just in need of a little, or a lot rather, of tlc… I’m thrilled to share the story (and the glory) of this magnificently remastered gem with you. I first saw this house on a home tour a couple of years ago but then Leslie Pritchard of Again and Again reintroduced it to me recently. Leslie worked with the homeowner, Jackie Alberga to take the historic home from a near condemned tear down to a gorgeous, beautifully restored home. I’ve included the before images as well!

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Jackie is an extremely successful young woman. She was the second African American female pilot for American Airlines and the first Jamaican woman to fly for a major U.S. airline. This gal has no problem tackling big tasks but this one would be one of her biggest and most admirable accomplishments yet. The project began in 2006. On her first walk through the house there were homeless people sleeping there, tons of rodents and insects (as you can imagine). It was not a pretty site. She knew this would be a labor of love and decided to tackle it. Two years of  hard work with extreme perseverance and a strong vision later it it simply stunning.

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L.O.V.E. the yellow door with the shiny gold knocker. It sets the tone perfectly for this stately home full of pops of color.

Jackie’s genius color combinations make the home feel so tranquil. The light powder blue in the center of gold moldings contrasted with the white is soothing and almost heavenly. BUT wait for it…the entry is deceiving and might make you think this house only embraces a subtle and soothing color palette but just ask for the full tour. You will quickly see Jackie’s wonderful Jamaican heritage throughout much of the art and it comes through in her bold, vibrant color and life.

This sofa is the sheer brilliance of Leslie, along with so many other pieces in the house, but this one is my favorite. With her keen eye for treasures she salvaged the sofa and knew it would be perfect for Jackie. Jackie, on the other hand, was NOT sold on this one…Leslie in her enthusiastic and charming way convinced Jackie to let her paint it white and cover it in hot pink…she was skeptical but the minute she saw it she melted and it inspired her to embrace even more color - just check out the dining room.

Lucky, lucky girl — this house is blessed with beautiful bones. The stained glass windows in the master bath, the arched windows in the sunroom downstairs, the dignified facade are amazing.

We all know I’m a sucker for chairs. These two are no exception.

Jackie was also featured in House and Home. You can read the article here and view more of the images. A few of the images above were pulled from this fantastic article that tells the story of the renovation.

Thank you Leslie and Jackie!

additional photo credits from House and Home article Ricky Pearson