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By Kelly Bennett
“This is a developer’s home, but it is as close to custom as it can be,” said Wally Hawkins, about the Westridge Estates home he shares with his wife, Dree deClamecy. Purchased sight-unseen in 2003, the couple worked with the builder from the ground up on every detail. This lovely 4,300 square foot home features 5 bedrooms and 6 baths. The “old world eclectic” style was achieved with the help of interior designer Jean Frey, ASID, with accessory staging by Barbara Sanguinetti, The Home Refiner.
Referring to the extensive artwork, colors and textures, “We are creative people. We wanted our home to reflect that,” said Dree. Indeed, both are in the creative industry. Wally is a video photographer currently on assignment with NBC’s Access Hollywood. Dree was a Senior Producer with CNN and now jointly runs WHTV Productions Inc. with her husband, she also represents New York’s Carlisle Collection – a designer line of women’s fashion, showing seasonally.
The couple’s kitchen features granite countertops, a tumbled marble backsplash with Walker Zanger’s “Alhambra Tangiers” ceramic accent tiles and stainless steel appliances. The kitchen also has a breakfast bar and large walk-in pantry. The adjacent nook area is lit by a beautiful iron chandelier which also illuminates the first work of art collected by Dree: “The Rodeo” an etching by LeRoy Neiman.
The artwork throughout the home is extensive and usually abstract, evidenced by pieces by Neiman, Wyland, local artist Jody Hewitt, Robert Horton and Sid Dickens. “This is one of my favorites,” said Wally, referring to a trio of plaques featuring Chinese symbols of happiness. “My father brought them back from Vietnam.” When one looks closely, circles, squares and rectangles are prominently featured in much of the art and decor.
The living room’s brass curio by Baker Furniture holds two of Dree’s collections: Limoge boxes and Herend porcelain pieces. The private dining room features a Chinoiserie style hand painted buffet, iron and crystal chandelier and a Hickory White mahogany dining table with a unique “bird cage” pedestal base (purchased at Douglas Furniture). The exposed wood frame chairs are covered in leather and chenille fabrics.
The couple’s 6-year-old daughter, Skyler, enjoys a very pretty room accented in pink with a window seat and a pink tulle canopy over the bed which is decorated with silver stars.
What was once a dining room is now used for billiards complete with a collectible Brunswick table. Even the walls in this room – and throughout the house – are expressions of art. The textured faux finish was created by artist David Paul DeMars using four layers of paint to mimic a wallpaper sample he had been asked to recreate freehand.
Upstairs is a whimsical “great room” for Skyler and her friends. This cozy room features several Habersham and Baker furniture pieces and Dree’s Madame Alexander Doll collection. “My first doll, an 8 inch Scarlett O’Hara, was given to me by my grandmother in 1964. I now have hundreds of dolls….some vintage going back to the 1930’s,” she said. Two bedrooms and two baths adjoin the great room. One of the family pets, Noel the parakeet, lives here too (Noel was originally named Rudolph until they discovered he was a she).
Throughout the home, tans, browns and reds are used significantly and the décor is decidedly eclectic. Wally said, “I like the Asian influence. Dree introduced the French and Spanish feel, and we both like Southwestern!”
It works beautifully!
For further information, please contact Nate Butcher at Keller Williams VIP Properties.
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