Poplar grove

Southern Living, Aug 2001 by Jernigan, Sarah

VISIT OUR IDEA HOUSE NEAR MEMPHIS, AND SEE HOW ITS OLD-FASHIONED CHARM FITS RIGHT INTO ITS SMALL-TOWN ADDRESS.

Expect a slower pace when you visit Collierville, Tennessee, a pre-Civil War town near Memphis. Charming tree-lined streets and a thriving town square are signatures of this growing community that is embracing its past while building for the future.

Your destination is the planned community of Magnolia Square, which was developed by Doug Dickens, John Ashworth, and Memphis architect Carson Looney. Their goal was to build a new neighborhood close to the bustling town square while keeping it within the scope, scale, and style of the area's history. Because our home was designed to fit in with nearby historic houses, its charm, relationship to houses across the street, and size preserve the character that distinguishes so many Southern small towns. "For a new neighborhood, it looks as if it's been here all along," says Carson.

DESIGNED FOR THE COMMUNITY

"Magnolia Square has all of the amenities of the city but with a small-town focus," explains Carson. A common green space lies in the center of the community. Houses face one another with porches rather than garages, encouraging a natural interaction between neighbors.

Carson and architect Chris Haley designed Poplar Grove using the features of a well-loved traditional home-deep porches and lots of entrances. Two-over-two windows, a raised foundation, and crafted carpenter details are used to reflect this character.

Constructed with brick and siding, the house features 10foot ceilings downstairs, 9-foot ones upstairs, and an open floor plan. At 3,116 square feet, the plan maximizes space with quality details and lots of natural light. "It has the efficiency of a larger house without a lot of excess," says Chris.

LANDSCAPE TO LIVE IN

"It was important that we create an environment conducive to visiting," says landscape designer Richard Oneal Babin. In the front yard, elements of a Victorian-era landscape are seen in the low ground covers meant to enhance the architecture without overwhelming it. In the back, a private courtyard separates the porch from the common green space. Plants such as hydrangea, cherry laurel, ligustrum, and azaleas offer a regional flavor. lo,

CONNECTED WITH COLOR

Like the architecture, the interiors also marry the old with the new. Memphis interior designers Grant Ray and Meredith McInnis Hogue created rooms filled with classic elements enhanced with updated color schemes and casual sophistication. "The color is understated, not overwhelming," explains Grant. Throughout the house, bright bursts of color zing through a basically neutral foundation, adding a fresh vitality.

KITCHEN CONVENIENCE

This kitchen is organized into a hard-working galley tucked into one corner for cooking, overlooking the casual seating area known in today's plans as the keeping room. "We didn't just design the kitchen with a window over the sink," says Carson. "Because the sink is in the island, you can enjoy the view from the large wall of windows along the side street."

Grant and Meredith chose a sunny yellow paint color for the walls, which is complemented by honey-colored wooden cabinets. "We wanted this room to be comfortable and easy to enjoy," says Grant. Side panels and inoperable Roman shades decorate the windows, letting in abundant light.

LIVING INSIDE AND OUT

The family room links the backyard and kitchen. Its color scheme infuses the spirited greens and corals of the garden with dynamic mocha and chocolate neutrals. The wall of windows literally brings the freshness of the courtyard inside. The depth of the back porch diffuses the light and provides shade.

Instead of designing a room where the mantel is the only sign of architectural style, Carson and Chris incorporated several elements based on the streamlined beauty of carpenter detailing. "The ceiling beams add a rhythm that's repeated in the wall designs," explains Chris. Each beam is finished with a quirk bead, an added groove on each side, reminiscent of the craftsmanship found in older homes.

A CLASSIC TABLE SETTING

The dining room is filled with accents that complement the kitchen, but the walls have been treated with spatula stuuhi (STEW-y), a custom-made marble finish that gives the room more depth. A wide cased opening frames the space from the foyer, keeping the area open for a natural flow. "The dining room is an introduction to the house for guests," Grant says. "It makes them feel welcome immediately."

Like most traditional dining rooms, the space has a formal edge but feels more casually elegant than stiff and uncomfortable. And a closet located in one corner offers storage for extra dishes and serving pieces. This is especially nice for those beginning to build a furniture collection but who don't yet have a china cabinet lot

MASTERFUL SPACES

Off the foyer, a small hallway leads to the master suite. "There's no need for the bedroom to open directly into the main rooms," Chris says, explaining how the smaller hall provides needed separation between private and public rooms.