Homeowners: Monica and Wes Metheny
Featured Designer: Linda Andrus, Founder/Designer, Cyprian Hill Design, LLC
Photography: ©Marlon Crutchfield Photography
When we last visited interior designer Linda Andrus, she was moving into the second phase of a comprehensive home renovation project for her clients Monica and Wes Metheny.
At the time, she and the Methenys had completed design work for the living room, conservatory, dining room and master bath of the 6,000-square-foot home the couple shares with their three children in the suburbs of Annapolis, MD (see full story here).
As Linda explained in our last story, the Methenys were so pleased with how everything had turned out that they engaged her to turn their kitchen into a Habersham kitchen as well. Since then, the kitchen project, as well as a guest bath, have been completed and the results are fabulous!
“Wes and Monica love their neighborhood, friends , home and Habersham,” says Linda. “They bought their first Habersham piece when they got married and have added more pieces over the years, expressing delight about how the line really reflects the Country French/Old World aesthetic they love. As we moved to the kitchen project, the initial focus was on adding a great kitchen island — but that idea started to evolve. They plan to stay in their home and as part of that investment, they were ready to take it to the next level with a full Habersham kitchen.”
From a finish standpoint, Monica had always dreamed of a distressed white style indicative of the Country French influences she loved. But Linda felt that a softer taupe tone, together with fabulous lighting, would strike the best balance –adding a warm feel that, Linda says, truly flows with the rest of the home.
“Linda took us to the next level with a more modern French Country look that has truly transformed the feel of our home,” adds Monica. “After buying that very first Habersham piece, I would often visit the company’s website and look at designs in magazines and dream about bringing more pieces and cabinetry into our home. The scale of Habersham pieces is , perhaps, my favorite thing — grand size, the fullness of the legs and intricate detailing. I really love the distressed finishes too. Every time you look at it, you see something new that really reflects the quality and meticulous attention to detail.”
The island itself is as fabulous as it is functional. In addition to its grand size, it achieves everything the couple hoped for – providing space for gatherings, baking and sharing meals.
The island and other cabinetry offer a true study in smart space planning, too. The island includes a beverage center, deep storage drawers, cabinet front storage, and even a concealed Kitchen Aid Mixer with lift. Cabinetry also houses other appliances, including Wolfe dishwashers, refrigerator, and range – not to mention other special amenities like a wine cooler and two separate, concealed trash/recycling areas. A Habersham wall mount range hood with corbels adds an elegant accent while a lovely backsplash, featuring an intricate, interwoven look, perfectly complements Monica’s MacKenzie-Childs™ ceramic dinnerware and accessories.
What really makes the kitchen , though, says Linda, are the wall panels. “We had already removed the space’s former built-in pantry and existing cabinetry to open up the kitchen area. But as we were going through the initial designs, I just felt something was missing,” she says. “The corbels were fabulous, the finish was perfect, and the overall cabinetry designs were wonderful, but we still needed something that would really tie it all together into a cohesive, comfortable look. And wall panels were the answer.”
“So I went back to the Habersham team saying we needed wall panels to help the whole kitchen blend,” says Linda. “The Habersham team was great to work with and helped complete a design that added panels above the sink, door frames, and windows. We also added French doors in the same color and the end result is that the kitchen truly feels like a warm, comfortable cocoon space.”
The Methenys and Linda also added Habersham’s Country French Chairs and Harvest table to the kitchen design. For an interesting twist, Linda chose to use the lighter, taupe finish found throughout the kitchen on the top of the table with darker tones for the table base and chairs at each end.
“It’s more traditional to use the darker finish on the tabletop, but I felt this treatment lets the eye flow throughout the entire space,” she explains.
In keeping with the Old World feel, Linda chose fixtures, like this stunning Farm Sink , as well as the pasta faucet over the stove, from Waterworks. Like the antique French copper cookware that inspired it, this sink lends a subtle, lovely Country French influence.
While they were working on the kitchen, Linda and the Methenys decided the timing was right to go ahead and update a small guest bath off of the family room on the main level. The space had beautiful wallpaper but the original builder grade sink vanity wasn’t the proper scale or proportion for the space.
Linda chose Habersham’s Classical Trumeau and Stafford Commode Vanity – looking to the wallpaper to dictate the final finish colors.
Complementing the look, a crystal chandelier and Kohler products add the perfect finishing touches.
“This project has been a true labor of love – for me, the talented Habersham team and, of course, the Methenys. We’re so pleased with the final result – a home that truly reflects the lifestyle needs , lovely design tastes and welcoming nature of its owners!”
