Inside a Southern Coastal Home That Balances Charm and Practicality on Mobile Bay

Geary and architect Lea Verneuille collaborated on the 6,000-plus-square-foot structure, which is greatly influenced by the work of A. Hayes Town but bends to convey their own unique signature styles. Outside, traditional white wood siding tops a hardy brick foundation that is softened with a custom limewash. The facade is supported by rounded columns that take the edge off the sharp lines of the intricate Chippendale railing, while cedar shingles soften the roofline, the symmetry of the double-stacked windows provides a sense of balance.

Inside, towering ceilings and reclaimed heart pine floors in an Early American stain set the framework for casual comfort, which, according to Geary, was crucial for the young family who resides there.

“They wanted a home that truly fits the way they live,” Geary says. “With four children and a parade of pets, they needed a lot of space, but they also wanted rooms to feel intimate and cozy, which we achieved through scale and texture. We prioritized pretty and practical spaces that would actually get used—not just on special occasions or when company comes by. With a brood this big, we also acknowledged that some wear and tear is inevitable. Wood would get scratched and fabrics would get stained, so our selections had to be forgiving.”

For the furnishings, Geary utilized heirlooms from both sides of her clients’ families. These pieces, primarily American and English in provenance, mingle with antique French and Gustavian finds scored online at 1stdibs.com and through dealers along the Gulf Coast and on Magazine Street in New Orleans. Having survived generations already, the timeworn chests, tables, and chairs proved to be smart, 
sustainable, and sophisticated options that lend the interiors everyday elegance.

For the upholstered and slipcovered seating, she forewent high-performance fabrics and chose washable, all-natural fibers, such linen and cotton, instead.

To satisfy her clients’ desire for a calm, neutral backdrop, Geary painted the interiors Benjamin Moore’s French White, except in the dining room, which she wrapped in a floral wallcovering from Arjumand’s World, the Milanese fabric house founded by textile designer Idarica Gazzoni. The warm white hue serves as a thread of consistency among rooms that are enlivened with punches of blue, yellow, and coral.

“We used color sparingly and strategically,” Geary says. “The blue tile backsplash in the kitchen and the yellow lacquered dining table are perfect examples. They offer enough visual interest to grab attention but not so much that they overwhelm the eye.”