When Lauren and Drew Weil married, the young professionals found their combined furnishings, acquired haphazardly for long-gone spaces, made a less-than-pleasing jumble. “It was a mishmash of college stuff, and only a few things were precious to either of us, ” Lauren says. The purchase of their first house together meant a lot of decorating decisions for a home that was much larger. And there it was. Opportunity.
Lauren enlisted her friend Annie Goldberg and her partner in AG Designs, Ginny Maguire, to join the project of creating a lovely and livable home from scratch. Though it sounds like an overwhelming proposition, the team tackled the empty-house conundrum in phases, beginning with the areas the couple would see most—the den, master bedroom, and pool deck.
A second phase created striking living and dining rooms, as well as outfitting a guest bedroom and giving a style upgrade to the home office. Later, a third phase set up a sweetly serene nursery for an expected arrival.
For the overall style, the trio sought to create a look that was refined but not stuffy; sophisticated yet young and upbeat. “It reflects Lauren, ” says Ginny. But Drew was not left out of the equation. He wanted a relaxing den where he could kick back, so plump sofas were installed with his feet-up comfort in mind.
For the color palette, Lauren, who describes herself as a “girly girl, ” wanted pastels and lots of white, with stir-ins of metallic accents. “I was in a gold phase, ” she says. The gold motif—a sparkling thread through most of the house—connects the differing expressions of the overall style and adds a gleaming energy among the whites and barely-there pastels.
From casual entertaining to formal dining, the Weils’ home now reflects all facets of their personalities. The interiors demonstrate how an over-arching scheme of style and color can create a soothing unity, while allowing differing elements to come to the forefront, such as the gold thread blossoming to a dramatic climax in the dining room. As each phase was completed, ideas and excitement flowed for the next. “It is definitely a fun process, ” Lauren says. “I keep thinking of things for Annie and Ginny to do so I can keep working with them.”
RESOURCES
Interior design: Annie Goldberg and Ginny Maguire, AG Designs • Birmingham, 205.937.2107 Living room: ottoman: Baker Furniture bakerfurniture.com Family room: sofas and ottoman: Restoration Hardware • 215 Summit Blvd., Birmingham, 205.967.1901. Rug: Met Design Center • 3005 Third Avenue N, Birmingham, 205.322.2199. Cut velvet pillows: Table Matters • 2402 Montevallo Road, Mountain Brook. 205.879.0125 Master bedroom: chandelier: Three Sheets • 2904 18th Street, Homewood, 205.871.2337 Office (some items): West Elm • 320 Summit Blvd., Birmingham, 205.968.7651 westelm.com Bath: sconces: Hanna Antiques • 2424 Seventh Avenue S, Birmingham, 205.323.6036 Outdoor room: furniture and drapes: Restoration Hardware
