It’s hard to determine which view is better when you walk into Margaret and Tanner Franks’ Oakdale home. Is it the dramatic dining room you see immediately upon entry, with its boldly patterned ceiling and drapes? Or does the River Oaks Golf Course, showcased through the abundant windows lining the back of the house, win the day? The home’s design is just as notable as its desirable location; both are worthy of admiration.
The Frankses purchased the house in 2019. While they loved its layout and backyard views, Margaret Franks said the interiors were a “barrage of brown” that made her yearn for brighter surroundings.
“I wanted something distinctive. I wanted something that kind of showed my personality and style,” she said.
With such goals in mind, the couple hired interior designer Micah Abbananto, who beautifully implemented a transitional style, blending traditional and modern elements throughout the rooms along with many meaningful and personal touches. Abbananto also has a knack for keeping projects focused and organized.
“Micah not only brings creative talent — an eye for patterns and color — but also organization to each project,” Franks said about the experience of collaborating with Abbananto.
“I think that the most stressful thing about building or remodeling can be all of the selections,” Abbananto added. “Hopefully we keep the process moving forward in a way, little bit by little bit.”
The dining room became their starting point, as that room’s design would inspire colors for the nearby living room and kitchen. In the end, they selected a bold palette of green and pink based on the couple’s china, the Royal Crown Derby Imari Accent collection in Cherry Blossom.
“I’ve always loved these wedding china salad plates,” Franks said, referencing those displayed within a bright pink custom cabinet. “In some ways, they dictated the selection of the curtains and the wallpaper.”
To complement the decor, the ceiling and drapes were outfitted with an emerald Thibaut Katsura pattern.
In the living room, an abstract, street-scene painting — a piece the Frankses purchased on vacation — features dark blues that “speak” directly to the navy design theme in the adjoining kitchen. New appliances were installed, along with blue-veined Fantasy Lux Quartzite countertops and backsplash and a custom vent hood, wrapped in stucco and painted in Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore. Custom cabinets with navy details pull the color throughout the kitchen.
Another highlight is the pool bath’s steam shower, playfully patterned in earthy Fireclay Tile colors, which connects to both the gym and the outdoor patio. Franks said the new gym has encouraged her to adopt a new workout routine, with that dreamy steam shower her daily reward.
“I have not missed a day working out since October,” she said. “Just having it there has been life-changing.”
The home accommodates the family’s two children as well as their friends very well, with a dance studio and theater located upstairs. The outdoor pool and patio add to the fun. Franks loves how the kids often gather at their place.
The extra-functional mudroom, pantry and laundry area round out the home. As the project neared completion, Franks began to experience design decision fatigue, so she encouraged Abbananto to pick the paint colors. It turns out the mauve pink Abbananto selected for the laundry room was Franks’ grandmother’s favorite hue, found throughout her home. Today, that color connection makes Franks smile every time she sees it.
“Design can feel so futile, like it doesn’t really matter — but it’s moments like that that really delight my soul, that what I’m doing is impacting them in more ways than just looking pretty,” Abbananto said.
With its prime location and beautiful views, the Franks home is distinctly theirs, filled with beautiful, playful and meaningful designs. Such a home is easy to admire, inside and out.
