The story below is from our July/August 2019 issue. For the full issue Subscribe today, view our FREE interactive digital edition or download our FREE iOS app!
A new marriage paired with a new house provides the ultimate fresh start.
Bob Sowder
Building a house is a stressful endeavor for any road-tested couple, but Amy Hovis and her husband of five years, Jason Haga, did it while they were in the midst of planning their wedding.
“I’d broken ground on this house already and was planning to live here myself,” says Hovis. “And then Jason and I finished the house together.”
Five years ago, her now-husband had a home in Roanoke County and two children who were nearly out of the house. When they decided to make a go of marriage, the three-bedroom patio home, tucked in a new development behind Roanoke College, seemed like the right fit.
“We got married on April 5th, and moved in on April 7th,” Hovis recalls of the busy time.
Hovis and Haga decided not to live together before tying the knot, so this is the first home they’ve shared, blending their styles and belongings.
“We had a hodgepodge of things...his style was masculine, with black leather and oak furniture,” Hovis says. “As for my style, I knew what I liked but I didn’t necessarily know how to make it happen in this space,” she says.
While the materials Hovis chose for the kitchen and bathrooms were neutral and classic, she wanted help in creating a cohesive look, especially in the one-level, open floor plan of her new home. She had made purchases in the past from Magnolia, a furniture and accessories store in Roanoke, and decided to work with owner Jessica Durham to create the transitional, neutral-with-a-punch vibe she craved.
Durham and Hovis got to work, and became excellent partners on the project, says Durham. “Amy has a great sense of style and we have similar tastes—I decorate my own home with a lot of neutrals. I tend to stick with pattern on pillows and accessories that can be changed out easily,” Durham notes. “That’s what we did here.”
Creating cohesive design in an open floor plan
The cool, cozy vibe is evident as soon as you cross the threshold. An open floor plan in this house means that the dining room, living area, kitchen and casual eating zone are are visible from the front door. The openness makes the house appear larger than its footprint, which clocks in around 1,800 square feet.
The same flooring throughout, which is a dark, hand scraped hardwood, aids in making the space appear larger. The walls are a light gray (Benjamin Moore’s Worldy Gray), and the dining room is covered in a Thibaut grasscloth wallcovering that blends seamlessly with the paint color, giving texture to the space.
Durham came into the project shortly after the couple moved in, and one of the first things she and Hovis did was change out the builder-basic light fixtures. This is common designer starting point, since lighting can lend personality to a new build. The dining room light fixture is a Currey & Company chandelier outfitted with round bulbs for a more modern look.
The table is a Restoration Hardware find that Hovis purchased before working with Durham. The chairs surrounding it are upholstered in a neutral fabric, with a bench on one side to break up the seating. A sisal rug, overlaid with a cowhide, grounds the table. Abstract art by Carson Overstreet, a Richmond-based artist, commands attention on the far wall. Hovis is an art lover and partial to abstract art—she’s collected several pieces from Overstreet and local artist Katrina Bell, which hang throughout the house.
“When I first met Jessica (Durham) she advised me to start with art in a room—to buy pieces I love and go from there,” Hovis recalls.
Straight ahead from the small foyer is a large living area with a Cisco Brothers sectional sofa and two chairs by Lee Industries. These chairs can swivel to the couch for conversation, or to the TV over the fireplace to watch a favorite show.
“We often wind up in the chairs, because they are so comfortable, and closest to the TV,” says Hovis.
A large ottoman in the center rounds out the grouping, and this versatile piece can be a footrest, seat, or can be topped with a tray to hold drinks or remotes. All furniture is from Magnolia, along with the Fibreworks sisal rug that anchors the space. Chair rail height built-in bookcases flank the fireplace, and the bookcases are topped by windows that bathe the room in natural light, along with the glass door that leads to the screened-in porch.
To the right of the living space is the kitchen, with white semi-custom cabinetry and marble countertops. Marble is a theme throughout the house—the fireplace is outlined in marble tile, and both bathrooms are marble. Hovis splurged in this area during construction, knowing it was a classic choice. “I regretted the marble at first in the kitchen, because it does get little chips and marks, but now I appreciate it and love the character,” Hovis says.
An expansive kitchen island provides plenty of prep space, an appetizer landing zone for entertaining, and casual seating for two. Twin pendants from Visual Comfort over the island lend flair, and coordinate with the chandelier over the breakfast area. The table in the breakfast zone is from Grand Home Furnishings, and the chairs are from Pottery Barn. While many of the home’s furnishings are from Magnolia, Durham would consult on Hovis’ other purchases. Durham notes that people often think working with a designer means they must buy from them—but designers can help with items in any budget and from other retailers, and most charge a consult fee to do so. In Roanoke, this might range from $75 to $150 an hour, depending on the designer.
Glamour and function in bedrooms and baths
The house has three bedrooms, including a master suite. The master bedroom, with crown molding and tray ceiling, has a towering custom upholstered Bernhardt bed. Matching chest nightstands are topped with gourd-style lamps in blue, which draw the eye. Soft blue custom drapes over blinds offer light control, and a cowhide and acrylic bench from Magnolia at the foot of the bed is both beautiful and utilitarian. “My husband sits there every day to put on and take off his shoes,” says Hovis.
The adjoining master bathroom is a luxurious retreat, with freestanding tub, marble hexagon tile floor, and glass-enclosed marble shower. Original plans for the bathroom called for a large shower and no tub, but Hovis reworked it with builder Peter Fields to integrate both into the space. A wise choice, as Hovis uses the tub almost nightly.
The secondary bath has the same hexagon marble floor tile, and marble vanity top. The standout in this space is a custom mirror that Durham commissioned. Handmade, it is bordered by a thick band of metal and appears to float on the wall—its large size helps to open up the bathroom and make it appear spacious. A plant in the bathroom is an organic touch, which is something Hovis has done throughout the house in unexpected corners.
While one guest bedroom is rarely used, the other is home to Haga’s daughter when she is on break from college. It has a bohemian vibe, in keeping with her more funky style. A brass bed from Magnolia, a Visual Comfort reading light, and a Serena & Lily chair contribute to the look. A JuJu Hat, made of feathers, is a fun and unexpected treat over the bed (this one is from World Market).
Creative outdoor spaces extend living area
Hovis and Haga came from larger previous homes, and their new Salem house was a considerable downsize. However, two outdoor living spaces have made the house live larger—especially the screened-in porch off the living area. A wicker sectional with plush ivory cushions and matching ottoman beckons. A TV on the wall was a must for Hovis’ husband. “He’s out here all the time, this is his spot,” Hovis says.
Off the porch is a patio with a grill, a table for dining, and two new teak chairs with comfortable cushions from Green Front, a luxury discount furniture outfit in Farmville. The patio was recently completed by Roanoke Landscapes, who extended the existing concrete slab and covered it in slate. New landscaping completes the look, and it has become a haven for the couple, who enjoy entertaining friends.
“We love the house, and I don’t know that we’ll be here forever but it’s been a great landing spot,” says Hovis. “I’m happy with how it turned out.”
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