The sunroom’s original ceramic tile sparkles with an iridescent patina. An original bay window is adorned with leaded frosted glass.
Featured Homes
A Beauty to Behold
An authentic restoration makes a grand statement with impeccable style.
BY
Vicki Pickle
PHOTOGRAPHY
Michael Jacob


Shades of coral wrap the dining room with a soft, inviting palette.


A sweeping entryway welcomes guests with a terrazzo marble floor and impressive staircase.


A charming sunroom, with a view of the fragrant magnolia trees that line the western side of the property, adjoins a second floor guest room draped in soothing shades of green with black accents.


The extraordinary kitchen transformation showcases striking “sunset cream” granite by Global Granite & Marble and custom fabrication by Marble & Granite Worldwide.


One of the home’s several welcoming guest rooms blends handsome toile wallcovering fabric and bedding in striking combination. The adjoining bathroom is complete with original fixtures that add a touch of nostalgia to the space.
On Kingsbury Place, spectacular turn-of-the-century homes line one of the Central West End’s most historic and prestigious boulevards in regal formality. One of the magnificent residences on the 2008 Central West End House and Garden Tour is the home of Rick and Susan Moose. The home’s impressive restoration is a testament to the couple’s appreciation and affection for houses with history.

The couple bought the Mediterranean Revival-style home in April of 2004. It was designed by architect William Crowell of the firm Mauran, Russell & Crowell between 1914 and 1916. The architectural style is an eclectic design style that came into prominence in the United States in the early 1900s and reflects the architectural influences of the Mediterranean coast. The home’s elaborate, classical detailing includes prominent arches and balconies, baroque decoration, and both wood and wrought iron ornamentation that are customary to the villa-inspired style. Susan recalls, “I was immediately taken by the home, especially the living room; it enveloped me with its character.” An original, carved oak staircase with a filigree pattern winds through the home’s three levels in majestic style, and the elegant dining room is a genuinely inviting space for formal dining and twilight ambience. The home’s abundance of unpainted, natural wood – predominantly cherry, oak and walnut – drew the couple to the fascinating, historic home at first sight.

Rick and Susan immediately began the hands-on process of restoring and rejuvenating their historic residence, placing great value in the home’s impressive architecture, natural beauty and sound structure. “Rick and I have a passion for taking a house with great bones and fully utilizing its potential. We love being able to give this house a second life,” admits Susan. “We’ve added to its longevity,” Rick continues, in recognition of their contribution to the home’s future life on Kingsbury Place, long after the couple’s tenure as the sixth owners of the property.

Displayed with eloquence in the home’s original, magnificent sunroom is one of Susan’s favorite sayings, adapted from a quote by Mark Twain. Applied to the walls above stunning French doors with artistically designed transom windows are the serene words by the beloved author that serve to fill the spacious home with sincerity, conviction and gladness – “Our house has a heart and a soul. We live in the peace of its benediction. We cannot enter it unmoved.” And with serendipitous success, Rick and Susan welcomed the enormous task of recreating spaces, one at a time, on each of the home’s levels. And throughout the process, the couple was committed to respecting the authenticity and character of the structure, architectural details and essence of the formidable, yet inviting, house. “We feel privileged to be caretakers of the home’s legacy,” says Rick.

Having previously restored a house built in 1924 on Skinker Boulevard, the couple admittedly put their hearts and souls into each project. “We are happy to be able to give back to the community, and we love our central location on this beautiful boulevard in the heart of a busy, revitalized city,” says Rick. Without a doubt, the restoration of their home on Kingsbury Place has certainly been a labor of love for the multi-talented couple. Sewing all of the home’s window treatments, Susan’s love for decorating and use of fabric to enhance each space blends perfectly with Rick’s expertise in engineering and passion for space planning.

“Although Susan and I have our own styles and techniques, we appreciate that we are accomplishing the same goal,” says Rick, who admits that they often spread out and work on separate rooms simultaneously. Rick enjoys collaborating with industry professionals involved in the remodeling aspect, while Susan visits local shops for just-the-right fabrics and accessories. “The process is so enjoyable, and we admire the artistry and craftsmanship of the talented people who have contributed [to the home’s renovation] to make it all materialize,” remarks Susan.           

The home’s palatial style invites either formal or more casual gathering and entertaining. With a combination of four children and five grandchildren, the home’s generous indoor and outdoor space allows for frequent get-togethers. “We like to entertain and have family and friends over.  The layout of the home is circular and has a great flow – perfect for entertaining,” says Susan.

At the heart of the home is the spectacularly remodeled kitchen with its grand view of the outdoors through extraordinary windows that maintain the original arched architectural design. The couple enjoys the southern exposure with an undraped view, where luscious magnolia trees sweep across the backdrop year-round. The room’s expansive custom-designed granite island is a favorite spot for relaxing and enjoying a light meal or cup of coffee. The “sunset cream” granite is carried through to matching butler pantries that are original to the home. The cabinetry provides unique display niches for Susan’s collection of vintage toasters.

Appreciating the authentic richness of the house, the couple has created spaces that sincerely exude warmth and character. The impressive bedrooms and adjoining baths on the home’s second level were luxuriously planned and beautifully enhanced, while keeping in place many unique features that add an aura of history and life to the well-lived and beckoning spaces. With attention to every detail, Rick and Susan imagined and created a home for themselves with an historic presence, and that also includes plenty of special spaces for their grandchildren, who declare their favorite “sleeping rooms” on frequent, much-loved visits.

“We are happy with the fact that our house feels lived in. We consider it a compliment,” says Susan with a smile.