With 4,200 square feet and nine fireplaces, there’s plenty of space for all the festive decor
Written by MARY FITZGERALD
Photography by ANDREW FRAZIER
IN SAVANNAH, THE HOLIDAY SEASON is heralded in each year with the Holiday Tour of Homes presented by the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA). People from near and far await the announcement of ticket sales in hopes they can score a coveted spot on the tour before it is sold out.
One of the magnificent homes on display during the 2023 tour was the Cooper House, a 4,200-square-foot Victorian built for W.G. Cooper in 1884. Cooper was the business owner of a grocery and liquor store on Broughton Street. Curiously, the current owners, Raymond and Lisa Hughes, also own a market/grocery store in their home state of New Jersey. This past December, the couple graciously opened their home for the tour, welcoming guests with inviting and festive decor.
The Hugheses fell in love with Savannah while their daughter attended Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). When the former owner (and neighbor) mentioned she was ready to sell, Lisa and Raymond seized the opportunity to own a piece of history. They had always admired the home’s exterior but were delighted once they stepped inside. “It had original bones and was in great condition for its age,” says Lisa. The spacious side porches, a carriage house and a double lot sealed the deal.
Although they had renovated homes before, this was the couple’s first historic restoration. The project took about two years, and they are quick to note, “Like any historic home, it’s always a work in progress.” Thankfully the residence already possessed some winning qualities, like plaster crown mouldings and medallions, heart of pine floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, stained glass transoms, a mahogany staircase and nine fireplaces.
As only the fourth owners of the home, Raymond and Lisa wanted to add their own imprint.
Heavy furnishings, layered window treatments, wallpaper and dark interiors were replaced with a chic blend of contemporary and antique furnishings, updated lighting and fresh paint on all the walls, trim, doors and mouldings.
Interior design firm Gaston Crue helped guide the couple when it came to furnishings and artwork. They incorporated pieces acquired from Lisa’s parents — who owned a bed and breakfast in Long Beach Island, New Jersey — along with antiques from Alex Raskin and newer furnishings from Jones & Bull. “We changed out every lighting fixture in the house,” notes Lisa.
The infrastructure of the home was updated, too. All nine fireplaces, which had been converted by the past owner from coal to gas, were brought up to working order. A new roof and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system updated the residence to today’s standards.
Outside, missing or damaged trim, wood siding and decking was repaired or replaced. The couple gave the yard and gardens a makeover, too, but they were careful to leave the original Savannah Gray brick hardscape intact. The husband and wife discussed changing the home’s exterior color, but after receiving so many compliments, they decided to keep the distinctive shade. “It complements the year the house was built,” says Lisa.
Every room in the home presents something new to explore, a bonus for those on the tour. The library, fondly named, “The Bourbon Room,” is stocked with rare bottles and familiar favorites. This is Raymond’s favorite space and houses his extensive bourbon cache. “My husband has been collecting for some time,” says Lisa. “He loves to show off his room and enjoys relaxing and entertaining in there.”
Existing built-ins, milled from heart of pine flooring found in the attic, were modified by removing the upper doors to better display the decorative bottles and glassware. The cabinetry, walls, trim and doors were all painted in an enveloping blue, creating a cozy, club-like atmosphere. Handsome leather barrel chairs invite guests to sit and sip a spell.
Three original stained glass transom windows were the inspiration for the iridescent color palette in the family room. A peacock painting above the fireplace echoes the blues and greens which are picked up in the tree and mantel trimmings. A large marble pedestal, discovered at Alex Raskin Antiques, is the perfect height to showcase real peacock feathers.
The mahogany staircase in the entry hall welcomes with festive garland and ribbon. Over the marble-topped chest, a Pier mirror — another Alex Raskin find — is draped with boughs of greenery. A tabletop tree is adorned with vintage greeting cards.
In the double parlor, Lisa decorated the living area with poinsettias and berry branches for pops of red. Tartan stockings hang from the fireplace where a bulldog statue stands guard, a nod to the owners’ two English bulldogs, Kona and Duff.
A Victorian-style Christmas tree is laden with glass ornaments and tinsel. The dining table is set for company with family china. “Using my mother’s Christmas plates and antique punch bowl always rings in the holiday,” says Lisa. Adorning the mantel, she used magnolia and holly to bring the outdoors in, and tucked in tangerines and velvet ribbon. “Some of my favorite decorations involve using what is available right in my garden,” she adds.
The kitchen is fully equipped for holiday baking, featuring a professional-grade Bertazzoni stove and apothecary jars filled with sweets for decorating. The space was totally reconfigured with the help of Jamestown Designer Kitchens. Upper cabinets were eliminated to create a more open, airy feel. Expansive windows flood the room with natural light, complementing the black cabinetry, window trim and range hood and an original brick fireplace.
A ballerina painting is the muse for the primary bedroom’s color scheme of pale pinks. “I fell in love with that painting,” says Lisa. In contrast, the nearby guest bedroom embraces a more masculine aesthetic, with subtle yet sophisticated touches of silver and gold.
The home truly captured the magic of the holidays in Savannah, outfitted in festive style from top to bottom, inside and out. “We love to decorate for the holidays,” says Lisa, who admits she began gathering ideas and decorations as soon as she heard her house would be featured on the tour. The couple was delighted to share their home and holiday spirit with others, remarking, “The house tour was beyond what we expected. It was such an honor.”
Details
Homeowners: Lisa and Raymond Hughes
Neighborhood: Victorian District
Year built: 1884
Year purchased: 2021
Square footage: 4,200 in the main house; 700 in the carriage house
Bedrooms and bathrooms: 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths in the main house; 1 bedroom and 1 bath in the carriage house
Timeframe of renovation/remodel: 2021-2023
Interior designer: Gaston Crue Lifestyle & Interiors
Landscape designer: Sprouts/Oasis Irrigation
Kitchen design: Jamestown Designer Kitchens
Countertops: Walsh Custom Surfaces
Kitchen appliances: Bertazzoni; True Residential
Doors: original; Old Mill Woodworks
Furnishings: Gaston Crue Lifestyle & Interiors; Jones & Bull; Alex Raskin Antiques; Frontgate; personal collections
