New life for a folk Victorian cottage

When interior decorators were invited several months ago by Historic Macon Foundation to visit the circa 1880 cottage at 1388 Calhoun St., the house was facing what preservationists call “demolition by neglect.” Although the front porch was gone, vestiges of a well designed house were uncovered from the rubble of the house that fits nicely on a tree shaded knoll in Beall’s Hill. The Italianate bay window and ornate round attic vent in the front gable were still intact.

Seasoned designers who have made the pilgrimage to the “before” conditions of future HMF Design Houses are not deterred by walking the plank to get into some of these houses. They have seen derelict houses come to life — some of them considered beyond repair by those of little faith. On Thursday, the designers celebrate the grand opening of the Design House with a Preview Party where, once again, they have performed miracles.

Carrie Robinson, lead designer and co-owner of Robinson Home on First Street, drew the plans for the restoration of the cottage, adding the kitchen and back deck where part of the house had been destroyed. Built originally as a five-room house with a wide center hall, the new plan incorporates two bathrooms, a utility room and closets without drastically altering the existing footprint.

The original rooms have 14-foot ceilings, a bonus before the advent of electricity when cross ventilation helped cool the house during Macon’s sweltering summers. That will not be a concern Thursday when patrons will be welcomed on the rebuilt front porch, decorated with comfortable porch furniture and an abundant potted garden by Suzanne MacCrone Rogers.

DOWN TO THE WIRE

On a recent visit to the Design House, cabinet makers and electricians were working against the clock to finish their installations while the designers were mopping their brows, wondering if the new air conditioning was just a rumor! With the temperature nearing 100, Darrell Floyd’s recently planted landscaping was wilting in the heat and Trish Cossart, the first designer to bring in a truck load of furniture, was passing out water bottles to her staff between trips up and down the ladder to hang artwork.

Cossart, whose design studio and gallery are on Carroll Street in Perry, was well on her way to finishing the master bedroom — the space she selected to showcase her handiwork. Against the soothing blue walls, painted Sherwin-Williams’ “Comfort Gray,” she had combined two Kravet patterns for draperies and for bed linens, which complemented a matelasse coverlet from Peacock Alley. She had lots of help arranging the furniture and was carefully placing accessories to complete the serene private space for a future owner.

The pace for the next week would be fast and furious for the rest of the designers — the move-in schedule is tight and well coordinated to allow each one access to the assigned rooms without stumbling over each other. There are trucks jockeying for space on the street to offload precious cargo and then get out of the way.

In the midst of the hustle and bustle, there are always last minute glitches, but the fraternity of designers keeps its sense of humor and, in a matter of days — full of anticipation and in spite of sleep deprivation — is ready to open the doors to another Design House. The speed with which the house looks ready for occupancy would make television’s “Extreme Makeover” look like child’s play

THE DESIGN TEAM APPROACH

This year’s co-chairs for Design House are Canaan Marshall, local floral designer, and Susannah Maddux, owner of The Goods marketing agency; Robinson coordinated the design project for HMF. Marshall, who decorated the wide center hall of the Design House, was one of the last to complete his space since the hall was needed for access to the other rooms. Commenting on the burnished brown walls, he said, “I call this color ‘Black Bean Soup,’” a dramatic counterpoint to the walls of the adjacent rooms.

The designers work together to select colors that are appealing and livable, sometimes challenging visitors to think beyond beige and the safe neutral colors in their own homes. Sally Draughon, owner of Previews Interiors, furnished the living room, with its elegant bay window overlooking the street, to correlate with the refreshing pale mint walls. Her signature fabrics and timeless design breathe new life into what was once a 19th century parlor.

Across the hall from the living room, Brooke Merill, whose design practice keeps her on the road between Macon and Atlanta, used a hint of lilac for the walls of a sitting room that could be used for extra guests or as a study. Her eclectic mix of furniture styles is indicative of the creative approach she uses with her clients.

The teal colored walls of Martha McKay Maxwell’s dining room are appropriately theatrical, subtly lighted by a French chandelier to set the mood for evening soirees. Taking her cue from Maxwell’s room, Susan Raza faux finished the walls of the adjoining utility room, treated as a bar for the Design House, in a technique that resembles the Verdi gris of aged copper.

Jennifer Leontopoulos and Rogers joined forces to create the corner study at the rear of the house, a retreat away from a family’s daily activities. The neutral celadon walls suffuse the room with the light one would expect in what could be used as an office.

Tracy Benton Toney, who has recently moved back to Macon with her family, used a gray washed glaze on the kitchen cabinets to maximize lighting in an efficiently planned space that is a far cry from the original outdoor kitchens of the 1880s. The kitchen opens on to an expansive deck where entertaining and cooking will be convenient for the new owners.

The two full bathrooms — with charcoal tile floors and stone countertops — are well appointed additions to the house, decorated in a sophisticated palette by Carolyn Reichert, one of the newcomers to the design team. Although this is her first Design House, she is working with a team of designers and decorators who enthusiastically welcome new talent to Middle Georgia.

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM SOME FRIENDS

For years, local vendors have sponsored Design House through reduced costs and with donations of materials needed in the restoration. Much of the lighting comes from Lowe Electric’s showroom on Forsyth Street; all of the floor and wall tile are from Interior Surfaces Group. Noland Company’s showroom manager, Stephanie Carden, works with the design coordinator selecting the plumbing fittings and fixtures and Rhombus Stonecrafters supplies the stone countertops for cabinets made by Cabinets-N-Woodworks.

Rusty Poss, a HMF preservation partner, was general contractor for the restoration. With the generosity of local vendors and of the event sponsors, Design House is the most successful fundraiser for HMF each year.

For more information about the daily schedule, visit historicmacon.org.

This story was originally published June 22, 2016 at 7:47 AM with the headline "New life for a folk Victorian cottage."