Because the Carpenters have three teenagers and a large Newfoundland, fostering a family-friendly atmosphere was just as important as creating an elegant one. With the help of designer and friend Renee Laborde, Poe selected furnishings and fabrics that would honor the home’s classic details while also lending a contemporary vibe. Gilded pier mirrors, elaborate chandeliers, and rich walnut case pieces are mellowed by streamlined upholstery, clean-lined tables, and abstract artwork by local and regional artists.
“We would buy one piece that was old or ornate and then work from there,” says Poe.
“A historic home can look stuffy and contrived with too much clutter or too many antiques.
We wanted the inherent beauty of the architecture to remain the focus, so we made ‘less is best’ our motto.” And it was that give-and-take philosophy that added the final layer of creativity and character to a home that was almost forgotten.
