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Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009

Great adventure

Condo design packs a punch in a small space

Hunter and Fran Twiford consider their condominium a great getaway for adventures on the Coast. But the adventure starts with the design found within.

The Clarksdale natives now live in Jackson. They recently sold their second home on Royal Street in New Orleans and acquired a three-bedroom condo at The Legacy in Gulfport for their new second home.

“We had the place on Royal Street for eight years. The best thing was meeting new people while we were there, particularly in the French Quarter,” Fran said. “I think the Coast will be the same — meeting wonderful new people.”

Fran, an interior designer, has an eclectic philosophy: If you like it, it will have a place in your home.

Most of the walls are a warm gold, subtly faux painted by Fran.

“I like a warm palette,” she said. “I’m drawn to reds and golds and greens and warm yellows, but those colors don’t pop well against a white wall, and they do with this color.”

The color also helps reduce the tunnel effect of hallway into kitchen into dining and living area.

A small bonus room off the hallway was turned into an office for Hunter.

Guest bedrooms are on the opposite side, and both put into practice Fran’s philosophy. In one, a comforter with a Southwestern theme is paired with an Eastern rug and pillows that hint at the Middle East or India. Art with a modern edge is surrounded by an ornate frame and doubles as a headboard. They’re all brought together by a shared palette.

In the other guest room, island meets safari. Parrots and palm trees give the subtle tropical feel, while a faux leopard rug offers an unexpected touch that still feels right. White duvet covers and softly striped yellow and green bedskirts don’t compete with the rug’s pattern.

“I wanted to use a sunnier color in here,” Fran said. “I felt like it gave the room some life, since there’s no window in here. And I like the mix of tropical and safari. Safari’s not going away, you just need to use it in touches.”

Many of these pieces and accessories have previous lives. The comforter, for example, one was in the Twifords’ lake house, which had a Southwestern theme.

An unusual, rustically elegant chandelier in the dining area also once reigned in the lake house as well as in the Royal Street home.

It helps tie together the modern tropical style of the table and chairs with the traditional rug below and punctuates the multiple textures found in the adjoining living room where leather, brocade, chenille, wood, metal and marble lend sensory interest.

The living room’s centerpiece is a painting of Fran in a New Orleans courtyard by the Twifords’ friend Frederick Guess.

The colorful work is flanked by iron wall sconces and large brown leather chairs. African motifs such as wooden animals offer more interest.

“I like little corner surprises,” Fran said. “I love to mix traditional with contemporary, and I love color.

“As my friends say, I love stuff,” she said, laughing.

The master bedroom takes advantage of the beach view outside with a small seating area, perfect for reading or daydreaming.

The dramatic bed and its linens are elegant safari, leopard spots and tiger stripes paired with a warm, neutral palette.

A faux fur throw encourages snuggling. Even here, a flat-weave kilim rug feels at home, adopting a tribal feel.

Design is a personal thing, Fran said, but it’s also important to look at your home from another perspective.

“Creature comforts are important, but it’s a good idea to look at your space through the eyes of somebody just coming for the first time. You can pick up on things that way that you might not have noticed before,” she said.