This Historic Home Is Known for One Room—and It’s Easy to See Why

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Photography by Stephanie Welbourne Steele

Text by Lauren Eberle

When Lisa and Randy Freeman moved into their dream home eight years ago, the couple soon discovered that the house had a reputation. “Everyone knew it as the home on the corner with the dish room,” Lisa says.

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Photography by Stephanie Welbourne Steele

There’s no doubt that the three walls of floor-to-ceiling windows displaying shelves of stacked dishes attracted the attention of passersby in this historic neighborhood. It was one of the features that first captivated Lisa, too, when she happened to browse the home’s real estate listing online. “One night while perusing, I came across this house and twisted the laptop toward my husband,” she recalls. “To my shock, he said, ‘Let’s go look at it.’ The rest is history.”

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Photography by Stephanie Welbourne Steele

History, indeed, is esteemed in this timeless circa 1927 abode. Although the home’s architecture is Spanish Colonial Revival, its latest renovations leaned toward English traditional style, says Lisa, referring to elements like wood paneling and crystal sconces and chandeliers. Many of their former furnishings fit seamlessly into the new space, but “the biggest shift was that every wall was white,” says Lisa, whose aesthetic previously included lots of color. “After living here a short time, though, I realized the architecture of the home was showcased better with the white stucco. Rather than needing color to add accents, white made the unique architectural elements stand out.”

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Photography by Stephanie Welbourne Steele

Yet Lisa says it’s the heart of the home that truly steals the show. “Once people come in the door, they go straight to the kitchen,” she says. “That’s one of the things that makes this space so great for entertaining.” Featuring a 17-foot walnut island, a French Lacanche range, and a soaring copper skylight made in New York and assembled on-site, the kitchen was part of a new wing added by the home’s previous owners.

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Photography by Stephanie Welbourne Steele

Steps away, the family room, which separates the elevated kitchen and dining rooms, has a number of inviting seating options, from club chairs to a white tufted leather chesterfield sofa. The room’s fireplace, settled into a cozy corner called an inglenook, is original to the home, while the built-in cabinets and paneling were added.

In a delightful contrast to the otherwise traditional style, the master suite is decidedly contemporary. Likened to a modern glass box cradled in a private garden, the room features two walls made of steel and glass, framed with exposed timber said to have been reclaimed from an 1800s hospital. The bed is situated in a cozy nook, a trademark of the architect, and is accented by a landscape painting by the homeowners’ daughter, artist Kelsey Justice. A freestanding Waterworks bathtub punctuates the contemporary style in the bathroom.

Photography by Stephanie Welbourne Steele

Since the previous owners completed such extensive renovations shortly before the Freemans moved in, the couple says their stamp on the property is its lush landscaping. An avid gardener, Lisa plants seasonal beds, and the couple also added a pool. A back courtyard expands the home for guests to flow in and out, making it possible for the family to host such events as weddings, receptions, and plenty of parties.

“We have so enjoyed making this house cozy for just the two of us since our children are grown and in homes of their own,” Lisa says. “But at the same time, it’s also fun to make it a comfortable space for a crowd to enjoy.”

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