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Weaving Antique and Architectural Pieces Creates Interesting Interior Tapestry

From vacation souvenirs to inherited family pieces, it takes a special talent to weave eclectic pieces into an interesting tapestry of home décor.  Nashville designer Kippie Leland, Leland Interiors, has that artful touch which she has applied to the Gentlemen’s Study of the Southern Living Showcase Home. Built by Castle Homes and presented by LP Building Products, the home is open through Sunday, November 6 in the new Dorset Park neighborhood in south Nashville.

So what do you do with that festive African mask or cool light fixture from Avignon, France? Leland says it is possible to bring those unique elements into a cohesive design. Leland has acquired a fascinating collection of antiques from world-travels from Atlanta and New York to France and Belgium. In order to achieve, a cohesive look, she has several design principles to which she adheres.  “For large architectural pieces, it is important to make sure it is scaled to the room,” Leland said.

The large, leaded and stained glass windows originated in an English church. “I worked with my client, Judy (and Ray) Danner’s architect, Scott Wilson, to incorporate them into billiard room addition achieving a seamless design,” Leland noted.

Leland applied these fundamentals when designing the Gentlemen’s Study of the Southern Living Showcase Home using a century George II style chair, with a striking ikat upholstery, and wrought iron chandelier from Avignon, France.

 

“I use simple lines and a narrow color palette to help them become art pieces for the room. It is also important to have continuity which I achieved with repetition,” Leland said. The X element is repeated in the étagères and the library desk. In addition, when you don’t have a lot of pattern and color, bring in textures and materials to give the room character and intrigue.”

In the end, Leland loves to be unpredictable in her design. In the Southern Living Showcase Home, she has added a vintage acrylic and stainless steel swivel desk chair with a Madeline Stuart desk. Leland worked with a wrought iron fabricator, Charlie Deathridge, to craft brackets to display African masks imported from the Congo. And, her biggest unpredictable element is an eight-foot clock face with pressed zinc leaves as numbers dominating a wall.  She found the clock face at Garden Park Antiques in Nashville which owner Keith Merry acquired from a building in Chicago being demolished.

 

Built and designed by Castle homes, the Southern Living Showcase Home is open daily through Sunday, November 6, for more info on the home’s building and design, on-line tickets and directions, visit www.castlehomes.com.