The story below is from our September/October 2019 issue. For the full issue Subscribe today, view our FREE interactive digital edition or download our FREE iOS app!
Photo above: ©Bob Sowder
A Colonial home gets an interior facelift with new color and furnishings.
Mike and Owen Weaver bought their Roanoke County home more than a decade ago, when a move from North Carolina brought them back to their hometown of Roanoke. A job came up in Salem that suited Mike, and Owen wanted to be close to elder family members.
After an extensive home search, the couple settled on the wide-faced colonial that sits on a gentle downslope, nestled on a quiet street in the densely wooded country club neighborhood of Hunting Hills. The 1970s brick home needed some extensive work, but the Weavers weren’t scared off.
“It was similar to the house I grew up in, so it just felt right and comfortable immediately,” says Owen. “We’ve done big projects in other houses, and I find it fun and enjoyable.”
The Weavers embarked on a renovation in 2008, gutting the kitchen, adding space and shoring up structural issues. After some big life changes in the last two years, including the passing of her mother, Owen was ready to inject some new life into the house.
A chance meeting with Elaine Stephenson at a holiday party sparked a collaboration with the acclaimed Roanoke designer.
“Owen said she wanted a soothing vibe, but also to inject some color and lightness,” says Stephenson, who has helped the Weavers transform the first level of their home.
It’s now a space filled with pet-friendly furnishings and fabrics, timeless touches and unexpected splashes of color.
Local art in every room
As any designer will tell you, one of the easiest ways to add color and energy to a room is with original art.
“We’re so blessed in this region to have wonderful artists,” says Stephenson.
Owen grew up appreciating art—her mother was a docent for the Roanoke Fine Arts Center at Cherry Hill in South Roanoke (which later became The Taubman Museum).
Owen and Stephenson collaborated to make the most of the Weavers’ art collection—relocating certain pieces to different areas of the house, reframing some for an updated look, and adding new paintings to the mix.
In the foyer, a leopard stair runner and abstract painting by Courtney Cronin set the fun and colorful tone that continues throughout the house. Two abstract paintings in the dining room by Greensboro artist Kevin Rutan are paired for contrast—one in soothing neutrals, the other in vibrant colors.
One of the most remarkable pieces of art is a work by Peter Ring displayed above the family room sofa. The painting of two birds has been in Owen’s family for years and is one of the largest works the Roanoke artist ever created.
Also in the family room is a painting of the Maury River in Lexington, by Nan Mahone Wellborn, which the couple found at LinDor Arts’ downtown gallery.
Fresh, Inviting Color
Owen’s office has extensive built-in shelving and desk space. Once a dark-stained wood, it’s now painted in high-gloss blue green, set off by neutral walls.
A green sofa, a chair recovered in a lively Chiang Mai Dragon pattern by Schumacher and a multi-colored wool rug complete the room’s transformation.
These colorful elements create a welcome backdrop for Owen’s display of memorabilia—photos of beloved horses and ribbons won during a lifetime of riding and training.
In the living room, a sofa and chairs were recovered in soothing shades of platinum and icy blue, and sit atop a Greek key-patterned rug in blue and cream. Colorful artwork and magenta pillows inject a spark into the room.
Another area where a serene palette is energized with unexpected color is on the large screened-in porch, where Mike relaxes year-round.
Stephenson envisioned a blue and green palette, which Owen loved, but she asked, “Can we add orange?”
And so they did, punching it up with orange pillows and side tables for a happy mix.
In the family room, a red brick fireplace and dark ceiling beams were washed with a brighter taupe paint by custom painter Nene Roe, a frequent Stephenson collaborator.
In the adjoining kitchen, large rugs were added to the kitchen to lighten dark tile floors, and the existing cream cabinets and granite counters were reinvigorated by the playful Osborne & Little wallpaper.
Fabrics Fit for Furry Family Members
The Weavers are pet lovers, with two cats and a black Labrador Retriever sharing their home and furniture. With this in mind, Stephenson turned to durable but still stylish materials.
“Indoor/outdoor and performance fabrics have come a long way,” she notes.
The chairs surrounding the kitchen table are covered in a batik performance fabric, created by Charlotte designer Laura Parks. It has a soft hand feel that even the cats love—they can frequently be found curled up on the chairs taking naps.
The rugs and runners in the kitchen are nylon, with a pet protection feature added. Twin swivel gliders in the family room are a taupe and cream geometric pattern that is also pet-friendly and worry-free.
Custom pillows on the family room couch that look delicate can be wiped with a sponge and water, meaning that all members of the family, even the four-legged ones, can relax there.
While some furniture was replaced, other well-loved items, such as an oriental rug in the family room, were kept and blended into the new scheme.
The result is a yin and yang of the old and new, keeping what is precious and meaningful, but with the feeling of a fresh start.
… for more from our September/October 2019 issue, Subscribe today, view our FREE interactive digital edition or download our FREE iOS app!
