Lynn and Logan Toms loved this quality about their home, it created a fantastic space for entertaining, which they loved to do. However, their family is also very casual and the sometimes-formal feeling of the home didn’t fit their lifestyle. Lynn had visited designer Heather Garrett’s store many times in downtown Durham and was drawn to her fresh approach. “Heather worked with earthy materials that were casual,” explains Lynn, “but her designs were so sophisticated and finished too.” She commissioned Heather to work on their home and implement a design that worked for the way their family lived.
As a child, Lynn vacationed near Rosemary Beach in Florida often and wanted to bring some of the freshness and light from the seaside into her home. “I joke with Heather that my color palette is ‘taupe and clear with pops of Lily Pulizer,’” laughs Lynn. Over the next eight months, Heather worked with colleague Todd Addison and Walker Harris of Chase Building to create a space the Toms envisioned relaxing in. They opened up the space between the kitchen and keeping room, adding air and light to the overall floorplan and allowing the family to be in different rooms but still together. “It’s everything we need!” exclaims Lynn. “The kitchen has a large island where friends or family can gather and the sofa nearby is a perfect spot for my daughter to do homework. Even my husband is close by when he watches TV from his club chair.”
Heather pulled the other rooms together with a cool palette of neutrals, creams and dark hardwood with pops of blues and green creating an easy flow throughout the home. “My secret to decorating is probably the power of layering,” offers Heather. “It’s important to incorporate my client’s personal things into the design, but also layer textures, shapes and lighting.” Heather combined all of Lynn’s accessories into a pile and added some finds of her own as well. She redistributed the items throughout the home, “camouflaging” the two groups to create a look that seems curated over time.
When asked what her best tip is for homeowners looking to update their home, Heather suggests painting the molding the same color as the wall. “If you have a tall baseboard, chair rail and ornate crown, paint it all the same color as the wall,” she says. “You’ll be amazed at the increased perceived size of the space. The architectural details are still there, but the all-over color creates a soothing appeal for the eyes.”