P R O F I L E | S E A N A N D E R S O N D E S I G N
the stunning Alabama fieldstone on the home's exterior—the rest
is forcefully unaffected.
"I think the ethos of the home itself is rooted in its connection to
the exterior, and obviously it played a tremendous influence
in the selection of materials," Anderson says of the design's
dialogue with the outdoors. Along with massive, sweeping
windows that allow for unimpeded views throughout the home,
the neighborhood, Anderson notes, has a large, aged stone wall
snaking through it, "so it only felt appropriate to bring some of
that sense of permanence inside. Since the landscape scheme
is breezy and unfussy, I worked to ensure that was reflected
throughout the interiors in the fabric choices and textures."
What's more, the vastness of the structure required Anderson
to be deliberate about decoration. "It can be tempting to fill
these cavernous spaces with a bunch of stuff," he confesses,
"but fortunately the architecture of this home offered so much
interest that I decided to let the furnishing and décor breathe a
little bit." This selection includes Anderson's own contributions
to the house—he designed several case goods, the dining table,
a sunroom sofa with incorporated cocktail table, a sofa cocktail
table, a wooden wall art piece, and a steel wardrobe.
The home's dusky hues, meanwhile, highlight slight eccentric-
ity. With the husband a self-proclaimed "treasure hunter" who
has amassed a menagerie of objects from various adventures,
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including a pencil sketch by American artist James Bama,
Anderson made it a point to incorporate these curiosities in
frames and well curated displays throughout the house. In the
great hall, for example, is a group of antique brass railway pay
cheque cans, and in the husband's master bathroom, an array of
antique razors and shaving brushes. None of it is overdone—the
home is one of incredible balance and smart aesthetic choices.
"It really hits all the marks for me—the textures, the colors, the
materials, the functionality," Anderson says of the "high/low,
new/old mix" for which he always strives. "I think it's beautifully
captured in this project."
That Vestavia Hills reads as simultaneously fresh and timeless
is characteristic Sean Anderson. He is a designer of audacious
self-possession. His willingness to break the rules, to the extent
he recognizes them, is not performative; he's not an apostate of
design doctrine. He simply works from the heart. Vestavia Hills
is a home full of heart—and a great deal of soul, too.
seanandersondesign.com
38 DIGS.NET
| 3.25.2022
