DREAM HOME

This year’s St. Jude Dream Home in Monroe was completed under the direction of several volunteers, artisans, designers and sponsors.

article by MARÉ BRENNAN | photography by STEVEN MYERS

St. Jude, the patron saint of desperate causes, found an earth angel in entertainer Danny Thomas, who founded St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee in 1962 with the dream that “no child should die in the dawn of life.” The mission of this storied hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay. Unlike other hospitals, the majority of St. Jude’s funding comes from individual contributions. Thanks to efforts like Monroe’s St. Jude Dream Home fundraiser, families never receive a bill from St. Jude, because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

This year’s St. Jude Dream Home in Monroe was built in North Monroe’s Bayou Trace subdivision under the watchful eye of contractor Brian Allen and his company, BRACO. Plans for the home were drawn by Ray Bendily Designs from Richland Parish. Lead interior designer on the project was Jan Hales Strickland, who was asked to choose the interior finishes, paint colors, flooring, tilework, lighting and hardware and to coordinate local area designers in staging the home for tours. All flooring and tile was donated by Shaw Floors, a national sponsor of St. Jude Dream Homes. Brizo, another national sponsor, donated all cabinetry hardware and plumbing fixtures.
The success of the St. Jude Dream Home lies with local sponsors and artisans as well, including Russell Moore, ACME Brick, Sherwin Williams, Michelle Miller with Coburn’s Lighting, Progress Lighting, LCR, BPI, Louisiana Stone, Joe Gremillion with Twin City Granite, Chad Sanders with Decorative Concrete Coatings, Marengo Bend Custom Fabrication, Danny Fontenot Vinyl Siding, George Word Electric, Woodland Custom Cabinets, O’Neal Gas, William Rucker with Rucker’s Custom Cabinets, Trey’s Landscaping, AAA Glass, Custom Carpets & Interiors, Duck & Dressing, and James Machine Works. Jo Tiffany Faulk of Sleepy Hollow Furniture generously loaned every piece of furniture for the staging of the home. Decorative accessories, bedding and artwork were sourced from local shops, including Louisiana Purchases, Woodstock, Coco’s Mercantile, Walsworth and Co., Fabulous Fabric and Material Things. Original artwork on loan throughout the home was provided by Sallie Bynum Anzelmo, Margaret Becton Cox, Lissy Sanders Compton, Catherine Leake of CDC Designs and Caroline Youngblood. Fresh flowers for the opening weekend of the Dream Home were styled by Fine Folks.
Lead designer for the 2018 St. Jude Dream Home, Jan Strickland is a licensed interior designer who grew up in the heart of Richland Parish. She began crafting her signature interiors at the tender age of sixteen. She and her husband moved back to Rayville three years ago after living in Alabama, where she received her interior design degree from the University of Alabama and worked for a large interior design firm, designing high end commercial and condominium projects.

Jan leapt at the chance to work on the interiors of the St. Jude Dream Home as a way of honoring the children and families of Northeast Louisiana who have been touched by childhood cancer. When Jan was in high school, she lost two of her close childhood friends, Amber Nicole Tamburo and Tiffany Greer, to the disease. One of Jan’s brother’s friends, Claude Benjamin Williams, also lost his fight as well. “Whenever I hear ‘St. Jude,’ the three of them come to my mind,” says Jan. Her work on the Dream Home helps her remember their lives with a gift that will ensure other children have the chance to live because of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Jan is particularly inspired by this year’s Dream Home honorees, local children Ava, Dylan, Asher, Sam and Cason, who know firsthand the hope and healing that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has to offer. Being a part of the St. Jude Dream Home team was a amazing experience for the designer. “Bradley Allen, Brian’s son, was the on-site contractor for this home and he did a wonderful job,” says Jan. She also praised her fellow designers and local store owners for their contributions to this noble cause.

The entrance to the 2018 St. Jude Dream Home is a welcoming space designed by Jan Strickland to set the tone for guests. A large abstract painting above a credenza with decorative panel doors were both sourced from Sleepy Hollow.

For the open floor plan kitchen, living and dining room, Jan commissioned local artist Garnett Robinson to create the large painting of a vibrant bayou scene. Rich purples and greens from the canvas, which hangs prominently above the fireplace mantle, provides color inspiration for Jan’s living room design. The room-sized rug from Sleepy Hollow and watercolor pillows from Louisiana Purchases are reminiscent of an Impressionist garden. Featured prominently in the living room are photographic portraits of St. Jude’s children from our area.
The beauty of the kitchen is all in the details. Jan had Wilbur Rucker of Rucker’s Custom Cabinets create the exceptional “X” detailing on cabinet doors and island cabinetry. Wall cabinets are painted a deep charcoal grey and contrast with island’s playful hue, ‘Coastal Plain.’ Unusual coordinating slabs from Louisiana Stone and Twin City Granite/BPI were chosen for the countertops and the large island. Two gilded open ironwork lanterns from Coburn’s provide task lighting above the island. Jan handpicked a textured backsplash tile from Shaw which adds a tonal, dimensional quality. Jan also commissioned Sallie Bynum Anzelmo to create custom painted oyster shells and glassware for this kitchen with Louisiana Oysters featured prominently.

The outdoor living area accessed through a door adjacent to the living room and kitchen is a study in chic neutrals. The iron outdoor furniture from Sleepy Hollow is made cozy with sofa cushions in solid beige accented with custom throw pillows and oversized chairs with cream and natural animal print cushions. The outdoor grill was provided by O’Nealgas with a custom cabinet by Woodland Custom Cabinets. Decorative Concrete Coatings artistry provided a faux finish to the patio floor to make ordinary concrete look like oversized tiles. An indoor/outdoor rug and citronella lantern from Sleepy Hollow completed the look.

Jo Tiffany Faulk of Sleepy Hollow Furniture, a lead sponsor for the Dream Home, adds that she “loves how each home takes on the feel of the lead designer, and Jan brought so much personality to this home.” This year, Sleepy Hollow worked with each room’s designer to custom make everything from custom pillows, beds, sofas and chairs upholstered to specifications. Each designer came in and was able to select fabrications and sizes of furniture so that each room is as unique as the children who travel to St. Jude for treatment. Even with five different designers the house feels like a home rather than a staged venue. Jo Tiffany emphasizes her store as a whole home option for those who are looking to refresh or start new in designing their own interiors. “We just launched a redesigned showroom, from the ceilings to the floor, and expanded to include about 8,000 square feet of outdoor furniture options as well,” says Jo Tiffany. “Outdoor spaces are such an integral part of our lives here in Northeast Louisiana; Sleepy Hollow is excited to offer great furnishings, from tables, chairs and sofas to accessories like citronella lanterns and outdoor safe art and rugs, for outdoor living rooms.” Jo Tiffany also explains that all of the furniture shown at the St. Jude Home is for sale with a percentage of the sale donated back to St. Jude. “Giving back to St. Jude really matters to us at Sleepy Hollow. It’s a great cause, and one we believe in.”

The eclectic dining room which opens into the kitchen and living room was designed by Taylor Bennett, a local designer who also has his roots firmly in Richland Parish soil. “I moved away in 2011 to work for a large church in Oklahoma and ended up working for West Elm, opening up stores for them,” says Taylor, who is one-half of the party-planning/floral design duo of Fine Folks. Taylor’s design work has been featured on blogs created by Architectural Digest, Design Sponge, West Elm and Nate Berkus. A large chandelier with Edison bulbs illuminates the length of the dining table, which features a delightful chevron patterned wooden tabletop. The table is part of the HGTV-famous Scott Brothers’ line of furniture, which is available at Sleepy Hollow. Dining chairs are upholstered in a mix and match fashion with head of table chairs covered in a buttery soft leather and guest chairs in a casual and neutral stripe. Fine Folks designed the artfully arranged fern centerpiece using moss-infused pottery sourced from Woodstock. Artwork and rug were found at Sleepy Hollow.

The master bedroom and its en suite bath were designed by adorable designer Shawn Brazzell, who is no stranger to working on the St. Jude’s Dream Home. “I have a personal friend who has been through a lot this year with her son and his cancer treatment at St. Jude. What struck me the most about their story is that their journey is well-traveled on a path that nobody chooses. I am reminded that we come out with scars, but also with some treasures,” explains Shawn. Their particular story helped Shawn develop her inspiration for the master suite, using green as a color representative of “new beginnings” – a reminder that St. Jude gives each of their patients hope for a new start. West Monroe-based artist Lissy Compton completed a triptych in charcoal and oils of cows for the room, as well as a painting entitled “Greener Pastures.” The triptych hangs above a petite sitting area with club chairs upholstered in a distressed green leather with nailhead trim. The wooden Shaker-style bed is outfitted in luxurious bedding from Coco’s Mercantile. Large floor cushions in a cream and green print were sourced from Sleepy Hollow.

“A house accessorized is like a lady with jewelry. It makes our jobs easier when we are able to use beautiful things from area stores to enhance our room design,” says Shawn, who chose accessories from Coco’s, Walsworth and Woodstock. A small landscape painting by Catherine Leake can be found on the bedside table.

The master bath is truly a retreat with a glass enclosed shower and separate oval soaking tub. Jan Strickland chose a diamond mosaic tile
from Shaw for the shower and wall treatments, which was expertly installed by Custom Carpet and Interiors. Shawn Brazzell chose a pair of small paintings by Catherine Leake, which brighten the area near the tub and a small landscape by Margaret Becton Cox near the shower. Oil rubbed bronze fixtures by Brizo add a classic touch to the bath.

A genius design feature of the home is an oversized laundry which can be accessed from the master bath or a hallway from the kitchen. Thick concrete countertops were created by Chad Sanders of Decorative Concrete Coatings with a dimensional decorative backsplash tile by Shaw chosen by Jan Strickland. Shawn Brazzell added accessories from Woodstock to the space and credits shop owners like Chelseie Summerville for their contributions of items from their stores for the staging of the St. Jude Dream Home.

The mudroom lockers were designed and built by Rucker’s Custom Cabinets with a headboard backing and ample storage for coats and essentials. Rebecca Robertson at Duck & Dressing provided clothing for the space.

Shawn adds, “No parent should have to choose whether or not their children get medical treatment, and St. Jude provides that free of charge. As a parent of four, that speaks to me. I am honored and privileged to be a part of the Dream Home for a second year. As designers involved in the process, we enjoy being together and working for a great cause.”

The home office is styled by Taylor Bennett and features a desk, a leather upholstered chair and open shelving from Sleepy Hollow. Two paintings from local artist Caroline Youngblood’s acclaimed “Riverton” series set the tone for the space. Large botanical prints and decorative accessories are sourced from Woodstock. The apothecary jar filled with alpaca yarn balls was a gift to Taylor from famed interior designer Nate Berkus. Other objects on the shelves include an old turtle shell and driftwood from Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Adds Taylor, “You’ll never find a room I design without a touch of fresh eucalyptus. It brings a fresh scent and life to any space.” Taylor was inspired to be part of the St. Jude Dream Home because his sweet cousin spent eight months at St. Jude just a little over two years ago. Caroline’s cancer was just diagnosed the day before the flood of 2016. The family was rebuilding their home at the same time as her treatment in Memphis. “I redesigned her room for her when she came home from treatment. She wanted it done in my signature style. I wanted lots of plants in her room and commissioned a friend to make a wall hanging. Knowing firsthand what St. Jude did for his own cousin, Taylor says it was an honor to design for this year’s Dream House, he was privileged to be asked to be a part of the process.
Will Copeland, yet another Richland Parish decorator to work on the St. Jude Dream Home in 2018 raved about his experience. “What a great team we have under Jan’s leadership. I designed the guest room and wanted it to feel very industrial farmhouse chic with simple, clean lines and beautiful textures.” The bed, sourced from Sleepy Hollow features richly stained wood with upholstered insets accented with nailhead trim. Bedding and pillows from Coco’s create a sumptuous retreat.

Will worked with fellow designer Emily Byrd on the guest bath, accessorizing the space with a shower curtain from Fabulous Fabric and items from Coco’s.

When Emily Byrd joined the designing crew at the St. Jude Dream Home, she knew the bedroom, with a soaring vaulted ceiling, which she was tasked to decorate would have to be a girl’s room and she knew the space was calling out for twin beds. Sleepy Hollow custom ordered the velvet navy headboards that make a statement against dreamy pink walls. Emily chose art from Catherine Leake to hang over each bed and a painting by Margaret Becton Cox as accents, adding “I love original and local art, especially when it fits the space. Ultimately the client has to live with it so it needs to speak to them. A lot of times art is the inspiration for rooms I design, or sometimes its a fabric or a rug.” The coverlets, drapery and pillows were custom made by Fabulous Fabric. The pink shams were from Coco’s and furry stools were found at Michael’s. Emily, a Louisiana Tech design school graduate who owns her own interior design firm, says she enjoyed getting to know the other designers and working for a great cause with great local shops that believe in the mission of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.