Timeless Design

Interior Design by Kimberly Bacon Interiors | Story and Photography by Ross Group Creative

It was time for a change. After raising their family in their home of 15 years, Mike and Bobbi Landreth considered their next steps. With children now grown and out of the house, the Landreths considered the cost of renovating and updating their over 4,500-square-foot home to give it the more open and timeless quality that they desired. However, as homebuilders, they knew their own dilemma well and realized that such a renovation would cost more than they were willing to invest. After further consideration, they concluded that they wanted a smaller home with less maintenance. They decided that it was time to sell and move. 

Realizing that they needed to make a few cosmetic changes to their house before listing it, Mike and Bobbi sought the help of interior designer Kimberly Bacon to assist in changing some paint colors and in staging their home for sale. This new relationship clicked; Bobbi recalls how well they connected with Kimberly and trusted her to make the necessary changes to put their home on the market. With the update complete, they got an offer the first day.

The couple had drawn up preliminary plans for their new house and engaged a long-time associate, architect Mike Trexler, to assist them. And after seeing the success of Kimberly’s design work in staging their prior home, they brought her in to lead the design process for the new house. Bobbi notes that Kimberly chose everything from “driveway to door knobs.” “We put our trust in her and turned her loose,” she recalls.

The Landreths chose Derek Eller of Eller Construction to build their new home in the Piperton Preserve neighborhood just east of Collierville. This development offered a relaxed, country feel only seven minutes away from their previous neighborhood, and still near to the city of Collierville. The location was also convenient for them to travel to Pickwick Lake where they like to spend time. Another attraction was the modern farmhouse feel of the homes; their previous house had a French country influence, and they were ready for a change. Also, Piperton Preserve has plans for integrating walkable retail and restaurants into future development, and the couple really liked the idea of having these amenities.

At the top of Mike and Bobbi’s wishlist for the new house was an open floor plan with traditional, timeless design and finishes. They wanted a home that could change with them and that could be updated easily over time at little cost as trends change. Bacon suggested a classic backdrop with neutral finishes; colors and textures would be introduced through fabrics and furnishings. And for the open plan, the hub of the house became a U-shaped kitchen with a freestanding island overlooking the main living area. These rooms are also open to the dining area and overlook the patio and backyard. 

In the kitchen, white Shaker cabinets and stainless steel appliances provide the timeless backdrop. Trimmed with a cove molding, the cabinets rise to the ceiling and are stacked back-to-back in the island to provide ample storage. Adding to the neutral hard surfaces are a white and gray stone countertop and a white ceramic tile backsplash laid in a herringbone pattern running to the ceiling on the kitchen walls. Even the pendant lights over the island are neutral—their clear glass construction and stainless steel trim coordinates perfectly with the appliances and the cabinet hardware.

In contrast to this backdrop, a pair of windows flanks the vent hood and provides an opportunity to introduce Roman shades in a bold blue, green and purple fabric with a floral watercolor pattern. This fabric, along with the colors in the new living area rug, provided the color inspiration for the rest of the design. Since the rooms are open to each other, Bacon used the same watercolor fabric in the dining area drapery and on accent pillows in the adjacent family room, lending to her cohesive design plan. The blue upholstery on the island barstools and the blue-green watery tones of three ceramic platters mounted above the cooktop complete the colorful accents in the kitchen.

In adjacent rooms, the walls are painted an off-white, buff color one shade darker than the white of the trim and the built-in bookcases of the main living area. As in the kitchen, the floors are a medium-dark wood tone with a contoured, scraped finish. In the dining area, the table, chairs and buffet came from the family’s previous home. Bacon added color with the watercolor drapery as well as a rug and artwork in blue tones. In the living area, the neutral tones of the sectional sofa and the hard surfaces contrast with colorful accent pillows, newly upholstered chairs from the old house, and new blue and white drapery. In this room Bacon also implemented a fireplace accent wall in a blue tone. This is a colorful design element that could be changed easily in the future at little cost checked off another item on the homeowners’ wishlist. Bacon’s focus on future design flexibility is also evident in the items on display in the wall of bookcases in the main living area. These include sentimental family heirlooms like Bobbi’s grandfather’s binoculars as well as mementos from the couple’s travels.

In the primary bedroom, Bacon maintained the neutral color palette by using browns, beiges, blacks and grays. Incorporating the sofa from the previous house, she brought in new pillow fabric to tie the sofa and new custom-made bed together, and she used another easily changeable accent wall in the bedroom to highlight the bed. In the primary bathroom, the same neutral tones are on display. White Shaker vanity cabinetry topped with white and gray stone sits on a dark gray tile floor. This same tile lines the wall surrounding the soaking tub for more interest. The room is calming, clean-lined and transitional in feel.

In describing Bacon’s style, Bobbi observes that there is an “elegance about her work” but it is “still down to earth.” It’s clear that the designer/client relationship on this new project has been a success. The couple has built a timeless home that can change with them into the future and has gained a good friend in the process. Bobbi describes how much she trusts her work and her style and mentions she’s looking forward to another project. Turning the conversation for a moment to her Pickwick house, she wonders, “When can I get Kimberly here?”