See the stunning revival of a Richmond mansion

Ashley Taylor was well aware of his wife's taste for elegant, traditional, and as Georgian architecture as possible. So when I spotted a “For Sale” sign on a tree-covered lot in Richmond's Windsor Farms neighborhood, I knew it was a mid-1960s red-brick house with tall, slender columns added as an afterthought. I wasn't sure if it was suitable. Her wife, Gail, also appreciates the home's timeless, well-proportioned feel. “But if he sparks something,” she says with a laugh, “good luck!”

Fortunately, that spark had merit. The house had a presence and was on a desirable lot, so Ashley did a little research beforehand, as all good lawyers do before filing a lawsuit. That meant calling Dan Ensminger, a Richmond architect her family had previously worked with. . After a quick tour by car, Ensminger confirmed through cocktail napkin sketches that the facade could be given a Georgian look with a few tweaks. Relieved, Ashley pitched her wife, who didn't really need much convincing.

“It was definitely a house I had my eye on before, and I loved that it was set on this shady lot with a circular drive,” Gail recalls. “But it didn't live up to its full potential. I might have expected a more classic feel.” The floor plan was disjointed, and the decor was outdated, including a suspended ceiling in the kitchen with fluorescent lights. was. “It was very '60s and '70s, and not in a good way,” she added.

Their goal was to “bring the character back,” Gale said, initially working with Ensminger and then designer Ellie Poston Cooper of Richmond-based Ellie Poston Interiors. The project was started with the help of.

The family moved in after Ensminger reconfigured the front facade and entryway, added a pediment above the new portico and a more formal front hall. They juggled a precarious streak for nearly a decade while raising two sons who are now seniors in college. , and my daughter, who is currently in her third year of high school. Life was busy enough without major renovations. “We knew there would be a second phase, but going through the tricky twists and turns of this house gave us a better understanding of what we needed,” Gail says. The pause also allowed for their “preferences to fluctuate a bit,” she added. She says, “I wanted to blend modern and traditional, and that's where Ellie came in.”

Cooper's eye for injecting fresh flair with understated restraint is evident throughout the new addition to the rear of the house. The family room features expansive windows anchored by a 6-foot-long aubergine velvet banquette. This is definitely a statement piece and was initially a stretch for Gail. “But Ellie blends it so well. She helped me embrace color in a way I never imagined,” she says.

The Taylors have always loved art, and Gail credits Cooper with encouraging them to add fine art photography to their collection, particularly Bastien Wout's black-and-white photographs, which are the centerpiece of the family room. “I call her 'The Meditative Woman.' She's such a calming presence, so beautiful and natural. She's such a positive representation of black femininity for my children. I love watching it,” Gail says.

The family room opens to a new patio and outdoor living space and features overhead heating, a fireplace and a concrete coffee table “large enough to hold the largest cheese board,” Cooper said. In addition to Ashley's law firm and clients, Gail often hosts guests for children's celebrations: “The girls from my son's high school got their prom outfits here,” Gail says.

The overhaul included a brand new kitchen with a custom zinc and brass hood, “bringing an element of wow and a European feel,” Cooper says. Additionally, we needed a breakfast area, pantry, and mudroom. They also built an office for Ashley in the space where their old kitchen used to be, “just in time for the coronavirus pandemic,” Gail jokes. But now all five of us can be here without feeling like we're sitting right in front of each other. ”

Considering Gail's penchant for jewel tones, Cooper infused the powder room with ornate wallpaper and coated the pantry in raisin purple. “We leaned into it because it's a dark space. The high gloss reflects the light,” says the designer.

In the adjoining dining room, antiques and floppy taffeta curtains counteract that jazziness, and “it feels like Charleston or New Orleans,” says Cooper, who loves the old-fashioned sophistication of landscape wallpaper. say. “It's very magical and peaceful. I'm drawn to spaces that have a sense of place and time.”

They haven't yet reached the third phase of the renovation, which involves tackling the second-floor bedrooms and possibly adding a pool, but so far, the house has overcome what Ashley calls “more than just a house.”fresh prince of bel air At first it gave him pause. In the case of the Gale, an exterior facelift, better flow, and a clever blend of eras gave it the weight it lacked. “This house works so well and is so cute,” she says. “Ellie transformed my style into pattern and color. I never thought I could have two strong boys at home and still look this good.”