A Perfect Blend of Old and New

Stephen Alexander Homes is known for luxurious Modern Farmhouse style, custom-built homes in Virginia and North Carolina. While their home designs lean towards clean and modern style, when it came to building his own home 13 years ago, principal Stephen Quick IV and his wife chose to go another route: they emulated the style of a 100-year-old home. Their 5,000-square-ft home sits on 100 acres and features the beautiful millwork and other hand-worked details of a classic house.

But change is good, and while Stephen was hoping to build and move his large family into a more contemporary style home, his wife put her foot down. She loves the neighborhood and the school district. The compromise was to update their original home, beginning with the lighting,

"Replacing the lighting was the impetus for the renovation," said Stephen. "My wife loves traditional style, and I lean more modern. With Progress, we found the perfect Modern Traditional' fixtures to suit both of our styles."

The Quicks chose the spherical Conestee pendant for the breakfast area, whose dual-tone finish pairs dark graphite with weathered gray accents, combining modern and rustic style. Two Hinton wall sconces above the dining room fireplace mantel are finished in a classic, soft vintage bronze offset by clear seeded glass shades and contemporary swing arm styling.

The open-plan main living area showcases the beautiful millwork found throughout the home. Since the Quick's have eight children, they chose to close off a family room area using gorgeous French doors topped with transom windows, allowing natural light to stream in but giving some much-needed privacy. This room features a fireplace highlighted by a pair of Hemsworth sconces, whose aged oak finish and barn-inspired details give a touch of rustic character. The Farris ceiling fan keeps the room comfortable.

Most of the fixtures the Quicks selected required a finishing touch: the proper bulbs. Stephen says: "The bulbs make the fixture; you need the right color spectrum and the right size. I recommend Edison-style bulbs at 3000K color temperature that are dimmable."