Home & Living
Step Inside This Clipper Mill Oasis Inspired by Fine Art and Bold Color
Honoring the professional sensibilities of its owners, who are psychiatrists, the home's lifestyle spaces evoke emotion through color, texture, and pattern.
Interior Designers: Tessea McCrary and Turner Design Firm
Kitchen & Bath Cabinetry: Ric Guy
Custom Upholstery: Grand York
Hand-Painted Walls: Artstar Custom Paintworks
An Artful House: Art was at the heart of every design decision for this three-story, 2,600-square-foot home in historic Clipper Mill. The homeowners have an extensive fine art collection, and their love of bold, saturated color became both the inspiration and the boundary lines for the renovation, says Tessea McCrary, principal and lead designer of Tessea McCrary Interior Design. They also introduced new works which created a rhythm throughout the home: Existing art provides continuity, while new acquisitions push the story forward, she says.
Inviting Interiors: “The vision was to create a deeply personal home that honors their professional sensibilities as psychiatrists,” says McCrary. “We tailored their lifestyle spaces by evoking emotion through color, texture, and pattern.” Color was powerful tool that was used as both an emotional and psychological driver. Saturated blues represented depth, calm, and intellect; metallics and charcoals added intensity and drama; and softer neutrals were layered in to provide balance, ensuring the home never tipped into overwhelming.
Defining Style: “Before, the home felt dominated by sameness, with its uniform honey-toned beams and floors,” says McCrary. “Now, it has a confident voice, it speaks of individuality and emotion. Each room tells a story, whether it’s the theatricality of the office or the playful progression of the ombre stair runner.” What makes this project special, she says, is it’s more than a renovation—it’s a portrait of the homeowners.
