All That Glitters

An Anchorage home shines during the Holidays

Written by Bridget Williams / Photography by Eric Williams

A memorable trip to Venice served as the inspiration for John and Annie Locke’s gracious home in Anchorage. Sitting on five acres, the painted brick home with a stucco cornice designed by architect Frank Pierce displays a decidedly contemporary face with underlying classic architectural detailing. Knowing their penchant for contemporary Mediterranean style, when it came time to begin considering the interior design, the builder recommended the couple retain Libby Rush of Ewald Design Associates, who spent time in Florence, Italy, studying Italian Renaissance art and architecture.

Marble flooring in the entry boasts laser cut medallions; the free-form filigree pattern is mimicked in the exquisite stair rail that gently winds its way up to the second floor.

Rush worked hand-in-hand with Annie to realize her vision, which included incorporating the couple's existing furniture pieces and strategically choosing new ones that complement the grandiose rooms. Marble flooring in the entry boasts laser cut medallions; the free-form filigree pattern is mimicked in the exquisite stair rail that gently winds its way up to the second floor.

Interior designer Libby Rush said the niche at the base of the stairs "is just perfect for such an elaborate display."

Opposite the staircase and separated from the entry by a duo of columned archways, iridescent copper-colored wallpaper and banded cherry hardwood floors serve as a foil to the soaring ceilings and light color palette of the entry. The Henredon dining table is noted for its tapering twist-turned legs topped with gilt acanthus decoration and ending in a carved acanthus gilded foot. Similar details are found on the bar near the base of the stairs that is ideally positioned to service the living and dining rooms. Features of note include a detailed polished brass Swan faucet at the wet bar and a magnificent Lalique crystal sculpture displayed on built-in shelving above.

In the dining room, iridescent copper-colored wallpaper and banded cherry hardwood floors serve as a foil to the soaring ceilings and light color palette of the entry.

The living room is an ideal expression of Annie’s personal style: a neutral color palette accented by subtle, carefully chosen details and minimal pattern. The room’s focal point is a mural by Sandy Kimura over the fireplace, depicting a gondolier in Venice. Kimura also painted a filigree-style mural on the wall near the cream-colored grand piano. Suspended from the room’s 24-foot ceiling is one of the many glistening crystal chandeliers and sconces found throughout the first floor.

The focal point of the grandiose living room is a mural by Sandy Kimura over the fireplace, depicting a gondolier in Venice.

En route to the master bedroom wing is John’s home office. Decidedly masculine with a Brazilian cherry parquet pattern floor, coffered ceiling, and custom library shelving and built-in cabinetry by Finish Design, the room is a trove of items of sentimentality. An alabaster chandelier provides soft illumination.

Subtly patterned bedding from Bedded Bliss provides a hint of pattern and color in the otherwise monochromatic master bedroom. A pair of antiqued mirrored chests on either side of the fireplace carryover a glimmer glint found in other rooms. Italian sconces and matching chandelier suspended over the soaking tub in the spa-like master bathroom play into the Venetian theme.

Subtly patterned bedding from Bedded Bliss provides a hint of pattern and color in the otherwise monochromatic master bedroom.

Below, Italian sconces and matching chandelier suspended over the soaking tub in the spa-like master bathroom play into the Venetian theme found throughout the home.

Linda Boyles is responsible for the decorative paint finish in the family room and kitchen. In the former, an elaborate display of woodworking by Finish Design comprises the built-in cabinetry, which is accented by large diameter twisted columns with Mediterranean capitals and a mantelpiece supported on both ends by a carved Enkeboll lion base with plinth. The same lion detail is found on the island in the adjacent kitchen. The woodwork in the family room and the island in the kitchen share the same painted finish.

In the family room, an elaborate display of woodworking by Finish Design comprises the built-in cabinetry, which is accented by large diameter twisted columns with Mediterranean capitals and a mantelpiece supported on both ends by a carved Enkeboll lion base with plinth.

While the home certainly sparkles any time of year, it takes on even more panache during the holidays. Rush starts decorating right after Thanksgiving. “In the eight years since we’ve been doing this, the decorations have continued to evolve,” said Rush. Initially, she was commissioned to adorn trees in the living and family rooms, the former of which was purchased in Chicago, along with a collection of hand-blown mercury glass and crystal ornaments. The festivities have since grown to encompass the mantles and a third tree in the entry, a space, Rush says, that is just perfect for such an elaborate display. “The home really comes to life during the holidays,” she said.