STORY OF A HOUSE

Bold colors in Fallon Park balance clean lines

by CATHERINE CURRIN

photographs by CATHERINE NGUYEN

Homeowners Adam Vester and Bobby Upchurch are drawn to more than just a pop of color. Their Fallon Park home is bursting at the seams with eclectic art, fabrics, and objects. “My personal theory is our homes should be a reflection of ourselves. I love color and I personally feel too many people are afraid to use color. I appreciate all design, so if we love it, I’ll find a way to make it work,” says Vester. The pair moved into the custom-built home in 2011, with the help of designer Susan Tollefsen. “We turned to Susan to get the designer pieces that were only available from interior

LIVING COLOR

designers. It has been a great collaboration over the past seven years as our style has continued to evolve,” Vester says. Tollefsen says she's happy with how the space has unfolded, as well as the friendship she's formed in the process. “They're a pair of guys that will be lifelong friends,” she says. She added balance to the striking colors with gold accents, and brought in the pair's collected art pieces to make the rooms more personal. “We warmed up the space with textures: the cowhide ottoman, throw pillows, wallpaper,” says Tollefsen. “I wanted to make the space a mix of the two personalities. Adam [Vester] loved mid-century modern, and Bobby [Upchurch] likes clean lines and simplicity. I put both styles together.” The result: a funky space filled with comfortable and intimate accents. Tollefsen used a mix of designers when decorating each room, including Kelly Wearstler for Lee Jofa fabrics and Jonathan Adler. Tollefsen, Vester, and Upchurch certainly have an affinity for Jonathan Adler. “I LOVE everything he represents,” says Tollefsen, “kitchy glam and sometimes completely inappropriate items. Everyone needs a little humor in their decor.” “We've really stepped up the space,” says Tollefsen. “Little bits that we've done have really changed the whole look.”

Opening page: Adam Vester and Bobby Upchurch fell in love with the Jonathan Adler foot as their dining centerpiece. “‘Keep your foot off the table’ is a saying we all grew up with and the giant purple foot plays homage to that saying,” Vester says. Above: Susan Tollefsen added texture to the living room with a cowhide ottoman and plush pillows. Adam Vester and Bobby Upchurch purchased a pair of unconvential paintings by Raleigh artist Shaun Richards. The bright orange duo, which Tollefsen refers to as 'the kids,' were split up between the living and dining areas.

WILD WELCOME

The entryway provides a glimpse into the eccentric home. Designer Susan Tollefsen added textured wallpaper throughout the home. Both the metallic purple paper, this page, and sunburst pattern, at left, is from Cole and Son.

ECLECTIC ACCENTS

Above: The master bedroom maintains the home's juxtaposition of traditional decor with bursts of color, along with whimsical patterns like the custom drapery panels from Highland Court. To add three-dimensional art to the study, at right, Susan Tollefsen added colorful bowls to the wall. “I like to hang some sculptural elements in most homes,” she says, “I thought these bowls from Global Views looked different.”

DELICIOUS DESIGN

Painting of Peace Street's Krispy Kreme Doughnuts by homeowner Adam Vester. “It’s mixing the old and new pieces that make it fun and interesting,” he says. “I’m sure my affinity of pop art has shaped our home along way.”

OUTDOOR ESCAPE

Homeowners Adam Vester and Bobby Upchurch extended their personalities outdoors. Bright, patterned pillows accent classic chairs among the backyard foliage in the Fallon Park neighborhood.