real house, real style: virginia mary

when i opened up my latest issue of traditional home, i was really drawn to one particular home. it had a layered, casual elegance to it that i found really appealing. as i read the story, i was surprised to learn that the decorator of the home is the homeowner, virginia mary brown, a former corporate attorney and mother of 4 boys. she claims that she is "addicted to home design books and magazines and to decorator showhouses", and the design of her home is inspired by the many showcase houses she has toured. 

she worked with architect dillon kyle to bring the decorating ideas that she had been gathering for years to life in her new home. i am head over heels in love with the final result. 

what i love:

the grey doors!!

the very traditional sofa upholstered in crisp white and paired with a sisal rug.
the blue chairs.

the reclaimed brick floors (from the homeowners grandmothers house) are laid in a herringbone pattern.

*drool.

for such a traditional home, the mantle is surprisingly modern and simple, don't you think? i really like contrasts like this.

 the very traditional dining table and chippendale chairs are balanced with a textural, graphic rug. in fact, you can find similar ones right now at west elm. 

 i adore the sliding barn doors...we did similar looking doors in the basement of house #5.

what i am loving here:

the soft grey cabinets.

the lights over the kitchen window.

the metal chairs around the wood table.

oh, and that STOVE. me wants it.

 i think i spy some silk curtains! (yum!) notice all of the pairs in this room? 

 love this. every inch of wall space is used....i want to redo the portrait wall in our house to look similar to this.

 the accents of gold and lavender really make this room beautiful. 

this is one of the boys rooms...isn't that dog art great? so perfect for a kids room.

so, what do you think? with enough time and money, do you think you could pull off the design of your dream house....or would you bring in a professional designer?