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When Michael and Meredith Alderson found this Highlands treasure four years ago, their goal was to enhance the already beautiful architecture and add their own personal touches. It was important to create a place of comfort and warmth that would embrace their family, but also would be ideal for entertaining.
FAMILY SPACE
“This is where we spend the majority of our time — the family room, and, of course, the kitchen,” Meredith said. A plush sectional couch upholstered in a durable fabric is accented with colorful throw pillows and grouped with two curved-back accent chairs. A round leather ottoman in the center of the room can be used for additional seating. On the wall nearby, photographs of their two children are displayed. A flat-screen television finds a place above the mantel showcasing two over-sized lanterns.
A decorative single-panel screen with a circle design dresses the ornate fireplace. Meredith loves circles, and, coincidentally, the home has small stained-glass windows with a circle motif. This sparked the idea of incorporating accent pieces with that same geometric pattern throughout.
MEAL TIMES
The dining room is elegant, yet comfortable. An art piece is creatively used as a medallion for the pendant chandelier. Dining is an intimate experience at the glass-top table surrounded by two armed French Provincial chairs with a black lacquer finish, a banquette, and a gray leather bench with nail-head trim. Meredith’s grandmother’s china cabinet, a piece that holds many memories, displays collectibles. Gold walls with a faux-painted wainscoting adds to the space. Two candlestick lamps brighten the mirrored buffet. A polka dot cornice showcases the window.
Another place for the family to gather is the kitchen that flows into a sitting/eating area. The family gathers for meals at the table, which has a stainless-steel top and a wood base. Two wing chairs flank the distressed black side table with two stools tucked underneath. A contemporary art piece hangs above the flat-screen television. Glass-block tile that extends to the ceiling is a feast for the eyes. Two hurricane vases holding large rocks and white candles sit on the granite counters. An abundance of cabinets allows for plenty of storage space. A built-in nook complete with a desk and wine holder makes organization easy.
GETAWAY
Upstairs, the master bedroom exudes serenity. Luxurious pale green and cream linens adorn the cherry sleigh bed. Black and white photographs from the couple’s honeymoon are displayed on the wall above the bed. The built-in window seat with a patterned cushion and animal-print throw pillows looks out onto the koi pond. Built-in closets were added after they moved in. An animal-print chaise lounge is the ideal spot to relax. A floor mirror stands nearby. An elegant archway leads to a cozy nook that accommodates the fireplace, where a candelabrum fills the hearth and a fleur de lis-framed mirror hangs above the mantel.