Design: Sanctuary Reimagined

Sanctuary Reimagined

Written By: Poki Hampton Photography By: Mal Nicholson

April LaFontaine believes a home should be more than a pretty façade - it must serve as a sanctuary that marries function with comfort. With that vision, she and her husband, Craig, turned to Corrinn Fisher of Corrinn Fisher Interiors to revitalize their Natchez Trace residence. “The house was very plain and lacked some of the architectural details that we like,” April recalls.

Fisher’s design touches transform every space. In the living room and primary bedroom, picture molding now elegantly frames the walls. Transoms with custom pediments grace the windows of the living and dining rooms, lending refined character to each area. The stairs - once painted an uninspired greige - were stripped and stained to complement the wood-grain tile that flows through the downstairs space, and new iron balustrades were installed. In the living room, a French stone fireplace surround now gives the hearth a timeless charm.

Upscale, comfortable furniture fills the living room. Two full-size bench seat sofas in oatmeal performance velvet, paired with French blue velvet swivel chairs, offer durability for family time and elegance for entertaining. Sculptural art pieces in gold and white flank an ornate mirror, and a contemporary cocktail table of wood and iron anchors the space atop a generous performance rug.

A show-stopping dining room opens into the kitchen. A custom sideboard, built by carpenter Wade Smith, features a wine cooler, glass shelves, and dedicated wine glass holders. Painted in Benjamin Moore’s “In the Midnight Hour” - a striking French blue that echoes the velvet dining chairs - the sideboard is accented with bespoke iron fretwork and gold-tone cabinet hardware. A walnut table comfortably seats eight and is crowned by a ceramic bowl filled with a cascade of pink and white tulips, while a golden chandelier dripping with white quartz crystals elevates the room into a work of art.

In the kitchen, an oversized, lighted Cristallo countertop and high-end appliances create a setting where form meets function. A tile backsplash with gold inserts ties the design together by mirroring the gold hardware throughout the space.

The primary bedroom continues the serene palette with layers of custom bedding in soft blue hues and a plush rug. White transitional furnishings accented with gold hardware complement a framed chinoiserie wallpaper panel over a chest of drawers, and a trio of blue and white intaglios hangs above the king-sized bed. A French Empire–style bench in oatmeal linen graces the foot of the bed, while custom white linen draperies trimmed in geometric detail complete the refined retreat.

A devastating fire once razed the master bath, prompting a complete renovation. Fisher created a dramatic feature wall behind the freestanding soaker tub using dimensional Calcutta tile with gold inserts. A whimsical gold-leaf chandelier imparts a romantic glow, while his-and-her vanities topped with White Rhino marble, along with expansive porcelain tile floors and shower, elevate the space to new heights of luxury.

“Working with Corrinn on this project was a wonderful experience,” April reflects. “This is our second house with her, and we couldn’t be more pleased.”