Transforming a Ranch-Style Home into a Timeless Escape
How do you turn a straightforward ranch-style home into something exciting and unexpected yet timeless? For a young family of four in central Florida, the answer came from designer James Farmer. His approach was to perform a complete gut renovation, blending his knowledge of Southern style with years of interior design expertise to create a highly functional and striking escape for his clients.
The home is located in an old, established neighborhood on a lake in Winter Park, Florida, surrounded by mature live oaks and beautiful landscaping. "I would describe the area as old-school Florida with a touch of Mayberry," says Farmer, referencing the fictional town from The Andy Griffith Show. The home itself was humble and honest—"no hiding its hand at the poker table," says Farmer.
Farmer worked with Skolfield Homes to keep the architectural style generally the same, with the most impactful changes being a complete overhaul of the galley kitchen and a relocation of the staircase from the side of the house to the middle, putting it in its deserved place as a focal point of the living room. The new kitchen is what he calls a "glorified galley," with a sunny breakfast room off to the side that used to be a screened-in porch. He then reinforced the home as a "front door house," ensuring the formal entry space would actually be used rather than passed through by adding a bar perfect for fancy cocktail parties or a casual post-work martini.
For the actual interior, the designer layered various textures and bold patterns, combining them with hallmarks of grand Floridian style, like floral wallpapers, gold details, intricate trim, palm motifs, pecky cypress wallcoverings, and a coastal color palette. The line between indoor and outdoor living is further blurred with trellis details and a selection of timeworn brick and wood flooring. "We really leaned into this in a new way with this project because of its location," he says. "True, classic Florida can be so fun but also timeless, and that was our goal with this project."
Farmer encouraged his clients to splurge only on materials and pieces that'll truly stand the test of time, opting for classic finishes and prints that will age with the young family—an approach he details intimately in his newest book, Home Again: A Return to Gracious Interiors.
Ultimately, the decadent interior paired with the modern structural changes naturally created what ended up being Farmer's motto for the home: "Traditional with a twist!"
Key Spaces in the Home
Front Parlor
Custom millwork and wainscoting hint at what's to come. 
Fabulous cocktail parties start in this formal space before migrating to other parts of the house. With no TV in the space, all eyes are drawn to the bar set behind a custom set of accent chairs by Thibaut, which is where Farmer's clients shake up (not stir) "the best martinis in Florida." 
A color palette of peach, robin's egg blue, and butterscotch is celebrated in this room, the designer explains. By painting the ceiling in a blue tone—a trick commonly seen on Southern porches—he gave the room a subtle indoor-outdoor touch commonly seen on Southern porches.
Family Room
A pickled pecky cypress ceiling adds a dose of texture and a historic nod to old Florida interiors. Borrowed light from the kitchen and stairwell shines on the rich velvets and great patterns in this family room. "The color combo of terracotta and emerald with creamy white millwork creates a handsome and elegant palette," Farmer adds.
Sunroom
Cerused antiques add a lighter touch to this sunny refuge. 
Once a screened-in porch, Farmer kept the alfresco feel by covering the walls and ceiling with trelliage panels and outfitting the room with timeless white wicker furniture by Memoire Design (once known as Mainly Baskets Home). Vintage elephant garden stools now stand as whimsical side tables.
Dining Room
Floral wallpaper transports you to a secret garden for family meals.
"We kept the original corner cabinets and wainscoting but gave it a bit of glam with a custom Gracie Studio wallpaper and lacquered ceiling," Farmer says of the dining room, which kept its original footprint. The console tables are painted in a lemony yellow hue to match the window treatments and the room's other cheerful elements.
Kitchen
A "glorified galley" layout is ideal for entertaining. 
Farmer broke up this completely new, double galley kitchen into sections to make hosting a breeze. On one side of the counter is the seating and hangout zone, while the other side plays host to a functional working kitchen, outfitted with a Wolf range and Sub-Zero fridge. Think of it like traditional with a twist; "These clients are fabulous entertainers, and the island can also make a great buffet for parties," he says. "We like to think that The Golden Girls would thrive in this kitchen… Mid-century meets Maw-Maw!"
Breakfast Room
Octagonal shapes create rhythm between the kitchen and the sunroom. 
Old Chicago brick and palm motifs in the wallpaper make this breakfast hub feel more like a terrace than an interior enclave. Farmer created this room as part of the kitchen expansion—its bay window only enhances the porch-like vibe he wanted. "Sometimes geometry is your best friend," Farmer says, noting that the rug, table, and even shape of the room are octagonal. "You might not notice it, but it makes a moment."
Stairwell
Wall paneling flanking the steps ties back to the sunroom. 
"We were able to move the staircase in this house, which allowed for a more efficient floor plan for this young family," he explains. "When you are under a major renovation, you can think outside of the box, or sometimes inside the box, just as easily." Now the stairwell can live is a beautiful moment all its own at the center of the home, rather than pushed to the side.
Daughter's Bedroom
Vintage decor adds a sophisticated edge. 
The daughter was sleeping in a crib when Farmer first started working on his clients' house, so he wanted to design a room that could grow with her (by the time the project wrapped, she was in her big girl bed). The pink trellis wallpaper by Schumacher perfectly rides the line between feminine and elevated.
Primary Bedroom
Aureate details brighten up this personal retreat. 
Touches of bamboo, palm, and pecky cypress introduce that old Florida feel, reminiscent of family vacations to the family's favorite spots in the Sunshine State, without being too on the nose.
Primary Bathroom
A bright escape with repeating patterns. 
"An interior design trick that is so old-school, but still so fun, is using a drapery fabric for wall covering and vice versa," Farmer explains. "We were able to bring that from the primary bedroom to the primary bathroom."
About the Designer
James Farmer is a Southern author, interior designer, and speaker known for his ability to create beautifully familiar and welcoming homes. To James, a home engages all of the senses—the pleasantries of colors and materials, the feel of the doorknob warmed by the sun, the smell of fresh laundry, the sound of the closing door, and the taste of supper on the table. Through his design firm, James works with clients to truly create a home.
Projects by James Farmer Designs can be found from the countryside of Connecticut to James's home state of Georgia. Though his work can be found throughout the country, James proudly has built his business in his hometown of Perry, Georgia.