Cribs ~ Van & Sean

Welcome to my version of Cribs!  (Do you remember MTV’s Cribs, where they went into celebrities’ homes and gave viewers a tour of their spaces?)

My friend Van, while not a celebrity, does have a beautiful home full of unique pieces and thoughtful details.  She and her husband Sean were gracious enough to allow me and my personal photographer – a.k.a. the most awesome sister in the world: Beth Furgurson – into their home in order to share the images with you.  So, grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, sit back, relax, and enjoy this episode of Cribs!
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Upon entering their home, you immediately get a feel of Van’s style – chic, global, and comfortable.  She has an eye for beautiful pieces and combines the pieces she finds in an effortless way.

Room #1 ~ Living Room

For example, Van anchored the living room with an estate sale rug, and layered it with a new ottoman (don’t you love the light blue color & the nail head trim?!) and a cabinet she found at a local antiques store (Sheppard Street Antiques).

I love the lamps she chose to flank the fireplace.  Sitting atop trays and paired with a simple piece of art, they provide the perfect accent to the room.

On the left wall of the living room, Van placed this beautiful console table and topped it with family photos.  What a wonderful way to display special photos of family members from several generations!

Room #2 ~ Dining Room

I love the mix of colors and styles used in the dining room: the white chairs mixed with the wood table; the green corner cabinet against the palest of blue walls; and the geometric area rug that ties the room together.

The focal point of the dining room is the green corner cabinet.  Van found this piece at a shop in Charlottesville, VA (that is now closed).  The details on the doors and the bold color make such an impact in the room.

For an effortless centerpiece, Van found inspiration from one of her favorite hobbies.  A few spools of yarn placed in a wooden bowl add a simple, yet personalized touch to the room.

Room #3 ~ Office

Van and Sean’s office is both functional and stylish.  Soft colors and repainted pieces work together to make the room comfortable and charming.

A playful touch in the office is this zebra head that Van found at Ruth & Ollie.  He is papier-mâché made of old French newspapers.

Room #4 ~ Kitchen & Eat-in Area

To provide their family with more living space, Van and Sean put an addition onto the back of the house.  Included in the plans of the addition was a larger, updated kitchen.  Van found this work bench at an antiques store and knew she had to have it.  They planned the whole kitchen around the work bench in order to use it as the center island.

Adjacent to the kitchen is the family’s eat-in area.  Van found the English gate leg table at Kim Faison Antiques here in Richmond, VA.

Placing a bench on one side of the table provides extra seating for family and friends.  I love the story that goes with the bench: “We purchased the bench from Sheppard Street Antiques.  It was found in a barn and we had it cleaned only partially so that it would be restored, but so that you could still see the green paint someone had spilled on it in the barn.”

Sometimes the best pieces can be found while you’re on vacation or out of town.  Van found the pendant light for the eat-in area at Brocante Home in Irvington, VA near where her family has a river house.

Between the eat-in area and the kitchen is a nook for holding books and other accessories.   A photo collage of Van and Sean’s two adorable children adorn the walls giving the space a personal touch (photos by Beth Furgurson ).

Room #5 ~ Family Room

The family room houses Van’s favorite piece – the media cabinet.  When searching for a media cabinet, Van could not find a traditional one that she liked and felt fit the style of their home.  Sean found a solution to their problems: the Hot Link Pro.  The Hot Link Pro is a sensor that allows you to hide A/V equipment behind opaque doors.  (Who knew there was such a thing?)  This technology allowed Van to use an antique Swedish cabinet to store their cable box and DVD player.  The piece also has plenty of space for the kids’ movies, books, and games.

Unique furniture is not the only thing that Van and Sean collect.  One of the most special pieces they own is the sea grass basket hand made from Edisto Island, SC.  The dog painting by a local Richmond artist compliments the basket for a lovely vignette.

I hope you have enjoyed this episode of Cribs!  I love all of the pieces in Van and Sean’s home, but I think my favorite part is that it all feels so welcoming and livable.  Of all the unique and beautiful pieces, there is nothing that is off limits or too precious to sit on.
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*A huge thank you to Van and Sean for opening their home to us and for allowing me to share it with you.

*Also, a special thank you to Beth Furgurson for capturing such beautiful images.

º What is your favorite part of the tour?  (I’m having a hard time picking just one thing!)

º Did you know about the Hot Link Pro?