A tudor revival mansion in Greensboro, North Carolina, provided the setting for Southern Home’s first showhouse. Designers from all over the south employed their talents to transform the neglected relic into a dazzling home for a modern family.
See the all-star list of designers who contributed their talents to this home!
Built by Julian Price in 1929, the notable structure, with paneled walls, hand-forged metalwork, and steel-framed windows, was rescued by Preservation Greensboro when the previous owner’s financial misfortunes put the house in peril of being torn down for new development.
The home had even been featured on an episode of the TV show Hoarders. Stepping in to avert tragedy, Eric and Michael Fuko-Rizzo bought the house with the intent of saving it and turning it into their own home after first sharing it with the community as a designer showhouse. Hillside now proudly represents the architectural history of Greensboro and enjoys a new life as a modern family home for the Fuko-Rizzos and their twin 4-year-old daughters, Victoria and Elizabeth.
Get your copy of our gorgeous September/October 2018 issue to see the rest of this impeccable home plus countless other spaces that we are loving this autumn! But until then, enjoy this sneak peek of some of our favorite rooms in Southern Home’s first showhouse!
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Breakfast Room
It was love at first sight when Kim Hoegger walked into the breakfast room. “I felt instantly connected to the space, as if I had been there before,” she says. “Perhaps it was the charming butler’s pantry cabinets and the stainless steel countertop and sink that reminded me of my grandmother’s kitchen in her white colonial house. It felt like home.” Hoegger chose a fabric from her textile collection that reflects the old-meets-new attitude of the room. “It’s a little retro but so fresh and modern too,” she says. Brass accents add a dose of midcentury modern, as seen in the cabinet hardware and chandelier. A fresh coat of “Cape Blue” by Benjamin Moore brought the cabinets into the new millennium. “The room is the perfect place for a young family to have a casual breakfast, get messy with arts and crafts on the galvanized tabletop, or study at the handy built-in desk,” she says. “It’s vintage-inspired yet fresh, charming, and elegant all at the same time.”
Girls Playroom
A room made for sleepovers was the guiding principle for the playroom, as envisioned by Laura Redd. “It’s all about discovery, adventure, learning, and dreaming,” she says. A painted mural incorporates puzzles and mazes, which the girls can trace with their fingers or disappearing ink. A trundle bed pulls out for overnight company and acrobatics with friends. Evoking a bit of glamping, the ceiling is painted with clouds and tented with ribbons. “The lights operate independently,” says Redd, ”so at bedtime the girls can dream under their own starry sky.”
Library
“I wanted it to be sort of sexy—a place with cafe music and martinis being served,” says designer Jessica Dauray of the library just off the entry hall. The room’s impactful color scheme was inspired by a Manuel Canovas print featuring Mongolian warriors with coats of peacock blue and green. “For maximum impact, the cabinetry is black lacquer with brass accents,” says the designer. Chairs with custom embroidery and tassel trim give a nod to Art Deco style, while paintings that Dauray commissioned for the space have a midcentury style.
Traveler’s Room
In a sophisticated twist on a guest room, the traveler’s room features a global selection of furniture and decorations to welcome the road-weary visitor. “I envisioned a wallpapered room, and I knew the ceiling had to be something spectacular,” says designer Kim Hoegger. “I wanted the space to persuade you to relax and unwind as if you were staying in a European boutique hotel. It was important that the room feel worldly, so I chose a mix of antique treasures, such as the French daybed, painted chest, and artwork, to tell a story.”
Living Room
For designer Audrey Margarite of Bunny Williams Home, the primary challenge of decorating the living room was its size. “It’s a really big space, and I wanted to make it feel livable,” she says. “I decided to break it into three separate areas.” In front of the fireplace, Margarite placed pairs of sofas and chairs to allow plenty of guest seating. A custom banquette in a corner serves as a cozy conversation nook. The original plasterwork ceiling crowns the room’s soft palette of green and blue that reflects the view of the garden outside the windows. “I originally wanted a deep forest green for the walls,” says the designer, “but as we started removing the old lead paint from the walls, a pretty pale green was revealed. We all agreed that keeping the original wall color would be a way of honoring the house.”
Veranda
“When we first visited Hillside, we knew that if we lived there, the veranda would be our favorite place to spend time,” says Amanda Kinney of The Antique & Design Center of High Point, who appointed a team to design the space. “We loved how it connects the beautiful front yard to the inside of the house, so we wanted to make sure the interior and the exterior of the house mingled with each other in harmony.” The team sought to create a space for family to spend time together, play games, and entertain friends. Additionally, the room demonstrates the appeal of mixing antique and modern pieces by using a combination of vintage and antique furnishings. “We chose midcentury modern chaise longues, newly upholstered in a classic chevron woven fabric, as well as a midcentury table and chairs painted in a soothing green color,” says Kenny. “We had fun envisioning this family enjoying their days on the beautiful veranda surrounded by nature.”
