Returning Home

A Dennis & Leen coffee table from Jerry Pair floats in the sunroom that features a tree from Frontgate and a festive deer from Ballard Designs. The homeowners inherited pieces with superb lines including the sofa and the French chair.

The owners’ painting by Todd Murphy anchors the living room that features a sofa from Travis & Company in Carleton V fabric. A festive tree from Frontgate glitters throughout the room.

A painting by Cheryl Goldsleger through Sandler Hudson Gallery is the focal point over the mantel. Custom stockings were made by Huff-Dewberry using fabric from Michael Devine through Travis & Company, while copper trees from Ballard Designs nestle amidst the garland.

Barstools from Holland MacRae are decorated with individual wreaths from Ballard Designs while a layered cake from Fresh.Out.The.Boxx completes the green and white palette in the kitchen.

A modern table from Bradley works perfectly with the homeowners’ black chairs and a custom banquette designed by Huff-Dewberry with M. Southern Design Concepts.

“We designed quieter interiors that focused on line and structure so that their [art]works could take center stage.” —Heather Dewberry

Custom wallcovering from Susan Harter Muralpapers sets the pastoral tone in the dining room. The graceful centerpiece from Holly Bryan Floral Design features white tulips mixed with winter greens, while place mats from Fête and napkins from Joanna Buchanan complement the owners’ Herend china.

“We decided that a subtle monochromatic approach [in the dining room] would be less formal, more welcoming and remind the homeowner of the English and Scottish countryside.”—Heather Dewberry

A lush garland incorporating a bountiful bow by Holly Bryan Floral Design and bells from Ballard Designs creates the perfect holiday welcome in the foyer. Huff-Dewberry designed the custom chaise that nestles into the stairs.

An X-back bench from Michael S Smith through Ainsworth-Noah is the perfect spot to perch a present.

Many people dream about moving back into their childhood home, but few have the opportunity. When Huff-Dewberry received a call to update a family home, they knew the project would be enormously fulfilling. 

The traditional home was built in the 1970s by the owner’s parents, and not only was it dark and dated, but the spaces weren’t conducive for an active family with a penchant for collecting contemporary art. “As soon as Will [Huff] and I toured the house, we realized that the scope of work would entail a full renovation,” says designer Heather Dewberry. 

The owners had long admired the work of Spanish architect Luis Bustamante, and his clean aesthetic mixed with antiques provided the perfect inspiration for the project. “Our job was to incorporate the pieces they had inherited into the remodeled childhood home of the owner, but to use a light hand in mixing old and new in order to ensure it properly reflected them—relaxed, welcoming, warm and generous,” says Dewberry. 

Architect Ross Piper designed the impactful changes that honor the past while creating an environment more appropriate for today’s lifestyle. “Although the footprint of the house remained the same, opening up the back of the house with glass to permit more light was paramount to creating a more transitional home,” says Piper. “Our goal was to soften and simplify the house.” Lighter floors lend contemporary air to spaces with family antiques, while the new kitchen adds polish to the open living and family dining areas.

As longtime collectors of contemporary art, the homeowners’ assemblage of paintings drove many design decisions. “We knew their art would be principal, so we designed quieter interiors that focused on line and structure so that their works could take center stage,” says Dewberry. Other details in the house were equally specific to the owners such as the dining room wallcovering. The husband is an avid golfer of U.K. courses, so Huff-Dewberry commissioned the custom mural to evoke a pastoral landscape. “We decided that a subtle monochromatic approach would be less formal, more welcoming and remind him of the English and Scottish countryside,” says Dewberry.

In decorating the home for the holidays, Dewberry provided a deft hand to create a refined environment. A palette of green and white with silver and gold accents fills the house with a sophisticated holiday elegance. The lush garland finished with copper bells and a blue bow greets visitors in the foyer while white lights flicker on the trees in the living room and sunroom. “We approached this more as a ‘winter wonderland’ with a quieter and lighter feeling,” says Dewberry.

After almost half a century, this home continues to be filled with happy family memories. “We trusted Heather and Will implicitly because they wanted this home to reflect us and it truly does—they are the dream team,” says the homeowner. Huff-Dewberry decked the halls for Christmas, but it’s certain that this home will remain hallowed for generations.

INTERIOR DESIGN Heather Dewberry and Will Huff, Huff-Dewberry, Inc., (404) 355-7600; huffdewberry.com ARCHITECT Ross Piper, Ross Piper Architect, (404) 343-1980; rosspiper.com