WRITTEN BY Caitlin Adams PHOTOGRAPHED BY Joe Worthem

Transcription

1 WRITTEN BY Caitlin Adams PHOTOGRAPHED BY Joe Worthem ARCHITECT Howorth & Associates BUILDER Micky Babb Construction LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Community Design Project Living in Style After a long renovation, a midcentury ranch house on South 10th Street evolved into a stylish space for a young family. When Emily Blount, a West Coast native living in New York City, moved south with her husband and two sons, the allure of owning her first house was both exhilarating and terrifying. Oxford s roomy, single-family options were a stark contrast to the minimal storage space and square footage the Blounts grew accustomed to while living on Manhattan s Lower East Side. It was a little overwhelming, Emily said. After a deal on a house they wanted fell through, the couple set their sights on a threebedroom, 1950s ranch-style house on South 10th Street. The quiet, family-friendly street had them excited about the neighborhood, but the closed-off floor plan posed obstacles for the family s lifestyle. The front entryway and formal dining room in the original part of the house boast dark hardwood floors, which are found throughout the home. Emily Blount took care to ensure that the original footprint and new addition blended seamlessly to help the space feel unified. Now the floor plan is open but still fits the midcentury style of the house. May 2015 INVITATION OXFORD 57

2 Open shelving, inspired by Emily s mother s kitchen, puts ornate pottery and artisanal cooking utensils within easy reach for the Blounts, who love to entertain. Emily s favorite part of the kitchen was an unexpected perk: The main window overlooks the driveway, providing a spot to watch her sons play outside while she cooks dinner. 58 INVITATION OXFORD May 2015 May 2015 INVITATION OXFORD 59

3 What I thought was going to be a little remodel totally took on a life of its own. We made a couple of core decisions, and it just kept developing from there. -Emily Blount I wasn t totally convinced because the charm wasn t built in, Emily said. But with the help of a local architecture firm, the Blounts knew they could reimagine the house to fit their needs. The renovation took a year to complete, and when it was finished, the house had nearly doubled in size to 3,400 square feet. What I thought was going to be a little remodel totally took on a life of its own, Emily said. We made a couple of core decisions, and it just kept developing from there. Gray shingle siding was replaced with white painted bricks, and a polished tin roof was installed. Luckily, for the neighbors sake, it has dulled over the course of the year, she said, laughing. Emily also made elevating the home s curbside appeal a priority. Floor-to-ceiling French doors replaced the only two original windows, and plans were drafted for a covered front porch. It s where we spend a lot of our time, she said. We love sitting outside watching the kids play in the neighborhood. Inside, the traditional ranch floor plan was re-created to become a spacious, open concept. Walls that barricaded the kitchen were torn down, as was a covered garage, to make room for a new living area and a master suite. The changes were drastic, but each was made with forethought and purpose. I really paid attention to consistency throughout the entire house, Emily said, pointing to a new fireplace that evokes the original style. I didn t want there to be a glaring difference between the old part of the house and the new part. While Emily had no trouble picking which wall to tear down or what subway tile to use for the backsplash, she found it difficult to make decisions about textiles and décor. When it comes to pillows and stuff, that s where I wanted to tear my hair out, she said. Luckily, she had a professional interior The formal dining room in the original part of the house. Interior designer Sam Blount, of Sam Blount Inc. in New York, helped choose a neutral color palette that made sense with the house. 60 INVITATION OXFORD May 2015

4 Mirrored built-ins are a recent addition. The coffee table is made of driftwood and resin, and the mirror, made in Mississippi, was a focal point in their New York apartment, only to make its way back down South. 62 INVITATION OXFORD May 2015 May 2015 INVITATION OXFORD 63

5 designer in the family to help. Her husband s uncle Sam Blount, a professional interior designer in New York, served as the expert consultant and helped rein in Emily, who entertained thoughts of Moroccan tile and bold prints from the start. He forced me to pick what this house was, she said. They settled on a neutral palette of black, brown and white. Emily, whose mother renovates and sells houses, grew up immersed in interiors and developed a penchant for a sleek, modern aesthetic. When it came time to make decisions, she knew what she liked and what didn t make the cut. I knew right away that I wanted dark hardwood floors, she said. The biggest hurdle was designing a kitchen that would be conducive to both entertaining guests and keeping an eye on two rambunctious boys. Open shelving and handmade-tile walls create a chic but approachable feel in a space that hosts both snack time and cocktail hour. And one of the home s most unique furnishings, a vintage oven passed down from Emily s mother, anchors the space. It was just sitting in storage for like 10 years in Montana, she said. When my mom told me we could have it, I couldn t pass that up. Other rooms boast one-of-a-kind furniture and original artwork. Armed with a carefully curated collection accumulated over time, including an Eames chair purchased in New York, flea-market finds from her college years and hand-me-down chairs from her The move to Oxford was not only the first time the Blounts had bought a house; it was their first opportunity to own a large bed. Emily commissioned California-based furniture designer Charles Hollis Jones to construct the brass and Lucite frame. 64 INVITATION OXFORD May 2015

6 grandparents, the house is an eclectic mix of high and low end, but no furnishings are too precious for their two sons. The leather couches have endured sticky hands, and marble countertops make it easy to wipe up spills. I knew we were going to be here a long time, she said. The home will continue to change. The dichotomy of new items alongside family heirlooms, such as a Lucite and brass four-poster bed juxtaposed against a wooden bunny carved by her late father, aligns with Emily s concept for the home s evolving scheme. I knew I had all this stuff we d accumulated from our families, each with its own story, she said. It was important to me to use it, even if incorporating each piece changed the original vision of the home. Landscape architects Jenny Long and Damian Augsberger of the Mississippi-based Community Design Project helped the Blounts create a yard with greenery that is easy to maintain. There is also plenty of room to entertain and for the children to play. A backyard vegetable and herb garden is easily accessible from the kitchen, and Emily likes to cook with its bounty. 66 INVITATION OXFORD May 2015