By TERRI GLAZER • Photography by RORY DOYLE
This Greenwood home is an eclectic blend of dramatic color and interesting collections, with a heavy dose of charm and comfort
“We call taste Southern contemporary because it’s definitely Southern, but it has a little bit of edginess about it,” decorator Rebecca Touchstone says of her client Amye Hill. A native Mississippian, Amye grew up steeped in traditional Southern style. She and her husband, David, make frequent visits to New Orleans, though, and are inspired by the aesthetic and culture of the Crescent City.
After residing in Calhoun City, where Amye served as mayor for four years, the Hills decided to move to Greenwood in 2021 to be closer to family. They discovered their soon-to-be home through word of mouth, fell in love with it, and before long found themselves moving into the two-story Greek Revival-style house in one of the town’s long-established neighborhoods.
Amye is quick to point out that the place was already beautiful. Built in 2011, it features a modern floor plan perfect for the way the Hills live. No major renovation work had to be done to bring the home into the 21st century.
Its French country aesthetic, however, didn’t reflect Amye’s love of color, pattern, and a touch of the unexpected. As serendipity would have it, she soon found the perfect partner to transform the house into a Southern contemporary showplace. After meeting Rebecca through a mutual friend whose home she had designed, Amye knew they had an immediate connection. “We just clicked,” she says. She scheduled a design consultation, and when the two met at Howard & Marsh Exchange, the downtown Greenwood home decor shop Rebecca owns, it was off to the races.
Rebecca recalls, “She was throwing ideas out and I started getting so excited. We kind of fed off of each other, and then we started choosing things from the ground up.” Literally. A beautiful and vibrant Hariz rug that the Hills already owned became the foundation for the project’s color palette. Next came paint colors. “We knew we didn’t want white walls. We wanted color, drama, some excitement. That’s more Amye’s personality,” she explains. “Color is coming back in the design world after years of neutral. Color makes us happy; we need color in our lives!”
The home’s front entry is as gracious and Southern as they come—a covered front porch with a herringbone brick floor, a haint blue ceiling, and a porch swing. Lush ferns in urn-shaped planters flank the six-lite French doors.
Upon stepping inside, the owner’s flair is immediately apparent. Lining the front stairway wall is a unique collection that masterfully blends elegant and eclectic—traditional with a twist and a definite nod to the Big Easy. “Rebecca and I have had hours of conversation and years of collecting to try to figure out exactly how it was going to come together,” says Amye. First came the gilded mirrors, some vintage, some new, and in a variety of shapes and sizes. Rebecca kept them in storage while the two waited for the perfect finishing pieces to come their way. Eventually, they did: a pair of double-arm sconces with fabric barrel shades and two John Richard carved panels.
Acquiring all the elements took a while, but both Amye and Rebecca agree the finished product was worth the time. “Patience is a virtue,” says Rebecca. “I think people sometimes rush into things because they just want their house filled, but a home is a collection, and in order to get it right, you have to wait for the right thing to come along.”
The drama continues on both sides of the foyer. To the right is a gem of a space that serves as a keeping room/game room/home office for the Hills. Bathed in Benjamin Moore Dragon’s Breath, the walls set the moody tone, giving the room an intimate, but not dark, feel. Rebecca anchored the decor around pieces the couple brought from their previous home, a zebra hide rug and a pair of Bergere chairs upholstered in leopard print. “I knew I wanted green velvet somewhere,” says Amye of the handsome button-tufted sofa. Rebecca selected a set of panels that pair the look of classic toile with more contemporary gilding. Continuing the unique theme, the room’s other furnishings range from a bust of the Greek god Apollo displayed on a pedestal to a chrome and wood bar etagere to a whimsical black swan light sconce that hangs above the desk.
Across the entryway, the dining room is a seamless blend of sophistication and comfort that was a must for Amye. “I wanted it to be comfortable and large enough to seat several guests. I love nothing better than cooking for people and enjoying food together. We stay in there for hours.” Saturated color on the walls creates a cozy atmosphere and a perfect backdrop for the room’s decor centerpiece, a striking stylized portrait titled Golden Muse. Paired with a more traditional gold and crystal chandelier, the brass-legged dining table and t-back chairs prove that classic and contemporary can coexist beautifully.
Situated in the rear of the home, the kitchen and family room flow together in an open concept. Vibrant color takes center stage in the main living area, beginning with the rug that inspired the project. Twin armchairs in burnt orange leather punched up with tiger-striped accent pillows make a bold statement. “I had that color leather in my other home, and I hated to leave it behind, so we incorporated it here,” says Amye. The furnishings reflect the homeowner’s affinity for Chinoiserie. “I think it’s just so timeless. My mother’s house had a lot of Oriental inspiration, so I guess I grew up with it, and I love it,” she says.
Between the living room and kitchen, Rebecca used clever furniture placement to create a cozy keeping area. Plush velvet armchairs reprise the orange theme. They sit alongside a chest inscribed with a classic white willow motif. The tableau faces the kitchen island, facilitating conversation with the cook when guests come for dinner. A single pendant in brilliant brushed gold hanging over the island brings the drama. Across the room, an antique Victrola topped with part of Amye’s beloved silver collection lends a decidedly Southern element.
Bold hues give way to more muted ones in the primary suite, but lighter doesn’t equate to dull. Benjamin Moore Dolphin on the walls establishes a serene feel and blends with luxurious neutrals, metallics, and a touch of deep pink to evoke a cloudlike environment. Neutrals in warm and cool tones give the adjoining bathroom a luxurious ambiance. The designer and client decided to work with and around existing travertine rather than mounting a complete redo. Elegant Thibaut wallpaper that blends the creams of the tumbled marble with the grays of the bedroom ties the two spaces together expertly. A patterned rug and new drapes with stately Greek key trim complete the room’s renovation.
Amye admits her eclectic Southern contemporary style might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it suits her perfectly, and Rebecca interpreted that vision impeccably. “She knew exactly what I wanted. She got it.”
It’s clear that this homeowner is thrilled with her finished project—almost finished, that is. “We still have a few things to do when the right thing comes along,” she says with a laugh.
“When we see it, we’ll know it,” adds Rebecca. And indeed, they will.
