Date:  October 27, 2017  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Keith Taylor  |  

Keith Taylor uses vintage pieces, well-loved collections, and comfortable textures to bring timeless style to his family’s new construction home

Keith Taylor has been staging model homes for decades, so walking into this Fayetteville neighborhood’s spec house could have been another day in the office. However, upon inspecting the floor plan, he found himself envisioning his family, which includes wife, Angela, and son, Bryn, moving into the space. “We only lived about a mile and a half from this neighborhood but I honestly didn’t know it was here. As soon as I saw the open floor plan, I could see us in that house,” he says. Using his approach to new traditional design, which includes a “layered but not cluttered” aesthetic, Taylor created a home that embraces a mix of old, new, and reinvented.

COMFORTS OF HOME
“My style is cozy,” Taylor laughs. “I mean who doesn’t want to be cozy?” Each space of the home reflects this feeling thanks to a variety of textures that extend from floor to ceiling. “I especially love Belgian linens and sisal rugs,” which can be seen throughout the house, providing just the right mix of softness and interest. “I think these materials create a visual warmth,” he adds.

The palette of the home follows a similar philosophy. “Our colors are cream, creamier, and creamiest,” Taylor says. “I believe in layering different neutrals, and even if I do a color, it’s going to be a soft shade. There’s no overstimulation of color or pattern, so that your eye can really rest in each space.”

OLD MEETS NEW
Antique and vintage furnishings—many of which have been reworked to adhere to the aesthetic—fill each room of the home. “I’m a vintage shopper,” Taylor says, adding that he enjoys finding worn benches, chairs, and tables and reinventing them with slipcovers and coats of paint. Case in point, the wingbacks in the living room are Goodwill finds that have been painted and recovered, while the breakfast table’s dining chairs were purchased on eBay and updated by Taylor. “I love a makeover, and I’m willing to put in the time,” he says. However, not everything in the home has age. “I also like new finds,” Taylor says. He notes the French bistro-inspired barstools as well as the woven pendants, which both bring character and texture to the kitchen’s island.

COLLECTED AND COOL
As with many traditional homes, collections play a role in the personalization of the space. English ironstone plates, platters, and serving pieces are dotted throughout the kitchen and dining spaces. “I like the simplicity and imperfection of these pieces; again, I think that goes back to my love of textures,” he says. The appearance of birds—both in imagery in décor and in the form of real finches in a beautiful cage outside the bonus room—is another subtlety that is apparent in almost every room. “I think this is some weird analogy that I have with nesting,” Taylor laughs. “At the end of the day, everyone has to have a place to land.”

DRESSED FOR THE SEASON
Finally, thanks to the flowing neutral hues and thoughtful placement of furnishings, the house is a welcoming backdrop for fresh-picked flowers and elements that are reflective of the time of year, thus adding to its warmth. “I really enjoy seasonal décor. I like to subtly layer in the season to reflect what’s going on outdoors and at that time of year,” Taylor says. “For me, adding these details and creating a home is important because it is where my family is—and that’s everything.”

5 WAYS TO MAKE IT YOUR OWN
Want to give your new construction home a bit of character? Here are Keith’s tips for turning a spec house into a personalized dream home.

1 Change out the existing lighting and ceiling fans.
Whether it’s in the interior of the home or on the exterior, swap out any fixtures that don’t suit your style. This is such an easy fix and a way to bring your own style and personality to the space. Plus, you can use this as an opportunity to address any lighting concerns.

2 Paint the walls and ceilings.
We all know there’s nothing like paint to totally transform a room and make it reflect your style.

3 Swap out the cabinetry hardware.
Pretty pulls in a fun style and color can work wonders when it comes to transforming a bath or kitchen. I’ve found that Hobby Lobby and Anthropologie have great options.

4 Remove builder grade towel rings and bars in the bathrooms.
These are often oddly placed and can limit adding a piece of art or a mirror over the tub or beside the vanity. They’re easily removable, and minimal touch-up painting is usually required.

5 Incorporate vintage architectural elements.
These pieces add instant character. For example, I added a pair of large painted corbels to an otherwise unnoticed space that transitions from our kitchen to dining area. You can pick up these finds at local antique stores or outdoor vintage markets and add them to your home through the years.

Design Resources
Contractor Riggins Construction & Development
Interior design Keith Taylor
Bedding Fabric Gallery, Winterberry Home
Carpet—stairs, flooring, and tile Encore Flooring and Building Products
Fabrics Fabric Gallery, Heather Chadduck Textiles
Paint Benjamin Moore
Painting Jose Delgado
Rugs Abide Furniture
Upholstery Sprouse Upholstery, Inc.
Window coverings Fabric Gallery, Sheryl’s Sewing Room