A Contemporary Farmhouse Worth the Wait

At the hands of a seasoned designer with a brand-new business, an Alabama residence takes shape from the ground up for her family of four.
As Andrea Wilson dreamed about, sketched, and revised plans for a forever home, she considered her children and the memories they would make in every room. The mother of two started her own company, Wilhouse Designs, after 14 years of honing her expertise at an interiors firm in Huntsville, Alabama. “I wanted the flexibility to spend more time with my kids. So, when an opportunity came up to secure a studio space, it all fell into place,” Andrea explains.

About 20 minutes outside the city, the property Andrea and her husband purchased sits on 7 acres surrounded by woods and farmland. She spent about two years drawing the layout for the dwelling, starting with an open concept for the main level so the living room flows right into the airy eat-in kitchen and soars to a playroom upstairs. Creamy neutral walls gain interest from a variety of textures and dabs of color in the way of animal-print upholstery, lively rugs and throw pillows, contemporary art, and kitchen cabinets painted blue. For an unexpected juxtaposition of styles, rustic wood beams and whitewashed shiplap mingle with sleek industrial elements. 

While designing pretty spaces will always excite her, it’s creating comfortable places for moments of togetherness that brings Andrea the most joy. “You can live in your home, but you can also love your home; there’s a difference,” she says. “For us, it’s just nice to be home—finally.”

Text by Ashley Shaw 
Photography by Mac Jamieson
Interiors by Andrea Wilson of Wilhouse Designs

Read the entire feature in Southern Style Decorating 2022.

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