Interiors: A vivid vision in Myers Park
August 30, 2024
A former finance executive with a natural knack for design blends a bold palette, vintage style and punchy patterns in her new home.
by Catherine Ruth Kelly
photographs by Michael Blevins
“I’ve never shied away from color,” admits Jenn Lamarre Waugh, referencing the interiors of the Myers Park home she and husband, Al, purchased in 2020. The Waughs, co-owners of Reid’s Fine Foods and Salted Melon Market & Eatery, have a blended family that includes six adult children. They were aiming to downsize since their children no longer live at home.
“My daughter was surprised when we bought this house because it needed some updates, but I could tell it had great bones and could see the potential,” Waugh says.
They updated the bathrooms before moving in, then added a pool during the pandemic. In 2023 they renovated, eliminating the formal dining room to create a larger kitchen with a sitting area.
Waugh enlisted the help of her cousin to draw up the kitchen plans, then South End Kitchens oversaw the cabinet design and implementation. Aside from that, Waugh handled all of the other interior-design elements on her own.
Left: Four coral chairs by Wesley Hall offer comfortable seating in the sitting room adjacent to the kitchen. The light fixture is Visual Comfort by Julie Neill. Right:
In the den, Phillip Jeffries wallpaper adds pattern to the ceiling. A painting by Ann Sophie Staerk hangs above a semicircle sofa covered in a magenta tweed fabric by S. Harris. The midcentury coffee table is from 1stDibs.
“This is the third or fourth house that I’ve ‘refreshed,’ but I’ve never had formal training,” shares Waugh.
Though her background is in finance, Waugh has always been interested in art and displayed a penchant for creativity. For four years, she was co-editor of The Scout Guide, a directory showcasing local businesses via artfully designed pages and professional photographs.
“There is definitely a design element to editing The Scout Guide,” Waugh says. “We helped stage the photo shoots, which included choosing lighting and clothing, and we assisted with the design and layouts of each page.”
Waugh’s discerning eye and creative flair is apparent throughout her home’s vibrant color palette, sophisticated design elements and notable art collection.
Left: The kitchen cabinets are painted a bright green, Hunt Club by Sherwin Williams. Waugh sourced the fan-shaped tile backsplash from Artistic Tile. In the background, Pierre Frey wallpaper by Carlos Mota creates an accent wall. Middle: A Florence Leif painting from the 1950s rests on the kitchen counter next to the coffee bar, hidden behind brass grille cabinets. Right: Pecky cypress paneling creates a warm ambience in the dining room.
In the kitchen, which was formerly the home’s dining room, Waugh selected a bright green hue for the cabinets, setting a bold, modern tone. A favorite Florence Leif painting is displayed next to a hidden coffee bar, which is nestled in an old nook under the staircase and camouflaged by decorative brass grille doors. Waugh sourced the countertops from Artistic Tile and was drawn to the distinctive veining of the marble.
“The marble is called Cipollino, which means ‘onion stone’ in Italian, because it looks like the layers of an onion with all of these different colors like green, yellow, gray and white,” Waugh explains.
Adjacent to the new kitchen, Waugh had contractors remove a wall and convert the former kitchen into a sitting area. New built-in shelving houses the television and bar.
“This is where we spend most of our time,” Waugh says. “With the original floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pool, you feel like you’re outside.”
Left: Waugh’s office is anchored by an antique desk with an emerald green marbleized finish. The walls are swathed in a chartreuse vinyl grasscloth by Phillip Jeffries. Waugh was able to reuse the curtains from her previous home. She recovered a favorite chair in blue velvet for her home office. Middle: A bar is tucked into the corner of the den for easy entertaining. Left: A collection of Secla porcelain and Helle Mardahl glassware is displayed on the built-in shelves leading to the kitchen.
Formerly a music room, the dining room is paneled with pecky cypress wood that had been painted a matte white by the previous owners. Waugh had the paint removed to expose the wood, then hired finishing expert Tony Montognese to enhance its natural qualities.
“Pecky cypress is a very cool textured wood from swamps, usually in Florida,” says Waugh. “We loved it so much, we sourced more of it for the kitchen.”
Waugh’s colorful style and design sensibility are exhibited throughout the house. She was even able to incorporate much of the furniture from her previous home.
“So much of our furniture fit perfectly, like to the inches, when we moved it in,” Waugh adds. “It was amazing! I was like, OK, this was meant to be.” SP
Featured image: Jenn Waugh chose a neutral wall color for the living room so the brightly colored fabrics and art could take center stage. The artwork above the sofa is an actual page from artist and jewelry designer Justin Giunta’s desk blotter and includes his doodles and sketches.
Left: A daughter’s bedroom features wallpaper by French designer Nathalie Lété and a rattan bed from Anthropologie. Right: A bold wallpaper design by Lindsay Cowles makes a statement in the powder bath.
Jenn Waugh’s love of color and design is also evident in this previously shared Closet Crush feature.
