6 minute read
Artists in Residence
Employing a trained eye and an emphasis on modern art and craft, interior designer Natalie Officer remakes a rural retreat passed from one creative couple to the next.
Written by Bridget Williams / Photography by Andrew Kung
Nuance matters in modern design. Within this aesthetic, distinguished by earthy palettes, natural materials, and streamlined silhouettes, once you strip away the jetsam and flotsam of more mainstream construction and design, what remains is a focus on the fit and finish of finer points. The eye is free to examine how purposeful window placement allows for a choreographed dance of light and shadow across a room or the careful carpentry in a flawlessly executed kerfed window.
For Natalie Officer, Principal Designer of her eponymous firm, minding the minutia of modern design makes her a modern-day soothsayer. She says she must be able to simultaneously take "a psychological deep-dive into what a client holds dear" while anticipating how the finished conception can evolve with them for up to a decade. "When it's executed right, a project should have a shelf-life of seven to ten years," she explained.
The kitchen wing is defined by large windows and multiple access points to the outdoors. Photo by Luke Metzinger
Unlike the poor cobbler's children, the onset of the pandemic allowed Natalie and her team to realize the transformation of a pastoral piece of property on the suburban edge of Louisville she purchased with her husband, Reise. Formerly owned by a community-building and creative couple who worked and dabbled in the varied worlds of graphic design, photography, music, pottery, sailing, and equestrian pursuits, it was imperative to Natalie that they honor the positive energy the previous owners poured into the property. At the same time, she was laser-focused on realizing her singular vision for a family home she pinned to her drawing board soon after selling their previous home and acreage.
Every vignette in the home is carefully considered.
Natalie recalled that acquiring the bucolic property while COVID's initial wave was shutting down the world turned out to have a silver lining. The timing allowed her and her business partner Julie Metzinger to quickly pivot and retain most of their staff on a consultant basis, allowing them to take on outside work until the fog of the unknown lifted.
As someone with a laser focus on modern design, Natalie was already cognizant of the challenges in finding a construction partner willing to take on the exacting nature of the build. "There's no room to be 'off' or sloppy in modern design," she articulated. Ultimately, she leaned on regional builder Tom Weber of GCU Custom Builders and his willingness to get the home to the "dried-in" stage before turning it over to her team, which included leaning heavily on the expert woodworking skills of William Schumacher. "Tom's ability to work collaboratively and honor a 'teach over tell' mentality throughout our project was truly refreshing," Natalie said. The structural changes to the home were immense; Natalie remarked that only nine boards from the original saltbox section of the farmhouse remained.
Walnut cabinetry with integrated pulls purposefully and beautifully conceals the kitchen's utility. Custom-made stool by Dan Druley Craftsman in Cincinnati.
In its previous life, the luminance of the sunken living room made it ideal as an art and pottery studio, complete with a kiln. Now home to creations of the culinary variety, upon entering, the kitchen doesn't present itself as such, which is precisely what Natalie had in mind. "I don't consider myself a great gourmet, and I wanted this room, like the rest of the house, to serve as a hub for gathering and indoor-outdoor living," she explained.
On any given day, you'll find one of the homeowner’s three children soaking up the sun on an extended bench seat positioned in front of a picture window in the kitchen.
On any given day, you'll find one of their three children soaking up the sun on an extended bench seat positioned in front of a picture window opposite a bank of handsome walnut cabinetry with integrated pulls. Natalie patinated the brass sheets adhered to the wall above a bank of cabinets and opposite the picture window, serving as a one-of-a-kind organic art installation. Two sets of doors provide access to the outdoors. Here, as throughout the home, storage is paramount, as possessions with proper homes maintain the minimalist aesthetic.
Natalie patinated the brass sheets applied to one wall in the kitchen.
"Lighting is a really big deal for us," said Natalie. From room to room, the overhead fixtures and sconces command attention without screaming, 'Look at me!'. Artworks are similarly curated and intentionally sourced to highlight homegrown talent, including Letitia Quesenberry, Loren Myhre, and Kelly Zellers. "Diversity is important to us, be it clients, employees, vendors, and subcontractors," Natalie explained. "We want to bring 'flavor' of all kinds to our community."
Lighting fixtures, such as the Tom Dixson pendants suspended above the dining room table, were selected to make a unique statement without commanding all of the attention. Vintage Lowenstein Pedova rush chairs pull up to a walnut table from BluDot.
An artisan's eye extends to the textiles, which are all customdesigned. Visually compelling, a bespoke hand-laid tile installation surmounts a built-in cabinet in the dining room. A mosaic of leftover tiles collected over the years, Natalie said the focal point represents a microcosm of her company. "It's texture, organic, and grit with permanence."
A bespoke mosaic in the dining room created from leftover tiles from previous projects creates a focal point and a sensory client roster.
A white-oak accent wall introduced in the entry extends to the second floor. A long first-floor hallway leads past BLSH 13 (2020), a captivating mixed media piece by Letitia Quesenberry, and on to the family's hangout space, complete with large windows and a generously proportioned sectional with room for everyone. Natalie's business partner Julie found the four vintage fiber art pieces created by Harry Hilson. "The wall had been waiting for them," Natalie remarked. Two icons of midcentury design both ground and crown the space: a burl wood cocktail table by Milo Baughman sits beneath a George Nelson for Herman Miller bubble pendant light.
Julie Metzinger found the vintage fiber art by Harry Hilson. Milo Baughman burl wood coffee table, hand-knotted rug from Pakistan, George Nelson for Herman Miller Bubble Pendant.
At the hall’s terminus, in what had been the garage, is now a restful primary suite. Natalie tapped artist Kelly Zeller to create a lively mural on all four walls. "Every time I walk into the room, I see it differently depending on the light," she said. A sculptural soaking tub in the primary bath sits in front of a walnut-clad wall with integrated window shutters. Natalie opted for lava rock floor tile from Daltile as it will acquire a unique patina over time. The closet is one of the few places with visible hardware; Natalie said the hand-forged feel speaks to her as the daughter of a welder.
Just outside the bedroom door hangs BLSH 13 (2020), a mixed media piece by Letitia Quesenberry. Local artist Kelly Zeller created the bedroom’s mural. Blu Dot bed, Bocci 28S wall lights. Photo by Luke Metzinger.
A Crosswater Teardrop Grande bathtub in the primary bath sits in front of a walnut-clad wall with integrated window shutters. Daltile Antico Scuro floor tile. Pebble LED pendant from ANDlight.
This project represents the fifth renovation Natalie and her husband Reise have tackled as a married couple and the 35th since she founded her firm sixteen years ago. While Natalie knows that modern design is not everyone's cup of tea, she remains upbeat about the continual uptick in interest. At the same time, she has no aim to be larger than a boutique firm, preferring the hands-on, custom touch demonstrated in her own home. "We want each project to come out like a perfectly thrown piece of pottery."
Interior designer Natalie Officer photographed in her primary bedroom. Local artist Kelly Zellers created the wall mural.
