The Sheppard home, transforming the 19th century President’s residence for Weaverville College into a 7,000 plus square foot gentleman’s country estate, complete with riding stables, barns, pool, and a showcase garage of collectible cars and motorcycles.

Tonia and Alan Sheppard had their hands full, they were deep into a historic renovation that would add over 6,000 square feet to an original blueprint.
They had solid plans, and the walls were going up, tile and floors were going down. Every piece of furniture they owned was in storage, had been for a year plus. It would be my job to edit, sort thru, place and augment the extensive collections of two of the biggest collectors ever, Tonia and Alan Sheppard of Alan’s Pawns Shops. And so it began, not knowing what to expect would come thru the doors as the vans delivered it back to the structure that finally had walls. I began the thumbs up, thumbs down, take it away process. We had the beginnings of a home. The design process took form. Tonia had seen my work at The Home Show setups, she was certain we were a match, she wanted soft finishes in drapery, window treatments, color and furnishings. The project encompassed 17 rooms for design, inclusive of the exterior porch, pool and garage environments within the main home. Window treatment fabrications marked the way, becoming the foundation stones of the initial design boards, secondary layering fabrics for seating and pillows followed.

Fabric selections were made with careful consideration for the whimsy of art collections the homeowners owned, from merry go round horses, African safari rugs and hides, rodeo, antique iron beds, glass, porcelain, art, and collectibles, all pre placed. Paint color for the interiors followed. Antique and newly loomed rugs and runners were selected with Togar Rugs. Lighting, furnishings, and occasional seating all selected to augment current possessions. Bedroom designs within this home incorporated extensive bedding details, local Oriole Mill matelasse’s, custom duvets and pillows. Extensive art collections were all locally framed in collaboration with Blackbird Frame and Art.

Project Date: 2011 – 2013
Cover Story and Published Feature - Carolina Home + Garden - Spring 2013