A mutual respect and shared vision between homeowners and designers guided the transformation of this European-style house.
Written by Mary Fitzgerald
Photography by Joshua Skeesick// Beholder Imaging
Robbie and Lisa Mingledorff purchased their Whitemarsh Island property in 2022, having narrowed down their search to the Marsh Harbor community. “We have always thought it is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Savannah,” says Lisa.
When they found the European-style home, they were taken with its uniqueness. The home features a stately architectural style — most notably a dramatic split staircase. “That was one of the things that drew us to the house,” says Lisa. Robbie adds, “When my daughter’s college friends come over, they always gather on the front steps to take photos.”
When it came time to renovate their residence, they enlisted the help of Jay Massey and James Martin of Massey Martin Design. The Mingledorffs had worked with the firm on a kitchen redesign at a previous home and had complete confidence in their ability to take on a full-scale, whole-house renovation. “We trust them, and they know us,” says Lisa. “They were very easy to work with.” Robbie notes that while the designers consistently brought forward strong ideas, they never took it personally if something didn’t resonate. “They’d simply say, ‘We’ll look for something else,’” he says.
The house had great bones to work with, according to Massey and Martin, including thick walls and casings, formal living rooms on the “piano nobile” (the main living area above ground level), large arched windows, and classical proportions. Boasting ample square footage and a litany of spacious yet distinct rooms, the floor plan was a welcome change from the couple’s previous open-concept home. Even so, the home, built in 2005, was in need of an interior refresh, so Massey and Martin lightened the palette, reconfigured the space for entertaining, and introduced much needed storage to achieve a modern approach to classical living.
The project completely revamped the interior from top to bottom, the designers report, including improving the upstairs bathrooms, renovating the kitchen, furnishing the main floor, and designing and building out the lower level to turn it into a “gentleman’s pub.” Throughout the home, the couple’s design directive was clear: classic, timeless, nothing trendy.
Because the Mingledorffs entertain frequently, they wanted an elegant, comfortable, and practical home to welcome family and friends, including Robbie’s two adult daughters, Darby and Emerie, and the family dogs, Murray and Bosco. With both homeowners working remotely, functional workspaces were also essential. Massey and Martin delivered on all fronts, creating a sanctuary that incorporates all the essential values of home.
One of the first spaces addressed was the kitchen. While the Mingledorffs appreciated the existing large window, the openness of the room, and its French farmhouse feel, they craved more storage. In response, Massey and Martin designed a butler’s pantry and service bar adjacent to the kitchen — in lieu of upper cabinets in the kitchen area — for organized storage and additional work space.
A substantial island, specified by Massey and Martin and made by AWD of Savannah, was constructed of reclaimed wood with brass inlay accents. It added cabinet space while also functioning as a spot to congregate, as the couple preferred island seating rather than a traditional kitchen table. MultiStone fabricated the quartzite countertop, and the slab was so massive, it had to be brought in with a crane. The designers recount that watching the crane slide the large surface past the gas lantern and through the front door into the home was quite a sight. A pair of Spanish paintings flank the kitchen window, adding a vibrant pop of color.
In the living room, a vintage Oushak rug anchors a pair of sofas, arranged to foster conversation and comfortably seat guests. Pillows by Massey Martin and commissioned contemporary artwork by local artist and Savannah College of Art and Design graduate Wendy Martin lend splashes of color to the otherwise subdued palette. “I so love the paintings that Jay and James selected for the room,” says Lisa. The couple also asked Massey and Martin to include some treasured personal items into the scheme. Lisa’s grandfather was a collector of Native American artifacts from the Mississippian culture, so the designers framed and grouped arrowheads on the living room walls. A French antique vitrine, sourced by the designers, displays and safeguards other items from the collection.
The couple wasn’t planning to touch the dining room, but Massey and Martin had a vision for the space and convinced them to add it to the list. “They said, ‘When you see it, you’re going to love it,’ and they were right,” states Lisa. “Everyone comments on that room,” adds Robbie. “We are really happy with the way it turned out.” A hand-painted mural by Charlotte Terrell depicts gray and white clouds for an ethereal effect, while the white-painted antique furnishings soften the gray tones. The designers love the way the dining room complements the adjacent foyer’s glossy, dark teal walls, creating a sense of a summer Lowcountry evening.
The biggest transformation occurred on the lower level, an unfinished area which had been used as a playroom by the previous owners. Massey and Martin tapped into its potential to build out the gentleman’s pub. Ceiling beams made of reclaimed wood play off paneling and bookcases painted in Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue for a cozy, club-like vibe — an intentional contrast to the light and bright upper levels of the home. The original concrete underfoot was stained with a Coca-Cola finish in an epoxy gloss for a high-impact, low-maintenance floor treatment.
The Mingledorffs ultimately made the home their own with the guidance of designers they now count as close friends, turning a rewarding work relationship into an opportunity to socialize and enjoy the beautiful spaces they all created together.
DETAILS
- Neighborhood: Marsh Harbor
- Year built: 2005
- Year purchased: 2022
- Timeline of renovation/construction: 5 months
- Number of bedrooms: 5
- Number of bathrooms: 5
- Square footage: 5,237
- Interior designer: Massey Martin Design
- Builder/contractor: Tollison & Co.
- Landscape/hardscape: Fire pit and exterior patio by Tollison & Co.
- Kitchen design: Massey Martin Design, AWD of Savannah, MultiStone
- Kitchen appliances: Livingood’s Appliances and Bedding
- Bathroom design: Massey Martin Design, MultiStone
- Furniture: Massey Martin Design, Atlanta Decorative Arts Center, F. Schumacher & Co., GDC Home, Jim Thompson, Foxglove Antiques Collective, Bungalow Classic, and others
- Paint: Farrow & Ball, Benjamin Moore
- Tile/flooring: Garden State Tile
- Lighting: Massey Martin Design, Pace Lighting, Visual Comfort & Co., Shades of Light, Huff Harrington
- Accessories: Massey Martin Design, Clutter Furnishings & Interiors, Round Top Antiques Fair, Nicholson Gallery, Le Chateau European Interiors, Dixon Rye, among others
- Art: Massey Martin Design, Wendy Martin, Bellamy Murphy, Charlotte Terrell, Jennifer LaPierre, owner’s collection of Native American artifacts
