How One Designer Transformed Amy Porterfield's Cookie-Cutter Spec Home Into a WFH Paradise
When online marketing educator and podcaster Amy Porterfield and her husband made the move from California to Nashville in 2020, they wanted to bring their California roots to their new “touch-of-country” home. And when a friend referred them to Orange County designer Lindye Galloway, it was a match made in design heaven.
“We had a great relationship,” recalls Galloway. “They were very easygoing. We had a lot of creative freedom.”
The couple's main wish, as Galloway customized the “underwhelming” spec home that they had bought for ease and speed, was to bring a feeling of California coastal living to the Southern city. And customize is exactly what she did—most of the house is decorated with bespoke items (along with products from the Lindye Galloway Shop).
“One of the things that was most important to my clients was to bring the feeling of indoor-outdoor space,” says the designer. “We did that by creating a comfortable environment” that integrated “the great room onto the patio, with its fireplace and swinging chairs. It’s comfortable, but elevated.”
Tour the entire residence below.
Entry
When Galloway began the project, the big open area wasn’t a formal entry but only “wasted space.” To remedy that, she added a console and table to provide a sense of entering the home.
Table, chair, console, and vases: Lindye Galloway Shop.
Living Room
This was Galloway’s favorite room of the house. “The tall ceilings provided interesting challenges [that] allowed us to be more creative and find ways to enhance and highlight certain features, while infusing it with a feeling of warmth and coziness.” She continues, “I always like to create statements.” In this case, that meant chairs with wood and leather for a “California-meets-Tennessee feel.”
Chairs, cocktail table, pillows, vases, and decorative objects: Lindye Galloway Shop.
Dining Room
“What I like is that it’s open to the kitchen but it feels disconnected, so it feels a bit more formal. They wanted a moody moment, so we had tweed wallpaper made in dark green, a custom table and leather chairs, and oversize pendants to fill the space” beneath the high ceiling—a design challenge throughout the 6,800-square-foot home, Galloway says.
Table: Custom. Pendant lamps: Circa Lighting. Leather chairs: Lindye Galloway Shop.
Kitchen
The starting point was “simple and basic,” says Galloway, “so we changed everything. We wanted a calm feeling but with a slight masculine touch”—hence the sandstone, the designer notes.
Barstools, cutting boards, glassware, and decorative cookware and utensils: Lindye Galloway Shop.
Work Domain
The client’s team works remotely, but sometimes they gather in her home for meetings. She wanted to avoid an “office” vibe and keep things relaxed with her colleagues, so Galloway added an oversize couch, sling chairs, an oversize coffee table, and a table for working or end-of-day wine.
Rug: Lindye Galloway Shop. Couch, chairs, coffee table, and side table: custom.
Home Offices
“Some of the client’s must-haves were personal offices [including a recording studio] that really spoke to her specific style while still being functional for everyday use,” recalls the designer.
The leather piping on the couch adds a warm touch, while ceramic disks take the place of a traditional art piece. Built-ins on one side add extra storage beneath (and “are just pretty” on top), and there’s a desk section so the client can swivel her chair to access an additional workspace. “The overall result was cozy and comfortable.”
Office chair, coffee table, side table, pillows, and decorative objects: Lindye Galloway Shop. Sconces: Aerin from Circa Lighting.
Upper Landing
The landing at the top of the stairs is a passageway to the guest area. “It’s a grounding moment for guests,” she says, “with neutral, earthy tones.”
Rugs, throws, artwork, and pendant lamps: Lindye Galloway Shop.
Primary Bedroom
This was another big, lofty ceilinged room, so Galloway filled some of the height with a canopy bed, and also brought in neutral tones and earthy elements. She added a reading nook beside the window to create an area for waking life in the room. Finally, the family dog, Scout, is very important to the clients, so she created a custom bench for the foot of the bed. “It’s the perfect height for Scout to be near them at night—this dog is living in luxury.”
Bed and bench: custom. Lamp, pillows, side table, and decorative accessories: Lindye Galloway Shop.
Guest Bedroom
“It has a cozy vibe, so someone would want to hang out in the bedroom, but it’s still elevated and styled,” says Galloway. “I love the bed.”
Nightstand: Hedge House. Chandelier and sconces: Aerin from Circa Lighting. Pillows and bedding: Lindye Galloway Shop.
Patio
“The swinging chairs create a fun environment,” says the designer, noting that her client works from home—and sometimes works while swinging in one of the chairs. (Every creative should be so lucky!)
Swinging chairs: Magnolia Porch Swings. Rug and planter: Lindye Galloway Shop.
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