Tour an Artsy Memphis Vintage Ranch Home
Vibrant color, heritage and a joyful spirit define this Memphis midcentury ranch.
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Photo By: David Quarles
Photo By: David Quarles
Photo By: David Quarles
Photo By: David Quarles
Photo By: David Quarles
Passionate Pursuits
Life is about passion—finding it and pursuing it. So when life in the corporate sector failed to ignite his, David Quarles IV set off to find it on his own. What he found was that he was a man interested in pursuing several passions, among them jewelry design, interior design and fitness. With so much pursuing to do, he needed the right space to do it in, which he found in an artsy midcentury ranch in Memphis, Tennessee.
A Makeover From the Ground Up
Five years ago, when David moved into his home, there wasn’t much to fix. But there was a lot to do. “When I first moved into my home, it was pretty much turn-key,” he recalls. “However, you could definitely tell it was someone else's forever home, and I knew I had my work cut out for me.” The 1,144-square-foot ranch still bore signs of its previous life, including carpets and floors damaged by the previous owner’s pets. “I had a friend,” David says, “who by trade restores hardwood floors, come in to breathe new life into my floors.”
Space for Everything
In his own terms, David describes his aesthetic as eclectic, with undertones of midcentury modern. “I love mixing textures, patterns, and colors that speak to my vibrant Afro-Caribbean American and Indigenous-American roots while tying everything together with the clean lines of midcentury modern furniture," he says. The designer’s style is on full display in his charmingly eclectic living room. “Oddly, my living room was the hardest area for me to design,” he remembers. “It wasn't until I truly determined how I wanted the space to feel and function that the design plan became clear. The inspiration for the main seating area in my living room came from the conversation pits reminiscent of the '50s through the '70s.”
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Art That Feels Like Home
An Artsy Nook
At the far end of the living room, this whimsical vignette provides a special place for unwinding. One of the newer design projects David created in the home, he says he enjoys the relaxed feeling that it adds to the room. “I love being able to continuously edit our homes until they feel right,” he says. Like the rest of the living room, art plays a special role in this area. “Each piece carries an important meaning to me,” he says. “The large portrait of me was an amazing gift from one of my favorite, local artists, Maggie Russell.”
Foodie Favorite
Special Touches
An In-Home Resort
Hand-Carved Heritage
With a heritage that includes Dominican, Gullah and Indigenous American roots, David’s love of carved wood furniture is more than an aesthetic choice. “Warm wood tones remind me of my dad's craftsmanship and how I love working with him. Since childhood, I’ve always admired his ability to build anything from scratch.” The sinuous curves and warm tone of this chair make it the perfect homage to a number of things that David holds dear, while adding one more touch of beauty to the room.