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Lauren Anne recently painted the brick fireplace white and refurbished two garage sale armchairs by painting the wood a cool brown and covering the cushions in a solid red fabric.

Sofa: Pottery Barn

How to paint a brick fireplace
by Corynne Pless  
The couple is naturally drawn to neutral colors, but they went bold for some walls. “For some reason with this house, everything I want to buy is colorful,” says Lauren Anne. Beautiful French glass doors connect each room, and the hardwood floors are original to the home.

Wall paint: Deep Royal, Benjamin Moore; artwork: Kate Roebuck (left), Bowerbird (right), Hable Construction
by Corynne Pless  
Lauren Anne created a gallery wall of art from local artists around the television. “I love that [the living room] has a lot of artwork from my friends,” she says. The framed split butterfly painting is by Bowerbird.

Artwork (clockwise from top, excluding butterfly): Rinne Allen, "Colorset3" by Rinne Allen and Susan Hable, Uncovet, Kate Roebuck
by Corynne Pless  
Right next to the living room, the guest room is outfitted in a more neutral color palette and dark brown trim.
by Corynne Pless  
A small handmade pom-pom garland from Kate Roebuck and a large antique map decorate the guest room fireplace. The bedding is heirloom, passed down from Lauren Anne's grandmother.

Pillows: Even a Sparrow; lamp: Target; dove mirror: Fluxglass
by Corynne Pless
Dark wood trim surrounds the foyer wall. This vintage feeding trough, a flea market find, serves as an entryway console table.

The framed mirror hangs by wire from the rail molding to avoid nailing it to the wall.
by Corynne Pless
This foyer gallery wall highlights cherished family photographs.
by Corynne Pless
The master bedroom boasts a recent vintage Oriental rug purchase from the Athens Antique Mall.

Bedding: Pottery Barn; curtains: Restoration Hardware
by Corynne Pless
Lauren Anne was immediately drawn to this photograph by Taj Forer on 20x200 and purchased it right away. The image is part of a series called "Threefold Sun." This particular photograph was taken in Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee, and titled, "To Live With You Alone."
by Corynne Pless
The previous owners renovated the home in 2006 but left the original hardwood floors and molding in the home's only bathroom untouched.
by Corynne Pless
Glowing with natural light, the dining room connects most rooms in the home. This wood console, which sits next to the kitchen table, serves as a bar.

Console: Pottery Barn
by Corynne Pless
A bulldog iron bottle opener, original to the home, is conveniently affixed to the kitchen door. The bulldog is the mascot of the University of Georgia — alma mater of both Zack and Lauren Anne.
by Corynne Pless
A collection of cookbooks and a vintage Coke bottle crate used for storage sit on Ikea wall shelves. The windowsill is full of small dishes and trinkets, including a horseshoe from Wyoming, a souvenir kept by Lauren Anne after she spent time working there.
by Corynne Pless  
The previous owners' kitchen renovations included adding new appliances and a farmhouse sink — Lauren Anne’s favorite feature. The natural wood cabinets and checkered countertops stay true to the home's original farmhouse style, and a small island provides extra prep space.
by Corynne Pless
While living near the studio of local artist R. Wood, the couple fell in love with her work. Their cabinets are filled with her ceramics, including this latte mug. “I think R. Wood’s colors have probably inspired the house,” says Lauren Anne. “She has a great respect for the people who work for her, the material she works with and the environment around her.”
by Corynne Pless
The Johnsons prepare snacks on their compact island to host friends for their weekly gathering. They'd love to build a custom kitchen island one day.
by Corynne Pless
The couple kept the previous homeowner's bright green trim on the exterior. They recently stained their back deck a cool gray, and Lauren Anne spray painted their bistro set from T.J.Maxx neon pink.
by Corynne Pless
The front porch ceiling came painted blue, which follows a historical South Carolina tradition that a blue porch ceiling wards off bad spirits. Since Lauren Anne is from South Carolina, she was pleased with this detail.
by Corynne Pless
What's next? Lauren Anne and Zack hope to work on sprucing up their landscape.

Share your colorful home with us!
by Corynne Pless

Comments

MAlps Wheres the coyote footprints??
4 months ago · ·
Becky Harris So charming! I'm envious!
4 months ago · ·
shawnaleeah A real home! Sigh of relief! :)
4 months ago · ·
bubblyjock Yummy colours with tons of personal charm - very inspiring!

By the way...I *think* that "feed trough" is actually a feed bin - meant for storing grains safe from mice, etc. A feed trough is more often shallower and heavier - a greedy cow or horse would have that lovely box shattered to smithereens in short order. The front flips down to make it easier to heft or empty 50lb sacks of feed into it. But I could be wrong :)
4 months ago · ·
jennastonehouse75 Beautiful home. I especially love the kitchen countertop, and the windows and doors.
4 months ago · ·
Alison Hodgson Beautiful home! I love the first picture, especially.
4 months ago · ·
kjdick Nicely done REAL home. Love seeing the dark wood throughout the house. Also love the honey colored cabinets in the kitchen. I may be a little bias though. I love my old 1915 house with it's dark oak main floor and honey colored Douglas fir upstairs. ;) Great to see a old house that's not huge and decorated with personality and warmth.
4 months ago · ·
moresparkly Adorable! Love the blue walls.
4 months ago · ·
grizzly I felt right at home on this house tour. I also like that they patronize local artists.
4 months ago · ·
designwitch Cute spot, but kind of sad that the wonderful blue walls are done in the wrong finish, unless they were purposely trying to emphasize the flaws. The eye is drawn to the wall because of the artwork. That is one of Benjamin Moore's most beautiful blues, but if it had been applied in a less glossy finish, the flaws would have been almost invisible. What few people know when they dip their brushes is that flat paint (which is commonly used on ceilings) hides far more flaws than gloss. Many people believe the opposite. My painting company, Women in Rollers, specializes in helping clients choose not just the right paint colour, but also the best finish for the application. So, I know of what I speak.
4 months ago · ·
vee22 Love the cat and the stucco walls and designwitch, you are correct, the satin or glossy finish doesn't look as good as a nice soft flat blue finish. The sheen makes It looks "greasy".
4 months ago ·
jimzeichman Designwitch, the first thing I noticed was the wonderful texture of the blue plastered walls. I gotta believe the use of higher sheen was to help show it off. But otherwise your post is right on.
4 months ago · ·
Kathy Ellis I love your house! Great job, it is obvious you decorate to please yourselves and are great at it. Thanks for letting us take a look.
4 months ago · ·
Laurie at Bird in Hand VTG Yes, I echo all of the "real home" comments! Love the color and personal touches.
4 months ago · ·
beesknees2260 Comfortable home with some wonderful accents. I will use some of your decorating ideas. This is why I like Houzz. Thank you for the tour.
4 months ago ·
patricia beharry This is what it's all about. Forget about tile vs. granite countertops. Beige paint vs. purple paint. Stainless steel vs.white appliances. They look happy. Please, don't attack.
4 months ago · ·
bfergie to hadasi....how RUDE....if not your taste, or even constructive advice...then please do keep quiet!!!
I personally think the space is quaint and well cared for and I love the blue walls! I have a farmhouse as well and keep wanting to do dark walls but am a little worried it will feel too 'heavy' because most of the ceilings are low. Who knows? I did go bright in my dining/eating area with a chartreuse and am loving it!
But I enjoy seeing more 'real' homes on Houzz, although many homes are gorgeous on here, they aren't your average rancher, split foyer, small farmhouse....etc...And you can't go to the store and purchase vaulted ceilings, sweeping views, gigantic kitchens (you get the picture). So, it is nice to see a home with good, simple bones, decorated well!
4 months ago · ·
tsudhonimh "The kitchen tile is from New Mexico, and the owners were told that while the tile was drying, coyotes walked across the stones, leaving small footprints behind. "

The tile vendors all say that. What they really do is is scatter some kibble and turn a few small dogs loose in the drying yard when the tile is the right hardness to get those oh-so-rustic foot prints.
4 months ago ·
hadasi i copy pasted accidentally and put it in here instead of somewhere else.. it was a mistake.. but nice comment though :)
4 months ago ·
bobbiecohen Close to my own style - Love this house!
4 months ago ·
gillianne Once again, I salute Houzz for the variety of dwellings it showcases--many tastes, styles, locales, and lifestyles. And once again, though this one is more colorful than my leanings, it's full of charm and a casual "come in" vibe. I appreciate seeing the personal touches and reading of their connections to the inhabitants' lives.
4 months ago · ·
CAROLE MEYER Very cute house and great colors.
4 months ago · ·
dunderwood Love everything about this house. I intantly felt right at home......warm, charming and such fun!!!
4 months ago · ·
lostandconfused Lovely place - the trim is exactly the same style as my 1924 colonial in Nova Scotia! Like the other commenters, it's nice to see a home that is owned by real people
4 months ago · ·
gschneider Nothing pretentious, lots of personal whimsy & confidence in their choices of finishes & materials - refreshing. Looks like an enjoyable couple to be neighbors with!
4 months ago · ·
seppysills I thought I would be the only one thankful for this article featuring a real OLD home. As someone with a home built in 1923, my eye was drawn to the wonderful look of the clearly plastered walls - JUST like mine! As my husband says , plaster and all it's "flaws" show character and craftmanship. The bumps and waviness are beautiful to real old home lovers. I thank you for showcasing a home like mine - old with bumpy plaster walls and dark row down trim.all things we rarely see showcased!

Ps- this article has inspired me to paint with that gorgeous dark blue. Thank you.
4 months ago · ·
jeanettchka Enjoyed seeing this house - very nice. The console table made from a feeding trough, which looks like a bin for storing grain and feed to keep it safe from mice, etc. as mentioned by a previous poster, reminds me of an old flour/grain storage bin that we refinished to use in our hall. It came complete with a mouse hole on the back!
4 months ago ·
raysdaughter I may be OCD but it is strange that the family photographs are all crooked?
4 months ago · ·
Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel What a great story, that they were inspired to continue the tradition of hospitality from the previous owners! I love their bold, personal style. It was smart to paint the fireplace white in the blue room; what a difference that makes. Also, I think they chose a satin finish, which is usually better with deeper colors.
4 months ago · ·
jojosail2 It's nice, but too dark inside for me. The blue walls are a gorgeous color, but make it even darker.
4 months ago ·
the_misfit I was wondering about the finish on those blue walls, too. Maybe it was done with a glaze? Or maybe it just needs another coat? (Dark colors are so difficult to cover completely.) Gorgeous home - SO lovely from the outside, too - and I love their taste.
4 months ago ·
countrylegal Love it! Very warm and love the colors.
4 months ago ·
brinkleysmom Love the texture of the old walls.....the house is very cozy!
4 months ago · ·
Corynne Pless Hi MAlps,

You can view the coyote footprints here...


4 months ago · ·
Tamara B Its a sweet home. Its laid back, comfy and cozy. Nice work!!
4 months ago ·
tammis Nice little home :)
4 months ago ·
walkamber absolutely beautiful, it looks both lived-in and yet well-designed and appealing! inspirational to us being new owners of a very old house
4 months ago ·
coldma I love this house! I drive by it all the time and am glad to know it has someone to love it, yet again. And I agree with bubblyjock, that is probably a flour bin. My mom used hers back in the day for white flour and cornmeal, according to my older sister.
4 months ago ·
stasiyork I bet that house is in my old neighborhood! I lived in Athens for 6 years, waiting tables and taking classes on the side... this cute house makes me homesick for porches, old wood floors, and that exterior siding. Enjoy!
4 months ago · ·
bluelizard88 Really cute house! I LOVE the blue walls!! Thanks for sharing :)
3 months ago · ·
klmt Old houses in the South always have blue porch ceilings, that's true, but I'm a Georgian and have never heard the 'evil spirits' thing. Dirt Daubbers, a type of wasp, don't build their mud nests in the upper corners of your porch if it's blue - apparently they think it's the sky? That's the theory, anyway.
3 months ago ·
stasiyork Yep, klmt, I'm from coastal SC where there's lots of history & mystery, and "haint blue" referred to the turquoise door and window frames- the spirits wouldn't cross that color to come in.
3 months ago · ·
lauradk50 Serene and stylish and colorful at the same time.....this house has such warmth.
3 months ago ·
normpo It's a beautiful little place! The woodwork and floors make it beautiful. I loved the texture of the walls and the colors. They did a really nice job!
3 months ago ·
Jeff Jones Snap It Photography Wow! I absolutely love this home we have some beauty's like this in Ohio. I have also added some original content from my Savannah Georgia trip. - Jeff
3 months ago ·
Jeff Jones Snap It Photography Wow simply amazing and breath taking I love everything about this home.
3 months ago ·
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