designers at home: courtney cox
In shelter magazine and on HGTV, we see the amazing transformations interior designers make, bringing clients’ visions to life, even when clients aren’t quite sure what that vision is. These clients are always thrilled with their design solutions, but I always wonder – how do they design a space when not trying to make a client feel at home? What do these designers’ homes look like? So, let’s visit Courtney Cox, who with partner Alex Deringer comprises the design team of Ivy Lane, to find out.
Tell us a little about your aesthetic.
Home is our haven, a true sanctuary from the outside world, so it was important for us to create a space that felt calm and soothing — someplace you could walk in from a stressful day, take a deep breath, and instantly feel relaxed. For us, this meant a largely neutral palette, lots of whites and light grays, but one that’s still very warm and inviting.
photo credit Angie Seckinger
Often if you say “neutral” or “white,” people think “boring” (builder’s white!), or even “sterile,” but usually not inviting. How did you make that work?
The goal is to make the space one that draws people in, and to accomplish that you need elements that provide visual interest: layers of texture, pops of color, just enough symmetry, and some unexpected yet intentional juxtaposition, but all in a balanced way so as not to disrupt the overall serene feel. I draw a lot of inspiration from nature: natural materials and motifs are found in every room of the home. For instance, in the foyer, the seagrass rugs bring a coastal earthiness that grounds the gray walls while providing textural interest. The antique botanical prints bring the outdoors in, but in a subtle, orderly way; by arranging these organic florals in a structured windowpane grid, we impose symmetry, which is calming. This symmetry carries through in the arrangement of the cane chairs with welcoming overstuffed cushions flanking the fireplace. The oxidized copper lanterns at either side of the mantel support the symmetry as well, but also convey an element of rusticity – an unexpected counterbalance to the slightly modern, clean lines of the fireplace.
photo credit Angie Seckinger
From the foyer we enter the eat-in kitchen. What’s your favorite element here?
No question, it’s the conservatory-style skylight. During construction, when budgets and deadlines were beyond stressful to manage, we almost eliminated this feature but are so, so thankful we didn’t. In fact, I have Alex to thank for that! This was even before we worked together — she insisted, and was correct, that we would love the natural light it provides. Like many families, we live around the kitchen island, and that sunshine flooding in over breakfast might be my favorite thing in the whole house. Even when it’s storming, actually, with the echoing raindrops, it’s such a great feature. My second favorite thing would be the benches. Perfect for kids and adults, alike. Ours are slipcovered for easy care. We’ve since done these benches for several clients, and are just as beautiful upholstered.
photo credit Angie Seckinger
Onto your family room. The room is white, yet cozy. What can you tell us about the design?
We wanted comfortable furniture that we could curl up in to watch a movie – just out of view to the right, a TV is mounted above the chest. The club chairs are on swivel bases, to those also can be oriented to the screen – perfect when friends are over to watch a game. Lots of nods to nature in this space — the rug, a seagrass basket, the plants, most obviously — but also the art (bunnies and birds by our favorite Hunt Slonem) and in the animal print-upholstered ottoman. Again, it’s about juxtapositions: all of the white would not work were it not grounded, and the side tables, sofa legs, and chest bring an organic, natural warmth and necessary balance. The drapes, even though they are white, also give the space a sense of coziness by adding texture. Think how different the room would look with plantation shutters.
OK, now I am going to ask what I’m sure many people are thinking: how on earth do you keep all that white clean? What about kids? And pets? Are you crazy?
Ha, yes, well I have two little kids, ages 6 and 4, and two dogs…and they are all very neat. Kidding! They are kids, and we are messy. But we are lucky – we know the tricks of the trade. The majority of fabrics are indoor-outdoor, so they are extremely durable, and clean very easily. Natural fiber rugs are extremely forgiving of crumbs, and, frankly, much more easily replaceable than an antique Persian or fancy d’Aubusson rug.
photo credit Angie Seckinger
photo credit Angie Seckinger
Your formal living room, by comparison, seems relatively colorful.
Yes, but still pretty neutral and calm! I followed the same guidelines: you can see symmetry (the settees, art, and sconces on either side of the fireplace) and natural elements (the butterflies, again, Hunt Slonem, the greenery and plant, the leaf casts above the secretary). We added another natural element, gold, to make the space feel a bit fancier, and a little more formal.
This room is a good place to talk about what a difference accessories make. The furniture, walls, carpet, and draperies are all in a palette of white, albeit it with varying textures for interest. But imagine if we removed the art, and swapped a few pillows for some in a different color palette the space would feel very different. Dark green could bring drama, for example, while light blue will still be calm, but not as warm.
Thanks for the tour! What’s next? Are you planning any design changes?
Funny you should ask! We actually recently sold this house, and are busy making our new house home.
Cannot wait to see it!
