Parker Bowie Larson, style director at Parker Bowie Larson, explains how she achieved the look and why leaving was hard.
My husband Scott and I chose a brick Ranch house from the 1950s. It was a weekend getaway from the hectic work life in New York City. We were just married and had no children (yet). We were excited and full of possibilities. I was excited to try interior decorating myself, having worked for interior design magazines all my career and seen the most beautiful living spaces worldwide.
ELLE DECOR’s style director Parker Bowie Larson is standing in the entryway of her home.
We were literally in the dark at times. We were without lights for our first night because we did not consider the fixtures in the house. We slept in 40-degree temperatures thinking the burner was broken. The heating company told us that we had run out of oil. Why didn’t we contact them right away? My husband and I discussed our budget and realized we’d need to renovate the house in phases. We could live with folding tailgating chairs as living room furniture for longer than expected. The previous owners left us beautiful blue and white curtains made by Kravet.
The living areas of Parker Bowie Larson’s house were railroaded, so she chose a round clamshell-top dining table and Rajasthan bone inlay chairs by Made Goods to Break up the rectangular shapes of the spaces.
The first step was determining the best way to utilize the available living space. Our house had 3, and the floor plan was oddly railroaded. Each room flowed into the next. The first room had a wooden ceiling perfect for a TV room. I replaced the tailgating chair with a David Easton Sofa from Kravet. A small antique desk for writing letters and an ottoman in Hill Brown fabric were also added.
The largest of the three rooms, with its beautiful fireplace, would be perfect for a formal living room. Thanks to the blue-and-white Kravet curtains, I could stick with my favorite color scheme. So, I reupholstered two antique burgers using a Manuel Canovas Bagatelle Fabric with a coordinated houndstooth design on the back. For the dining room, I chose a circular table with Indian bone inlay chairs. My favorite pieces came via truck from North Carolina, my home state: antiques that belonged to my grandmother. Having their furniture around us was comforting, as I’ve always been close to my grandmother. The handwritten note from my grandmother describing where each piece came from was a special touch.
Larson selected wallpaper from By for the bedroom’s main wall. Antoinette Poisson Anchor the room. The Bed is by Jonathan Adler. Matouk makes the bedding. Bunny Williams Home makes the table lamp; the bedside table is made by Villa & House. Stark makes the rug.
You will always remember your first love, as you will never forget your first home. Our house was our refuge during the pandemic. We will never forget how it welcomed our three daughters home. In settling into our new home, I have taken the lessons we learned from our previous one. First and foremost, it is OK to take things slowly. Second, and perhaps most importantly, your home should express you. It would be best if you didn’t hesitate to choose the objects and patterns you like. I’ll leave the tailgating chair behind.
