Historic Home, Contemporary Cool
When interior designer Chris Goddard was tasked with designing a country house for the second time, he reinvented its refined spaces to take on a youthful, more creative vigor.
Would you tell us about your background in the industry?
This is my thirty-ninth year as an interior designer. I’m based in northwest Arkansas, but I work all over the world. Some braggy stuff: I’ve been named one of the top 100 designers in the world, and I was named International Designer of the Year by the Royal Academy in London in 2021.
How do you typically approach your work?
I work in all different styles—everything from ultramodern to French chateau—but I’m a firm believer in never creating the same thing twice. So my firm is known for individuality, especially with materials, paint colors, and products. This reflects more of the client than us. The best compliment I can get as a designer is that it looks like I was never there; it looks like the homeowner’s own choices.
On your website, you describe your work as “quality over trend.” Would you elaborate?
It’s best to invest in quality items that will stand the test of time instead of buying a lot of things that have no meaning. So I’m big on investing in timeless goods, not necessarily expensive ones. Whether something is $300 or $300,000, quality is about how it is made and what it means to you. And that’s why so many people make the mistake of furnishing a house with meaningless decor. When you enter these spaces, they have no soul because they’ve been packed so quickly, not curated over time.
How did the client approach you for this project?
This project is really special to me because it’s one of the few times that I’ve done a house twice. It’s a stone structure that was originally built in the 1890s. Throughout the years, the house was added on to by different families, and about ten years ago, a couple approached me to redo the home with an English country motif. The result was completely based on an equestrian theme, and it was very light and airy.
After the couple parted ways, the husband stayed in the house and asked me to reinvent it. This was a bit intimidating because I was changing the way someone lives and helping him start the next chapter of his life.
To implement this, I refreshed the home to reflect his personal style. I took a whole different spin on it, going from a very traditional English country interior to more of a modern, edgier vibe. It was a rare journey that few interior designers get to take—transforming a project largely from one extreme to the other.
Did you have to replace the traditional elements of the architecture?
The structure had to dictate the interior style, so I did leave behind a lot of the really traditional elements, including heavy moldings and antique floors. The bones of the house reflected more of a country home, but I updated these features by using higher-gloss finishes and lacquering while adding a lot more layering and texture. I also used color saturation, applying the same color on the trim and walls for an instantly modern feel.
How much freedom did the client give you to go wild with the design?
This was our ninth project together. I’ve done all of his commercial work and other homes, so we have a really great, trusting relationship.
He basically sent me some images of rooms he liked and then let me go for it. Another main thing that he brought to the table was his huge collection of work by famous artists like Damien Hirst and Yves Klein, as well as some notable street art, all of which is kind of cool, edgy, and fun.
I wanted to highlight the art with color and contemporary furniture. But I also layered in some antiques that give their surroundings a sense of history because I think a modern ambience gets very cold unless you pepper in some interesting textures and funky antiques. Traditional touches help give interiors a sense of history, so you’ll notice that every room has something old-fashioned in it.
Why did you decide to make the library lean more traditional?
That’s the one area that still looks like an English country room, so it feels cozy and old-world. I wanted to create a retreat that, at the end of the day, could be a refuge where he could go have a drink, lie on the giant sectional, and watch TV. He could also get work done here in this hypermasculine but comfortable space.
To bridge its different uses, I split the room in two. One side has the antique desk and bookcases, while the other has a custom sectional that’s so big, I had to have a crane deliver it through a window. But at the same time, some butterfly paintings by Damien Hirst help modernize the room so it doesn’t feel stuffy. I also sandblasted the bookshelves to give them an unexpected driftwood texture.
I did something similar in the smoking room, which is my favorite space. That room encompasses the ultimate lounge to me with its fireplace and club chairs surrounded by edgy contemporary art and sharp color contrast.
How did you approach his bedroom?
I’m not a big fan of TVs (or much technology at all) in bedrooms. Every day, we’re bombarded with so much info, but these spaces should be free of distractions. Instead, layered textures like the upholstered headboard in this one make these spaces feel cozy and warm, which is perfect for an escape.
A lot of people ask me how I make colorful rooms feel cohesive. I use nature as inspiration, pulling in the views from outside—in this case, his giant windows. I essentially combine all the colors of all the seasons because, if Mother Nature can mix them together and make it work, why can’t we? Many of my clients come to me to break the rules and push boundaries. Like I say, if it’s done well and you love it, then it works!
Is there another established design rule that you don’t believe in?
We all have gotten so focused on social media and what everybody else likes. I always say to people, “Why do you want what your neighbor has? What is it that you want? Because your friends don’t live here—you do.” So I’m big into pushing my clients to really find out what makes them happy and comfortable, whether it’s places they’ve traveled to, hotels they stayed in, stores they’ve browsed, etc. It’s essential to see past what you’re bombarded with every day and discover how your home can be fine-tuned to fit you perfectly.
For more info, visit goddarddesigngroup.com