As retirees with a large extended family, Kathy and Jerry Noonan bucked the downsizing trend to start their next stage of life in a 6,000-square-foot waterfront home. Texas-based interior designers Margaret Chambers and Allen Keith stepped in to transform the house from lackluster to luminous, layering sentimental pieces with fresh style.
Built in 2012, the dwelling had great architectural bones, plus attractive floors and finishes like the den’s coffered ceiling, white subway tile in the kitchen, and custom cabinetry throughout. It was a blank slate that begged for some character. “We had to work with pretty much what was there, but we needed to add more personality and interest,” says Margaret, the principal of Chambers Interiors & Associates in Dallas.
Balancing modern touches with antiques, Margaret and senior designer Allen enlivened every room of the two-story home. “Originally, [Kathy’s] style was a little more Old World, and I think we gave her a new traditional look,” Margaret says, noting that they reupholstered and repurposed much of the homeowners’ décor.
Artwork and other sentimental items mingle with frills selected by the designers to accentuate the couple’s classic sensibility, such as a collection of Chinese Rose Medallion china in the dining room.
Floral draperies that previously hung in Kathy’s mother’s house inspired the color scheme of the guest room. “Sometimes, the biggest challenge turns out to be the most unique room,” says Margaret, who used excess fabric to fashion an accent pillow for the bed and a matching shower curtain in the adjoining bath.
Margaret and Allen kept the den casual and comfortable with a mix of seating in solid gray and blue hues. A pair of armchairs embellished with a snappy print and matching throw pillow on the sofa lends contemporary panache, while an Eastern-inspired tapestry adds colorful intrigue.
Margaret takes pride in the overall result of marrying family pieces with well-appointed additions. Like all of her projects, she says, “It’s very individualized. We like being very creative for our clients and helping them have something that is uniquely theirs.”
Read the full story in our Southern Style at Home 2020 special issue.
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