A GRACIOUS SPACE

An interior designer pours her expertise into her own home and invigorates British colonial style with bright colors and patterns.

An interior designer brings her expertise to her own home, invigorating its British colonial style with bright colors, beautiful fabrics and sophisticated and global furnishings.

The thought of interiors that’ve been untouched for 30 years might be daunting to some—

but that wasn’t the case for Roxanne Hughes Packham. When she first surveyed the Santa

Rosa Valley house that she and her husband would call home, she wasn’t intimidated by the 1970s cabinets, the lack of woodwork or ceiling details, or even the walls in every room featuring various shades of orange paint. Instead, she says, “I saw through to the bones of the home … plus, the view was incredible.” Of course, as the owner and designer of Sunset and Magnolia Design, she had just the right credentials to turn the orange-hued home into the perfect empty-nester retreat. With a love for artisanal craftsmanship inherited from her grandfather, a passion for fabrics honed at the Paris Fashion Institute and years of traveling in Europe, she poured all her expertise into her home. “One of the things I love about design is the way we can incorporate things we love into the very essence of the building,” Roxanne says. “I did that in every space, and it’s now just the right home for my husband, our children home visiting from college and our very spoiled Shih Tzu, Samson.”

FORMALLY INVITED

The home has a traditional British colonial feel. Roxanne says, “British colonial is a great design style because it can encompass things from all over the world, though ours has more bright colors.”The global touches allow her to share stories of her travels without saying a word, as with, for example, the handmade South African chandelier hanging in the dining room. The chandelier was made by women and children suffering from AIDS. “The shipping was expensive, as you can imagine,” Roxanne says. “But my clients and I love that while we are making our homes beautiful, we are also making a difference in others’ lives as well.”

Along with the Ikat print drapes, the chandelier is the focal point of the dining room, which Roxanne specifically sought to make formal.

“My grandfather was a silversmith who specialized in silver, so we always had ‘formal’ dinners growing up,” she says. “Mind you, it could have been canned peaches, but it was on china with good silver.” She created an elegant dining room with Thibaut grasscloth walls, wainscoting and leather chairs slipcovered on the top in white linen. The result is a room that’s breezy yet communicates a sophistication that draws guests in. “I love the idea of honoring every person who joins us at our table,” Roxanne says. “I do this by sharing the beauty of slowing down and enjoying a beautifully set table.”

She also played with

scale in other ways by artfully hanging the

curtain rods an extra foot above the windows.

“It makes the room

taller.”

feel

|ABOVE LEFT| COLOR SMARTS. Blue is a happy pop of color seen throughout the home in various shades. Roxanne especially likes it in a navy incarnation, saying, “navy blue is so neutral and classic. It is very durable as well, because you cannot see dirt.” This is especially important with little paws—Samson can enjoy the home without leaving too much of a trace!

GATHER ROUND. For Roxanne, the shape of furnishings is an important consideration in the flow of a room. “I usually like a round table for a breakfast nook,” she says. “But it didn’t work for this room, so I went for a beloved antique French table that I got from my mom.”

NATURAL INTEREST. Unexpected new textures bring a sense of wonder and anticipation to guests visiting Roxanne’s home. In the family room, she introduces faux animal-hide touches that are as functional as they are fascinating. “They are 100% polyester, so I can scrub it if need be,” she says.

BUILT FOR ENTERTAINING. Roxanne describes the kitchen as a “workhorse.” Since they love entertaining and her husband enjoys cooking, it was essential for their lifestyle. She equipped it with two dishwashers, a bar and a separate coffee-and-drink area so they don’t have to set up before each event. Another essential? Storage for silverware. “I cannot use plastic silverware,” she explains. “I’m from a family of silversmiths, so I draw the line. I also love beautiful plates and my grandfather’s (Allan Adler Silversmith) silver brings me joy, especially when I use it to serve others.”

FABRIC AFFAIR. After falling in love with textiles while studying at the Paris Fashion Institute, Roxanne made the drapes the focal point of the dining room. “I think every room needs drapes to frame the windows and complete the room,” she says. “Since I love beautiful fabric, it was another excuse to use it. I was careful because of the gorgeous view and didn’t block even one inch of windows with the drapes.”