It’s hard to believe thatDana Gibsonstarts a decorating project by painting everything white.
After all, the designer fills her collections of home accents and wallpapers with splendid colors and vivacious patterns.
But in herRichmond, Virginia, split-level, the whiteout came first.
Credit: Helen Norman; Styling: Lizzie Cox
They peeled back dark paneling, ripped out cabinetry and carpet, and rebuilt the front steps.
Then came the charm: highlighting the ample windowsand distracting from the low ceilingswithcrown moldingand a wainscot.
“The colors don’t have to match,” she says.
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman; Styling: Lizzie Cox
“That is what makes it feel dynamic.”
Some might call the look “Richmond preppy,” but Gibson thinks of it as simply Southern.
“There’s an openness to Southern culture that’s influenced me,” she says.
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman; Styling: Lizzie Cox
“I want my house to look like it belongs to a world traveler.”
Here’s how she mixed it all together.
Before: Exterior
Crumbling and dilapidated exterior that lacked curb appeal.
Credit: Dana Gibson
The brick chimney also received a face-lift.
“The stone added charm to the house that the brick just didn’t offer,” she says.
“That’s what you do withyour front door.
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman; Styling: Lizzie Cox
It’s the first image somebody gets of your home, so it’s important,” she says.
The light is another special touch.
It’s the Richmond Outdoor Hanging Lantern from locally based Shades of Light.
Credit: Dana Gibson
Before: Entry
Dark and dated hallways made a far-from-welcoming entrance.
After: Entry
“A lot of decorating is just solving problems,” Gibson says.
Eight-foot ceilings drove many of her design decisions.
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman; Styling: Lizzie Cox
“I’m always trying to make them appear higher,” she says.
Her roof-raising trickery starts here, where new crown molding and a chandelier draw the eye up.
The wallpaper is Dana Gibson for Stroheim’s Peregrine in Multi Bright.
Credit: Dana Gibson
These marble-tile look-alikes are actually durable linoleum.
Gibson installed them as an homage to her grandmother’s house.
The secret to avoiding ashouting match between patternsis mixing in a tiny print.
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman; Styling: Lizzie Cox
Before: Dining Room
Boring and blah room with little moments of wow.
But Gibson saw the potential.
Pillows in a fuchsia stripe on the chairs continue the theme.
Credit: Dana Gibson
“One thing leads to another; I never have a set plan,” she says.
The chunky antique table demands a simple but sizable centerpiece.
Gibson pulled in five potted plants in mossy terra-cotta pots to fill the bill.
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman; Styling: Lizzie Cox
After: Primary Bedroom
“I love mixing international pieces with traditional ones,” Gibson says.
If a room feels a bit too stuffy or expected, she heads to a vintage store.
“I like finding antiques, because nobody else is going to have them,” she notes.
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman; Styling: Lizzie Cox
The lampshades, chaise upholstery, and curtains are Gibson’s own fabrics.
“It’s so transformative,” she says.
“People don’t use it enough.”
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman; Styling: Lizzie Cox
If it gets messy, she can shut the doors.
The neutral base also lets her rotate colorful pillows in and out of this often used space.
Today, they’re turquoise, but fuchsia is also a frequent accent.
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman; Styling: Lizzie Cox
