Text by Bethany Adams
For Autumn and Kirby Ingram, life brought a lot of changes at once—including their first child and a move from Atlanta, Georgia, to the island community of St. Simons. Adding a new home build to the list, then, called for a helping hand. “They needed someone to really see the new build through and help them during the building process while fully furnishing the home,” says Lindsey Spearman, owner of interior design company L. Spearman, who stepped in to help create the perfect space for the growing family to put down permanent roots.
Keeping in mind the Ingrams’ first baby on the way, Lindsey approached the design with the intention of balancing beauty and durability. But the spirit of the home drew from Autumn’s traditional tastes—and a bit of Lindsey’s influence. “She really gravitated toward that classic palette of blue and white,” says Lindsey, who shared Autumn’s love of the traditional but wanted to step outside of the homeowner’s comfort zone in the execution.
As a result, timeless elements took on fresh and sometimes playful updates, turning a home that, at first glance, seems subdued and understated, into a trove of details to be discovered. “They’re a young family, so I wanted to bring some liveliness into each room, and some personality,” Lindsey says. While Autumn was adamant that she didn’t want the home to feel beachy or clichéd, Lindsey introduced a seaside spirit in subtle touches like bamboo dining chairs with what she calls a driftwood finish. The Chippendale-style chairs pair with an all-white table and chandelier, both of which add their own charms to the space.
In fact, lighting was a major outlet for expressing the home’s unique personality, and pieces like the delicately detailed lanterns over the kitchen island were crucial to the design. Similarly, Lindsey sought out all-white furniture that had plenty to offer outside of color. “I think part of my love for white is that you can really focus on the piece itself,” she says, noting that she likes to consider features like the texture, hardware, and other details. “You know—all the little things.”
Leaning into layers of white had the added benefit of really showcasing the many prints and patterns Lindsey used to introduce color into the home—like the classic blue-and-white botanical design on the bedding in the primary bedroom.
The attached bathroom is an intentional departure from the overall palette, as Lindsey and Autumn wanted to create a feminine escape for the new stay-at-home mom. “I just wanted her to feel like she had her own kind of oasis,” Lindsey says, noting that the Schumacher fabric does incorporate notes of the blues, creams, and browns seen throughout the home.
With the cottage settled amid the balmy weather of the region, the outdoor spaces were just as important as the interiors, and Lindsey paid them all the attention they deserved. She separated the expansive patio space into distinct areas, mimicking the feel of defined rooms; a cement table extends the dining room outside, an outdoor sofa provides a spot for midday naps, and Lindsey says that the swing is a cozy spot for bonding with baby.
Looking back on the design process, Lindsey says that she enjoyed the opportunity to work with such timeless elements. “I think that we live in such a time of trendy interiors, and it was really such a treat to have a traditional design that felt current, homey, and cozy for younger clients,” she says. “One thing I love about their home is that it will always stand the test of time, because we really stuck with such great design elements that are tried and true.” That approach, as well as an endless slew of standout details, makes the Ingrams’ home the perfect place to embark on a few new adventures.
