On the surface, this large home on more than four acres in East Memphis doesn't look like it'd have a large spread in a national magazine like Elle Decor, does it? That's because this ... is the before. The after. Well, if I'm reading the article correctly, this is more of a during. When Sean and his then partner moved into the home, they formulated a tiered plan to turn the house into their forever home, a dream they called a modern farmhouse. When they bought the house, this was the entry. Built in the late 1980's, the house had all the hallmarks of the era. Engineered hardwood with a bowling ball polish, oak, oak, and more oak, plush carpet and some pretty interesting faux paint finishes. Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website After, carpet was replaced with the same engineered wood, and then painted white. Every wall in the house was painted a deep shade of gray except for a guest room at the end of this hallway. The stair carpeting was replaced with sisal, and lighting was switched out for higher end fixtures like this lantern. Immediately to the right of the entry is the dining room. This room is bathed with natural light that shines through a beautiful bay window. Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website Another before. Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website Sean and his then partner were more keen to have this room be a sitting room, a room to start their mornings with coffee and conversation rather than a stodgy dining room rarely used soaking up all that gorgeous sunshine. This room, more than any other, changed the most while Sean lived there. Art went from this beautiful collection of arrowheads collected at his family farm in Mississippi: Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website To this large painting by Alabama artist, William Rankin McLure IV, which Sean used in a spec house he was charged to decorate. I think it lived here until the install. After a year of collecting actual arrows, they were framed, and I believe this is how the art in the room stands today: The living room obviously saw several changes as well. Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website Two vignettes with tables on either side of the door. Sean lined the walls of the entire room gallery style with photographs, paintings, and various taxidermy. Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website The kitchen was part of the last tier of the renovation, and there are no finished pics of that space. But Sean did clean up this little eating nook. Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website There are two master suites on the first floor. This one has a window that faces the front of the house, and was used as an office by the previous owner. Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website The plush carpet was replaced with wall to wall sisal carpet, and this room (the only with white walls in the whole house) had windows treated with beautiful men's suiting wool. The other master, upstairs. Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website The same carpet was used in all of the upstairs rooms. The couple turned what had been a closet in an adjoining room into a daybed with shelves for books. Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website It proved to also be a great dog bed. Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck from Sean Anderson Design Website I thought it was so great to see someone not only tackle, but conquer the black and white color palette in this way. So, now that you're sufficiently inspired, wanna shop the look for less?
