Besides having one of the best names in design, Cathy Purple Cherry is known for her uniquely holistic approach to design, embodying the ability to meet both the lifestyle and emotional needs of clients.
In her first book, The Design of a Country Estate, Cathy offers a deeper look at the creation of a magnificent estate and working farm on the Chesapeake Bay. In our chat with Cathy, she shares insights into building her firm from the ground up, the creation of a magnificent country estate on the Chesapeake Bay, and the philosophy into her thoughtful, human-centric design process that has defined her decades-long career.
AVAILABLE NOW: order your copy of “The Design of a Country Estate” by Cathy Purple Cherry here.
What You’ll Hear This Episode:
- Cathy’s firm founding journey and distinctive name story.
- How her firm has grown since opening in 1993.
- What made her write her first book about a single project?
- Cathy shares a timeline of the Chesapeake Bay estate project, which took about 5 years from start to finish.
- Her personal experiences and influences in design philosophy, including raising a child with special needs.
- Cathy’s holistic approach prioritizes function and emotion.
- The role of millwork, light, and views in human-scaled spaces.
- Cost-conscious strategies and practical considerations.
- Designing tips to show your home and family’s unique personality.
Decorating Dilemma:
Hello, all,
Thank you for your podcast. I so enjoy listening to each episode and I’ve learned a tremendous amount from you and your guests! Your thoughtful approach to design is uplifting and encouraging.
I would like some assistance with decorating our very small entryway and hallway. It’s currently painted in an eggshell finish and I’m tired of the dirt, etc. that shows up from daily use. We have three kids 4 and under, and, as I’m sure you can imagine, all kinds of things end up on the walls!
I’m itching to do something fun here. My initial plan had been to apply wallpaper to the ceiling up to the bulkhead that appears 2/3 of the way down the hall (and possibly take it up the angled and vertical wall above stairs). However, now I’m considering a vinyl wallpaper for the walls instead – something with pattern and a bit of color to mask the dirt, and that can be thoroughly scrubbed. We’ve considered some sort
of millwork/paneling, but the hall is so narrow, I’m worried it would feel crowded. As you can see, it’s already chock full of coats and shoes (eventually we plan to convert part of the garage as a mudroom, but for the time being, I’m afraid this is the best we’ve come up with). I also suggested painting part or all of the wall a semi-gloss or gloss finish, but my husband worries it would look too modern.
My conundrum is this: the walls are unevenly long, i.e. the left wall is shorter in length than the right wall. So, do I run whatever treatment to the end of the walls and disregard the uneven lengths? Do we embrace the bulkhead and frame it out as a doorway of sorts and end our wall treatment there? Which wall treatment should we pursue? Please help! I am thinking myself in circles here and getting quite dizzy.
As you can see, our home is still under construction from when we replaced the flooring and redid the kitchen. Our walls are a warm white and the baseboards will be a light mushroom color. The floorboards are European oak and have a hint of gray in the finish.
We want this part of our home to feel like a breath of fresh air, vibrant, and a bit fun. I’m grateful for any feedback and suggestions!
Warmly, Jenn
Also Mentioned in This Episode
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Happy Decorating!
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