More demolition followed as the team oversaw the removal of elements that brought down the aesthetic: Built-ins were torn out, along with cabinets, countertops, and more.
Notes James, “We needed a clean canvas.” In conjunction with her daughter Ashley Crooks, her husband John James, and fellow designer Kelsey Rowe, James set out to “paint the mood of the home” and make the Sonniers’ design dreams come true.
“We strive to capture the spirit of the clients. And the way we do things is basically a family thing,” says James. “Ashley graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design with a concentration in fashion and textiles, so she brings that kind of expertise—a more layered look—to our work. And my husband has an art degree. We love to collaborate!”
As they designed the rooms for this project, the team considered their clients’ love of entertaining. “The Sonniers have excellent taste, so we tried to make everything feel a little bit indulgent, a little bit sensual,” James says. “But we didn’t want it to feel like you couldn’t touch anything. We went for European modern with comfortable accents.”
Just through the front door, the once-heavy entryway and hallway now open up into a clean pathway, giving a lovely view to the back of the home. James explains that the hallway originally had 16 electrical switches and now has only three to keep that area “clean and wide open.” To the left, the dining room contains a buffet that was already in the Sonniers’ possession, along with a Lillian August dining table, custom chairs, and French antiques.
