Antiques, Architecture, and Inspiration Bring A Touch Of France To Midtown's Wildwood Circle

By Marla Caligaris - Photos By S.Saxon

Wanting to drastically downsize from their historic antebellum home “Gordonido” on Wynnton Road in Columbus, Jerry and Marjorie started their search in Midtown for an empty lot where they could build their dream home. They found the perfect one in Wildwood Circle next to St. Paul Church and enlisted the help of interior decorator Arden Cheney, builder Bradley Jones and architect Jack Jenkins to help make their vision of a classic French home a reality. The garden features simple but elegant low maintenance plantings, the centerpiece being a scripture garden which can be viewed from the kitchen windows. The exterior of the home is classic French featuring limestone columns, copper gutters, and a painted brick facade. The result is a very understated exterior color palette which gives way to the interior of the home which is full of French symbols and color. “The owners are so much fun to work with because they are not afraid of color and mixing patterns.” said Arden Cheney.

Black and white marble flooring from Muse Kitchen and Bath and Gallery is carried throughout the downstairs, becoming the perfect backdrop for adding brilliant color and pattern. The owners love Zuber & Cie scenic wallpaper which was in their former home. Guests are greeted with a magnificent to the to the dining room and den also featuring historic scenes by Zuber. Scattered throughout the home, are many French symbols such as the Napoleonic Bee and Imperial N as well as period French furnishings from French Antiques in New Orleans. Arden custom blended the blue wall color which is found in the scenic paper to help unify the ground floor rooms and wall leading up to the exquisite staircase.

Walking toward the back of the home, the solarium is decorated in a French Chinoiserie style, a fusion of Eastern and Western design popular from the late half of the 18th century to the mid 19th. The style in the Newman’s home was modernized by using nontraditional brilliant colors, in the upholstery, drapery fabric and paint colors giving the rooms a feeling of joy. These rooms also showcase, the owner’s love of collecting. Collections of many different items are creatively and artfully displayed in cases, on tables and on the walls, reflecting the thought that: “Some is good. More is better, and too much is absolutely wonderful!” - Marjorie Newman.

A FRENCH AFFAIR