Rodney Hines may best be recognized in one of his furniture stores in the SouthEnd. But his heart is in Elizabeth. After a months-long home search, Rodney and his partner, Mark Puckett, were about to give up when they looked out the window and found their perfect home. The home across the street came up for sale, but they didn’t think they could afford it until Rodney’s mother said the magic words—just ask!
So began a journey of blending tastes that are both high-style glam and traditional while creating a very cozy, 1,480-square-foot retreat. “I get so much inspiration from everything at the stores and I love a mix of different styles. Mark is very traditional,” says Rodney. So how do you blend the two styles? They looked to Chad Pruitt at Rodney’s High Cotton Home and The Furniture Connector stores. “Chad really pulled it all together,” says Rodney.
Creating a timeless look with smoky, masculine color tones and keeping with the character of an old home, the three set out to mix old with new. “You don’t need a lot of space to live right,” says Rodney.
In the guest room, Chad was able to mix items from both styles, including an antique furniture set that belonged to Mark’s grandmother. Chad updated the fabrics, added Rodney’s grandmother’s chenille bedspread and gave the room new life. “What’s so great about Chad is he really listens to what we said and we really trusted him,” says Mark.
The dining room features breathtaking Phillip Jeffries grass cloth on the walls that is hand-stenciled and a Michael Weiss round dining table, all from High Cotton Home. Rodney’s Asian flare can be seen in the artwork. Art throughout the home is all from friends or local artists. One even pays homage to their late friend (and Urban Home featured designer in several past issues) Gene Cline.
The gourmet kitchen, complete with double oven, warmer and prep sink has large-format tiles that reach the ceiling, creating the focal point. The butler’s pantry has a banquette that was cut down from Classic Attic. Vintage chintz fabrics are used on the sofa in the TV lounge along with a collage of wall art and a lamp that Mark had from his childhood.