Some pieces in the house, such as the suzanis from Istanbul draped over the arm of the couch, are souvenirs from travel both within the United States and abroad. Other pieces were found locally in Savannah’s Downtown Design District and other downtown shops. The citrus colored chairs in the living room, for example, are from the Savannah-based interior and antiques shop Arcanum. Originally upholstered in a vintage orange fabric, Jeanne decided to reupholster them in the green leather pictured, in order to create a bright accent for the living room. The renovation process was an exercise in creating a space that is both liveable and unique to its inhabitant. In order to make her home feel more spacious and modern, she opened up the space, knocking out walls to create shared spac-
Paprika Southern
es, and raising ceilings. The house is defined by details reminisent of Jeanne’s personal history, such as the back porches inspired by the porches at her grandparents’ Louisiana plantation, or the custom stained glass window in the master bathroom featuring a motif of her favorite insect, the dragonfly. In the end much of the bones of the original historic home remain. Elements such as the fireplace mantles, the grand doors that separate the living room from the dining room, and the original heart pine floors remain, while more functional spaces such as the kitchen and bathrooms were completely updated. The marriage of the contemporary with the historic takes place in an unexpected, yet pleasingly symbiotic way, with eclectic touches of the new residing peacefully with echoes of the home’s past.
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