Interior designer Beverly Farrington of Accents of the South transforms a historic home she’s admired for nearly 40 years into the grande dame it was built to be.
Though she’d never stepped foot inside, Beverly Farrington had been under the spell of an enchanting 1818 Dutch Colonial in Huntsville, Alabama, since the early 1980s. “It just always had this charm about it to me,” Beverly says. “It has this beautiful pergola on the side and sits on this beautiful tree-lined street.”
The stars aligned in 2014 when the owners, who had leased the property as office space for 20 years, decided to sell, and Beverly stepped into the lofty, well-lit entrance hall for the first time. She was smitten and mesmerized by the sunshine pouring in through abundant windows, casting lovely shadows on the original staircase and accentuating the singular craftsmanship in every room.
The designer not only spruced up the stately exteriors, but she also completely revamped the dated interiors to better suit their lifestyle. “It’s important to me that when people walk in, they feel a sense of calm and a sense of warmth,” says Beverly. “I think I accomplished all those things I set out to accomplish.”
Photography by John O’Hagan
Read the complete article in our March/April 2021 issue. Learn more about the history of Beverly’s home by reading our web series, “Renovation Diary: The House on Gates” Part One and Part Two.
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