Designer Cheryl Sheehy turns to earthy neutrals to unite a client’s collection of eclectic furniture and art.
By Christina Poletto
Photography by Erik Kowalski
The historic homes in the College Hill neighborhood of Providence, R.I., have always been deeply revered by designer Cheryl Sheehy for their timeless architecture. So, when Laurel Davis Huber, author of the award-winning historical fiction novel The Velveteen Daughter, sought design guidance for a trio of spaces in her renovated condo on Benefit Street, Sheehy was delighted to return to an area that was so familiar and appreciated.
The residence, which had been renovated years before, was located within a historic building completed in 1854. The scope of the project was just shy of 1,000 square feet and encapsulated the main gathering rooms where Huber could entertain, watch television, and dine.
Sheehy, an interior designer with Surroundings Interior Design at the River Shops in Mattapoisett, recalls the delight of seeing beautiful tall ceilings and intricately carved moldings during an initial visit. “I found it astounding. I just wanted to get up on a ladder and investigate. I haven’t seen moldings like that in Providence,” she says.
Structural changes were not required for the space, and the scope of work was limited to enriching the areas within using a curated selection of fabrics, furnishings, and fixtures. The overall goal, explains Sheehy, was to create a seamless palette that thoughtfully united Huber’s collection of vintage furniture and art while celebrating the home’s history. “The goal was to create comfortable entertaining spaces that allowed the collection to shine and bring everything together.”
Huber, who had never worked with a design firm before, knew she wanted to achieve coherence in the rooms among her eclectic furnishings, including a Moroccan chest, antique chaise, Art Deco armoire, and a Chinese settee. Huber also wanted to add select modern furniture to the mix. “It was my first time working with a designer. I have always loved doing my own décor as I have eclectic tastes. The condo had a rather massive living room, and I wanted to be sure to get the balance right and knew that could be tricky. I wasn’t wholly confident I could pull that off,” says Huber.
Another significant component of the project was Huber’s personal collection of artwork. “I had two 9-foot by 6-foot paintings, and these are rather bold modern pieces.” They became the focal points of the living room and the study. Huber also owned 18th-century portraits as well as a small number of dark interior scenes. “The important thing, of course, was that my new furniture should be elegant and interesting but not so elegant and interesting that it clashed or competed with the art,” she says.
Sheehy appreciated the challenge of selecting items that needed to work harmoniously with different periods and styles. This meant curating rich fabrics that delivered depth and texture, such as the Ambella sofa outfitted in Nina Campbell fabric. “There is so much life to this fabric,” she says.
Chairs selected for the three spaces—a mix of pieces from Arteriors, Herman Miller, and Kravet with a Christopher Farr Cloth fabric—deliver subtle hints of color throughout. In the living room, a chaise covered in an animal print fabric from Schumacher invites a touch of the unexpected. “It’s a great animal texture and pattern that worked really beautifully with the geometric feel of the rug,” says Sheehy. Underfoot, the hand-knotted and custom rugs were acquired by Huber from Loominous Rug Gallery in Providence. Tables are from Made Goods, Noir, and Arteriors.
Walls were kept white. “It’s less disruptive. People really like quietness on the walls,” says Sheehy. Handsome, earthy shades across the furnishings and fabrics created a comfortable and harmonious aesthetic from room to room. To achieve this tonal balance, Sheehy integrated furnishings created of mixed woods to complement the multitude of stone-colored neutral textiles. The occasional exclamation of color, including the living room side chairs in a deep shade of blue and the antique settee in a verdant hue of Jane Churchill fabric in the dining room, celebrate other tones of Mother Nature while playing off the textiles nearby. In all the spaces, a sophisticated hint of black, whether in furniture, fixtures, or artwork, invites contrast that’s grounding and attention grabbing.
Huber was delighted with the finished rooms, and with the overall experience. “Cheryl was a delight to work with. She understood the mix of old and new, and when she presented me with several options for items, she was always on the right track. I was surprised how happy I was to let someone else do all the research and I could just say yes or no. It made life very easy for me!”
For Sheehy, a Rhode Island native, it was a pleasure to create finished and welcoming interiors in a neighborhood she cherishes. “I have been meandering the historic streets of Providence for decades. I’m often awestruck by the fantastic homes on the East Side of Providence and have had the good fortune to work in many. The architectural details in this home were stunning. While my main objective is always to ensure my client’s happiness, grand homes bring with them another sense of duty. It’s like being a steward and adding our own layer to their rich history,” she says. “How lucky [we are] to be part of that.”
