By Allyson Duckworth
John and Sheila Fullenwider began their square journey almost 18 years ago. Nestled above Hinton & Hinton, this worldly and welcoming space is the perfect spot to enjoy a balcony Hotty Toddy cocktail overlooking the square. It has become the ultimate gathering place for quaint political events, Ole Miss football celebrations, and family entertainment.
After losing John in the Spring of 2022, Sheila found herself spending more time in Oxford and decided it was time for a facelift to their square condo. She contacted Pearly Peacock Design and we were thrilled to take on the task!
At Pearly Peacock Design we like to understand the history of the spaces we design, so we reached out to local historian, John Cofield, to inquire about the origin of the building. John is the author of three books detailing Oxford and its history and is currently in the process of writing a fourth book focusing on the buildings around the square. He is a very resourceful friend. However, this particular building is quite the mystery. The only information he could dig up was that it was once a pharmacy. Needless to say, it is an old structure. We repaired plaster during the renovation that really showed its age. The extensive number of years this building has been standing added challenges to the renovation, but age is this condo’s charm.
During our initial consultation, my first thought was the colors were indicative of the early 2000’s. It was time to lighten up the space with crisp and clean new hues. We decided to use a monochromatic look that began with painting the walls Sherwin Williams “Ivory Lace.” The warm white accentuated the pine floors beautifully. Bringing light to the room also allowed the current contents to pop with personality, making all of the old furniture feel new again. Small updates as simple as painting walls can truly transform a space.
From there, Pearly Peacock Design mixed in new pieces with old for a worldly lived-in feel. In the living room, we removed a bar that was no longer in use and replaced it with a seating area to read, enjoy coffee, wine or both. The main living area is very spacious, so we used furniture to break it into functional intimate nooks.
The major transformation was the master bathroom. We began by gutting and converting the tub shower into a walk-in shower. Deciding to keep the original flooring was a challenge to coordinate the new shower tile with the original floors, but the ultimate choice achieved a timeless yet modern look.
The second transformation was the kitchen. We updated the countertops with honed Taj Mahal quartzite and a clear glass backsplash. Then added a new Revelation light fixture to complete the look.
Each room received a facelift with the addition of new pieces that married well with the Fullenwider’s already existing treasures. Sheila and John collected amazing local artists like Jere Allen, Rod Morehead, as well as art from around the world. Moving these stunning works of art to new areas gave each room a fresh and new feel.
Pearly Peacock Design is fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in this beautiful space. It is truly moving to sit on the balcony and watch the square come to life with its hometown charm. Sheila and her family will enjoy their updated slice of heaven for years to come.
