Refresh, Repurpose And Rejoice

In the dining room glazed blue-tone grass paper covers the walls. An antique celadon bowl holds an arrangement of orchids and Spanish moss.

Some people are meant to meet. Take Jennifer Elmore and France Kenyon, for instance. While Elmore, who owns A Shade Better and Jennifer Elmore Interior Design, was in her second-floor studio working on a project, France was in the showroom below, looking for a lampshade. As luck would have it, Elmore went downstairs in search of some artwork and the two women met. 

The timing couldn’t have been better for France. “For a number of years I had been struggling with the tone of our home. I wanted the rooms to exude serenity, calm and beauty as our lives are so hectic with all that my husband Bill and I do,” she says. She had previously tried various approaches, but nothing came close to what she envisioned. She was ready to try again. Seizing the moment, France invited Elmore to her house to take a look around and talk about what could be done over a cup of coffee. 

As a result, Elmore saw both the problems and the possibilities. “France wanted her rooms to feel like her, to be personal, not ‘decorated,’ but she didn’t know how to make that happen. She had some wonderful collections, which were very important to her. Some were hers, and others belonged to her mother; but they weren’t being used to their full beauty,” says Elmore. “France and I share a love of antiques and unique one-of-a-kind items, so we really connected.”