anchored by a butterfly work of art by Catherine Erb, also sourced from David Lusk Gallery. The bed’s upholstered headboard rests against a wall of drapery, creating a play of textures that adds interest in a space filled with restful neutrals. In the master bath, a metallic Schumacher wallpaper brings in a splash of bold pattern that adds visual interest while keeping with the master suite’s overall soft palette.
As empty-nesters with a new grandbaby, the owners — both husband and wife — now love every inch of their home, which feels like a brand new house. “They couldn’t be happier with the outcome,” Lisa says. “Changing the kitchen changed the way they live. They’re so happy, and they love their house now. They’re very glad they didn’t move.”
Thank you, Lisa. for sharing this gorgeous home with us! To learn more about Lisa Mallory Interior Design, visit lisamallorydesign.com.
All photos are courtesy of Sarah Rossi Bell of Selavie Photography, unless otherwise noted.
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