When a local couple found this 3,565 square foot home in Lake Vista, they knew it was perfect for their family. However, although the house had great bones, it needed major updates to suit its needs. That’s when they turned to Whitney Wilkinson, founder and principal of Whitney Wilkinson Design Studio. “This was the largest project I’ve done other than my personal renovations,” Whitney says. “The homeowners put a lot of trust in me, and I felt confident in my ability to make it happen as I had the support of a great contractor (Louise Saviani of AHI) and an exceptional woodworker (Colin Keith of Sweet Bay Studios).”
Island time: In the kitchen, Whitney reworked the island, moving it from a multi-level table to a large counter-height island. Backsplash from Stafford Tile and Stone. Island lighting from Visual Comfort; The barstools are designed by Serena & Lily.
The New Orleans-based designer selected everything from lighting fixtures, plumbing, window coverings, and custom flooring to an entire house painting and wall covering schedule — and everything in between.
Family fun: The walls in the family room are painted in Pointing, while the bookcases are painted in Vert de Terre and the ceiling is painted in Pavilion Blue — all by Farrow & Ball. Whitney restored the chairs from Consign Consign fabric by Sister Parish.
Smart storage: A butler’s pantry echoes nature with Farrow & Ball’s Lichen paint color. The classic necklace is from Dop Antiques.
Elegant corner: Smokey green leather-covered Thonet back chairs from Sterling Provisions Acorn Studio (sourced from Merchant House) set the tone for the breakfast area. The custom scalloped miniskirt banquette is finished with indoor/outdoor fabric from Perennials Fabrics.
The homeowners’ main request was to take full advantage of the garden views from the living room, kitchen and master suite. “(They) wanted a home that was classic and traditional but also young and fresh – a home that was carefully designed and put together; equal parts interesting and inviting,” she says. “My role was to help them take risks while balancing those risks with traditional, cross-tested design choices.” Time for essential features like flooring, countertops, tile and appliances.”
garden party: The formal dining room has an English garden setting with bursts of color and pattern. The dining table and dresser are from Dop Antiques; The pattern of the large-scale floral curtain is Magnolia from GP & J Baker; The chandelier is from Visual Comfort with shades from Pooky Lighting.
Enchanted escape: The wallpaper in the powder room, a funky floral and animal-themed design, is by Ferrick Mason Textile and Wallpaper Design. Dop Antiques mirror surrounded by sconces from Hudson Valley Lighting.
Pink dip: In the master bathroom, Whitney chose a light pink (Opal by Benjamin Moore) that is reminiscent of a sunset. The vanity is custom made. Bathtub from Victoria + Albert. The tiles are from Stafford Tile and Stone.
Based on her clients’ desires, Whitney found inspiration in nature. “The color palette was inspired by the garden view outside the main living area,” she says. “Because of the open concept, the basement was painted mostly in one color, Pointing by Farrow & Ball. We chose several different shades of green and blue to mimic the outdoor views.”
Sleepwear party: The primary bedroom lacked storage space, which Whitney solved by sourcing bedside boxes from Consign Consign. Duralee curtains by Robert Allen Design add a pop of color.
Work from home: The desk is richly colored with Inchyra Blue paint from Farrow & Ball. Whitney got the rug from Etsy, the desk from Chairish, and the wingback chair from Merchant House.
Overall, Whitney shares that the homeowners were incredibly conscious of all the details that make a house a home. “Good design, function and beauty is truly a way of life we live here.”
This article appeared in the September 2023 issue of Adore
