Ranch renaissance
December 30, 2023
Interior designer Anne Pearson Hammett revitalizes a Foxcroft home with sophisticated English cottage-meets-midcentury ranch style.
by Catherine Ruth Kelly | photographs by Dustin and Susie Peck
When two former New Yorkers and their young son moved into a sprawling ranch house in Charlotte’s Foxcroft neighborhood, they knew they would need some guidance in making it feel like home.
“It’s an original ranch-style house with five additions over time,” explains the homeowner. “It’s updated but very rambling, so we needed someone to make it feel fresh and comfortable and meet our family’s needs.”
The homeowners called Anne Pearson Hammett of Anne Pearson Design to take the reins. They had consulted Hammett to help with some finishing touches on their first Charlotte home in Dilworth and entrusted her to work her magic in their new abode.
“Anne figured out what I like way before I knew my own tastes,” the homeowner shares. “She has total confidence in what she does, and we completely trust her — it was fun to watch her vision come to life in this house.”
Left: Lenten roses from the yard adorn a round wooden inlay table. Middle: A collection of artwork by Georgia artist Catherine Booker Jones welcomes guests in the entry hall. Decorative lampshades from Heritage adorn the console table, with Pottery Barn woven baskets sitting beneath. Right: Floral wallpaper by William Morris covers the walls in the powder room. Custom reeded cabinetry is painted a cheerful green to complement the walls.
The updates began with some cosmetic redos, such as painting walls and kitchen cabinets, refinishing floors, and replacing hardware and light fixtures. The homeowners had seen photographs of a Connecticut country house that served as inspiration for the makeover.
“They wanted the home to feel warm and inviting and wanted more color than their previous home, which was very cool and gray,” says Hammett, who began her interior design career in 2008. “They gave me a lot of freedom, allowing me to create an eclectic space that feels like English cottage-meets-midcentury ranch.”
Hammett transformed what was originally the formal living room into an office for a chic and comfortable work-from-home space that doubles as a cozy gathering area for family and friends. The natural, nubby texture of the grasscloth wallpaper and the soft cantaloupe color of the newly constructed cabinets provide a serene ambience as well as a stylish backdrop for video conference calls. Above the custom coral velvet settee hangs a dark blue modern painting, offering an unexpected, masculine contrast.
“I work in finance and wanted my office to be feminine but not girly, and Anne achieved the perfect balance,” the homeowner says.
Left: Abstract art by George Reid adds modern flair to the rustic wooden furnishings in the dining room. Thibaut grasscloth wallpaper envelops the room. Middle: Vintage accessories are displayed on the dining room sideboard, topped with a wooden mirror from India that Hammett found on Etsy. Right: A Visual Comfort lantern hangs above the breakfast table by Dovetail. Fresh flowers fill a spongeware pitcher Hammett purchased on Etsy. Rattan chairs are from Red Egg.
The family room features built-in shelves, which the homeowners filled with books to create a library-like setting. Hammett, following their cues, procured casual, comfortable furniture to offer ample seating for curling up with a book or watching television. She found a pair of midcentury-modern wooden chairs from Classic Attic, a local consignment store, and had them recovered, then rounded out the vignette with a more traditional English-style sofa and duo of upholstered arm chairs. The blue, green and golden hues of the fabrics are a soothing and classic color scheme.
“Our jumping-off point was the pillow fabric on the armchairs,” reflects Hammett. “It felt organic and imperfect and was the inspiration for the family room and dining room color palettes.”
A rich green grasscloth wraps the walls of the dining room, complementing the jewel tones of the family room. Hammett cleverly combined new and old pieces, incorporating the homeowners’ existing traditional sideboard and modern dining table alongside newly acquired woven chairs made of synthetic rush and a wood inlay mirror she found on Etsy. The varying textures and finishes of the woods are earthy and natural, offering a relaxing and inviting area for entertaining.
Left: In the small office, walls are swathed in a blue and cream grasscloth by Peter Dunham. Hammett purchased the vintage chair at Hamilton-Stuart in Charlotte. Right: The soft color palette of the homeowner’s office creates a serene work environment and chic gathering space. A custom settee anchors the sitting area, which is centered around a woven table by Made Goods. Abstract art by Caleb Mahoney offers an unexpected pop of color.
“It is a little funky with some unexpected, some traditional,” the homeowner says. “It’s the perfect mix.”
The mix continues in the breakfast room, where Hammett pairs rattan chairs from Red Egg with a farmhouse table that served as the homeowner’s desk in her previous home. The chair cushions are covered in a faux leather that is wipeable and easy to clean. Above the table, the generously sized lantern by Visual Comfort has an antique finish yet a decidedly modern vibe.
“I don’t feel like I am bragging when I say how great my house looks because I didn’t do it — it was all Anne,” says the homeowner. “She is an artist — my house was her canvas, and she brought a vision to life that was inspired by us.” SP
Featured image: Hammett created a colorful and comfortable sitting area in the family room by layering a variety of furniture and fabric styles. The floor lamp and ottoman were in the homeowners’ previous home, but the rest of the furniture was newly acquired.
