Virginia-Highland Abode

A look at David Scurlock’s home
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Photograph by Chris Little

As a family physician, David Scurlock advises patients and leads medical missions to Latin America, but he also knows when it’s time to call in the specialists. For his Virginia-Highland abode, he needed an experienced trio of interior designer (Darden Straus), architect (Audrey Godiers), and contractor (Allen Layson) to transform a dated-looking bungalow into a comfortable, airy home that acknowledges its Craftsman roots.
A wide front porch defines the iconic bungalow look and is what attracted Scurlock to the 1920s house. “The front porch is long, wide, and facing north, with a side porte cochere,” he says. “It seemed like the perfect place for a Southern porch party.”
Designer Straus recalls that the front door was already painted aubergine—“that was a nice eye-catcher,” she says—so she used the unusual color as a starting point. To create an outdoor living room, Straus purchased inexpensive furniture from Pier 1 and covered the cushions in a masculine fabric that includes purple. She also commissioned long custom planters that accomplish a variety of goals: eliminating the need for railings, providing privacy for the seating area, and incorporating natural elements. Weatherproof curtains and lamps make the area even cozier.
Inside, a two-story addition off the back created more entertaining opportunities with a new kitchen and keeping room opening to a backyard pool oasis, as well as a tucked-in home office upstairs. Existing attic space became a comfortable master suite with a vaulted-ceiling bedroom and chic master bath.
The kitchen references Craftsman spirit—earthy colors, flat-panel doors, and an emphasis on natural wood—but feels lighter and more open than a strict historic interpretation. “The kitchen was designed to be very simple: red maple cabinetry that’s minimal and flush with appliances,” says Scurlock. Adjacent to the kitchen, Scurlock’s “men’s den,” as he calls it, offers a laid-back place to gather, read, or watch television.
Resources
Interior Design Darden Straus, 404-510-1247, dardenstraus.com
Architect Audrey Godier, 404-259-2478, godiersarchitecture.com
Contractor Constructive Innovations, Allen Layson, 404-245-2856
Landscape Lush Life, 404-841-9661, lushlifehomegarden.com
 
This article originally appeared in our July 2011 issue.

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