Some neighbors are good for more than a cup of sugar. When Diane and Mark Harvey moved into their Nichols Hills home a few years ago, they invited interior designer Bebe MacKellar with Fanny Bolen Interiors to lead the redesign. The Harveys had seen and liked MacKellar’s work, and — as it turned out — MacKellar was extra-familiar with the home they just purchased.
“We knew Bebe lived close, but when we found out she was right across the street, it just was an added bonus,” Diane Harvey said.
Built in 2001, the classically styled home needed some refreshing by the time the Harveys purchased it in 2020. MacKellar worked alongside architect Mike Hinchey and builder Tom Crone to reconfigure the layout and update every room. Living nearby was incredibly convenient, MacKellar said, as it allowed her to check progress daily.
Before the Harveys found this home, they had considered downsizing, since — while they still have one at home — two of their children had moved away to college. Then they discovered this comfortable-yet-ample home poised on a corner lot, with three bedrooms and a lounge area upstairs that would fit their family perfectly. In the end, they gained 1,600 square feet of living space and the desire to maximize its potential.
“It felt like home from the very moment we walked in. We loved the home the way it was,” Harvey said. “Then, when we started working with Bebe and she brought the vision to us, we loved it even more.”
“We really saw eye to eye from the beginning,” MacKellar added. “She was receptive and understood what I was proposing. I feel like we had a really excellent relationship from the beginning.”
Harvey was drawn to a beautiful blue quartzite from Young Brothers Inc., and it inspired designs for the kitchen and beyond. The kitchen island was redesigned, and a wet bar was added for easy entertaining. The kitchen layout was reimagined to improve storage and functionality, incorporating new cabinetry, complemented by a gorgeous Walker Zanger tile. In addition, hardwood flooring replaced carpeting and tile to add warmth and create a more cohesive design.
The blue color palette applied generously throughout the home reiterates the cohesive feel, flowing seamlessly from room to room. MacKellar selected blues representing the color’s “highs and lows … but all in the same family.” The living room features a soft and soothing blue, while the library presents a deeper hue. The Harveys love the color family, so the blues really resonate.
“I like to think I interpret whatever the client wants and make it in the best way it can be — maybe elevate their taste a little bit more, from a professional standpoint, but using what they’re drawn to as the beginning,” MacKellar said.
“She really captured our taste,” Harvey said. “The things she brought to us were right on target, and she brought a new perspective to areas. It was fun and exciting to see it all come together.”
With a talented neighbor just steps away, and on call for any additional design needs, the Harveys have settled comfortably into their elegant and family-friendly home.
“It’s a wonderful place to come home at night and to rest and have family time, or on the weekends, to have friends over,” said Harvey. “It’s just got that warm and inviting feeling. I think that’s what we cherish.”
