Text: Lydia Somerville
Photos: Jessie Preza
“I call it the Father of the Bride house,” says Stephanie Jarvis, of the stately traditional residence on the banks of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. “The clients wanted a big, classic Southern house for gatherings,” she says. “They needed it to be casual enough for soccer parties but formal enough for fundraisers.” Laura and Jay Moore and their three children needed a family house, in every sense of the word. The large rooms give everybody space to spread out, and at Christmas, they can accommodate the additional layer of decorations without strain. Laura, a Houston native, is drawn toward bright, clear colors and modern furniture. Jay, who grew up in Buckhead, likes antique furniture and art. Jarvis set about giving each some of what they wanted, which resulted in a layered look for the house, reflecting both of their personalities.
The 1920s house centers on a double entry from the river as well as the street. Upon entering from either direction, the visitor is greeted by evidence of Jarvis’s design strategy for appealing to both husband and wife. An Oushak in the street entry contributes more intense color than the typical antique. On the river side, an antique mahogany dining table serves as a library table. It also expands to seat 8-10, which allows the couple to host seated dinners for 20.
The living room establishes a serene effect with a white and pale blue scheme basking in plentiful sunlight. Jarvis took a light hand with the holiday decorations by opting for a flocked tree. “Because it’s flocked, for ornaments to show, they need to be darker than you might choose for a green tree,” she says. “I chose mercury glass, rose gold, and celadon ornaments and draped it in white ribbon.” In the family room, a classic Southern tree is bedecked in glass beads and heirloom ornaments. “We did more red and green in the family room,” says Jarvis. “It pops against the blue-and-white scheme.”
In the library, which the whole family uses for quiet reading time, a ceiling covered in marbled paper is a clever reference to the endpapers inside books. Lacquered walls and a mix of antique and new furniture render the space a cocoon of peace from the hullabaloo of family life. Likewise, the couple’s bedroom is tranquil and soothing, with pale fabrics and abstract art. Jarvis chose the bedside tables for their functionality. “They are readers, so there needed to be a spot for glasses, cell phones, and books,” she says of the Made Goods bedside tables she uses for most of her projects. “Also, they have extra storage space in the drawers.”
For the kitchen, Jarvis envisioned a Nancy Meyers movie set. “It’s just a good classic kitchen, and it works beautifully. Why reinvent the wheel?” she says. A vivid Oushak gives Laura the color she craves, and a stained wood island appeals to Jay’s traditionalism. Like a house that has evolved over time, with things added along the way that appeal to different family members, the Moores’ house simply got a jump start.
Could you please share the paint color/brand that Stephanie Jarvis used on the exterior brick of the Jacksonville, FL home on pages 53-54 of the November-December 2023 issue of Southern Home magazine?