House Tour

Our sunny 1908 bungalow in Marietta

Last spring Alan and I kicked off a bunch of overdue home maintenance projects. We agreed that after we got fresh paint on the walls, we’d finally go buy some rugs and some curtains “to make the house feel more cozy.”

Right away, I called Emily Stiles because I knew I needed a pro for design and decor selection. Emily’s speciality is creating casual, timeless spaces that incorporate personal family stories. I wanted her expertise for shopping and sourcing, as well as her fresh perspective for practical solutions in our small space.

300 days and 75 purchases later, I asked Gabriella Valladares to capture the results in photos, to celebrate the completion of the project.

The result is a space that’s more cohesive and functional, mixing contemporary utility together with sentimental pieces. It’s a smart refresh that gives us permission to settle in and enjoy.

Sitting Room Emily rearranged our sitting room to be more comfortable and inviting. A drum lampshade by Ud Form completes the arched floor lamp next to a new loveseat and coffee table.

Sitting Room with Pet Portrait A framed portrait of Piper by Victoria Dael hangs over the record player.

Cutting a Bud from a Vase Stealing some hellebore flowers for a bud vase.

Vintage Club Chairs These vintage Sherrill club chairs were special-ordered from Rich’s department store in 1965. Now recovered in Schumacher velvet, hopefully they’ll get another 60 years of life!

Dining Room with Rug Alan and I purchased the farmhouse table at our favorite restaurant’s cleanout sale. RIP Butcher Baker. You were a boon to our community.

Floral Arrangement with Fruit and Vegetables A romantic arrangement by Good Southern Blooms features fresh grapes and artichokes.

Pie Safe The pie safe originally belonged to the Irwin family in Cobb County.

Pie Safe Bordallo Pinheiro cabbageware paired with assorted majolica from England, Germany and France.

Wisteria Freshly cut wisteria arranged in a hammered bronze vase on the dining room mantel.

Built-in China Cabinet Vintage The built-in cabinet is full of gifted and collected servingware.

Croissants from Douceur de France Carbs are required.

Dining Room Table into Bedroom The dining room opens up to the bedroom.

Bedroom Curtains Custom curtains for privacy. Custom sheers for the drama.

Bed Our new bed arrived just in time for this photo shoot. It’s a very grown-up luxury to finally have a headboard.

Bed and Aloka Quilt The Aloka quilt is more colorful on the reverse side.

Pine Dresser This handcrafted pine dresser was given to Alan by his family.

Bathroom with Vanity Storage New vanity sink with storage hides all the essentials in the bathroom.

View of the Bathroom with Window A half-length cafe curtain allows extra light into this space.

Bathroom Details on Counter The marble counterspace is a luxe upgrade compared to the IKEA shelving unit we had in here before.

Melanie Crissey at home Happy to call this interior refresh project “done!”

Thank you

Recommended shops & resources

Piper