THE ORIGINAL HOMEOWNER COMMISSIONED AMY Slaughter of Slaughter Design Studio to design the interior of the house, including architectural features like incorporating antique doors and glass panels at the entry. A few years later, the homeowner sold the house and it was immediately acquired by new homeowners who also hired Amy to refresh the interior design with their personal preferences.
“It’s kind of an interesting story, and this has only happened twice in my career where I worked on a home for the first set and then changed it for the second set of owners,” shared Amy.
The original homeowner, who owns an extensive cultural collection, had an eclectic mix of furnishings and art, and a strong fashion sense. “She had a lot of more ornate furnishing that she wanted to incorporate, like an antique Chinese mirror, Eames chair, Buddha statue and Rococo cabinet, so that led to a kind of romantic, bohemian vibe. The second owner also appreciated the international flavor, so they didn’t want to make too many changes, but the ones we did make were simpler, more modern or Midcentury,” explained Amy.
The intention of the original house was to create something that was different than anyone else’s house in Boot Ranch. The homeowner adored the idea of old antique doors and so Amy’s team found a craftsman in California that could make new ones using the traditional construction methods but built to size, which was what was needed in the case of the primary bedroom where it was impossible to change the size of the entryway.
“She had all of these interesting cabinets that really stablished the flavor of the first house. Those pieces really drove the color palette. They tapped into the design concept of her home,” said Amy.
“We came in from the very beginning, which is how we were able to incorporate things like the old doors and flooring, and design the vent hood,” she said. “This is absolutely my strong suit as I have a real depth of knowledge in construction. That’s my degree; I’m an interior designer, not a decorator. So, if we can improve it, customize it, make it a healthier, truer representation of the homeowner’s tastes, those are all the things we really want to do.”
In this case, Amy used the architect’s builder’s drawings as a template and then created their own drawings inhouse, implementing her vision and modifications. However, Amy explained that when it comes to her brand and personal style, that she, surprisingly, doesn’t have one.
“At this point, I’ve done a little bit of everything from historical to hospitality, turnkey mountain homes and even an Art Deco restoration in downtown Chicago. I don’t know if I would even recognize my own personal style,” she expounded. “I was a military brat and every few years we’d move, so I’d have to adapt to a new environment. I didn’t realize it at the time, but in retrospect, I feel like it gave me the ability to adapt and intuit different people’s styles, their wants and needs.”
For Amy, it’s really all about building a relationship with the client. The more she knows and works with a client, the more time she spends with them understanding what they love in their work and home life — their lifestyle patterns, she calls them — the better she’s able to design a space.
In the beginning of her career, she used a questionnaire to ascertain the client’s style and interests, but now she likes to let things happen organically, allowing for the heretofore unknown and unseen.
So, it was about three or four years later that the homeowner decided to sell her incredible home. As it sits on 17 acres, it requires a lot of upkeep. According to Amy, it was fortuitous timing for both parties. The new homeowners simply loved the bones of the house. “I changed very little of it, but it provided an opportunity to elevate the existing design aesthetic, which was really
fun,” she said.
The primary bath required two sinks, not one, so Amy had to rip out the vanity and find new mirrors — beautiful antique, camel bone. She changed out the light fixtures over the kitchen island, did some painting and lightened up a few of the rooms.
One of Amy’s favorite new spaces is the powder room, where they added wallpaper and distinctive touches to elevate the space. She even shared a trade secret for finding such unusual elements — Etsy.
While creating such a deliciously romantic and eccentric space might seem daunting and perhaps impossible to replicate, it never hurts to try. Of course, don’t hesitate to call on Amy to give it that special Slaughter Design Studio touch!
AMY SLAUGHTER DESIGN STUDIO
830-307-3397 | SlaughterDesignStudio.com