In 1876, British textile wizard William Morris released Pimpernel, a coiling floral pattern. It was a good year for wallpaper in general, but he loved this particular pattern so much that he installed it in his own mansion in London. Across the pond in Louisville, Kentucky, nearly 150 years later, designer Amanda Jacobs sheathed the dining room of her clients’ decidedly smaller scale 1917 bungalow with it. “William Morris is on trend right now, but because this is a Craftsman home, it felt really appropriate,” Jacobs says.
The motif also kindled a storied-yet- timeless color palette that visually expanded the house, which is just over 2,000 square feet. “A lot of these are the colors of the earth,” the designer says. “When we stuck to those hues, it seemed to mesh it all together.” Bonus: Earthy undertones paired beautifully with the home’s original oak and walnut woodwork. “A huge thing that was always running through our minds was the original woodwork—we had to keep it,” she recalls. Their contractor stripped the shiny lacquer left by previous owners to restore a burnished, more authentic finish. To prevent it all from feeling stuffy, Jacobs balanced the classic touches with streamlined furniture.
Still, antiques from Europe—including a Flemish tapestry in the living room and a Swedish painting in the kitchen—bring a heady aura of history. The timeless vibe was worth fighting for; when a globe for the chandelier in the dining room shattered on the day of installation, “We thought, There’s no way we can find an exact replica,” Jacobs recalls. She and her design director beelined to a nearby architectural salvage store, where they rummaged for hours, “searching for eight globes until we found ones that matched.” This fixture is now one of her favorite details in the house—the definition of a happy accident. Call it a present from the past
Kitchen
“We didn’t want anything that felt modern here,” designer Amanda Jacobs says. Paint: Aganthus Green (walls and ceiling), Vintage Vogue (cabinets), Benjamin Moore. Backsplash, countertop, and island: Trademark Universal Stone. Pendant light: Crate & Barrel.
Reading Room
“We painted the fireplace, which was a dark, shiny brick red,” Jacobs says. “Now the woodwork stands out more.” Paint: Navajo White, Benjamin Moore. Sofa: Maiden Home. Chairs: AllModern.
Stairs
Family photos and drawings turn “a dull staircase into a vibrant journey,” Jacobs says. Paint: Limewash in 157 (walls), JH Wall Paints. New Providence Navy, Benjamin Moore. Runner: Ballard Designs.
Family Room
The owners are Orthodox Christians who collect icons, so Jacobs created this display above a carved acacia cabinet. Paint: Aganthus Green, Benjamin Moore. Table: West Elm. Chairs: Henning Kjærnulf.
A huge, old Flemish coatrack now holds hand towels and dishcloths while displaying antiques. The bench is painted in Vintage Vogue by Benjamin Moore to match the cabinets.
A Baroque-style walnut chair pairs well with an antique painting from Sweden. Floor tile: Antique Cotto Dynasty Palazzo, Bedrosians Tile & Stone. Island: Century Entertainment & Furnishings.
Dining Room
“Morris & Co. Pimpernel wallpaper envelops you in a beautiful pattern,” Jacobs says. Table: custom, HeadCase Studios. Chairs: Crate & Barrel. End chair: Soho Home.
Primary Bedroom
When a light-green–velvet upholstered bed was back-ordered, Jacobs pivoted to blue, changing the room’s color scheme. Paint: Peignoir, Farrow & Ball. Bed: Soho Home. Lamps: OKA with Cabana shades. Bedside tables: Safavieh. Bedding: Brooklinen, Rebecca Minkoff.
