By Elizabeth Beeler Photography by Colleen Duffley

Old World StyleFlorida designer Andrew Howard maintains that his design style is nothing more than a reflection of his clients’ goals. If that’s the case, he’s successfully done his job, transforming a newly constructed residence into a family home that feels as if it could have been built a century ago.

“We wanted the house to look like it had been here for a while,” says the homeowner. “I loved the idea of creating the character of something old—but without the repairs.” Borrowing interior architectural and design

elements from French, Swedish, and Belgian influences, the four-bedroom home looks every bit as genuine as a historical original.

Howard set out to create a comfortable home for the family of four with a soothing pastel palette that lends airiness to the home’s gracious scale and proportions.

Powder blue sets the stage in the primary living space. To insert character, Howard added depth with layers of paint. “We color-washed the blue walls with coats of cream, slate gray, and off-white,” he notes.

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Living room Cream-colored sofas from Lee Industries face each other to promote easy conversation. The fabric on the spool chair from Hickory Chair picks up the blue of the walls. Accessories are from Mrs. Howard.Preceding pages Barley-twist iron railings and framed French postcards make for a dramatic entrance in this home designed by Andrew Howard.

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and patina of a century-old farmhouse. “I wanted the kitchen to feel like something more than just a place where food is prepared,” says Howard. “We created a space where people would want to gather.”

Nearby, the informal dining area features a shapely Venetian-arched niche and wide-plank oak floors. A French walnut dining table with barley-twist legs provides understated elegance. The choice of details contributes to an ambience rivaling the authenticity of a Provençal estate.

Furthering the home’s sense of age, heavy beam work overhead breaks up the expanse of ceiling and provides interest above eye level. A fireplace flanked by thick cased doorways gives the illusion of weighty masonry and connects the space to the adjacent dining area. Fireplace bricks laid in a herringbone pattern and an old-world limestone mantel play up European leanings.

In the kitchen, a trio of windows and a large dark-stained island add allure. Overhead, distressed beams offer the charm

Entry A landscape by Stephen Floyd creates an intriguing focal point.The hanging lantern is from Circa Lighting.Library Faux bois walls are MDF (medium-density fiberboard) grained to look like old cypress. “It’s a great way to get the feel of a wood-paneled room at half the cost,” says Howard.

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Dining area Lacking a separate formal dining room, the home includes an elegant eating space just off the kitchen, featuring a round walnut dining table custom made by Howard. The wine barrel chandelier from BoBo Intriguing Objects lends visual weight while the carved mirror from Made Goods offers a lighter, airier appeal.

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Kitchen Elegant Calacatta gold marble countertops and backsplashes blend with the room’s custom glazed cabinetry. The chandelier is from Visual Comfort.

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Master suite The vaulted ceiling is inexpensive knotty pine finished to look like bleached and pickled cypress. The bedding is from Mrs. Howard; the chandelier is from Visual Comfort.

Andrew Howard’s tips of the tradeCreate an enjoyable space A room is only as good as the people who occupy it. Rooms should be an enjoyable experience for family and guests.Never settle Don’t make decorating decisions based solely on durability. It’s better to have something you love than to settle for a piece because it might last longer.Let some pieces be the stars You don’t need to be over the moon about every element in a room. Let some pieces take a backseat.Don’t be afraid of color Each space should have its own mood—color is the best way to create that mood.Trust your designer We spend sleepless nights and countless hours thinking of ways to make your home wonderful.

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