For historians, the Clayton home of Roger and Lucy Willis on Aberdeen Place is special because beloved author Tennessee Williams once lived there. For the couple and their two children (with another on the way), it’s special simply because it’s home. Lucy, who officially started an interior and floral design business last year, used her expertise to create inviting spaces that look just as good with the kids’ artwork on display as they do with family heirlooms. At Christmastime, the home’s warmth is amplified. T&S accepted an invitation inside.
T&S | Have you always lived in the Clayton area?
Lucy Willis | I grew up on The Hill. We moved into this house six years ago. We both love Forest Park and wanted a home as close to it as possible. We’re an active family and go to the park often! It’s also nice to be so close to De Mun Avenue and be able to walk to Kaldi’s and Sasha’s.
T&S | Did you have to do any major renovations?
LW | It was move-in ready in that we didn’t need to gut anything. But being a 100-year-old home, there were roof repairs and we’ve made a lot of cosmetic changes: landscape, irrigation, painting, decor, etc. We had to repair the back end of the house, and we built on a pergola. Some of the light fixtures are original to the home, but we replaced most of them. We just finished the basement, which serves as a play area and also has a full bath, laundry and workout room.
T&S | Did you know Tennessee Williams lived there when you moved in?
LW | Yes, it’s a great feature of the house, but not why we bought it. Williams mentioned the house in his memoirs. On his 100th birthday, a historian showed up unexpectedly at our door and ended up sharing a bunch of knowledge on him and the house with us. Apparently he lived on the third oor in the attic, where he wrote The Fugitive Kind. I’m due with our third child in January, so we’re converting that space into a nursery. It’s already finished with a bathroom.
T&S | Do you always decorate this much for Christmas?
LW | Yes! Christmas is my passion; I love it. I come from a big Italian Catholic family, and we always celebrated Christmas in my Nonna’s basement growing up. I want my kids to understand what an important time of year it is, and I want them to have traditions to pass on to their kids. We usually start decorating the night of Thanksgiving, or at least the weekend after. I mix things up every year, although some stuff like the trees and staircase stay pretty much the same. I always do something fun and fancy in the dining room; there is something every year in each spot, but it’s always a little different. And we put lights up outside as well.
T&S | Do the kids help?
LW | I definitely try to include them as much as possible. Ever since they were babies, I’ve had a little tree for them to decorate as well, and they actually help me with the big tree too—although I admit I’ll rearrange a few ornaments when they’re not looking! I don’t want it to be all about me and how it looks; I decorate clients’ homes for Christmas, so I have an outlet for that! I want the kids to feel part of it.
T&S | Do you entertain much during the holidays?
LW | We always have friends over throughout December, and on Christmas day, I cook a big dinner, so we use the dining room a lot. It’s exciting for my kids because that space is where we celebrate special occasions. They have specific seats and placemats for the dining room, and they know it’s special. It’s my favorite room during the holidays because it just looks so gorgeous.
T&S | What is your design style when it’s not the holiday season?
LW | I would say traditional. I tend to work with people who live in older homes as well and appreciate a traditional aesthetic.
T&S | The kitchen looks updated but matches the rest of the house well.
LW | It was one of the nicest features when we first looked at the house because it’s so charming and well done. We just had to change the light fixtures and decor. It has new elements like custom cabinetry and a Viking stove but is consistent with the appeal of the overall home. I nd super-modern, space-age kitchens are out of place in beautiful older homes.
T&S | Tell me about the small powder room.
LW | That was a total blank slate. It is so narrow! I assume it was a front hall closet that was converted into a bathroom. I always joke that it’s a bathroom for a Hobbit. The walls were slightly damaged and it would have required a lot of work to wallpaper it, so I just added to the bumpiness by covering it in pictures. It’s such a small space that I wanted to make it fun and interesting and display art. A lot of the figure sketches are my brother’s that I found in my mom’s basement.
Photos: Suzy Gorman
