6 HOMES Saturday, September 3, 2011 Richmond Times-Dispatch

Modern Comfort Zone

By Joanna Ernst | Homes Writer
When my partner, Thomas Guirkin,
and I moved into our house, we felt like
it was a huge blank slate that needed
to be decorated and were totally lost,
began John Hanbury, who has been at
his Fan residence for three years.
Most homeowners are not naturals
when it comes to home decorating.
Going from a clean slate to cozy
quarters may take some trial-and-error
rearranging before nding that right
feel.
We chose the Fan because we liked
that older look. The houses are not
cookie-cutter and each has its own
individual style, explained Hanbury.
The area is diverse and felt at home.
Its nice to walk to places and not have
to get in the car.
Any exterior architectural style will
pose its challenges, from the new
developments in the far West End
to the impressive Victorian homes
downtown. Ultimately, its all about
transforming the real estate into a
personalized masterpiece.
Hanbury and Guirkin consulted a
trained professional, Howard Wells
of Howard Wells Interiors, to meet
the unique challenges of their living
space. Wells provided a wealth of
information for new homebuyers to lay
out an elegant living space, emphasizing
functionality, sustainability and
individual style.
Every home has unique challenges
When dealing with old, historic
homes, there are more issues the
walls are not smooth or level; there is
cracked plaster. You have to know the
techniques to cover the aws and also
give an updated look, explained Wells.
Hanbury shared that his favorite
room in the house is the newest
HOME ROOMS
Traditional Fan Flavor
Richmond Times-Dispatch Saturday, September 3, 2011 HOMES 7
addition, the upstairs ofce/den. Wells
shared some of the tricks up his sleeve
to pull off this makeover.
I took an opportunity to use grass-
cloth wallpaper, which is sophisticated-
looking and covered the aws in the
wall. It also has a lot of texture to it to
hide the unevenness, he said.
Grasscloth is a unique ber made
from natural grasses. Not only does it
cover imperfections in the wall, but it
also brings a bit of nature indoors for
a serene effect. For a modern look, this
texture provides a balanced backdrop
for sleek contemporary furniture.
Wells explained that, when
decorating, functionality is the key.
Decide how the room should be
purposed, so that the theme can be
well-integrated into the style and dcor.
Window coverings help
set the mood for the
entire room.
The window
treatments (in
Hanburys home) are
not laborious or heavy-
looking, he said.
They are simple and
t nicely over the large
windows. The furniture
is very user-friendly,
cushiony leather with
nice ofce furniture in
a darker wood, which
warms up the room.
Good design is a lifelong pursuit
People are scared to death to hire
interior designers, he continued.
People save money down the line
when they have a trained eye helping
them make better decisions. New
homeowners make expensive mistakes.
For example, most people dont realize
that real Oriental rugs, which gain value
over time, cost the same as screen-
printed Oriental rugs, which depreciate.
Rather than load up on everything at
once, consider building your furniture
collection over time. High-quality
craftsmanship and fabrics will help
homeowners choose furnishings that
will last a lifetime.
The rst thing I would tell any
young couple is to buy quality, Wells
said. Take the money and buy one
good piece of furniture like a good
sofa and a chair not a whole room
full of non-quality furniture. Quality
isnt the top of the line; it means
spending well.
And this durability carries over from
the functional to the fashionable.
Consider how the room will hold up
for sustainability. The fashion industry
is run by trends; the style should hold
up 10 years from now. Make sure you
can tweak and update any room down
the line.
Find ways to express yourself
By decorating the home in stages, an
overwhelming task can be broken into a
series of manageable, fun
projects.
Start with the basics
like furniture and oor
coverings. Then, add
draperies and side panels
later. In the next phase,
add your embellishments
and jewelry, the art and
accessories that stylize
the room, said Wells.
Having trouble
expressing your style?
The best decorating
pieces are often right
under our noses without
us realizing it. Wells
has seen innovations ranging from
black-and-white baby photos to scarf
wall hangings and in one inventive
scenario, a bikers bicycle rack as the
limelight of his living room.
Couples almost always have fun,
whimsical things even everyday
items that are reincorporated into
the design and speak to who they are.
Bring your life into the dcor, he said.
A look inside a Fan home with
interior design that ties living spaces
together for an elegant look, but
more important, a warm and cozy
place to hang out. Pictured at left,
John Hanbury. PHOTOS DARL BICKEL
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